LEXINGTON, Va. Nov. 12, 2024 — Jude Roberts ’25 was inspired to start a new club sport at Virginia Military Institute after joining a badminton team while studying abroad.  

“I missed tennis and racquetball, and I remembered all the people I had talked to at VMI regarding their interest in these sports. A few of them even considered starting a tennis club before me, so I knew there was interest,” he explained. 

He and others joined together to start the Racquet Sports Club, where Roberts is the cadet in charge.  

There are currently 33 cadets on the roster for the club, but Roberts said about half of them are active, consistent tennis players. Others appear sporadically for more niche sports.

“We mostly play tennis and pickleball,” Roberts said. “We just recently acquired the equipment to play racquetball and badminton as well, so we are coordinating the schedules for those.” 

Roberts has always played a form of racquet sport since he was young, starting with racquetball. It was something his uncle taught him to do for fun, learning the basics.  

"I was just looking for something to do during my senior year of high school, so I joined the tennis team and learned a lot while having a great time with my friends and coaches,” he said. “From there, it was easy to try pickleball at my local gym and eventually badminton in England. These sports have been a tremendous source of joy and camaraderie for me, so I hope we can offer cadets some similar experiences.” 

The club has some larger events planned for the spring, but for now, they’re just playing for fun. The hope is to play with the Rockbridge Tennis Association every Saturday.  

Raj Singh ’25, a member of the club, started playing tennis when he was in elementary school, and has loved the sport ever since. He played all through high school but stopped once he came to VMI because there wasn’t a team or club dedicated to it.  

"I really enjoyed the movement, high pace, and the intensity the games can give throughout a match,” he stated. “I enjoy the club, it is a great way to relieve some stress, get a nice workout but also it allows me to keep my skills as a tennis player as it can diminish when you don't play for a while.” 

Although the club is still in its infancy, Singh said he hopes it grows bigger and becomes an opportunity to begin outreach to other schools for more opportunities.  

“Clubs like ours are important as they give cadets an opportunity to get into sports which may not be offered in regular classes or in NCAA,” he explained. “Giving us more options can help in health, coordination, and involvement with other cadets.” 

Roberts said clubs like his offer an opportunity for cadets to take a break from the stresses of VMI responsibilities. 

"I enjoy the club because it provides me with a fun way to stay fit and a break from the typical VMI monotony. It has been very fulfilling to watch it grow and see other cadets enjoying it.” 

He also said the club has offered him profound leadership experience.  

"I have learned a lot about the considerations that go into everything we do here at VMI. I have a much deeper appreciation for the level of care and effort that goes into cadet life, and I am grateful for everything that has been done for us to come out and play some racquet sports,” he said. 

Laura Peters Shapiro
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE