Before his National and Regional USTA Rankings he was known as a boy who
would have to live in an assisted living home. Whether Ben wins or looses,
he is always smiling at the end of each match because he has broken the
“Autism Mold”. Ben became one of the top Men’s Open Singles Players in the
Missouri Valley Region.
He was ranked number one in Men’s Open Singles Standing List in the five-state USTA Missouri Valley Region and was Nationally ranked n the top 100 tennis players in the US. Ben studied the moves of the pros and learned to play tennis by watching video tapes of the US Open since none of his family played tennis.
Benjamin Talako Williamson, a Native American Indian born with Autism, defied the odds when he graduated from Bethany High School and where he was the only tennis player on their team, took Bethany to the State High School Championships. December, 2006, Benjamin was honored by the United States Tennis Association Five State Missouri Valley Section (Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma) as the Adult Player of the Year. Ben was also honored two years as the Oklahoma Adult Player of the year.
Ben’s grandmother explained, “Tennis has given him confidence and
self-esteem.” He now not only plays for himself, but for Babolat Racquets, who have recognized his talent with sponsorship.
None of Ben’s family played tennis or even new about the sport. Ben studied the pros from tapes that his dad would record of the professional matches on television.
His Grandmother, Freda Williamson remembers sitting for hours at the local
park while he would hit a tennis ball alone with an “old Wal-Mart racquet”
in to a practice backboard. Ben has since moved on, playing in several
National USTA Adult Open tournaments
Bethany, OK
