Idaho Wheelchair Tennis Association

IWTA winter season started with up/down play at the BSU tennis center. IWTA pays for a two court weekly block where up/down competition is at a high level. They also use the time for wheelchair doubles when there are enough chair players. In April, IWTA sent three chair players to Florida for an international competition and used the winter block to gear up for that tournament.

 

The outdoor season started this year with IWTA offering weekly clinics to members of the organization. "We used three courts on a weekly basis," Corbett said. "One court for drills for kids, another for the ball machine and hitting practice, and the third for competition, up/down and chair doubles. The format worked well for families and we encouraged all ages and ability levels. This is the second year using this format and we noticed a significant increase in numbers across the board of kids in chairs, family siblings and chair players. We ran 14 weekly clinics from May to the end of August."

 

IWTA ended the competitive season by sponsoring a trip to the City of Roses Wheelchair tennis tournament, where four members traveled and competed in the tournament. One new 20-year-old female player competed for the first time since being in a chair. She won the doubles and got second in singles. "She says it has changed her whole perspective for living with a disability," Corbett said. "She found a new meaning for life through the sport of wheelchair tennis and she continues to work hard on a weekly basis, gearing up for her next competition."

 

IWTA also organized and ran two fundraisers in 2011. The first was the clinic with the BSU Women’s Tennis Team in May. This year’s clinic was very successful, raising money for IWTA and giving the girls on the team needed community service points. The second fundraiser was the Summer Classic Tennis Tournament. The Summer Classic was a huge success this year, according to Corbett, increasing IWTA revenue and participants, and furthering good will towards the community.

 

"Our numbers were up again this past year in every program we sponsored and ran. We increased our participation, and furthered our mission of growing the sport of tennis, wheelchair tennis and up/down tennis in Idaho," he said.