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Conner Stroud of Rutherfordton was one of 34 young wheelchair athletes who recently participated in the 2015 USTA/ITF International Junior Wheelchair Tennis Camp in Mission Viejo, Calif. The camp took place at Marguerite Tennis Pavilion and was for youth who live with a permanent disabling condition and use a wheelchair when playing sports, including tennis.
Stroud, 15, is ranked the number one Junior Wheelchair Tennis Player in the U.S. He was born with Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD) in both legs. PFFD is a condition where the end of the bone closest to the hip is too short, which left Stroud's feet attached to his legs without ankles, femurs or knees. Stroud had surgery to have his legs amputated when he was two. Following surgery at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Greenville, S.C., Stroud was fitted with prosthetic legs and a very short pair of legs known as stubbies, which protected the ends of his legs around the house. Stroud chose to use the stubbies all the time.
Stroud learned to play tennis from his father, who along with his mother owned Peach Tree Racquet Club. "I liked the competition part of tennis. It's an individual sport and rely on yourself and not other people," Stroud explained.
As he grew older, his competitors got taller and faster, and so he began playing wheelchair tennis. Wheelchair tennis involves a special wheelchair with tilted wheels to make you go faster, Stroud explained.
At first it was hard, because I not only had to be able to use my racquet but also push the chair around the court. But, once I got used to that, it came pretty easy."
This year was the third year Stroud attended camp, which included players from eight different states and six different countries. Camp provided athletes an opportunity to develop their tennis skills and also get to know one another, which Stroud most enjoyed.
"You get to play and then talk with everyone, who is just like you," he said. "You don't always get to see every single person with a disability. It's nice to talk and make friends."
In addition to camp, Stroud has attended professional tournaments and had an opportunity to hit with players including Andy Roddick and John Isner. His dream is to play in the U.S. Open in New York.
For now, though, the high school sophomore will continue to play for Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy's tennis team, swim, travel, listen to music and hang out with his friends.
