In this episode, Kevin Turain, treasurer of the Middletown Pickleball Association (MPA), shares the organization's history and current operations. The MPA began organically in the early 2000s when Stanley and Marsha Volkins, retired farmers who discovered pickleball in Arizona, convinced the city to convert unused tennis courts into pickleball courts. From these humble beginnings, MPA has grown to manage 27 courts at Lefferson Park through a unique partnership with the city.

Kevin discusses MPA's comprehensive programming, including their popular "Learn to Play" beginner lessons, multiple skill-based ladder leagues, and tournaments that attract hundreds of players. Their annual seniors tournament in August typically draws 400-450 participants. The association offers a $75 annual membership that provides access to the courts (which are lit and available from 5 AM to 11 PM), participation in leagues, and discounted equipment through their partnership with Pickleball Central.

Kevin also shares personal insights about the sport's appeal - its accessibility, the brief 15-minute games that facilitate meeting new people, and the vibrant community that develops around play. He notes how pickleball has expanded globally and become a social connector, with many of his friendships developing through the sport.

In this episode, Mitch shares the fascinating origin story of Pickle Lodge, Cincinnati's premier pickleball facility. As a self-described "masochist" who values volunteering, Mitch founded the Cincinnati Pickleball Club in January 2020 to grow the sport locally. His online visibility led to a fateful connection with Joe Frank, owner of the Fowling Warehouse, in July 2020. Though the Fowling Warehouse wasn't suitable for pickleball, their partnership flourished through a shared "yes, and" philosophy that would eventually create Pickle Lodge.

Mitch details the challenging transformation of a neglected 1970s tennis facility (Courtyard Sportsplex) into the thriving 60,000-square-foot, 23-court Pickle Lodge. Despite construction delays and unexpected costs, the business achieved profitability in its first year. Mitch also reveals plans for their second location, Pickle Lodge at Lunkin Landing, set to open in fall 2025.

The conversation explores Mitch's personal pickleball journey, beginning in Northern Michigan in 2017 and blossoming into full addiction by 2018. Mitch compares pickleball's addictive nature to golf rather than tennis, explaining how it becomes "part of your personality." Throughout the episode, Mitch's marketing background, entrepreneurial spirit, and passion for community-building shine through as the driving forces behind Pickle Lodge's success.

The podcast features an interview with Chip and Mikala (via phone), a father-daughter pickleball team who recently won a tournament called the Battle of the Paddle. They discuss their individual journeys into the sport—Mikala began playing in 2023 after a spontaneous practice session with her father, while Chip started after knee replacement surgery in 2021 as a way to stay competitive without the high-impact demands of basketball. Despite living in different states (Tennessee and Ohio), they managed to practice together whenever Mikala visited.

The duo shares insights about their tournament strategy, including exploiting opponents' weaknesses and maintaining mental fortitude when facing early deficits. They describe their kitchen control philosophy, emphasizing patient dinking to set up offensive opportunities rather than relying solely on power shots. Both players reveal what they're working to improve—Chip focuses on third-shot drops and varying his serves, while Mikala is developing her two-handed backhand and offensive capabilities. Their advice for recreational players looking to improve includes proper warm-up, dedicated drilling, and watching professional matches while enjoying the gradual process of skill development rather than rushing to achieve advanced ratings.

Note: corrected email contacts below.

leagues.deerfield@fiftywestbrew.com

Leagues.wooster@fiftywestbrew.com

Moe and I discuss the companies history, beer and food selection and sports offerings!

Pickleball Leagues Starts March 17th!

Type: Beginner to Advanced
Format: 2v2 Co-ed, Men’s, and Women’s
Duration: 8 Weeks of League Play
Available Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

Jeff and I sit down and discuss the upcoming tournament at the Countryside YMCA in Lebanon, Ohio. This is a Double Elimination Pickleball Tournament and Fundraiser to support the Veterans Connect program at Countryside YMCA! Four different ways to play; Men's Flight, Women's Flight, Mixed Flight, or 60+ Men's Flight (all doubles).