Key also happens to have only one arm.

A boating accident at Pickwick Lake when he was 15 left Key with nothing but a short stub where his right arm formerly was attached.

“I was on a pontoon boat with some friends,” Key recalled. “I fell off the front of the boat and got hit by the propeller.”

Because of their location, it took several hours before Key could be airlifted to the hospital. His arm was still attached, albeit barely, but was removed at the hospital when doctors determined it couldn’t be saved.

“When it first happened I thought it was gone,” he said. “Then, after it happened, I had a couple of hours to think about it.”

The 18-year-old Olive Branch High School senior admitted there are still times he looks at his right side and is startled to see the arm is gone. But he is determined not to let the loss of his arm define who he is as a person.

“The challenges are there, being an amputee,” Key explained, “but I try to compete with other people and try to get them to treat me just like they treat everyone else.

“If someone says I should sit around and let other people do everything for me, just because of what happened,” he added, “then obviously they don’t know me.”

Although Key began playing tennis before the accident, this is the first year he decided to try out for the school’s tennis team.

“I’d played before,” Key smiled, “but this year I started getting serious.”

First-year OBHS head tennis coach Blake Jones knew Key, but was determined not to judge the senior on his physical appearance.

“I’d seen him in the halls and I knew who Ben was,” Jones said. “When I learned he wanted to try out I had no problem giving him a shot.

“I’m a firm believer that everyone is entitled to their shot,” the coach continued. “Ben took his and it’s working for him.”

During the young season, Key has compiled a 4-1 record in doubles play and won his first singles match, 6-0, 6-1, over Lake Cormorant on March 8.

“I trust Ben just like I trust everyone else on the team,” Jones said. “I expect our kids to give 110 percent; Ben’s giving 120 percent.”

Key, who was born right-handed, has learned how to do more with his left hand and arm. Before the accident he played baseball, rode dirt bikes and even played the guitar.

Now, thanks to his father changing his dirt bike’s throttle from the right side to the left, Key is once again riding his dirt bike. He’s also learned to write with his left hand, and is re-learning other “two-handed” activities thanks to the use of a prosthetic limb.

“There’s really not many things I can’t do,” said Key, who drives both a Ford Mustang and a pickup. “Whatever I do, I just try to give it 100 percent and do the best I can.”

That effort carries over onto the tennis court.

“Ben doesn’t get a pass,” Jones noted. “Two arms, one arm – it doesn’t matter.”

However, Key doesn’t mind if his opponents feel a bit sympathetic towards him.

“Sometimes I think maybe they’ll underestimate me and I’ll catch them off-guard,” Key smiled. “I’m a simple guy; I just want to win.”

But while some people may feel sorry for people with disabilities, the Olive Branch senior reminds them he’s in some good company. He also hopes his efforts inspire others to try new things.

“You can’t make excuses,” Key stated. “If someone considers me a role model, I don’t really mind.

“If they look at me and see me out there on the court, then maybe they’ll feel that they can at least try,” he said. “After all, Beethoven was deaf and he wrote some really inspiring music.”