Tennis Manitoba’s wheelchair team is training once-a-week at Taylor Tennis Club in preparation for the upcoming summer season. Since 2014 wheelchair events have been a feature at Tennis Manitoba Open Tour tournaments. Tennis Canada released its first ever national wheelchair rankings, with two Manitobans ranked inside the top 15 (Sam Unrau at No. 14 and James Bernus at No. 15) as of February 14, 2016. Get to know the TMB wheelchair team:
James Bernus
Occupation: accountant
Years played tennis for: 4
Getting started in tennis: Sam invited me to a tennis clinic and I met Kai Schrameyer (National Development coach for wheelchair tennis) at the clinic
Favourite player: Milos Raonic/Eugenie Bouchard
Other sports: sledge hockey, golf, billiards
Fun fact: I have extensive knowledge of 90’s pop music
Jason Betker
Occupation: software developer
Years played tennis for: 3
Getting started in tennis: I was looking for something to do to stay active over the summer
Favourite player: I cheer for the Canadians
Other sports: sledge hockey
Fun fact: I’m an avid gamer
Darrin Luke
Occupation: human resource administrator
Years played tennis for: 3
Getting started in tennis: I started playing tennis to keep me in shape for the summer and it was a new challenge
Favourite player: Boris Becker. He was a warrior and never gave up on a ball
Other sports: sledge hockey, water skiing, half marathons
Fun fact: won a bronze medal in a national water skiing competition
Sam Unrau
Occupation: student (U of W in accounting)
Years played tennis for: 7
Getting started in tennis: MWSA Junior Sport Program
Favourite player: Novak Djokovic
Other sports: sledge hockey, basketball
Fun fact: earned a total of 5 silver medals at Western Canada Summer Games (2007 and 2011)
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