If you are new to the sport of Pickleball, then here’s our quick guide to some of the stars of the sport and to their favoured paddles…
Tyler Loong - Vulcan Pro
Tyler Loong has been playing pickleball for six years. He started playing tennis at age 7, including playing Division 1 College Tennis during his first year at BYU in Utah. He transitioned into playing pickleball after his neighbour, Tyler Sheffield, invited him to play a game one afternoon; he’s been hooked ever since! From the very beginning of his time playing the sport, his favourite part about the pickleball community has been the feeling of family and friendship. To this day, most of his close friends are fellow pickleball players, and he appreciates this common bond they share.
When not playing on the professional tour, Tyler has also helped start the first national youth pickleball initiative—the National JPO. The National JPO started as a local project in Loong’s home state of Utah; while that program, the Utah JPO, is still growing to encompass 4-5 events a year, Tyler and the National JPO also run the Jr. PPA tournaments on a national scale. The National JPO focuses on kids from ages 7-18, and they specialize in all-inclusive family events.
In his spare time, Tyler is a referee for college tennis matches, travels with his wife and two children, and enjoys outdoor sports—such as hiking, surfing, biking, and skateboarding. His career has paired creativity and focus, from owning a shaved ice shack to real estate investment to working in account management; his pickleball game shows the same combination of fun and discipline, including his signature Erne shot.
Tyler is excited to be part of Team Vulcan so he can be 100% into the sport he loves most, while being supported by a company that makes a full range of products he likes.
Tyler uses a VULCAN V730 Max paddle
Notable tournament wins:
2019 Beer City, Mens Pro Doubles – 2nd Place
2019 US Open, Mens Pro Doubles – 4th Place
2019 Mountain Regional, Mens Pro Doubles – 1st place
2018 Nationals, Mens Pro Singles – 2nd place
2018 Canadian Open, Triple Crown Winner (Mens Doubles, Singles, Mixed)
Corrine Carr - Vulcan Pro
Corrine Carr, otherwise known as the “Professor of Pickleball,” has been playing pickleball for over five years. She started playing pickleball while she was getting her PhD in Finance from Michigan State University, where she wanted an athletic activity that took place indoors during the cold weather. Six months after playing her first game, she competed in her first tournament; she was immediately impressed with the social community surrounding the competitive atmosphere, and she was hooked.
Corrine started playing tennis and golf at a young age, and she went to college at South Carolina university on a Division 1 golf scholarship. She still plays both tennis and golf in her spare time, when she’s not teaching as a professor of finance at Campbell University in North Carolina.
When she is not working or playing sports, Corrine loves to travel to new locations – from Alaska to Argentina, to Iceland and Switzerland, and many more to come. She enjoys cooking, fashion, and biking, and she is easily known as the nicest player on the professional tour.
Corrine is excited to be part of Team Vulcan because of the supportive, friendly team members. Corrine uses the Vulcan V520 Control
Notable tournament wins:
2019 Beer City – Gold in Women’s Doubles Pro, Bronze in Singles Pro
2019 SoCal Classic – Gold in Women’s Doubles Pro
2019 Atlanta Open – Gold in Women’s Doubles Pro
2019 US Open – Silver in Women’s Doubles Pro
2018 Nationals – Silver in Women’s Doubles Pro
Ben Johns - JOOLA Pro
Ben currently uses the Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm paddle
Location: Austin, Texas
Career Highlights:
Back to back Triple Crown titles at the US Open
9x PPA Tour triple crown titles
108 match winning streak spanning 2 years in singles
Life Before Pickleball: I played tennis, table tennis, and baseball primarily. Other than that I was a student, and enjoyed the gym, hiking, and reading (and still do!)
Personal Heroes: Elon Musk
Favourite Pump-Up Song(s):
Higher, Pour Some Sugar, You’re the Best
Favourite Food: Hot pot, Korean BBQ, Sushi
Regina Franco Goldberg - JOOLA Pro
Regina currently uses the Joola Radius CGS 14mm paddle
Location: Delray, Florida
Career Highlights:
Franklin Invitational Masters – 2nd womens doubles
APP Hilton Head – 1st mixed doubles/ 2nd womens doubles
APP Punta Gorda – 3rd womens doubles
APP Delray Open – 3rd womens doubles
APP SC Open – 2nd womens doubles
Life Before Pickleball: I played professional racquetball
Personal Heroes: Mom and grandpa
Favourite Pump-Up Song(s): Fade – Kanye West
Favourite Food: Italian, sushi, and Mediterranean. For dessert: CHOCOLATE
Steve Cole - ONIX Pro
After back surgery, Steve Cole was looking for a low impact sport. His background was in
racquetball, table tennis, and basketball, and his wife, who was already
playing pickleball, convinced him to try it. Steve instantly fell in love with
the sport.
Since then, the Las Vegas, Nevada, player has won more than 70 5.0/pro event tournaments.
Using his ONIX Evoke Premier paddle, he is proud to represent Team ONIX at
tournaments.
Accolades:
USA National Champion
US Open Champion
Huntsman World Senior Games Champion – Triple Crown Winner
2x National Champion
2x US Open Champion
Bonnie Williams - ONIX Pro
A former NAIA All-American tennis player, Bonnie Williams picked up pickleball when rehabbing an ACL injury. Since switching to pickleball, she is a seven-time USAPA Nationals champion, four-time Tournament of Champions winner, and a three-time US Open champion.
She loves playing with the Evoke Premier Paddle because it offers the perfect balance of control and power all in one pickleball paddle.
Accolades:
7x USA National Champion
3x US Open Champion
4x Tournament of Champions Gold Medalist
