Howes and Original Team at
Pickleball Channel Receive US Open
Pickleball Championships 2019
Impact Award
Ben Johns and Kyle Yakes
defeated Dave Weinbach
and Matt Wright in Men’s
Pro Doubles final 11-9,
9-11, 11-7.
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“We are humbled and so very
excited to have received the
Impact Award,” Howes says.
“It’s truly an honor that we will
cherish, and one that inspires
us to continue our pursuit of
bringing more pickleball to the
world.”
Pickleball Channel was one of
the first groups to fully support
and understand the vision of
the Minto US Open Pickleball
Championships. Howes could
imagine the impact an event of
this magnitude would have on
the local Naples community and,
more importantly, what it could
do to help grow the sport of
pickleball around the world.
“When we first started the
US Open, Howes said, ‘I’m in
for whatever you need in this
gamble,’” says Terri Graham,
who co-founded the event with
Chris Evon. “He was one of our
backbones.”
Evon said Howes and his
team’s dedication to pickleball
and the US Open had a direct
impact on the event’s success
and growth throughout the
years, and perfectly fits the bill
for what the Impact Award is all
about.
“We created this award
two years ago to recognize
someone—or a team—who
contributes to the sport or the
growth of the US Open, or who
was influential in general,” Evon
explains. “In that regard, we not
only have a history to draw from,
but have many candidates who
are contributing in the moment
to ensure the current and future
success of the event.”
34
Tyson McGuffin gives
Coach Morgan Evans a lift!
Jardim and Kovalova had little time to rest before being called back onto
the court to play against each other yet again in the Women’s Doubles
Final. Jardim played with partner Corinne Carr; Kovalova paired with
Irina Tereschenko. In two sets, Kovalova and Tereschenko stopped
Jardim from capturing the 2019 Triple Crown 11-5, 11-6, demonstrating
the highest level of women’s play yet seen.
After an international flag-bearing festival celebration, the Pro Men’s
Doubles Final took place, and for those who watched last year, the deja
vu could be cut with a knife as 2018’s Final players Kyle Yates and Ben
Johns defended their title against Matt Wright and Dave Weinbach, all
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