Boys tennis: Middle’s late-season surge continues with second-round playoff upset

Posted: May 28th 2025

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com 

A challenging regular-season schedule is paying off for the Middle Township High School boys tennis team.

The Panthers kept their season rolling with a 3-2 upset victory over Delsea in the second round of the South Jersey Group II Tournament on Tuesday. Fifth-seeded Middle secured the victory over the fourth-seeded Crusaders thanks to its superior depth, winning the third singles and both doubles matches to secure its three points.

Michael Ratchford’s 7-5, 6-4 win at third singles clinched the victory for Middle. Also for the Panthers, Evan Chew and Kenny Martin took the first doubles match, 6-4, 6-1, and Dante Duca and Dylan Jenkins were 6-3, 6-2 winners at second doubles.

The win sends Middle (15-8), coached by Matt Gilbert, into the sectional semifinal round at top-seeded Haddonfield on Thursday.

Middle, which competed out of the difficult Cape-Atlantic American Conference this spring, lost five of its first eight matches but has now won 12 of its last 15.

Middle has enjoyed its success this season with a rather young lineup. The varsity team has no seniors, with four of the seven regulars consisting of three sophomores and a freshman.

In addition to those who accounted for the winning points against Delsea, Darp Patel (first singles) and Miles Stafford (second singles) have also been major contributors for the Panthers.

Prior to defeating Delsea, Middle topped No. 13 Manchester Township, 5-0, in the opening round, winning all five matches in straight sets.

Middle has been one of the area’s strongest spring sports programs in recent years. The Panthers reached six consecutive South Jersey title matches while competing in Group I before being bumped out of last year’s tournament in the semifinal round. They won South Jersey titles three times during that span (2016, 2018, 2019). There was no season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pictured in above photo of the Middle Township boys tennis team: back row - assistant coach Mario Duca, assistant coach John Leahy, Liam Kelly, Darp Patel, Miles Stafford, M.J. Murnaghan, Kenny Martin, Rey Cruz Bruno, head coach Matt Gilbert, assistant coach Logan Maund; front row - Dylan Jenkins, Michael Ratchford, Michael Zuzulock, Max Lattimore-White, Deedar Singh, Owen Ellis.