RSI PRESENTS Champions of Pickleball 2020 Our inaugural Champions of Pickleball Awards recognize the often-unsung heroes of this fast-growing sport and business.

CONGRATULATIONS TO: • MARGARITAVILLE USA PICKLEBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS • EAST NAPLES COMMUNITY PARK • • STEVE & RAMONA BOONE • BOBBY RIGGS RACQUET & PADDLE • PALMETTO DUNES OCEANFRONT RESORT • CHUCK VIETMEIER • • MERRITT TENNIS COURT & TRACK SYSTEMS • JARRETT CHIRICO • PICKLEBALL CENTRAL • SARAH ANSBOURY • • MELISSA MCCURLEY • HOPE TOLLEY • SELKIRK SPORT •

Pickleball now boasts more than 3.46 million players across the U.S., according to the most recent data by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, and the individuals and organizations cited here continue to go the extra mile in helping to accelerate the game’s growing popularity and success. We hope their stories and their service will inspire the countless “champions” to keep moving the racquet sports industry forward.

Compiled by Judy Leand

20 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2020 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com The [Indian Wells] facility is world-class and the level of detail and professionalism involved in converting the tennis courts to championship-caliber pickleball courts is simply amazing. The tournament is a game-changer for our sport.

PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT MUNICIPAL FACILITY PICKLEBALL AMBASSADORS PRIVATE/COMMERCIAL OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR FACILITY OF THE YEAR Margaritaville East Naples Steve & Bobby Riggs USA Pickleball Community Ramona Boone Racquet & National Park Ever since learning Paddle Championships Home of the Minto US the game in 2003, Steve Bobby Riggs Racquet & Open Pickleball Champi- and Ramona Boone have Paddle in Encinitas, Calif., USA Pickleball estab- onships since 2016, East been spreading the joys just north of San Diego, of- lished its fi rst national Naples Community Park in of pickleball. In 2007, fers pickleball and tennis in championships in 2007, Naples, Fla., has become a the Colorado Springs- a personal setting. With 12 attracting 400 players. world-class pickleball hub, based husband-wife team pickleball and four tennis Now, the Margaritaville and is about to become became the area’s fi rst courts—and views of the USA Pickleball National even more attractive due to pickleball ambassadors. Pacifi c—players enjoy open Championships is a 10-day $23.4 million in upgrades. The Boones started play, lessons and clinics, event, attracting more Phase 1 was completed this o ering free pickleball along with matchmaking than 2,200 players (play- year and included 10 new lessons at Monument services to connect players. ing 4,300 matches) and pickleball courts, bringing Valley Park in 2011; in The impressive roster of 28,000 spectators from the venue’s total to 64. 2012, they helped establish pickleball pros features top around the world. And, for Over the past four years, the Pikes Peak Pickleball coaches and champions, the past two years—as the the county has converted Association, now with 1,500 notably Steve Dawson, veritable “Super Bowl” for areas into permanent members. They were also Callan Dawson, Jennifer picklers—the event has pickleball courts, installed instrumental in forming a Dawson, Rich Woods, Dar- been held at the presti- a shade structure and much non-profi t that helps raise rian Young, Charlie Ball and gious Indian Wells (Calif.) more. Improvements in money to support dedicated Adam Young. Fun social Tennis Garden, home to 2021 will include a new wel- local pickleball venues. pickleball events are popu- the BNP Paribas Open come center, a 3,500-seat Nancy Ste y, USAP lar with players and include tournament, where it of- championship stadium and Great Plains Region food and drinks, music, fered a record $80,000 in more than 1,000 additional Education Ambassador, has friendly competitions, gear prize money in 2019. parking spots. worked with the couple for demos, ra e prizes and free “The facility is world- “Demand not only for a decade and lauds their gifts for all participants. class and the level of the US Open but for daily dedication: “When they Bobby Riggs, of course, detail and professionalism play is still increasing,” says became USAP Great Plains was a champion tennis involved in converting the Chris Evon, VP of Spirit Regional co-directors, they player in the 1930s and ’40s tennis courts to 49 cham- Promotions and co-founder committed to bringing who lost to Billie Jean King pionship-caliber pickleball of the US Open along with the regional tournament in the “Battle of the Sexes” courts is amazing,” says Terri Graham. “The tourna- to Colorado Springs, match in 1973. The Bobby USAP Executive Director ment pulls in about 2,100 working tirelessly with Riggs Museum is located Justin Maloof. “The tour- players, but we turn away Park and Recreation to on the club's grounds, with nament is a game-changer about 1,000. We know that get 15 dedicated pickleball trophies as well as artifacts

COURTESY USA PICKLEBALL, MINTO US OPEN, STEVE & RAMONA BOONE, BOBBY RIGGS RACQUET & PADDLE RIGGS RACQUET STEVE & RAMONA BOONE, BOBBY USA PICKLEBALL, MINTO US OPEN, COURTESY for our sport.” more people want to come.” courts.” from that pivotal match.

www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com November/December 2020 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 21 CHAMPIONS OF PICKLEBALL  

PICKLEBALL RESORT PICKLEBALL SALES REP BUILDER/CONTRACTOR PICKLEBALL ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR Palmetto Dunes Chuck Merritt Jarrett Resort Vietmeier Tennis Court Chirico Located on Hilton Head A 31-year employee of & Track A world-class player Island, S.C., the Palmetto Gamma Sports, Chuck Systems and early adopter of clay- Dunes Tennis & Pickleball Vietmeier has become a court pickleball, Jarrett Center at Palmetto Dunes cornerstone of the brand Since it was founded in Chirico believes that the Resort has 24 lighted pick- and continues to play a 1979, Oklahoma City-based sport is the foundation to leball courts and one of major role in spreading the Merritt Tennis Court & grow all racquet sports, the most comprehensive Gamma word around the Track Systems has been and he foresees the game instructional programs on globe. Currently, he serves a leading construction becoming the most-played the East Coast. as director of product company known for its racquet sport in the country The center serves a large marketing. keen attention to detail within the next eight years. number of resort visitors When Gamma launched and expertise in designing, Chirico is currently and also counts about 300 its fi rst pickleball paddle resurfacing, renovating and the director of racquets local members in its pick- in 2015, Vietmeier became repairing tennis and pickle- at Baltimore Country leball club. League play, the resident pickleball pro, ball courts. Club and has an extensive lessons and clinics are and he continues to teach Led by president Paul background both as a available for all ages and his co-workers the game. In Merritt, this family-run director and former ability levels. The resort fact, when traveling to tour- business excels at installing pro tennis player. He also hosts the Hilton Head naments, he always tries high-quality courts in has directed many top- Pickleball Open, a four- to compete in the events, residential and commercial tier tennis and paddle day national tournament. believing it is a great way to areas across the state. So far programs in the Northeast, And further burnishing represent Gamma on-court, this year, the company has as well as the largest the resort’s reputation as well as to sharpen his built 30 pickleball courts pickleball program in the is top touring pro Sarah own technique and skill. and has resurfaced about country, which retains Ansboury, who serves as During the height of the 100 others. more than 1,000 players the director of pickleball coronavirus lockdown, Viet- “Merritt is dedicated a week. Additionally, he’s instruction. meier noted that Gamma to quality and has been directed several successful “We have a very active sold a six-month supply of building courts for years,” pickleball tournaments, vibe here,” says John Kerr, pickleball nets over 45 days, says Je Gearheart, including the largest Palmetto Dunes’ Director meaning that people were director of SportMaster clay-court pickleball of Tennis and Pickleball itching to play any way they Sport Surfaces. “As a tournament in the world. Operations. “League play could, creating makeshift longtime member of the “Jarrett has become the is growing in the area and courts where possible. As American Sports Builders expert when it comes to helps fuel growth. We run pickleball’s popularity con- Association, they adhere pickleball at clubs,” says daily round robins, and tinues to explode, it would to the guidelines of Dan Santorum, CEO of the have had as many as 100 seem that Vietmeier’s work construction, and their Professional Pickleball people sign up in one day.” is far from over. work is top-notch.” Registry. PPR & TRACK SYSTEMS, MERRITT TENNIS COURT GAMMA SPORTS, DUNES, PALMETTO COURTESY

22 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2020 www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com During the height of the coronavirus lockdown, Gamma sold a six-month supply of pickleball nets over 45 days, meaning that people were itching to play any way they could, creating makeshift courts where possible.

ONLINE PICKLEBALL RETAILER OF THE YEAR Pickleball Central

Kent, Wash.-based PickleballCentral.com has become a go-to source for all things pickleball. Launched in September 2006 as a hobby website, PickleballCentral.com has cemented its position as the world’s largest company exclusively devoted to the growing sport in the years since. Industry estimates peg the business’s annual revenue at $4.9 million. In 2018, Pickleball Central acquired PickleballTournaments.com, a market leader in online pickleball tournament software, tournament operations management, training and consulting. This combined jugger- naut continues to serve pickleball tournament directors and players and helps fuel the sport’s growth overall. In addition to product, the website offers advice on how to get started in the sport, as well as information about pickleball’s history and the evo- lution of equipment. But PickleballCentral.com prides itself on service and selection. The company’s golden rule? “Serve customers the way we want to be served when purchasing products online.”

www.tennisindustrymag.com www.tennisindustrymag.com November/December 2020 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 23 CHAMPIONS OF PICKLEBALL 2020

PPR MEMBER PICKLEBALL INDUSTRY YOUTH PICKLEBALL MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR SERVICE AWARD PROVIDER OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR Sarah Ansboury Melissa Hope Tolley Selkirk Sport

A five-time National McCurley In 2019, USAP appointed Founded in 2014 by pickleball champion, Sar- Called “one of the Hope Tolley as director of brothers Mike and Rob ah Ansboury is one of the hardest-working people recreational programs & Barnes and their fa- most recognizable names in pickleball,” Melissa services, and she has been ther, Jim Barnes, this in the sport and is an McCurley is a pickleball working to accelerate the family-owned company in enthusiastic promoter of tournament desk game’s growth ever since. Hayden, Idaho, is a leader the game. For the past sev- operator who partners “Pickleball is a dynamic in pickleball paddle design eral years, she has criss- with tourney directors and fun sport with broad and technology, building crossed the U.S., working and their teams—and generational appeal,” high-performance pickle- with recreation-level to is also the president of she says. “I believe my ball equipment. Selkirk’s pro players to improve PickleballTournaments. background will help build current product line in- their games technically, com. For more than on the success that USAP cludes paddles, balls, bags, strategically, mentally and a decade, the website has already achieved.” apparel and accessories. through improved fitness. has been the leading After a successful career Selkirk’s mantra—“We Ansboury currently tournament management in physical education at Are Pickleball”—applies serves as education software, and has been the the elementary through as much to the creation consultant and lead clini- engine driving thousands collegiate levels, Tolley of innovative equipment cian for the Professional of successful events of spent more than seven as to the effort to improve Pickleball Registry (PPR) all sizes. McCurley’s years working for the and promote the pick- and is the touring pro ongoing mission is to USTA, including as director leball community as a and director of pickleball keep up with the game’s of promotions at USTA whole. The brand part- instruction at Palmetto growth while providing North Carolina, and as the ners with, among other Dunes Resort on Hilton consulting, training and USTA national coordinator groups, the Margaritaville Head Island, S.C. adding new features and of school tennis. USA Pickleball National “Sarah is not only a functions on the system for In August, USAP Championships, but also world-class player, she is a tournaments. announced a new with Third Shot Sports, an world-class educator,” says “Melissa’s knowledge, membership for youth organization to help bring PPR CEO Dan Santorum. hard work and dedication program providers as pickleball awareness and “She created both PPR’s to the game is admirable, part of a strategic plan to clinics to all ages. curriculum and certifica- and her commitment and develop the sport. Says Selkirk recently intro- tion workshop, and she enthusiasm to help others Tolley, “We are excited to duced its Vanguard Paddle continues to conduct PPR succeed is unequaled.” work with local program series, pushing the enve- workshops. Her pioneer- says Karen Parrish, USA leaders and our network lope in technology and its ing efforts have helped Pickleball managing of over 1,900 ambassadors $200 price—which has not shape PPR into the stron- director of competition. from around the country to deterred consumers, as gest and largest organiza- “She is greatly appreciated create future generations of the paddles quickly sold tion of pickleball coaches.” for her contributions.” pickleball players.” out on the brand’s website. SELKIRK SPORT HOPE TOLLEY, PPR, MELISSA MCCURLEY, COURTESY

24 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY November/December 2020 www.tennisindustrymag.com