Middle tennis coach: Winning CAL American Conference is ‘one of the greatest accomplishments our program has ever had’

Posted: April 25th 2026

Players and coaches from the Middle Township High School boys tennis team celebrate clinching the CAL American Conference title after Friday's win over St. Augustine Prep.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

The list of accomplishments by the Middle Township High School boys tennis team over the past two decades is quite long.

The Panthers have won three South Jersey titles, have reached the sectional title match in numerous other seasons and had a streak of 10 straight Cape-Atlantic National Conference championships.

But on Friday, the Panthers produced one of their greatest feats. A 3-2 victory over St. Augustine Prep allowed Middle to clinch the championship of the CAL American Conference, one of South Jersey’s most competitive leagues.

“I feel like winning this is one the greatest accomplishments our program has ever had,” coach Matt Gilbert said.

It’s certainly not an easy conference to win, not with programs such as St. Augustine, Ocean City and Mainland to overcome. But Middle was able to do it this spring with just one blemish. The Panthers lost 4-1 to Ocean City on April 8 but turned around and beat the Raiders by the same scoreline earlier this week. The team also won a pair of 3-2 decisions over Mainland this season.

“We won the National 10 years in a row and now the last three years in this (American) Conference, it was definitely a wake-up call having to play some of the best teams around in every match,” Gilbert said. “I think it’s the most competitive conference in South Jersey besides the Olympic. It definitely has us battle tested. It seems like almost every match we have goes down to the wire and we’ve had to have different players step up in all of them. It’s been an amazing run.”

Middle (12-1 overall, 9-1 CAL American) is in the throes of an outstanding season despite featuring only two seniors in its regular varsity lineup in second singles player Miles Stafford and first doubles player Kenny Martin.

Middle has been led by junior first singles player Michael Ratchford.

“He’s been amazing,” Gilbert said. “His only loss is to Mainland’s No. 1. He’s been so steady. He claimed that spot early in the season just by his hard work and effort in the offseason and during the season.”

Junior Darp Patel rounds out Middle’s singles lineup at No. 3.

“Our singles lineup is probably the best we’ve had in my 23 years here,” Gilbert said. “I feel like they all could be a No. 1. It’s a gift to have guys like that who train so hard.”

Martin is joined at first doubles by sophomore Dante Duca. The second doubles team is made up of juniors Dylan Jenkins and M.J. Murnaghan, with junior Michael Zuzulock also seeing some action at the position. 

“We returned our whole team from last year and we really came into our own during the second half of last year,” Gilbert said. “Some teams we lost to early in the year we then beat them in the second half of the season. Then going into the playoffs, taking a point from Haddonfield (in a playoff match) kind of inspired the guys to train harder for this season.

“Honestly, I anticipated next year being a big year for us because we have so many juniors but the guys have stepped up and made it happen a year early. It’s been such a great run and, not to jinx it, but next year could be really tremendous.”

Gilbert gave credit to assistant coaches John Leahy and Mario Duca, plus former Middle players Dan Fala and Logan Maund who also regularly attend practice to hit with the current players.

“We have seasoned coaches and with a smaller squad this year, we’re really able to specialize and help the kids with their strokes,” Gilbert said. “It’s like a workshop every day. We love working with the guys every day, refining them and trying to increase their abilities.”

Middle still has quite a few non-league matches plus the South Jersey Group II playoffs still remaining. The Panthers are next in action on Monday against Millville.