News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The White County High School Tennis Team will travel to McDonough, GA next month to assist with the 2024 United States Tennis Association’s Adult National Wheelchair Championship.
White County High School Tennis Head Coach Topher Wiles said his team will be serving in various ways such as court monitors, ball boys, and ball girls. Wiles said the reason he wanted his team to help out is because helping out is in their DNA.
“We have so many great tennis players who want to be a part of something bigger and want to be a positive contribution to our communities,” Wiles said. “So it’s in us all the time if you live in the Upper Cumberland it’s just kind of a part of who you are.”
Wiles said the White County School System has been very supportive in allowing the team to help with the tournament. Wiles said he hopes assisting with the tournament will build character and form relationships for his team.
“These teenagers are going to see so much perseverance from people who have been met with adversity in life,” Wiles said. “So I think it is going to grow them and it’s going to kind of be one of those moments where we hope our tennis players walk away from this and say wow if those wheelchair athletes can do this and play at this level, what can we do in life and what can we overcome so I hope it’s an inspirational moment that helps develop them in their own personal perseverance and discipline in life.”
Wiles said his players are excited to help with the tournament. Wiles said one particular freshman can’t stop talking about it.
“He couldn’t wait for it,” Wiles said. “He was already looking forward to seeing how those wheelchair players roll around the court and how fast they move. He has watched some YouTube clips and you can just hear the excitement in him. He wanted to talk about that the other day rather than what we were talking about at tennis practice. ”
Wiles said due to the US Open not being allowed to host a tournament because of the Olympics the upcoming tournament will be the biggest wheelchair tennis championship this year. The tournament will run from November 14th through November 17th.
