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TEMPE, Ariz. — Over the course of the 2025-26 college tennis season, members of the ITA Student-Athlete Council will be featured in monthly spotlights that will give the greater college tennis community an inside look at some of our Student-Athlete Council members and what they are accomplishing on and off the court.
Our second spotlight of the season spotlights the University of Michigan’s Caiden Baxter, who’s working to ensure wheelchair tennis becomes a fixture in the collegiate landscape.
“I hope my legacy allows future generations of adaptive athletes to step into programs already equipped with strong resources, high-level coaching, and true peer representation.”
Read more about Caiden in this spotlight below:
Please tell us a little bit about yourself, what college/university you attend, what year you are, what your major is, and what you plan to pursue upon graduation.My name is Caiden Baxter, and I am a Master’s Student at the University of Michigan. Outside of tennis, I am pursuing a degree in Sports Management with the hopes of pursuing a career in Sports Marketing/Sponsorship.
Why was it important to you to apply to the ITA Student-Athlete Council, and what does it mean to you to represent college tennis athletes from across all levels of play, as well as specifically the level of play where you compete?It was important to me to apply for the ITA Student-Athlete Council because it provides an opportunity for student-athletes to have a voice in the ITA operations and decision-making. I specifically applied because I wanted to make sure there is a representative for wheelchair athletes, as well as other traditionally marginalized groups. I am only as good a representative as I am a listener, so I hope to increase the line of communication between players and the ITA, ultimately advancing the overall experience of collegiate tennis players.
You’ve expressed a passion for promoting equality and being proactive in diminishing barriers to long-term success for adaptive athletes. What advice would you give to student-athletes who also seek to champion inclusion and become agents of change on their campus or in their community?The advice I would give to student-athletes who seek to become agents of change is to start small. Inclusion and equality do not happen from one large act; they happen in the small, everyday actions and conversations. Listening to authentic, first-hand perspectives from marginalized groups provides the best insight into how tennis can continue to advance inclusion. By listening first, acting second, we can ensure we continue to provide a welcoming, equitable community within collegiate sport.
Having been a part of wheelchair tennis’s integration into the ITA’s governance, what changes have you noticed in recent years that you believe will help in the growth of wheelchair tennis to more college campuses?When I first began playing wheelchair tennis at Michigan, our division wasn’t yet governed by the ITA. Most of our season revolved around USTA and ITF tournaments, with limited intercollegiate competition beyond Team Collegiate Nationals. Since the ITA’s integration of wheelchair tennis, the true collegiate atmosphere has come alive. Schools are now building rivalries, hosting dual matches, and competing within a structured ranking system that mirrors other ITA divisions. That growth has also changed how our sport is viewed on campus — varsity athletes, coaches, and fans now recognize the intensity and skill of wheelchair tennis in a way they hadn’t before. It’s been incredible to witness that shift in respect and connection, seeing wheelchair tennis not only expand its reach but gain the recognition it deserves. The integrated National Championship events are a perfect example of how the ITA is helping break down outdated stigmas and fully embrace adaptive athletes as part of the collegiate tennis community.
Looking beyond your immediate goals, you are part of a movement to enhance the accessibility of the sport of tennis. What is the most meaningful part of the legacy you hope to leave for the next generation of adaptive athletes?My goal as a student-athlete is to help ensure that wheelchair tennis becomes a permanent fixture in the ITA landscape, not an add-on. I hope my legacy allows future generations of adaptive athletes to step into programs already equipped with strong resources, high-level coaching, and true peer representation. I’ve been fortunate to help build one of the leading collegiate adaptive sports programs in the world, and that experience drives my belief that adaptive athletes should be seen as athletes first—not as exceptions or charitable causes. Ultimately, inclusivity should be the default standard for collegiate sport participation.
The ITA Student-Athlete Council is a committee of student-athletes who play college tennis assembled to provide insights regarding the sport with a special emphasis on the student-athlete experience. The goals of this committee are as follows: Present a student-athlete voice within the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) (1), Offer input regarding matters pertaining to the sport, particularly issues impacting the lives of student-athletes (2), Work to enhance the student-athlete experience specific to college tennis across all divisions (3), Invest in the leaders of tomorrow by creating leadership and professional development opportunities (4).
