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Movin’ Mav comes away with wheelchair tennis national title

Written by Travis Detherage, The Shorthorn staff

Wednesday, 21 October 2009 10:13 PM

James Patin of the Movin’ Mavs wheelchair tennis team won national title honors at the second annual National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Mobile, Ala., last weekend at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center - the world’s largest public tennis facility. Patin won the National Championship in the Tier Two (Novice) Bracket and UTA alumnus Jeff Sale finished in the top five in the Tier One (advance) bracket. Patin said it was awesome to win a national title for his university. “The feeling of winning a national championship hasn’t set in yet,” Patin said. “But a lot of work paid off to win it and I can’t wait to get my [national title] ring.” Patin faced Central Texas College’s D.W. Green in the title match. They split the first two sets, each winning one 7-5. Patin then took control of the third set and won 6-3 to capture the national championship. “I basically stuck to my game plan and kept with it and won,” Patin said. Sale, wheelchair tennis team coach said it was good to represent UTA. “Good experience to get to play for UTA and do very well,” said Sale. Sale is a former USA National Junior Team member and played basketball for the Movin’ Mavs for three years. He is now focusing on tennis and is working toward international play. He said he enjoyed playing for UTA. ITA Article Click here to read the article from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. “It’s fun to get to play a sport that I really like, for your school,” Sale said. Movin’ Mavs head coach Doug Garner said he was happy for Sale and the wheelchair tennis program. “I’m very excited about the support Sale is getting in Arlington, DFW and UTA,” said Garner. “He will be a good hope for wheelchair athletes who are working toward a degree.” Sale and Patin teamed up to compete in doubles play. Sale, who played with Patin for the Movin’ Mavs, said their experience helped them during doubles play. “Playing basketball together helped us communicate with each other very well on the tennis court when playing doubles,” Sale said. Patin agreed with Sale. “It was awesome and a honor to play by his side during doubles,” Patin said. With the Movin’ Mavs wheelchair basketball program already in possession of seven national titles, Sale and Patin want to build the wheelchair tennis team to be on the same level. “Hopefully we can go to as many tournaments as possible and represent UTA to help make the tennis program grow,” said Sale. Views: 1088 | E-mail   Be first to comment this article Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com All right reserved

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