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Wheelchair exhibition back at AFA

By NANCY MORGAN
Published February 21, 2007

Professional wheelchair tennis is making a return trip to St. Petersburg, and the public is invited.

Through the collaboration of Admiral Farragut Academy, the Baseline Wheelchair Tennis Foundation and the sponsorship of 1992 academy graduate Christian Chiari of Fort Lauderdale, pro wheelchair players Karin Korb and Paul Walker will make a second appearance at the academy Friday for an exhibition from noon-1:15 p.m.

"The reaction was good last year at Admiral Farragut Academy," said Bob Waldman, foundation founder and academy graduate. "At first, the cadets saw players in a wheelchair playing tennis and within 10 minutes the chair disappeared and what they saw were tennis players. That's the message we want to get across and I think we're making progress."

Korb, a two-time Paralympian, is ranked No. 2 in the nation and No. 20 in the world. Walker is a certified teaching professional and has been ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation and No. 31 in the world. This is Walker's third year to coach the Women's National Wheelchair Team that includes Korb.

"For me, sports is all about participation for everyone, whether at the recreational level, on a team or as a professional," Korb said. "The main thing is get up off the couch and get moving. That applies to everyone.

"I didn't take up tennis until 10 years after I broke my back in a gymnastics accident. I never expected the success I've had, and it was never about the rankings. It was for the process, the cardio benefits and relationships - everything else is extra."

"A lot of time when we do these exhibitions, we don't know about the audience we'll be meeting," said Walker, a high school tennis coach in Lakeland. "Admiral Farragut is unique because we have several hundred cadets in a concentrated atmosphere. I want them to realize that at some point in their life they're going to meet up with someone different in some way and that difference doesn't really matter."

Admiral Farragut Academy is located at 501 Park St. N. in St. Petersburg. For information, call 384-5502, ext. 248.

NET SHOTS: Seminole's Alexandra Cercone, 15, extended No. 4 seed Laurene Fayol of France to three sets in last weekend's qualifying tournament in the Sheriff Jim Coats Third Annual Clearwater Open at the McMullen Tennis Complex. Fayol won 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. Today is the second day of the main draw USTA Pro Circuit contest. The 32-player singles draw and 16-team doubles continues through Sunday. Call 669-1919 for playing times.

- Winners in last weekend's Treasure Island Rookie tournament included Christina McTaggart in the girls 18-and-under, Livia Toth 14, Yasmin Franco 12, Jacqueline Landry 10, Kento Tagashira boys 14, Tyler Berning 12 and Jake Gabay 10.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 445-4119; e-mailed to namorgan@tampabay.rr.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified February 20, 2007, 20:51:08]