It was an absolute pleasure to coach the Wheelchair Tennis Fun Day at Chico Racquet Club & Resort this weekend alongside Ability First Sports.

There’s something special about seeing a player get into a tennis chair, get on the court, and discover what they’re capable of. Whether someone was picking up a racket for the first time or already had experience playing, the goal was simple: have fun, learn, compete, and build confidence.

A huge thank you to Janet, Kerri Vanderbom, Derek Vanderbom, and the entire Chico Racquet Club team for opening your doors and helping create such a welcoming environment for adaptive athletes. And thank you to Ability First Sports for being such a great partner in bringing adaptive tennis opportunities to the Chico community.

I’m especially grateful for the support of USTA grant funding, which helped make this program possible and allows the Adaptive Athletics Association to continue expanding access to adaptive tennis.

As a longtime wheelchair tennis player and coach, I know firsthand what access to a court, a coach, and a supportive community can mean. Days like this are about much more than tennis — they’re about creating opportunities, building connections, and showing what is possible when we make room for everyone on the court.

Thank you to all of the athletes, families, volunteers, coaches, and supporters who came out and made the day so memorable.

The court is for everyone. Let’s keep opening the doors. 🎾♿