OUR STORY
VISION STATEMENT
Our vision is to level up the game by empowering athletes to fulfill their potential through equitable and inclusive adaptive tennis and grassroots wheelchair tennis programs.
Our mission is to equip Game On Accessible Tennis athletes for growth through training, competition, and social events.
MISSION STATEMENT
GOALS FOR GROWTH
Create and nurture an accessible sports development organization which:
- Develops tennis skills, physical fitness, personal growth, and a sense of belonging in our athletes
- Collaborates with diverse groups who are working toward shared goals
- Celebrates ways that all of us are alike and different
- Advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in adaptive and grassroots wheelchair tennis
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Founder and Executive Director Melinda Mott Leftwich ("Coach Mel") is excited to bring a three-season accessible tennis program to the Upper Cumberland region! Having worked with Cookeville Adaptive Tennis since the start, she is committed to the athletes and families who comprise our community. Game On Accessible Tennis will strive to meet the changing needs of athletes with disabilities, to offer local events at no cost, and to provide multiple pathways for adaptive and grassroots wheelchair tennis programming.
Melinda earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Child Development and holds a PTR Level One coaching certification. She has completed Safe Play training, USTA Level One Wheelchair Training, NFHS Coaching certification, and recent CPR training. Melinda coaches Boys and Girls Tennis at Algood Middle School. In 2021, she was honored to receive the Jeff Davidson Award from Structured Athletics for Challenged Children (SACC). Melinda serves on the following USTA committees to advocate for growth in our sport:
USTA National Adaptive Tennis Committee
USTA National Adaptive Registration and Website Subcommittee, Co-chair
USTA National Training and Distribution Subcommittee
USTA Southern Adaptive Tennis Committee
USTA Tennessee Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
USTA National Adaptive Tennis Committee
USTA Southern Adaptive Tennis Committee
USTA Tennessee Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Officers:
2025-26 Board of Directors
Our volunteer board members are essential to the organization, and Game On Accessible Tennis would not exist without them! We appreciate the expertise and insight each person brings to the table.
Officers:
Directors:
Mac Williams - President
Matt Beal
Mattea Trusty - Treasurer
Margo Dirkson
Jaclyn Sliger - Secretary
Jonathan Medley
Jessica Krebs
Directors:
Melissa Allen
Sheri Roberson
HISTORY
IN TENNIS, IT ALL STARTS WITH LOVE
Initially our local tennis association (CTA) started Cookeville Adaptive Tennis as an outreach arm of Tennis Upper Cumberland, offering 6-7 weeks of introductory tennis play per year as part of the sports lineup for SACC (Structured Athletics for Challenged Children). We built a strong partnership with SACC which will continue annually. The spark for Game On Accessible Tennis was ignited in Spring 2024 as we saw a clear need to expand and enhance our programming.
Our goal was to build athletes’ confidence levels, enhance motor skills and physical fitness, and create a new model based on competition. The dream began to take shape as adaptive tennis leaders from around the Southeast invited us to the table and offered support. Extended practice sessions helped get our athletes match-ready. A highlight of Summer 2024: adaptive clinics where fans outnumbered athletes!
In 2024, our first delegations of athletes and unified doubles partners traveled to Belton, SC; Peachtree Corners, GA; and Chattanooga, TN to compete in singles and unified doubles events. We are poised to grow the game further in 2025. With community support, we can level up the game and reach aspiring tennis athletes with disabilities, grassroots wheelchair tennis players, and other marginalized groups.
DREAMING BIG
At Game On Accessible Tennis, we dream big! Short-term plans include offering free tennis programming three seasons a year, hosting an annual adaptive tennis tournament, expanding to include new training sites, and starting a grassroots wheelchair tennis program. We will continue to partner with our friends at Structured Athletics for Challenged Children, Putnam County Schools Special Education, and TTU Men’s Tennis! Mid-range plans include offering support to prospective and current adaptive tennis leaders, identifying additional sites for Game On Accessible Tennis, developing a strong base of supporters, and advocating for better access to tennis for all.
Game On is reimagining tennis to include those who historically have been left out of the sport. To learn how you can rally around our cause, reach out today!
