2nd Annual USA Pickleball National Indoor Championships Recap

A note from USA Pickleball Managing Director of Competition Karen Parrish…

The second annual USA Pickleball National Indoor Championships is in the books. The event featured more than 700 registered players ranging in age from 12 to 84 and hailing from 33 states.  To say I’m honored and humbled is an understatement.

Your success is determined by those you surround yourself with when it comes to putting on a tournament of this magnitude. Local volunteers gave time each day, making this event an enjoyable experience from the time the players walked through the door.  A big thank you to our onsite operations coordinator, Jarick Rager, our Volunteer Coordinator Suzanne Norris and the Finley Center events operation director Harry Leckemby for your hard work and dedication in making this tournament a huge success.  A big thank you goes to our event partner The Birmingham CVB and Tonia Whatley.  Without their support, this tournament would not have been possible.

A tournament’s success can also be determined by the support that you have behind the scenes.  This year a debt of gratitude goes to our partner pickleballtournaments.com and events registration manager April Price and her daughter Savannah for managing and maintaining our registrations as well as the event tournament desk each and every day from open to close. You are greatly appreciated.

Referee desk coordinator extraordinaire George McCulley and his wife Therese ran a tight ship while using the top-of-the-line PickleballDesk software to keep the courts moving on-time and finishing early most days.  George and Therese are truly the epitome of excellence behind the desk.

The USA Pickleball referees are the backbone to any tournament’s success.  They are led by our Director of Officiating and Head Referee Mark Peifer.  They did an incredible job as always, providing a first-class experience for those both on and off the court.  Congratulations to our newest Certified Referee Onisha Smith.   Your passion, dedication and hard work has paid off.

The livestream team from BoxCar Productions knocked it out of the park this year.  Thank you, Kyle Selinko, Randy Coleman and Arielle Butler, for your service and excellent media production.  Don’t forget that you can relive some of the best pickleball moments from the National Indoor Championships on the USA Pickleball YouTube channel.

For a complete list of the winners, please go to pickleballtournaments.com and select USA Pickleball National Indoor Championships.

Thank you to all the players, spectators, sponsors, vendors and pickleball lovers alike.  We look forward to seeing you again at next year’s National Indoor Championships.

Karen Parrish, USA Pickleball Managing Director of Competition