Having won 4 Golden Tickets earlier in 2023, Brooke had secured her spot at the WPT Amateur Invitational Championships in Dallas, TX. Brooke won a Golden Ticket in Singles, and Women's Doubles in Bradenton, FL and Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles in Columbus, OH. Since this was Nationals, Brooke signed up to play Women's Singles on Thursday, January 11th, Women's Doubles on Friday, January 12th, with partner Beth Oliver and Mixed Doubles on Saturday, January 13th with partner Lucas Cherry.
Brooke and I hopped on a plane Wednesday, knowing the weather was going to be less than cooperative for pickleball with forecasts of temperature throughout the tournament reaching low 20's with steady 20mph winds and up to 40mph gusts. Thursday was to be the only day we had temps close to 60 but very high winds made for a difficult day playing singles.
We arrived at the Oasis Pickleball facility about an hour and half before she was to play and I drew the lucky straw to get Brooke warmed up. She had me running back and forth, like crazy. Although I do my best to help, I know she could use a better warm up partner. I always just hope it's enough to get her ready for live play.
Brooke went 6-2 in round robin, pool play and was the #2 seed, playing everyone twice in a single game to 15. In the Semi-Finals, Brooke played the #3 seed and won 15-3 securing her spot in the gold medal match. The gold medal match was a best of 3, games to 11, win by 2. Brooke lost the first game 8-11 in a neck and neck battle. In the second game Brooke was down 10-4 and dug her heals in, having to come back from 6 Championship points and she did just that! The final score was 12-10 with Brooke 1 game and her competitor 1 game. The third game was an almost exact repeat of the second game, where her competitor made a massive run and had Brooke down once again 10-4. It was awesome to watch Brooke keep her cool and chip away at that huge gap, and before you knew it, Brooke was up 11-10. The final point was a back-and-forth battle, and Brooke made an awesome winning shot to become the World Pickleball Tour National Champion in Women's Singles. It was an emotional rollercoaster to say the least and this husband couldn't have been prouder. I just watched my wife, play 6 hours of pickleball and become a National Champion a day after we arrived in Texas. We wrapped up the medal ceremony around 11PM! On top of being the National Champ, Brooke also took home $450 for the win!
Little did I know, this was the last time I'd be wearing a T-shirt for the rest of the trip...
Day 2 of the Tournament was Friday, and Brooke was scheduled to play with her good friend and fierce partner, Beth Oliver in 4.5 Women's Doubles, 40+,50+60+. We woke up to freezing temps with high winds throughout the better part of the day. Because of the wind, they pushed the girl's start time from 3:30 to 5:45PM. We arrived at the Oasis Pickleball facility around 4PM with temps in the low 30's and dropping fast, as the sun went down. Luckily the wind subsided to a steady 5mph and the girls only had to deal with the cold temps. This fellow had on 5 layers of clothes, a heated vest, Carthart jacket and boots and I was still cold! How they managed to play in those conditions, still baffles me. Brooke and Beth went undefeated in round robin pool play and were the #1 seed. It was awesome to watch them pick apart their competitors so precisely. They played the #4 seed in the Semi-finals and won that game 15-6 securing their spot in the gold medal match. Again, the Gold medal match was a best of 3, game to 11 win by 2. It was nearly 10PM and the temps were in the 20's at this point. Brooke and Beth made quick work in the Finals winning 11-4, 11-2! 2 Days in and Brooke is now a 2X World Pickleball Tour National Champion! Watching these two play together was better than watching any "Pro" game on TV. They made very few mistakes were an absolute force to reckon with. I feel honored to have been present and watch them win such a prestigious title together. Way to go Brooke and Beth!
Oh Yeah, and Brooke added another $250 from their $500 Check to boot! Now we're talking, lol!
Just when you think it couldn't get any colder, Day 3 arrives and it's still in the mid to low 20's, but the wind was scheduled to pick up to a steady 20MPH with the occasional 40MPH gust around 4! Brooke and Lucas were supposed to start around 3 for 4.5 Mixed Doubles 40-49, but their start time got pushed back to 4:45PM. I was bundled up, ready for another long night of pickleball. Just like clockwork, at 4 the 20MPH winds hit, and never stopped all night.
Brooke and Lucas went 6-3 in round robin pool play, with some funky made up rally scoring to 15. They played in the Quarter-finals and won 15-10. This game was regular scoring, game to 15 win by 2. At this point they had to play the #1 seed in the Semi-Finals. This game was also regular scoring, game to 15 win by 2. Brooke and Lucas came out on top, beating the #1 seed 15-7, securing their spot in the gold medal match.
Although we all wished for a different outcome, Brooke and Lucas lost in the Gold medal match, taking home SILVER and another big fat check!
To say the conditions were unbearable, was an understatement! 20 degrees and 20MPH wind doesn't make for fun pickleball!
Brooke won all these matches using an Engage Pursuit Pro EX 6.0. She's medaled in every tournament she's played, with Engage paddles! I want to give a shout out to Engage, for signing Brooke as a sponsored player and providing such well-engineered and US manufactured paddles that continue to put her on the podium!
Brooke and I said "Peace-Out" to Dallas as we headed to Love Airport in 15 deg temps. WPT had cancelled Men's Doubles for the day. When we arrived at the airport in Pittsburgh, PA welcomed us with 14 deg temps and 6" of snow in the driveway, I had to plow first thing Monday morning.
I'm still trying to get warm, after this trip! All I can say is WOW, and how super proud I am of my wife Brooke, bringing home two National titles, 2 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal and a pile of money! Way to go girl! Thanks for the adventure...
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