On May 31, less than 100 days before the Walsh volleyball team opens its 2025 season, Holt was in Greensboro to play doubles matches with his new partner, Doug Hampton, a 50-year-old financial consultant from North Canton.
“ I’ ve only been playing pickleball for two years now,” Holt, 47, said.“ I just started in the tournament scene probably eight months ago, so just to be able to come down here, play competitive pickleball and get a shot to go to Nationals is pretty awesome.”
Holt typically plays with another doubles partner, but that partner couldn’ t make the trip to North Carolina. Instead, Holt played alongside Hampton for only the second time at a tournament, and it ended up being a natural fit.
They won one of the men’ s doubles 4.0 divisions, marking the second time that Hampton has qualified for Nationals. He also played two years ago in Dallas.
“ It’ s amazing, right? I mean it’ s the pinnacle for USA Pickleball,” Hampton said of qualifying for San Diego.“ It’ s the best of the best. You get to go play with everybody who’ s earned a ticket, and hopefully you do well.”
Holt said his volleyball background has helped him make the adjustment to pickleball. He’ s accustomed to playing alongside a teammate on the court and hitting overhead shots past the net.
“ I’ m good with anything above shoulder height just because that’ s natural for me, whether it’ s serving or hitting in volleyball.”
Some players traveled even farther to compete in the Golden Ticket tournament, including a brother-and-sister duo from Hawaii!
Colin Root and Cody Whittern, meanwhile, needed only to drive a little over an hour from Southern Pines, North Carolina, to play their doubles matches inside the Greensboro Complex.
Root, 33, works for the U. S. Army, while Whittern, 28, serves in the U. S. Air Force.
Whittern started playing pickleball just over a year ago, after his roommate encouraged him to try it. He became friends with Root, and it made sense for them to start competing as doubles partners considering how dedicated they are to the sport.
They spent several months going through intensive training to prepare for their matches at the Golden Ticket event. They practiced pickleball drills and played a lot of matches to get ready for the tough competition they expected to face in Greensboro.
“ We’ ve been training a lot and drilling, and I think we’ re a little bit obsessed with the sport,” Root said,“ so this was a good chance to prove ourselves— and they hosted a really great tournament.”
Root and Whittern showed their intensity on the court as they rallied to win in one of the men’ s doubles 4.0 divisions and secure their first trip to Nationals.
“ I had high expectations for us. We put in the work, and I kind of expected us to perform,” Whittern said.“ And we did.”
Alex Abrams has written about Olympic and Paralympic sports for more than 15 years, including as a reporter for major newspapers in Florida, Arkansas and Oklahoma. He is a freelance contributor to USA Pickleball on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.
JULY / AUGUST 2025 | MAGAZINE 55