Samantha Caswell

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Baylor School senior Samantha Caswell was named a National High School Tennis All-American on Tuesday by the National High School Tennis All-American Federation.

The award goes to the top 40 girls and boys in the United States. Decisions for All-American honors are researched and authorized by a panel of eight national district chairmen who also are highly respected high school tennis coaches.

In her five-year Baylor career, Caswell is a two-time Division II-AA state singles champion, with a runner-up finish as an eighth-grader and a semifinal finish her freshman year. She was named the most valuable player of the Decoturf National Championships each of the three times that the Lady Red Raiders won the Louisville, Ky., event.

She has signed with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

The Lady Red Raiders won their semifinal match in the Division II-AA state team tournament and will face Chattanooga rival Girls Preparatory School this morning at 10 EDT. Caswell is paired with teammate McCall Morgan in the state doubles tournament, which begins Thursday.

"I think it's an incredible honor," Caswell said. "I don't know what the award is -- I guess they just gave it to a bunch of people -- but I couldn't have got it without playing for Baylor. It's definitely a team thing; I guess I got it because I play No. 1 for Baylor and our team played so well at the tournament, but I couldn't have done it without playing here."

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6311. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.