May 2010 Wheelchair Spotlight-Utah Wheelchair Tennis

Since the early 90s, wheelchair tennis has had a presence in Utah that has developed because of player efforts on and off the court. In 2009, the partnership between USTA, the Utah Tennis Association, the University of Utah Rehabilitation Center, and a number of community partners resulted in support from the USTA Grassroots Wheelchair Tennis Program. Funds from that grant and equipment funding from the Rotary Club of Salt Lake City made 2009 a remarkable year!! It included 18 outdoor practices, 16 indoor practices, a 3 day camp, five 3 hour clinics, two 8 week Up Down leagues, 9 introduction clinics, 4 TRAILS (U Rehab) clinics and 2 local tournaments with a wheelchair division. At weekly practices and clinics, average participation was between 10-15 people: beginners and advanced players, youth and adults. In addition, some Utah players took their recreational interests to the next level and competed successfully in tournaments in Tucson, Florida, Sacramento, Irvine, and St. Louis. Two juniors attended the ITF Camp in Mission Viejo in July. Ryan Nelson (15yo) was the first wheelchair player to make a high school tennis team (Brighton High School), and he made World Team Cup that included travel to Great Britain for international competition. The USTA grant funding is being augmented by other local donations and is able to be stretched into 2010 for continued weekly practices and clinic programming. Utah is looking forward to another great year of wheelchair tennis!!!

 
USTA Membership
Learn More or Login
Learn More or Login
Espanol
 
Newsletter Signup
 
 
 
 

Copyright 2013 by United States Tennis Association. All Rights Reserved.

Online Advertising | Site Map | About Us | Work for Us | Contact Us

Terms of Use | Umpire Policy | Privacy Policy