Breaking barriers on and off the courts, two JTCC adaptive tennis players were featured in a Washington Post article documenting their selection for their high schools’ tennis teams this year.

A testament to their exceptional skill and unyielding determination, freshmen Spencer Davis and Maya Gareri have joined their respective teams at Langley High School in McLean, VA, and Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, MD, since the season began earlier this spring.

The first time either player has played on a competitive team, Gareri describes her initial reaction when she found out she made the squad.

“I was really happy because when I first started trying out, the coach told me if I didn’t improve by the next practice, I would be cut,” exclaimed Gareri, a Para Standing tennis player who has been playing the sport for only one year. “I practiced a lot over the weekend, so when I found out I made the team I was thrilled, especially because my expectations heading into tryouts were low.”

After trying out several sports, Gareri discovered tennis in 2024 when she learned about JTCC’s free tennis program held near her home in Old Greenbelt, MD.

Now in love with the sport, Gareri continues to hone her skills, taking JTCC’s Para Standing class on Saturdays and Future Champs: Serve Rally Serve class on Fridays.

For Davis, making the high school tennis team is just the latest in his litany of impressive tennis accomplishments.

The 2023 Cajun Classic C division winner and 2024-25 Cajun Classic B division finalist, Davis has continued to ascend through the tennis ranks after becoming serious about wheelchair tennis in 2022.

“When I found out I made the team, I was really excited because this is an experience I’ve never had before,” stated Davis.

Davis began playing wheelchair tennis in 2020, but grew more serious about the sport after watching a familiar JTCC player make headlines.

 “I watched Frances Tiafoe’s incredible US Open semifinal run in 2022, and I remember thinking that looks really cool,” Davis exclaimed. “So I did some research and realized that with Wheelchair tennis, you can also compete in Grand Slams, high profile events, and Junior tournaments, and I wanted to do that too.

This year, Davis will participate in three ITF tournaments, two of which will be held in Croatia and Amsterdam. He is also part of JTCC’s Adaptive program, attending tournament level Wheelchair classes on Sundays. He also has participated in Level 1 Junior classes on Mondays and Wednesdays.