Hard work, dedication and college opportunities, this is what TJ Richardson has accomplished.
Raise a Racquet is honored and humbled to have played a small role to support TJ’s efforts.
TJ, of Louisville, received over $1,000 during the past 3 years from the Raise a Racquet Foundation to offset expenses for tennis camps, clinics, lessons and development programs.
As a result of this training, TJ had a successful high school tennis career and will be playing for Ohio’s Tiffin University in the Fall.
TJ’s unique story began at birth with only one functioning arm. He suffered from Brachial Plexus Erb’s Palsy. His grandmother introduced him to tennis when he was 5 years old, but it wasn’t until his 8th grade year that he began to discover how much he enjoyed the game! TJ said, “my coach told me to always hit with a purpose”.
He began his high school tennis play at Louisville Male High School and transferred to St. Francis his sophomore year. TJ competed on both the tennis and basketball teams!
During his sophomore year, he visited the NCSA recruiting website and in November 2018 was contacted by Tiffin University. TJ said, “The coaches were very nice and had his best interests in mind”.
TJ’s accumulated numerous awards his senior year recognizing his talent and dedication. He received the Courier Journals Sports Courage Award https://www.courier-journal.com/media/cinematic/video/1325179001/courier-journal-sports-awards-tj-richardson-wins-courage-award/,
was named to the 2019 ‘All-Resilient Team https://members.kypress.com/articles/tom-leach-announces-2019-all-resilient-team/ ,
and the Kentucky Lottery 2019 Outstanding High School Senior Award https://louisvilleky.gov/government/city-events/2019-kentucky-lottery-outstanding-high-school-seniors just to name a few.
Tj's mother Tracie said "the odds didn’t matter because he never felt they were against him; you could never tell him that he wasn't normal because normal is all he knew. He may have done some things a little different but don't we all. Faith, courage, persistence, resilience. I am truly blessed to be his parent.”
We wish TJ much success competing for Tiffin in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and majoring in Exercise Science.
#1handwonder
