Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association-Tennis

The Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Association (GRWSA) is a nonprofit organization designed to help children and adults whose various physical challenges require them to use a wheelchair to play competitive and recreational sports. Over the years, the GRWSA has helped thousands of youths and adults participate in nearly every sport imaginable - from hockey to rock climbing to water-skiing and much more. The GRWSA also supports a nationally ranked traveling wheelchair tennis team, hosts an internationally sanctioned tennis tournament, sponsors the nationally ranked Grand Rapids Pacers wheelchair basketball team, co-sponsors the Jr. Pacers youth basketball team, sponsors the hand-cycling team, road racing team and water ski clinic. The Jr. Tennis Program began in the summer of 2004 and we are excited to see the continued growth in the program over the last 5 years. This past summer we averaged around 12 kids from ages 7-18 years old that participated in the summer program for 12 weeks. After the success of the adult program, we decided to offer the kids an opportunity to play tennis. Our kids share the courts right next to them with the adult tennis team every week, which has contributed to the program’s success. The kids learn a lot from the mentors on the courts right next to them! Due to the success of this program, we now split the kids into two tracks: a competitive track for more serious higher level players and a recreational track for younger kids and beginner level players. This proved to be a success as we had 2 coaches each focusing on a smaller group of individuals to work with. Our older teenagers now practice year round, twice a month at Orchard Hills Swim & Sports Club on Saturday afternoons to keep their skills up all winter long. We are excited to have one of our adult coaches Betsy Eberhardt, who will be leading our junior program as it continues to grow. We are excited to have her share her knowledge and experience with the kids. She will be joined by an assistant coach for the summer and two college students that will be doing an internship program through Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and the Kentwood Recreation Department as well as an adult volunteer to assist. Junior Tennis players practice for twelve weeks every summer.