Three-peat! Alabama's Venos rules at 2023 USTA Collegiate Wheelchair Championships

The University of Virginia’s Wald was crowned 'C' champion; having just picked up tennis last September, he went 5-0 in his matches for the week, and didn't lose a set along the way. He defeated Virginia Tech's Sammy Kenyon in the final, 6-2, 6-4.

"I played in one tournament before this one ... I didn't do too great, but I was just two months in at that point, so I kept training" he said. "It was cool to play against all different people and meet a lot of different adaptive athletes. It's hard to find them, so it's cool to make friends here. It was a super fun, good competition. I'm excited for next year."

In all, 30 players from competed in the individual competition across the three flights—just two short of last year's record-setting number. 

In the team competition, six-time defending national champions Alabama, Auburn, Boise State, and San Diego State finished as the top-four teams of the 10 that competed, which was also an all-time high for the 20-plus years of the event. Two of these teams will be selected to return in May to compete for the championship alongside the Division I men's and women's team finals in a historic integration for college tennis. 

Alabama head coach Evan Enquist, who's been with the Crimson Tide since 2014 and is also a member of the USTA's national wheelchair tennis committee, says he and his team would be thrilled to have the opportunity to play a part in this first-of-its-kind demonstration.

"We'd be so excited to get to be a part of this inaugural event [in May], and really showcase to the United States what collegiate wheelchair tennis looks like," he said.