After a hot and humid weekend in Holly Hill, Florida, we saw some new faces making the podium at the PPA Florida Open. As new players fought through the draw, we also saw a trend in successful partnerships as well as some familiar faces on Championship Sunday.

The tournament events kicked off with men’s and women’s singles, with major upsets shaking up both brackets. On the men’s side, we saw newcomer Collin Shick making his professional debut. Shick battled all the way through the qualifier bracket into the main draw, where he pulled wins over top players Julian Arnold and Dylan Frazier. On the other half of the draw, JOOLA player, Ben Johns, cruised through the bracket to face off against Schick on Championship Sunday. After a three-set battle, Ben Johns earned the first of his Sunday victories, toppling Shick 6-11, 11-3, 11-0.

On the women’s side, Catherine Parenteau pulled an upset over undefeated Anna Leigh Waters in the semifinals to make her way to Championship Sunday where she would face off against Lea Jansen. Parenteau proved to be too good for Jansen, with a convincing 11-4, 11-2 win. 

In mixed doubles, we saw some familiar partnerships taking home the hardware. Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters handily made their way to Championship Sunday where they took down the duo of McGuffin/Parenteau in straight sets 11-5, 11-2, 11-6.

In men’s doubles, Ben Johns, alongside his brother Collin Johns, was able to complete his journey for the triple crown earning his 3^rd gold medal for the day. Johns and Johns faced off against a fiery Julian Arnold and Thomas Wilson and won in straight sets: 11-8, 11-6, 11-9.

On the women’s side of things, we saw some excitement as JOOLA player Lacy Schneemann battled her way into her first Championship Sunday on the PPA tour. Schneemann, alongside her partner, Jade Kawamoto, pulled off two upset victories in the quarterfinals and semi-finals for their opportunity to play for gold. In the quarterfinals, Schneemann and Kawamoto fought to a three set victory over Anna Bright and Parris Todd and then continued their momentum to pull off a straight set victory over JOOLA duo Lea Jansen and Allyce Jones in the semis. Their run came to an ending in the finals, when Anna Leigh Waters and Catherine Parenteau came out on top 11-9, 11-3, 11-8. In the backdraw, Lea Jansen and Allyce Jones finished with the bronze.

The PPA tour continues in Austin, Texas this upcoming weekend, March 16-19. Players will compete in Austin before making their way back to Holly Hill for the second event of Major League Pickleball. 

Player Equipment:

Lacy Schneemann: Simone Jardim Hyperion CFS 14 Swift

Allyce Jones: Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 14 Swift

Lea Jansen: Solaire CFS 14 

Anna Bright: Solaire CFS 14