Professional Wheelchair Tennis Exhibition To Take Place At Tradewinds Island Grand Resort

Written by: Staff on 15th February 2011

Professional Wheelchair Tennis Exhibition To Take Place At Tradewinds Island Grand Resort

Daniela Di Toro (AUS), Finalist , 2011 Australian Open Women's Wheelchair Championship |

The Tampa Bay area will be treated to an exhibition of athletic skill and mental fortitude when the BaseLine Wheelchair Tennis Foundation and the Trade Winds Island Grand Resort present a professional wheelchair tennis exhibition on Saturday February 19 at 6:30 pm (rain or shine) at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort at 5500 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach, Florida.

“The exhibition has been so well received in the past. The players thoroughly enjoy the ambience that is created by the resort and all the fans. This is one of the most popular stops on our wheelchair circuit,” cited Bob Waldman, Founder and President of BaseLine Wheelchair Tennis Foundation. He will be organizing the exhibition for the fifth consecutive year in the St. Petersburg area.

The event is sponsored by the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, the official hotel of the exhibition. The evening exhibition at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort will also feature entertainment provided by David Ippolito, American singer, songwriter, and playwright. David currently has eight albums and is known for his performances in Central Park, which are attended by thousands. He styles himself as “That Guitar Man from Central Park.”

Dr. Genevieve C. Norato from Venice, FL is a chiropractic physician and our exhibition trainer who will also be in attendance to discuss health, wellness and fitness.

The evening includes wine, beer, soft drinks and hors d’oeuvres for a $25 per person donation. All proceeds go to the Baseline Wheelchair Tennis Foundation (501 C3 Tax Exempt Status).

A live sports auction, which includes two courtside seats at the Louis Armstrong stadium and a behind the scenes tour of the US Open, will complement the evening’s excitement.

The matches will feature the following BaseLine players: Paul Walker of Lakeland, FL, Doyle Mann of St Petersburg, Sarah Casteel of Greenville, SC and Rich Hart of Palm Harbor, FL.

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.

Mann has more than 25 years of wheelchair sports experience including softball, basketball, tennis, handcycling, racquetball, road racing and track and field. . He is the founder of the Devil Rays Wheelchair Softball team, which is an affiliation of Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

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.

Hart, in addition to his wheelchair tennis participation, hand cycles and kayaks. He also is an avid golfer and shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays Wheelchair Softball Team.

Larry Santos, a member of the Professional Tennis Registry and Head Tennis Professional at the Eaglebrooke Country Club in Lakeland, FL, will be joining the wheelchair players conducting a “Run & Roll” demonstration where a able bodied player runs to the ball and the chair player rolls to the ball. . Larry has been coaching wheelchair tennis for over 12 years.

“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,” 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.

Topics: BaseLine Wheelchair Tennis Foundation