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Makiya Hutto
Stephens County Lady Indian tennis player Makiya Hutto just wrapped up her first season with the SCHS tennis program and she quickly made her presence known. Hutto immediately made an impact for the Lady Indians as she aided SCHS in making a deep playoff run all the way to the Elite 8 quarterfinal round. Hutto also helped the team to a Region 8-AAA runner-up finish. Along the 2022 season journey, Hutto, who played at No. 1 singles for the Lady Indians, often dominated the competition which resulted in Hutto’s Region 8-AAA Player of the Year honors.
“It feels good,” Hutto said of the honor. “I am glad to see my hard work pay off.”
When Hutto was named region player of the year, she became the first Lady Indian to have the honor in SCHS girls’ tennis team history. Hutto also became only the third SCHS tennis player in school history – boys and girls – to win the postseason award. The player of the year who just wrapped up her junior season joined the program as a transfer student who was previously home schooled. She is now an online student at SCHS. Stephens County head tennis coach Thomas Flowers heard about Hutto through another teacher.
Flowers was told that Hutto was a tournament player and was interested in joining the team. That teacher put Flowers in contact with Hutto’s family and from there she started impressing people on the court for SCHS.
“I first saw Makiya hit at the first tennis practice,” Flowers said. “My first reaction was, ‘wow this girl is really good.’”
As the Lady Indian No. 1 singles player, she was undefeated in region play throughout the regular season. Hutto lost only one match this past season. The lone loss came in the Elite 8 to the No. 1 singles player from 20-time state champion powerhouse Westminster School. The one loss Hutto absorbed was to Ann Guerry of Westminster who is the No. 1 ranked girls tennis player in the state and ranked in the top 50 in the nation. Guerry is headed to Yale’s tennis program.
“The girl I played – she was just really good,” Hutto said. “She was amazing. Top 50 in the country. Kudos to her. I know she worked really hard for that and I am happy for her. It was a good match. We had some really good points. Overall, she was just a better player than me.”
The rising senior said she was disappointed with the loss but still proud of the season she experienced. She said she’s proud of her performance and her team’s performance in 2022.
“It’s good,” Hutto said. “I am glad that I played well throughout the season and I am glad my team played well throughout the season as well. So that is exciting.”
Hutto brought an abundance of experience to the Lady Indians last season. Hutto said she’s been playing tennis since the age of 4. Her father was the one that has taught her and introduced the game to her. Since then, she has fallen in love with the sport and plays tennis year-round. Hutto takes a combination of virtual classes and is involved in dual enrollment at North Georgia Technical College.
During the tennis season her schedule is busy as Hutto traveled to Seneca, S.C., for private practices, have classes, then drive back to Toccoa for matches and practices for SCHS. Hutto’s region player of the year award is not the only tennis accolade she has received. At the age of 14 she played for Brookstone Tennis Club out of South Carolina.
Hutto and her tennis club finished in the top five in the country in the United States Tennis Association Junior Team Tennis National Championships held in San Antonio, Texas. The fun of the game and high moments like that top five national finish makes her love the game even more.
“I love it,” Hutto said. “I could not imagine not ever playing tennis. I am really competitive and it brings up so many other opportunities.”
Hutto said she wants to play NCAA Division I tennis after her senior high school season in 2023. Her individual goal for the ‘23 season is to be undefeated in her matches. Hutto said next season the goal for the team is to make a trip back to the Elite 8 and take the region crown. Hutto is excited about coming back for next season along with her coach.
“What sticks out to me the most about Makiya is her professional attitude,” Flowers said. “Makiya is extremely intensive, mature, and intentional at practice, in matches, and in every aspect of her life. Her strength, in my opinion, is that she is so driven to be better than she was the day before.”