When people think of UVA Athletics, basketball, swimming, lacrosse, and other standout sports often come to mind. But one sport that’s often overlooked is wheelchair tennis.
Founded in 2021 by Catherine DeSouza and Mason McGrady, the UVA Wheelchair Tennis Team was the school’s first introduction to adaptive athletics. In such a short history, UVA is already ranked #2 in the country for adaptive tennis.
Beyond this impressive progress and growth underlies a more important phenomenon; UVA Wheelchair Tennis is promoting cultural diversity on Grounds and beyond.
Cultural diversity at UVA extends beyond race, ethnicity, or nationality. It includes intellectual diversity, lived experiences, and the ability to challenge and expand traditional spaces. Wheelchair tennis is a prime example of this sort of diversity, as it requires the UVA community to reconsider what it means to be an athlete.
This year the team consists of two Hoos: Jacob Wald and Brian Douglas. Despite receiving no financial support from UVA Athletics and relying entirely on student activities funding and donations, both Jacob and Brian have travelled across the country representing UVA. From Alabama to Florida to Texas to Michigan, their hard work has earned them 15 USTA titles in adaptive tennis.
Sports are a cornerstone of American college life. Few experiences rival the energy of stiff competition—whether on a court, in a field, or through a pool. The performative nature of athletics demands grit and resilience, teaching young kids how to rise to a challenge and deliver under pressure.
Jacob (above) always loved sports. When he was 11, Jacob was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition, transverse myelitis, that affected his spinal cord and caused partial paralysis. He now has limited mobility in his spinal region which affects the majority of his body. College was his first time playing adaptive tennis and fell in love, practicing at least six times a week.
“Adaptive sports wasn’t exactly new to me. When I was younger my parents took me to a wheelchair basketball game. I just wanted nothing to do with it. I didn’t want to accept that I was disabled. I was eleven! No one wants to be disabled at eleven! I became more comfortable being disabled after starting to accept myself. My girlfriend [McKenna] is disabled. I started playing more adaptive sports. My life got so much better once I accepted my disability.” ~ Jacob Wald
Beyond the courts, wheelchair tennis fosters a culture of awareness and advocacy. The program brings attention to the daily challenges faced by students with physical disabilities and opens up conversations about equity in higher education. The team’s presence encourages greater investment in accessible facilities, transportation, and policies that benefit not just student-athletes, but the entire disabled community at UVA.
Brian Douglas was born without a tibia bone and underwent a double knee disarticulation at eleven months old. He began using prosthetics at just a year and a half. This never stopped him from playing in sports — in fact, he excelled.
Brian was in the UIPM paralympic national swim championships at the young age of 17. Eventually he stopped and took up wrestling. He was the captain of his high school varsity wrestling team for two years before coming to UVA to start the UVA Wrestling Club. Also remarkably, he completed the 2019 US Pentathlon National Championship.
Brian shows that there are no excuses. You wake up every day despite your personal struggles and you work hard. Brian says: “it’s really awesome to hit a winner,” and he doesn’t just mean in tennis. He’s talking about everyday decisions that allow you to fall asleep feeling fulfilled.
“It’s fulfilling to know that I helped provide a platform for students with disabilities to participate in adaptive sports. I helped give them the platform to engage in competition with an inclusive playing field. I feel like I did wheelchair tennis for others more than myself.” ~ Brian Douglas
The UVA Wheelchair Tennis Team has already made a significant impact at the national level. Competing in USTA-sanctioned events and regularly ranking among the top collegiate teams in the country, the program has set a precedent for other universities looking to expand their adaptive sports offerings. But it’s not enough.
One day, adaptive athletics will become a staple for top university athletic departments across the country. Schools like the University of Alabama have already implemented programs like “Alabama Adapted” which financially support Alabama’s para track and field, wheelchair tennis, and wheelchair basketball teams.
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