I was sharing a meal with my great friend Phil Imholte over the weekend when he imparted a bit of wisdom he had heard on a recent podcast episode. He explained that when you take a vacation, it's really like you're getting 3 events in one. First, the pre vacation anticipation. This is the period where you plan everything out, tell your friends all the fun things you want to do, and dream about how great it's going to be. The second event is actually being there, being present, and living out your visualizations and dreams. The third event is the reminiscing upon the vacation after it is over. Showing pictures and videos to friends and family, thinking back upon fond memories, and sharing stories with those who will listen.
For Season 3 of The TPL, we are officially in the first phase, the anticipation phase. 21 days ago six brave souls met at Pints and Paddle to determine the fate of The TPL's finest competitors. The pre draft jitters were creeping in, as their palms were sweaty, knees weak, arms were heavy. They were nervous, but on the surface they looked calm and ready to drop bombs.
And bombs did they ever drop.
Many are calling this the finest work of drafting in TPL history. This was the first time in the history of the league that we called upon an all female cast of captains to choose the teams, and they certainly delivered. All six teams look like they can make a run at the coveted TPL trophy, and all six teams have been off and running with practicing, figuring out team names and colors, and some even creating team logos. It's going to be another highly contested event, with people coming from near and far, to watch some of Minnesota's finest pickleballers decend upon Sta Fit to forever have their names engraved as a TPL Champion.
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| The TPL Logo, made by our very own Kyle Jordre! |
Let's meet the teams:
ICE
Team Ice, captained by season 1 champion Beth Trout, has a team of veterans who are no strangers to TPL Championship appearances. The team features Trout, Alissa Spaniol (season 2 silver medalist), Jason Krueger, and the only two time champion, Boo Bear's boyfriend, Chris Mavetz. While the rumor has it that this team may not sneak in any full team practices, it would be foolish to take this team lightly.
Will we see a repeat season 1 mixed lineup of Trout/Mavetz, who sealed the season 1 title together? Will Krueger join his teammates and make his first appearance in a TPL final? Will Mavetz win yet another title, to further cement his TPL legacy? Surely he can't keep winning these things, can he?!? All burning questions that have the talk radio shows buzzing.
YAAK Pak
We are privileged to have a few TPL first timer's for season 3, with Yang Lo making his long anticipated debut. The YAAK Pak features a powerful lineup of Yang, Alexis, Adam, and Kris (the YAAK in their Pak). Mother/daughter force Lexi and Kris are back on the court together after teaming up in season 2. While keeping it close to home with her female draft pick, Kris decided to look across the globe for her men's teammates. She chose the Laotian Laser Yang Lo, and went down unda to grab the Australian Authoritarian Adam Couzens.
This team also features two esteemed medical professionals in Yang (MD) and Lexi (DDS). While we won't feel safe playing against them on the court, we can feel safe knowing all our urgent care and cavity needs will be met off the court.
23 and MO
Whether it's in the car flying down highway 23, or on the pickleball court, this team is no stranger to driving. When crafting her team, captain Nicole Idalski was looking for a specific blend of speed, strength, experience, and wisdom. She crafted just that landing Dee Johnson, Matt Otto, and Kyle Jordre. 23 and Mo officially comes in as the team with the highest combined age in season 3, but you'd be foolish to overlook this team for such a silly reason like that. Picked by many TPL beat writers as a championship caliber team, they're looking to make a deep run in season 3.
Interesting tidbit on 23 and MO, they feature two different pairs who have teamed up in the TPL before. In season 1 Otto and Johnson were both on the Rebel Bat Fuzz, while Jordre and Idalski both wore the all black of team Dink em in season 2. Will this on and off court comradery from the past two seasons push this team to TPL greatness?
No Rodillas No Problemas
Captained by the Rich Cat herself, Jenny Johnson assembled an absolutely beautiful squad (I'm not biased at all). The team includes JJ, lefty's John Michaud and Emily Schadow, and myself (Thomas Richard Spaniol). While each member of No Rodillas No Problemas has dealt with knee surgeries in the past, they currently show no signs of hinderances on the court. This team is also the only team that has two lefties on it, and could be the first TPL squad in league history to trot out a lefty lefty mixed doubles combo. At the time of this publication, team captain JJ could not be reached to confirm or deny the lefty lefty possibility.
Depending upon how things go over these next two weeks, they're likely to win the preseason award for "most team practice sessions." Although we all know pre season awards don't count for shit, we'll see if that translates to wins on December 30th. One thing is for sure, the hype level is high amongst team No Rodillas No Problemas, and they'll be ready to go for Season 3 (again, no bias here).
Team Pond Johnson
While that likely isn't their team name, team captain Lake Johnson could also not be reached at the time of this publication, so creative measures had to be taken. And while we may be left guessing on their name, we certainly aren't guessing on this squad's pickleball prowess. After leading the Pink Flamingos to a season 2 title, Lake Johnson is back to reclaim her crown and to sip champagne from the TPL cup, this time heading a squad as team captain. And she's assembled a very dangerous group to help her do just that. Team Pond has newcomer Jen Sheedy, local legend Jay Portz, and the pride of Wilmar High Manny Obregon.
Vegas has high expectations for this team, even though it's all but guaranteed they won't be getting a full team practice in before the event. But hey, they don't need to, neither did Lake's Flamingos last season and look what happened there. Rumor has it Manny has just now gotten over his team's crushing semifinal dreambreaker loss from season 2, and he vows to never experience that feeling again. Watch out for this team to come out strong and make some waves on the 30th.
Pink Flamingos
As I personally experienced from seasons 1 to 2, coming back as the reigning champion captain can be a daunting task. The pressure to win again from the national media, the fans, and fellow contestants can be a lot to withstand. But Emily Gerads thrives under this pressure, and is ready to defend her title in Season 3 with a new cast of characters. This year her squad has veteran Darrin Prince, and two TPL first timers, Missy Rosenthal and Mark Elliot.
3/4ths of this team has been spotted at Sta Fit many times prepping for the upcoming season, while we trust Mark has been prepping on his own out in cheese land. Emily heads into this tournament as confident as she's ever been, even volunteering to host the after party, already manifesting everyone coming over to celebrate her championship win. We shall see if the drinks on the 30th end up being celebratory or sorrow for her, but we do know for certain this team is going to be a force on the court, and has all the tools of a cup raising squad.
I hope you all have a safe and blessed holiday season, we'll see you on December 30th.
-Tom Spaniol
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