PHOTOS: Middle wins four of five positions to claim team title at Cape May tournament

Posted: April 28th 2024

Simon Hardin helped Middle Township win the team title at the Cape May Tennis Club Round Robin Tournament by winning the first singles championship.

CAPE MAY – The last time the Middle Township High School boys tennis didn’t win the Cape May Tennis Club’s Round Robin Tournament, the program’s current players weren’t yet born.

The Panthers claimed first place in four of the five positions and won the tournament for the 18th straight year Saturday, besting Lower Cape May, Wildwood Catholic and Pennsylvania teams Jenkintown and Neshaminy.

Simon Hardin claimed the first singles title and Justin Wen won the second singles championship to lead Middle.

The Panthers also claimed both doubles titles, with Jake King and Jack Morton winning at No. 1 and Brandyn Acevedo and Michael Ratchford winning at No. 2.

The tournament’s format pits each player or doubles team against players from each of the other school’s for one set. The player or position with the most games won is declared the winner.

Middle Township's Brandyn Acevedo at second doubles

Wildwood Catholic's Chris Papageorgiou hits a return in a singles match

Christian Sorensen of Wildwood Catholic watches his return in a singles match

Wildwood Catholic's Chuckie Clunn with an overhead volley in a doubles match

Middle Township's Darp Patel in a third singles match

Lower Cape May's Ismael Lopez hustles to the ball during a singles match

Wildwood Catholic's Jack Kurtz with a volley during a doubles match

Jack Morton with a backhand return for Middle Township in a doubles match

Middle Township's Jake King follows through on a shot in a doubles match

Middle Township's Justin Wen in a second singles match

Michael Ratchford of Middle Township hustles to a volley in a doubles match

Robbie Claxton of Wildwood Catholic with a return in a singles match

Victor Vazquez of Lower Cape May prepares to serve in a singles match

Nathan Chase of Lower Cape May with a return in a singles match