Family Affair | Continued
to become a national champion at something .’ I had just returned home from living in Kenya for two years and wasn ’ t sure what I was going to do next , so I took him up on the offer . We trained hard every day and we both won singles at Nationals on the same day .”
A 10-year pickleball veteran , Scott , unlike his son , became fascinated with the sport after just six months of playing . “ Daniel was interested in other things , from traveling the world to playing tennis and snowboarding ,” says Scott . “ I , on the other hand , dropped pretty much everything else to become totally focused and perhaps a bit obsessed with being the best senior player ever .”
His obsession quickly turned into dominance on the court . A winner of more than 100 gold medals , he ’ s also won more gold at the National Championships and Tournament of Champions ( TOC ) than any other pickleball player . Combined with Daniel ’ s six golds at Nationals and two at the TOC , the Moores are arguably the sport ’ s most decorated family .
“ I absolutely cannot wait to get my granddaughter , who is 2 now , out on the courts ,” says Scott . “ For lots of reasons , more kids are getting into pickleball , and I can ’ t think of many better ways for them to spend their time together .”
The sport can also bring about a bit of levity , like the times Jennifer Dawson — recent Triple Crown winner at Nationals — and husband Steve are on the same side of the court . “ Sometimes we play well together , but other times it ’ s a train wreck . You ’ re much harder on the one you
Twins Jade and Jackie Kawamoto recently took home the silver medal in Women ’ s Pro Doubles at the APP event in Boca Raton , Florida . Photo by Bruce Yeung ; IG : @ yeungphotography .
Scott Moore and his son Daniel are arguably the sport ’ s most decorated family .
love . In my first tournament , Steve and I played mixed doubles together at Nationals and we were starting to get annoyed at one another . So , when Steve tried to tell me that my wrap skirt was starting to fall off , I didn ’ t want to hear it . Oops !” recalls Jennifer .
While the term “ love ” is used predominantly in tennis , it can take on the literal sense in pickleball as in the lives of Adam Stone and Corrine Carr who recently announced their engagement . A top collegiate golfer at Furman University , Corrine has also excelled off the pickleball court with Adam , producing a popular podcast called “ In the Kitchen ” that airs on YouTube and provides healthy living tips through meal preparation and beyond .
Perhaps one of the closest family bonds in the sport are the Kawamoto twins , Jade and Jackie . The sisters , who are 25 , were born and raised in Hawaii before moving to Indianapolis after the second grade . They recently took home a silver medal in Women ’ s Pro Doubles at the APP event in Boca Raton , Florida . “ Jackie and I played tennis our whole lives , and when we discovered pickleball and how we could incorporate some of the skills we learned from tennis and develop new skills in pickleball , it became really fun for us ,” says Jade , who along with Jackie graduated from the University of Dayton in 2018 .
Closeness doesn ’ t begin to tell the story of these sisters who live together , work together at the NCAA headquarters , and also train together . “ We get along most of the time ,” says Jackie . “ It ’ s hard to play with someone you are so close with , but succeeding with that person is the best feeling ! We have such a strong bond and pretty much know what the other is thinking at any given time .” Jade adds , “ We can ’ t really get away from each other ! Our twin connection is pretty special though , so I don ’ t take it for granted .” •