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Gavin and Konhee in front of the USTA National campus building. There is a giant tennis ball that says USTA Adaptive Tennis National Championships and Gavin is leaning on it and Konhee is sitting on the giant ball.

SMASHING STEREOTYPES AND SWINGING FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION!

SMASHING STEREOTYPES AND SWINGING FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION!

Gavin Wong and Konhee Lee's debut at the National Adaptive Tournament was truly a celebration of youth, skill, and inclusion! At 11 and 14 years old, the Serving Advantage doubles team entered as the youngest pair amidst adaptive athletes and Unified Partners spanning an age range of 25 to 60+ years old. The presence of a seasoned 61-year-old adaptive athlete most definitely added a touch of tennis legacy to this very special event! From the beginning, Gavin and Konhee captivated everyone with their remarkable hearts, unwavering commitment, incredible teamwork, and court charisma.

Collage of four pictures from the National Adaptive Tournament in Orlando, FL at the USTA National Campus. First picture is of Gavin and Konhee warming up, the second picture is a close up of Konhee and his mom smiling , the third picture is of Gavin and Konhee in front of the USTA National Campus entrance, and the fourth picture is a close up of Gavin and his dad smiling.

Despite the 3 hour time difference, the duo had a dedicated and disciplined routine, starting each day with a 7:00 AM breakfast, followed by a drive to the National Campus where they were on court warming up by 8:00 AM. The tournament fun kicked off with Friday's tournament registration, team introductions, and friendly tennis games, followed by a relaxed evening hitting golf balls at Drive Shaft alongside the other 24 teams. 

Picture collage of pictures from the USTA National Adaptive Tennis Tournament, the first picture is of Gavin and Konhee on the tennis court in the rain, the second picture if of Gavin and Konhee participating in on-the-court activities with all the other Unified Doubles team, the third picture is of Gavin and Konhee walking down the long path to the Collegiate Center at the USTA National Campus, and the fourth picture is of Konhee and his mom at Drive Shaft, a fun driving range where the USTA National office arranged for all the competitors to have some off-the-court team bonding time.

Tournament play began Saturday morning, dividing the 25 teams into 5 round robin groups of 5 teams.The first day of competitive play brought its challenges with acclimating to the time change, intermittent rain, and facing physically imposing adult competitors. Our team played hard and gave it their best efforts! The night was spent in awe, enjoying a rooftop dinner at the USTA Campus, surrounded by 360-degree tennis court views and the serenity of the lakes. And, as young academic students, our players topped off their night with…homework and studying at the hotel.

2 picture collage, the first picture is of the USTA National campus rooftop dining with the sun setting over the tennis court, the second picture is of the sun right over the lake at the USTA National Campus with the sun reflecting off the water.

Gavin and Konhee started Sunday with determination. Finding their rhythm and working as a cohesive team, they secured victories in 2 out of 4 matches. The awards ceremony highlighted their efforts with a special recognition award for being the youngest competitors, while also acknowledging their commitment to creating inclusion and belonging within the sport of tennis at such a young age. The National Adaptive Tournament left an everlasting impact, filled with incredible memories and genuine connections. The tournament was not just a competition but a celebration of tennis, camaraderie, and the power of community. We are excited for what lies ahead and anticipate participating in many more adaptive tournaments as we carry the spirit of this remarkable experience forward. We would like to give a heartfelt shout out to the USTA National office. The event was well organized and filled with special moments and fun for all participants. We couldn’t ask for a better first time experience at Nationals!  

Picture collage of 6 pictures. The first picture is Gavin and Konhee playing tennis on the court at the USTA National Adaptive Tennis Tournament, the second picture is of Gavin and Konhee in front of the USTA SoCal flag at the USTA National Campus, the third picture is of Gavin and Konhee on the tennis court in front of the fence where it says USTA Nationals, the fourth picture is of Gavin and Konhee receiving their special recognition award with the Miyako, who nominated them, the fourth picture is of Gavin and Konhee sitting on the bleachers with their tournament medals, and the last picture is of Gavin and Konhee with opponents, Jim and Mark (Gavin and Konhee were the youngest competitors and Jim and Mark were the oldest doubles team.)

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the assistance of our Serving Advantage families. A special thank you goes to all the generous donors for making our Smash it to National Fundraising drive an immense success! Our initial goal of $5,000 was not only met, but exceeded by an additional $1,000! Thanks to your contributions and active participation at the Serving Advantage OC Wine Mart nights and our Chipotle event, your support covered all expenses for players, parents, and coach, and the surplus will play a crucial role in launching our new Irvine program in January 2024. Your generosity has not only fueled our current achievements, but promises a brighter future for our athletes, Doubles Partners, and Coaches! We extend our deepest gratitude for your unwavering commitment to the organization and our mission.

Six picture collage highlighting all the October Smash it to National Fundraising drive, the first picture is of a wine bottle in the parking lot in front of the OC Wine Mart , where the bottle was purchased during the fundraising day, the second picture is of a Halloween decoration that says, "Boo" on the counter at the Aliso Viejo OC Wine Mart with the Serving Advantage flyer in a table stand in the background, the third picture is of the Chipotle Serving Advantage fundraising flyer, the fourth picture is of the Serving Advantage OC Wine Mart fundraising flyer, the fifth picture is of the a Serving Advantage Youth Adaptive Tennis Team Makes it to Finals Flyer that has information on Gavin and Konhee's journey to Nationals, and the last flyer is a canva picture of a tennis racket with a conversation bubble that says we met our Smash it to Nationals fundraising goal.
A group picture of all 25 doubles team at the USTA National Adaptive Tennis Tournament. It is a sunny day and they are on one of the tennis courts standing in 2 rows.

Congratulations to Gavin and Konhee and all the Unified Doubles teams! Way to go!

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