Pickleball Magazine 7-2 WD | Page 45

game . “ I ’ m able to travel and compete more frequently than I would be able to otherwise . It ’ s difficult , but it ’ s completely worth it to get all this experience and to play at the highest level possible .”
Like most advanced players in the sport , JW — who graduated high school last May — grew up with a tennis racket in hand , admiring the likes of pro athletes such as Roger Federer for his on-court demeanor and quarterback Patrick Mahomes ’ leadership qualities , but quickly transferred that interest to the smaller court of pickleball .
“ It started with my mom playing first , then I followed after her , then my sister after me ,” he recalls . “ Pickleball looked like it was really fun because there was a lot of volleying involved and the court was much smaller than that of a tennis court , and it also amused me that the ball was actually a wiffle ball — so I wanted to know how in the world a sport could be played with a wiffle ball !”
Amusement aside , the Johnsons are quite serious about advancing their games to the highest level possible . “ We train six days a week and then I make the kids take one day off to rest and heal . Our training usually consists of drilling during the day and then match play at night . The kids also have a fitness trainer who works specifically on pickleball-related skills ,” says Julie .
There ’ s no sibling rivalry in this household . When asked if she looks up to a particular pickleball player , Jorja responds , “ My brother for sure ! I see how hard he works and the dedication he has for training and fitness , and I want to keep up with him !”
And so far , this close-knit family is experiencing only the joys of their togetherness . “ It is pretty rare for a whole family to do so well in one sport ; I knew that wouldn ’ t happen in tennis for sure , but I also always envied those who could do it without tension in the family ,” says JW . “ When our family could go out and get along and play a sport together , I was so enthused that I thought , ‘ Why don ’ t we keep doing this ?’”
“ I ’ m very blessed to practice with my family who are at the top of their game in their respective fields , which is an advantage as well as just having people to travel with . Being on the road to me wouldn ’ t be worth it if I couldn ’ t do it with my family . Sometimes it becomes a little too much family time , but all in all , I wouldn ’ t have it any other way ,” adds Jorja .
As the matriarch of the family , Julie also chimes in : “ It ’ s actually almost surreal . Life takes you in directions you never see coming , but this has just been exceptional . I literally never saw this coming and can ’ t believe what a wonderful turn of events this has been for all of us .” •

Family Affair

While the recognizable names of the Johns brothers , Ben and Collin ; the Newman siblings , Riley and Lindsey ; and dynamic mother-daughter tandem Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters garner most of the headlines these days , there are a few other family members climbing the ladder of familiarity within the pickleball circles .
By Drew Wathey

For those who believe in the old adage that absence makes the heart grow fonder , they may never have played pickleball with a loved one . Closeness between two sisters or a father and son can be found on pickleball courts around the country , and many are together on podiums proudly displaying their tournament workmanship .

“ One of the best things about pickleball is that different generations of family members can play together . Especially at the recreational level , it ’ s great for families to get outside , spend some time together and exercise . I think younger families will be one of the biggest growth markets in pickleball going forward ,” says Daniel Moore , who over the years has played with and against his father Scott , a wellrespected and accomplished pickleball player in his own right .
Daniel , whose family lived in Japan for 16 years , speaks fluent Japanese and now resides in Nagano , Japan , site of the 1998 Winter Olympics . He started his own guiding company , stages a few pickleball trips to Japan every year and runs an airbnb in the mountains .
It was Scott who got the adventurous Daniel interested in the sport : “ My dad got me into pickleball in 2014 , saying , ‘ This is your only chance
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MARCH / APRIL 2022 | MAGAZINE 43