Junior Varsity tennis player Madeline Castiglione (10), like most student-athletes, has a busy schedule. Volunteering at wheelchair tennis clinic occupies a spot in Castiglone’s full schedule.
Keith Orahood, a tennis coach at JSerra Catholic High School, coaches a youth wheelchair tennis program.
“What better way than to help a community doing something I love?” Castiglione said.
Orahood has been coaching wheelchair tennis since December of 2021. While trying to find a way to put his coaching talents to use, he says his faith led to him coaching tennis for disabled youth.
“I just felt an urge from The Holy Spirit to do something different. Since I was qualified to teach it I decided that’s what I was gonna start doing,” Orahood said.
Exclusion and low self-esteem are common issues people with disabilities battle on a daily basis. Once these kids are on the hardcourt, those obstacles fade away.
“I like to see people and kids gain confidence in themselves. But when you take that to the wheelchair level it’s not just the confidence it’s just the feeling that they belong to a group that other people are like them. And that’s instantaneous,” Orahood said.
Sophia, a 13 year old player, enjoys swinging the racket. Her mother Tane Wise explains the environment and her daughter’s love for the game.
“The program is absolutely incredible. Sophia loves being part of such a great team and community of players. The coaches are absolutely wonderful. It’s just the highlight of her week. She doesn’t like to ever miss practice and she just loves being a part of the team,” Tane Wise said.
One of the players feels out of place at his public school that he attends. Being around and playing tennis with peers that encounter similar challenges provides him an escape from these obstacles.
“The second week that we had the class, [his] mother came up [to me]. He went home from the first class and told his mom that at school he feels like he’s in a bad movie, like a horror monster [movie] because everyone stares at him. Instantly when he came down to the courts to be with kids, some of them were in wheelchairs, some of them can’t walk very well, he just felt relieved to be with other kids like himself,” Orahood said.
Castiglione reiterates why she joined to assist the program. She also anticipates growth of the program in the future.
“I wanted to help people and I hope the program expands,” Castiglione said. Soon, both of her goals with this program will be achieved. Orahood is in the process of integrating Wheelchair Basketball to his itinerary.
