Athlete spotlight: Devam Patel, Opelika HS
Devam Patel, a junior at OHS and Opelika native, is set to take a big leap to 1-seat in doubles competition this year – a position he never thought he'd be in.
An Opelika High School boys tennis standout is ready to take another leap in performance from the 2022 season to the 2023 season.
Devam Patel, a junior at OHS and Opelika native, began the 2022 tennis season as the 6-seat with the boys doubles. Now, he holds the 1-seat spot for doubles and the 2-seat spot for singles.
Patel began playing tennis only two years ago as a freshman at OHS, but being competitive wasn’t a concern of his.
“I began playing tennis because it was a free block,” Patel said.
What started as a way to leave school early during the last block of the school day has morphed into a competitive and fun sport for Patel.
Before Patel’s match against Pike Road High School on Tuesday, he described how last season he lost his match against his Pike Road opponent. That loss did not discourage Patel’s competitive mentality. Instead, it drove his desire to improve.
“I will win today,” Patel said. “You just got to want it more.”
After joining the team looking for a free period, Patel described how he has grown close with everyone on the tennis team and genuinely feels like everyone is a family.
He has gotten so into the sport that, two years after jumping in, he considers it as a future option. Although Patel’s focus during his college search is for academics, but if provided the opportunity, he said he would love to play tennis in college.
“My favorite subject is math,” Patel said. “I think I might want to do some sort of engineering.”
In his free time, Patel enjoys playing sports like basketball with his friends, and he also enjoys playing video games.
Patel is looking forward to where the 2023 and 2024 season takes him competitively and socially.
— By SeAnna Graddy
