The Tampa Bay area will be treated to two exhibitions of athletic skill and mental fortitude when the BaseLine Wheelchair Tennis Foundation and the Admiral Farragut Academy present a professional wheelchair tennis exhibition on Friday February 12 at noon and then again at 6:30 pm at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort.

“The exhibition has been so well received in the past. The players thoroughly enjoy the ambience that is created by the Academy, the resort and all the fans. This is one of most popular stops on our wheelchair circuit,” cited Bob Waldman, Founder and President of BaseLine Wheelchair Tennis Foundation and an Admiral Farragut Academy alumnus who will be organizing the exhibition for the fourth consecutive year. This will be BaseLine’s inaugural wheelchair tennis exhibition at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort.

The events are sponsored by Admiral Farragut Academy, the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort – the official hotel of the exhibition and Tennis View Magazine. The noon exhibition at the Academy will be free of charge. The evening exhibition at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, which includes wine, beer, soda and hors d’oeuvres, will be $25 per person. The public is welcome to attend both exhibitions. Hundreds of Farragut Naval Academy cadets will be on hand to cheer on the wheelchair tennis athletes at the Academy. Wounded veterans from the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa will be recognized at the noon wheelchair tennis exhibitions.

The matches, which will feature the following BaseLine players, John Johnston of Gainesville, FL, Paul Walker of Lakeland, FL, Karin Korb, of Atlanta, GA and Sarah Casteel of Greenville, SC. The matches will be staged at the Admiral Farragut Academy courts at 501 Park Street North in St. Petersburg and the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort courts, 5600 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. Johnston, formerly ranked number 24 in the world, was the first male wheelchair tennis player to compete in USTA National Championships against able-bodied players. Walker, who has been ranked as high as number 5 in the United States, is currently the Head Coach of the U.S. women’s national wheelchair tennis team. Korb is a former US number 1 ranked women’s player and the first women player to compete in a USTA tournament against able bodies players. Casteel is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington and Medical College of South Carolina. Sarah’s highlights include playing wheelchair tennis at the University of Missouri and University of Texas where she won the Intercollegiate Wheelchair Tennis Championships in 2003.

“Wheelchair tennis is taking what life throws at you and throwing something back.” stated Jay Snyder, former US Open Tournament Director from 1993 to 2002 and BaseLine Wheelchair Tennis Foundation member of the Board of Directors.

“Competitive sports have an emotional impression on many of us. I have had the opportunity to work and witness some major tennis events. However, none has had the impact on me as the US Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships in San Diego. The field consisted of the most talented wheelchair athletes in the word. The upper-body and mental strength along with their wheelchair adroitness were very impressive and imposing; nevertheless it was their drive and courage, which had the strongest impact on any spectator in attendance. It is an honor to be part of the BaseLine Wheelchair Tennis Foundation and the Admiral Farragut Academy program,” voiced “Inside Tennis With The Koz” host Dave “Koz” Kozlowski, Director of Public Relations, BaseLine Wheelchair Tennis Foundation and member of the Board of Directors.

“Watch these players in action and after 10 minutes the chair disappears and all you see are world-class professional athletes,” expressed an emotional Waldman.


For more information contact:
www.BaseLinewheelchairtennis.org 
Bob Waldman, Exhibition Director, (917) 533-7792 or
Admiral Farragut Academy (727) 384-5500 ext 233





 

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