Monika Johnson
At 13, Senior Tony Rennpage had his first experience withadaptive sports on a wheelchair basketball team in Metro Detroit. Although hecould not have foreseen it, nine years later his life would be enveloped in thejoy he found from recreation: both taking part himself and giving others theopportunity to do so. \My only regret isnot getting involved sooner!" he said.
Last summer, he rode the 72 miles from Gaylord, MI toMackinac Island by hand cycle, an apparatus that enables cycling using armpower instead of legs. An accomplishment he won't soon forget, Rennpage, 
aRecreation Management student, says being active means more to him than ahealthy lifestyle. It's a way to make friendships, build awareness aboutmobility disabilities, and have a great time.
"An unwritten rule of having a disability is having anawesome opportunity to teach people," said Rennpage. He is involved in coachingand mentoring for the annual MSU Adaptive Sports Festival, in addition to beingan integral part of the MSU wheelchair basketball team and class. Additionally,he founded the Adaptive Sports Club on campus, which caters to students from avariety of backgrounds.
Rennpage's success was recognized in Fall 2009 by the Athletes with Disabilities Network,which gives scholarships to students who exemplify success in recreation on astate level. The network serves the purpose of advertising to others that athleteshave broken stereotypes to participate in activities that many may considerunfathomable.
"Being around campuswith a disability is not just a conversation starter- it makes firstimpressions easy, and you can tell who has been around persons withdisabilities before. Some say nothing, and others want to ask but don't knowhow," he said.
Rennpage's visible and tangible teaching opportunity comesfrom his 12 pound, titanium frame wheelchair, which he got at age 16. Until age13, despite his cerebral palsy, he did not use one at all-until he becameinvolved in the local wheelchair basketball team. "My parents were worriedabout losing strength, but that changed when I started playing basketball and theysaw people who use them all the time," he said, "Then things really took off."
In middle school and high school, the team was a large partof Rennpage's life. He traveled to summer camps in Texas and Wisconsin, andgames across the country. One of the most influential aspects was the diversityon the team, he said: "There were kids as young as six, a lot from inner cityschools. We did a lot of fundraising to help them pay for flights and meals onthe trips to tournaments. We all learned so much about ourselves and becamemore independent. I'm not the best player, but it did so much for me as aperson!" Some of his teammates went on to play professionally, on collegescholarships, and in Europe.
Rennpage's inspiration comes from many sources, but one wasparticularly influential early in his college years. JerrySarasin, the MSU Wheelchair Basketball coach, has been hismentor and example after starting the team in 2004. "He is an influentialfigure who puts back into the community," said Rennpage. Sarasin has been aconstant source of encouragement, but many believe Rennpage is an example ofsuccess himself. Ginger Martz, RCPD Mobility DisabilitiesSpecialist, said, "Tony is such an upstanding citizen. He is very conscientiousabout how interaction with others can have an impact, and he's a great rolemodel."
According to Rennpage, it is often difficult to engagepeople in adaptive sports; however, once they see how fun and empowering theactivity can be, they become enthusiastic and interested. In the future, hewants to use the general management skills he learned in business classes andhis knowledge and passion for sports to develop a career in therapeuticrecreation. After working at the city park in his hometown of Grosse Pointe,combined with years of organizing adaptive sports, he feels it would be aperfect fit. "Ultimately, I'd like to build the varsity wheelchair basketballprogram at MSU," he said.
One of Rennpage's many strengths lies in his adventurouspersonality, said Martz. "He is willing to try almost anything in academics,sports, and his career. He is highly motivated, very optimistic, enthusiasticabout what life has to offer. He overcomes struggle and never gives up, makingeverything a learning experience," she said.