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Tonya Papanikolas Reporting After a serious accident years ago, a Sugarhouse man says learning to play tennis helped motivate him during his rehab. Now he plays three or four times a week. His passion for the sport and his motivation have led to some exciting achievements.
For Randy Curry, there's nothing like the feel of a tennis ball hitting his racket. But Curry faces some extra challenges on the court because he's in a wheelchair.
Randy Curry, Tennis Player: "When you're playing someone who's not in a wheelchair, it will bounce up higher, and so that's the hardest part to get used to."
Because he can't move sideways, Curry has to constantly move his wheelchair to anticipate the ball. But he's exceptionally good at the routine, often catching his opponents off guard.
Kim Nakamura, Randy's Doubles Partner: "I don't think they really take him seriously until they actually start playing with him. And he'll fire a shot up the line, and they'll go, 'what just happened?'"
Dean Oba, Randy's Wheelchair Tennis Partner: "He's got great forehand, his serve's good and he's got good volley."
Curry has been playing tennis from a wheelchair for 17 years. When he was paralyzed in a car accident, tennis became part of his rehab.
Randy Curry: "I was in a full-body brace, and I couldn't do much, but just sit at the net; and if the ball was right there, then I could hit it."
At first, Curry played others in wheelchairs, but eventually wanted to enhance his skills and play new opponents. Two years ago, he became the first wheelchair tennis player in Utah to join a Tennis Association league, where he volleys with able-bodied opponents.
Randy Curry: "You have to move faster and quicker and hit better shots, because if you just give them a sitter at the net, they'll kill you."
Last year, Curry's 3-0 men's team made it to the district playoffs where he competed against players from seven states.
Randy Curry: "I was the first person in a wheelchair to make it there, and also advance to nationals, where we took third place."
Stacey Curry, Randy's Wife: "It was great for a wheelchair player to be involved, and for everyone to be so accepting."
Curry says he hopes someone will outdo his records as more wheelchair tennis players join leagues. Already, his friend Dean Oba is on that list.
Though League rules allow wheelchair tennis players two bounces, Curry usually only needs one. His friends say he's an inspiration, but Curry insists he's just living his life with the same expectations he had of himself before the accident.
