Ryan's Tuscon Tennis Tourny

Disclosure Statement: We forgot our camera.......these pictures are not taken while tournament is in play.........bummer!

Our trip to Tuscon was fun.

You sure do learn a lot while hanging out with people who have been thrown some "serious struggles" into their mix of life experiences.

The people we met in Tuscon were awesome.

First off, is Dean (Ryan's coach). He is in his 50's and was born with Spina Bifida just like Ryan. He has loved tennis for a long time.......and loves teaching his "passion" to Ryan. He is an A player, which is just a step below open which is the highest category. Dean has several bachelor degrees, a couple of master degrees, and a doctorate in Chemistry - dare I say, he is smart. He grew up on a farm without having a wheelchair until age 12. He owns a home in Sugarhouse and as we learned on the trip is an avid gardener and cook. He loves wheelchair sports and spends all day on his Saturdays coaching kids and teaching them wheelchair sports........quite frankly - we owe the world to him.

Mens C singles - 1st round....Ryan played a guy named Shelly who was in his 60's. He had polio when he was a child. He told us that he retired a few years back and needed a hobby so he took up wheelchair tennis......loves it - and was great to Ryan. Ryan ended up beating him after coming back from a 5-0 deficit in the first set. They both said it was one of the funnest matches they ever played. Ryan and Shelly met for breakfast and became friends.

Mens C singles - championship round......Ryan played a guy named Pete, who happens to be the track and field coach for University of Arizona (wheelchair). Pete's legs are fused at the knees - which means he cannot bend them - at all! Pete was in a standing wheelchair ( I wish I had pictures). Pete was very goodplayer - yes standing in a wheelchair - unable to bend any part of his legs. He beat Ryan in two sets.....but after the match told us he decided he had to beat Ryan now while he still could - really complimenting him on his talent. More important than tennis though.....Pete was the nicest guy. He was married, a University coach and also mentioned he had a doctorate degree in sports psychology. He gave us lots of good reasons (recruited a little) why Ryan should plan to go to U of A (University in Tuscon) . They have one of the only wheelchair sports programs in the nation.

Mens C doubles.........His partner was a guy named Rob, a double amputee.......both legs gone just above the knee. Rob was a blast. This was only his second tournament (he has been playing for a couple of months). Rob is a natural athlete and will surely climb the ranks in tennis. Rob and Ryan played well together but ended up losing the match in 3 sets. Rob lost his legs at the age of six. He does not live life in a chair - but walks with prosthetics. He walks perfectly normal and said that he played all able-bodied sports as a kid. It was amazing to see how well his prosthetics worked for him. His ocupation is now building and engineering prosthetics. I hope Ryan gets to play with him again.

There were two other juniors in the tournament. Hayden a 17 year old who has Spina Bifida and lives in Tucson and an 18 year old girl from California (paralyzed in the legs) - who is really good. She was able to go to China and play in the paralympics this summer.

Another thing I learned at this tournament is there is a separate division in wheelchair tennis labeled Quads. This means your arms and or hands are involved in your disability. I watched many a quad player TAPE the racket to their hand (because they wouldn't have the strength to hold it) and play competitive tennis. It is something to see. I also had fun watching the Open players - who are once again, really good. In the final, was a guy who was a single amputee at the hip, and had only 3 fingers on one hand. (He also went to China) The other player was from Canada and was completely paralyzed from the waste down.

So there you have it -

"Life and tennis........ as we..... do not know it"!

A great experience and really fun to watch.

Wayne and Ryan and Samson are going to the Florida Tournament in April! WoooHoooo