By Becky Wentworth

“I play sports because they give me a chance to go out and show people how even though I’m in a wheelchair, it doesn’t mean I can’t participate. I like the independence that sports gives me”.

            Owen Anketell is 18 years old and a recent graduate of Hudson High School. Owen was born with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia which requires the use of leg crutches and a wheelchair for long distances. Owen started playing tennis his sophomore year of high school when one of his gym teachers introduced him to the Harvard University tennis pro. After practicing twice a week with the coach, he successfully tried out for his high school tennis team. Owen practiced with his team 5 days a week with 2 matches every week. Before a match Owen and his team would stretch, warm-up, and practice passing the ball before facing their opponents. One of Owen’s most memorable moments on the tennis team was when he became the first player in MIAAhistory to win a tennis match in a wheelchair!

In addition to tennis, Owen is an avid athlete who enjoys alpine skiing and hand cycling. Olympic Skier Bode Miller is one of Owen’s favorite sports heroes. Bode Miller founded the Turtle Ridge Foundation which helps to provide programming for the adaptive sports community. Through Turtle Ridge and one of his ski coaches, Owen met Bode. Owen admires Bode for his dedication to the adaptive sports community and passion for skiing. In 2015, Owen founded the non-profit organization called Adaptive Sports Awareness with the mission to raise awareness and provide opportunities to those who participate in adaptive sports. Owen raised $50,000 for this cause when he hand cycled from Maine to Florida with his best friend and cousin for a total of 65 days and 2,365 miles.

Regarding Owen’s plans for the future, he is excited to attend University of Arizona this fall as a freshman. He is on the pre-business track and plans on applying to the business school his sophomore year. Owen will also be a member of the university’s tennis team. He is looking forward to having friends on the tennis team and meeting new people at school. After college, Owen hopes to continue fundraising for adaptive sports and is thinking of cycling cross-country or on all seven continents. Owen’s advice to other athletes is: “Even though things may be hard at first, there’s always a way to play a sport, talk to the right people, get guidance, and they will help you play and participate.”

Becky Wentworth is a second year student at University of Massachusetts/Amherst and an intern for Adaptive Sports New England.