Adaptive Sports Scholar: Caiden Baxter

Man wearing a fabric mask in an athletic wheelchair on a tennis court in front of a tennis net.
Caiden Baxter is originally from Southwest Michigan. He endured a spinal cord injury at the age of 15, leaving him with partial paralysis from the waist down. He began an intensive studies program through Andrew’s University shortly before his injury, and continued to excel in his high school years after. He was originally introduced to adaptive sports about a year post-injury, but did not begin playing wheelchair tennis until shortly before his time at Michigan began in the fall of 2019. 
Athletics Career
I have such a high value for athletics in general. Competing in sports has provided structure and benefitted both my physical and mental health throughout my entire life. When I was injured, I was beyond blessed to find a community where I could continue to grow athletically, as well as relationally alongside other athletes. Only a year into my adaptive sports career here at Michigan, I am so beyond excited to advance with the program.
 
  • Has competed in various athletics since the age of 3
  • 2017 - 2019 Played with the River City Rollers (Basketball), South Bend, IN
  • 2019 - Practiced with the University of Michigan Wheelchair Tennis program
  • Attended the 2019 All Comers Camp at Purdue University, IN
  • Attended the 2020 All Comers Camp at Salt Lake City, UT
 
Academic Career
  • Graduated with Honors holding a 4.112 GPA from Niles High School
  • Top Ten Graduate, National Board Scholar
  • Finished high school career with 68 college credit/hours completed
  • Graduated from Berrien RESA Mathematics & Science Center at Andrew’s University
  • Presented and Published Synthesis and Anticancer Activities of Fluorinated a-Cyanostilbenes in 2019
  • HAIL Scholar at University of Michigan
  • Currently enrolled at University of Michigan studying Computer Science
 
Personal
  • Native of Niles, Michigan
  • T12 Spinal Cord Injury in 2016
  • Avid Jesus follower; Granger Community Church, Granger, IN
Caiden Baxter
Caiden Baxter
Caiden Baxter