1. 30 teams battled it out today in the Mixed Doubles competition. Top-seeded Anna-Leigh Waters and Riley Newman punched their ticket to Sunday’s gold medal match following an undefeated run to tonight’s finals. Newman, having won last year’s title with partner Lindsay Newman, will be looking for his second consecutive gold medal in Mixed Doubles.
2. No. 2 seed Catherine Parenteau and Ben Johns found themselves in the gold medal match as well, winning two tight matches against Dekel Bar and Jade Kawamoto (15-13) and Lucy Kovalova and Matt Wright (16-14) to put themselves in the bronze medal match. Johns, who will also be playing in the Men’s Singles gold medal match, sealed another title match appearance on Sunday.
3. Third-seeded Parris Todd and JW Johnson took home the bronze after upsetting No. 2 seed Catherine Parenteau and Ben Johns on Championship Court in an exhilarating two-game match to earn a spot in the winner’s bracket final. They ended up facing Parenteau and Johns again in the bronze medal match, conceding 12-10,11-7 to earn third.
4. Friday’s amateur competition welcomed Women’s Doubles 19+, 35+ and Women’s Singles 50+, 55+, 60+, as well as Men’s Singles 50+, 55+, 60+. Among the gold medalists crowned today were Lidu Purcell and Crystal Afutiti, Alex Chan and Dawnita LiaBraaten, Jib Chattrabhuti and Rachel Barrack, Lance Cowart, Glenn Erickson, and Lee Sponaugle .
5. In honor of Veterans Day today, Army veteran of 32 years and certified pickleball referee Tom Richardson was handing out stars to veterans from the USA Pickleball tent. Richardson is also USA Pickleball’s District Ambassador for Central Georgia.
6. Spectators at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden enjoyed a flyover with two P-51 Mustangs this afternoon, courtesy of the Palm Springs Air Museum. The Palm Desert High School choir also came out to sing the National Anthem.
7. Franklin also honored Veterans Day today by giving away free American flag-designed pickleball paddles to the first 100 veterans.
On Tap for Tomorrow: Saturday, November 12th
The penultimate day of the 2022 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships welcomes Pro Women’s Doubles (Played Through Bronze) and Pro Men’s Doubles (Played Through Bronze) to Indian Wells Tennis Garden. A multitude of amateur action awaits spectators, with Junior Mixed Doubles, Junior Boys Doubles, Men’s Skill/Age Doubles 19+, 35+, and Women’s Skill/Age Doubles 50+, 55+, 60+ all taking place tomorrow as well. You won’t want to miss it!
