Six Moments from Day Six of the 2022 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships:
1. Defending champion Anna-Leigh Waters, the youngest professional pickleball player in history, punched her Pro Women’s Singles ticket to Super Sunday! The 15-year-old prevailed against Lauren Stratman, Parris Todd, and Salome Devidze to earn a spot in the gold medal match on Sunday.
2. The Pickleball Hall of Fame Induction dinner/banquet took place tonight at the Indian Wells Country Club. Members of the pickleball community gathered to honor the four 2022 Inductees to the Pickleball Hall of Fame, who are: Norm Davis (Contributor Category), Pat Kane, Wesley Gabrielsen, and Larry Moon (Competitor Category).
3. USA Pickleball hosted an Ambassador Lunch, sponsored by Selkirk, for all of its ambassadors across the country. Around 100 attendees heard from Lance Cowart, USA Pickleball’s Managing Director of Field Operations, Stu Upson, USA Pickleball Chief Executive Officer, Robert Quicksilver, President of the USA Pickleball Board of Directors, and the Selkirk team.
4. Pro player Michelle Esquivel did a meet-and-greet today at noon with CRBN Pickleball at the Pickleball Central tent. At 1, Pro player Dekel Bar did a meet-and-greet with Engage Pickleball.
5. In honor of Paddletek Day today at Nationals, Pros Catherine Parenteau and Kyle Yates held autograph signing sessions at the Paddletek tent. Championship Court spectators were treated to some great Paddletek giveaways!
6. Amateur brackets saw competition amongst Mixed Skill/Age Doubles 50+, 55+, 60+ (4.5 and 5.0) and Men’s Skill/Age Singles 19+, 35+. 11-year-old Leo Chun, who is sponsored by Franklin, took home gold in the 3.0 19+ Men’s Singles today! Congratulations Leo!!
On Tap for Tomorrow: Thursday, November 10th
Our Pros return tomorrow for Mixed Doubles Pro (Played Through Bronze). A total of 30 duos will team up for their shot to win the title, which was claimed last year by Lindsay Newman and Riley Newman. There’s no shortage of amateur competition either tomorrow, with Women’s Skill/Age Doubles 19+, 35+, Women’s Skill/Age Singles 50+, 55+, 60+, and Men’s Skill/Age Single’s 50+, 55+, 60+!
Check out the Demo Cage tomorrow for a number of different demos! From 9 am to 2 pm, a variety of sponsors will be on-site to provide paddles for Nationals spectators to test out. If you’re in the market to try out a new paddle, you don’t want to miss it!
