Wheelchair Tennis Unites Able-bodied Tennis Players

The Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association has brought together Beth Redford, a tennis player in a wheelchair, and Karen Reid, an able-bodied player, in the adult doubles tournament. There’s no doubt the duo will make a great team sharing the same mentality.

“When it comes to tennis we don’t want to get beat, “says Reid.

This will be the Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association’s 30th year celebration while hosting the 7th annual adult doubles charity tennis tournament. The event will be held January 7th-9th at the Ramblewood Tennis & Health Club in Grandville, Michigan. The tournament is actually an able-bodied tournament, but that won’t hold Redford back from participating with her teammate Reid who just so happens to be a tennis instructor. “Bring it on,” is how Redford felt about competing with their opponents.

“We talked about it this summer and said let’s do it, this is the first time we will play able-bodied players, and we are excited to take on the challenge,” Redford stated.

Though they will be at a slight disadvantage competing against two able-bodied teammates, they don’t seem too worried about it. There is a crew that GRWSA offers known as One Up, One Down league, made of double teams featuring one player sitting and one standing. This is aimed to bring people together and hopefully enlighten able-bodied people along with people with disabilities.

Nine years ago Redford was an athletic director and physical education teacher before her accident where she fell down an open staircase and landed on her back.  Six years later she started playing tennis competitively, helping her cope with her condition.”When I recognized what tennis had to offer, I can’t say I went into it with both feet because I don’t have two feet to stand on, but I jumped into it wholeheartedly. It does provide a competitive outlet for me, and I crave every opportunity to go out and hit.”

“Every time we go out, we try to do it well. We are representing the Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association when we go out on the court and a group of us are in wheelchairs, it is an honor to represent them”, says Redford. Last year, the GRWSA managed to raise around $4,500, the goal this year is to break $5000. The president of TRWSA, Maria Besta said, “I think we have been so successful because of the volunteers who run the program. We also have the ability to raise funds for 100 percent of what we do. That system has worked because everyone has worked together, and it has snowballed.”

GRWSA doesn’t stop there; they offer basketball, sled hockey, tennis, quad rugby, and hand cycling teams. 200 volunteers keep GWSA running, which includes instructors like Reid.

Jess Sporte, now 23, started GRWSA at 10 years of age when she got involved in the sports program. “That completely changed my life. My older brothers and sisters were all involved in AYSO Soccer and I would always go to their games. I was always the one sitting on the sidelines. I sat on the sidelines for everything sports-wise. I went to this camp, and suddenly, here I am, competing with everyone. I wasn’t always the last one picked anymore. I suddenly realized I am athletic, I can do stuff, I can compete. It totally changed my life, from self-esteem to being physically fit.”