Idaho Wheelchair Tennis Association

Idaho Wheelchair Tennis Association (IWTA) was busy this past summer hosting several clinics and a major fundraiser, and sponsoring the 2009 Paul Bruce Summer Classic Tournament in July (a sanctioned USTA event with 115 participants). 

 

IWTA’s first clinic was for wheelchair athletes, with the second being geared toward disabled veterans. Randy Snow, a nationally-recognized motivational speaker as well as one of the most accomplished wheelchair athletes in the world, taught at both clinics. The “Two-Bounce-Blitz” fundraiser at Boise Racquet and Swim Club on July 16 also raised a substantial amount of money for future events. 

 

IWTA held a junior clinic for youth wheelchair tennis players in June of 2009, which included six youth wheelchair athletes. They sent three wheelchair players to a tournament in Portland in August.

 

IWTA sponsored a clinic in May at the Appleton Tennis Center, in conjunction with the BSU Women’s Tennis Team, with more than 30 participants. They also held a member up/down clinic in April which was taught by Jim Moortgat and had a dozen participants. They sponsored 12 up/down indoor tennis sessions at the BSU BOAS Tennis Complex from January through March, which had 50+ participants.

 

To cap it all off, IWTA now has a Web site, www.idahowheelchairtennis.com. As a CTA, its mission is to grow the sport of wheelchair up/down tennis in Idaho through grants, fundraisers and donations. With continued support from the USTA, IdTA and the generous public, their mission has transformed into actual time on the court integrating wheelchair and able-bodied tennis.