7 months ago
He's a professional beach volleyball player with a new title, but he didn't get his start on the beaches of California or Florida.
He learned at an apartment complex in Central Georgia in a town better known for football and baseball.
The blue skies are the same, and so is the sandy surface, but instead of seagulls, there are plenty of Thunderbirds around but they're grounded in the parking lot.
Not the traditional backdrop for learning beach volleyball, but anywhere on the court, Ty Loomis is at home.
Ty's father says, "People ask, 'Where you (Ty) from?' He says, 'Georgia.' He says 'Where did you play in Georgia?'"
"We never had a high school team or club volleyball back then, but now you see some girls' teams in high school, which is good for the sport," says Ty Loomis.
Loomis grew up playing baseball in Warner Robins, but it was at an apartment complex court where the foundation for his career in volleyball was served at the University Of California Irvine and now in the AVP circuit.
Loomis says, "My coach wanted me to commit to baseball full-time, but I always wanted a few weekends to play volleyball but he was always stubborn with just baseball."
After growing a foot taller during his sophomore year, he decided to focus primarily on volleyball, and that decision has paid off. On July 4, Ty and his partner, Casey Patterson, won their first major tournament which was nationally-televised at the Coney Island Open.
"I was screaming. My poor dog didn't know what was going on. I was at home watching it by myself, screaming," says Greta Loudin.
"To get our first victory on that big stage was incredible to me. In fact, I'm still kind of smiling," adds the younger Loomis.
Ty says this latest victory proves to him that he belongs in a sport he loves no matter where he learned to play.
"I get paid to pay beach volleyball. Not a bad life, huh?" concludes Loomis.
Ty credits coach David Bartley and several airmen from Robins Air Force Base with teaching him the game.
He's also preparing for the Manhattan Beach Open in California which starts on July 16th.
