Devils’ state tennis run ends in Elite Eight
Published 4:53 pm Thursday, May 1, 2025
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Adam Beck keeps his doubles team with Jack Medina in the game with a forehand smash.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Elijah Hellman digs out a forehand shot.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Jack Medina concentrates on his task ahead of him, serving in a doubles match.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Josh Hellman readies a serve for the Blue Devils at No. 1 singles.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Maitrey Patel's power comes through in his singles match for Tift County.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Seth Denham rises to the occasion to continue a rally.
Becky Taylor/The Tifton Gazette Matthew Layfield soars for Tift County against West Forsyth.
TIFTON — Tift County’s remarkable tennis season came to an end Thursday. No. 2 West Forsyth continued its run with the state’s best with a 4-0 win after the TCHS courts.
“We have nothing to hang our heads about,” said head coach Ivey Vickers.
Tift made the Elite Eight for the first time since 2008. Vickers said she never would have believed at the first of the season they would be battling among the state’s elite.
“It’s been awesome,” she said. “They’ve done a great job. The assistant coaches have done a great job. It’s been a good year.”
West Forsyth were Class 7A state runners-up in 2024 and 2023 to Lambert.
Though the Blue Devils were unable to win a set against West Forsyth, it was a battle all the way.
Seth Denham and Matthew Layfield even had a 4-2 lead in their second set before the Wolverines thundered back to win, 6-4. Jack Brady and Nolan Niksich won the first set in that match, 6-0.
Maitrey Patel and Josh Hellman had early leads.
Hellman fell, 2-6, 2-6 to Nic Wild and Kamalesh Packiaraj won over Patel, 6-2, 6-2.
Elijah Hellman fell against Hilton Stinson, 2-6, 1-6.
Jack Medina and Adam Beck did not finish their match with Aaron Ewers and Joey Faust. West Forsyth won the first set.
Two starters graduate from this year’s boys team, Patel and Layfield. Replacing both will be hard, said Vickers. “We’re going to miss Matt and Maitrey.” Both won 50 matches in their careers.
