The power of tennis: One veteran's story

I was born in 1964 and grew up in Portage Lakes, Ohio, enjoying fishing, being outdoors and biking—all types of athletics and singing. Growing up, I never learned to play tennis. Although once in high school, I did learn how to play racquetball with some friends, we always believed tennis was for the “rich.”

After two years of college and a lack of focus, I decided I wanted to go into law enforcement. At the age of 19, that wasn’t a reality, but I heard that the United States Army was the only military service that would guarantee a position in law enforcement, even at the age of 19.

I joined the Army in 1984, serving two tours in Korea, and two sites stateside at Fort Carson, Colo. and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. I served as a military policeman, military police investigator, military police administrative noncommissioned officer, assistant squad leader, detective and finally as a criminal investigator trainee. I was awarded four Army Commendation Medals, one Army Achievement Medal, two overseas service tour ribbons, the Army Service Ribbon and a multitude of other commendations, honorably discharging in May 1990.

I began playing adapted sports, to include wheelchair: air rifle/pistol, archery, field events; billiards, Boccia, pickleball, fly fishing and even powerlifting, all from a wheelchair. For the past five years, I have participated in the Buckeye Wheelchair Games and the National Veterans Wheelchair Games in the above categories, earning more than 70 gold, silver and bronze medals.

After several years competing in other wheelchair events, I heard of wheelchair tennis with Thrive Through Tennis. Thrive stands for tennis, health, results, inspiration, value and education. The organization is located at the Center Court Tennis Club in Broadview Heights, Ohio. Originally, I was interested in participating in any aerobic-type exercise to help with heart health, weight loss and comradery. The staff that promoted my inclusiveness, such as Nancy Sobecks, Brian Smallwood and Joe Horvath, took an older man of almost 60 years and taught him how to play a game he had never played before, and now, even more challenging, was in a wheelchair.

At the age of 59, I began playing tennis for the first time. I was amazed that with proper instruction, my serve was “in-play” almost every time. Not long after I played tennis for the first time, I was teamed up with Nancy Sobecks in a tournament where an able-bodied person and a wheelchair-bound athlete were combined. Nancy and I won first place.