Inaugural Heartland Challenge event a hit for adaptive tennis players

USTA Nebraska competitors Haley Waggoner and Wyatt Spalding have played in many adaptive tennis events throughout the country. However, with there not being many offered in the Midwest, Waggoner and Spalding decided to create their own.

As a result, the Heartland Challenge was developed and took place for the first time on April 25-27 at Lincoln’s Woods Tennis Center. Thirteen high-performance adaptive athletes from Florida, Massachusetts, Virginia, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska played in the inaugural event.

“We wanted Midwest players to travel close to home, and there are adaptive athletes who want to compete,” Waggoner said. “But it’s challenging when there are not many options available.”

The Heartland Challenge joined a handful of other similar events in the U.S. as unique opportunities for nationally ranked Special Olympians to showcase their skills in a high-performance setting.

Several volunteers and sponsors—including USTA Missouri Valley and USTA Nebraska—helped make the event a reality.

Woods Tennis Center Director of Community Outreach and Evaluation Kaitlin Roselius was a key driver of the event. Roselius was the recipient of the 2024 USTA Nebraska Outstanding Diversity Achievement Award and '24 USTA Missouri Valley Outstanding Diversity Achievement Award. Niki Figard, Heartland Challenge volunteer coordinator, was likewise instrumental to the event's success.

“Those competing were some of the top adaptive players from across the country,” Roselius said. “Many tennis folks don’t know a lot about adaptive tennis, so to get to see these top players in action was a great learning experience.

"Another goal for this event was to continue helping to foster the sense of community for these athletes and their families that so many of the rest of us might take for granted given access to year-round league play, adult tournaments, etcetera.”

In addition to the high-level tennis tournament, Heartland Challenge attendees participated in on-court games and a clinic to kick off the weekend. Social activities included an opening ceremony, Haymarket Park scavenger hunt in downtown Lincoln, an on-court movie night and an awards dinner. Competitors received a T-shirt, meals, snacks and awards as part of their registration fee.

Waggoner, who is from Lincoln, has played adaptive tennis for many years and said tournaments like the Heartland Challenge are important, as adaptive athletes get to play with and against other adaptive athletes. Waggoner has previously competed in the Adaptive Tennis National Qualifier and Fred Johnson ALL Stars events put on by USTA Missouri Valley.