TPL Season 3

(Estimated read time: 26 minutes)

On October 23rd, Alissa and I were in the Italian Dolomites hiking up to see a gorgeous mountain lake when we came to a section of the trail that required traversing around a mountain bend with a rod iron cable to hold on one side, and a 1,000+ foot drop on the other side. As I tightly gripped the iron and carefully watched my footing, I had these swirling thoughts running through my mind. Does anyone want to play in season 3 of The TPL? Is it too rushed to fit another one in before the end of the year? Do we really want to do an entire event indoors at Sta Fit? 

As it turned out, everyone did want to play in season 3, and it was the best possible way to finish off 2023. It ended up being our most competitive, and quite possibly, our most fun event to date. While season 3 ended the year, it was a season of firsts. We had our first event photographer- thank you Ruby! We had our first event sponsor- thank you Rich Cat Supply! We had our first official TPL logo- thank you Kyle Jordre! We even had said logo and said sponsor displayed on team jerseys! From our humble beginnings in season 1 taking place only a half a year ago on June 24th, we looked like a whole new product and a well oiled machine for season 3.

The Season 3 Competitors

If you read the season 3 preview write up, you'll know this season was the first time we featured an all female cast of captains. It appeared on paper that they had provided us with the most competitive rosters the TPL has ever seen, and on December 30th, that proved to be true. On the drive to Sta Fit that morning I told Alissa that I believe we will have the most dreambreakers we've ever had at this year's contest. While I ended up being correct, that was far from a Nostradamus prediction, as it seemed obvious that no one team was much stronger or weaker than the next. 

Let's review the action that took place.

Round 1

While the coin toss seemed to produce confusion each time, there was no confusion for the competitors on the court. Round one featured intense matchups all over the place. Defending champion captain Emily Gerads came out hot against her former teammate Chris Mavet'z squad, Team Ice, as this was the first match of the day to go to a dreambreaker. The gendered doubles was split as the Flamingo women Missy and Emily beat Ice's Beth and Alissa, while the Ice's men Chrissy and Jason took down Darrin and Mark, both games not particularly close. The mixed would then be split as well, this time each game being a nail biter, as Alissa and Chris won for the Ice, while Missy and Darrin topped Jason and Beth, setting up an intense dreambreaker. The Pink Flamingos would end up winning the breaker 21-18, and claiming their first match win of the day.

TPL newcomer Missy played like a veteran all day

No one could stop this dynamic duo

The middle court featured two well dressed teams, No Rodillas No Problemas sporting their TPL/Rich Cat collab shirts, and The YAAK Pak, sporting their medical scrubs. And scrub their opponents they did indeed, getting a full sweep over NRNP, who looked like they were still trying to loosen up their creaky knees (which they eventually did, but more on that later.) No game was close, and the YAAK Pak looked like they were there not to help their patients, but to destroy them.

No Rodillas, No Problemas!

All smiles for the YAAK Pak all day!

The third match of round one featured the brightly colored and very vocal Squaking Parrots vs the well coordinated and well seasoned veterans 23andMO. They split the gendered games with the Parrots women winning big, and the 23andMO men squeaking one out over the Squakers, 23-21. This set up a pair of intense two point mixed matches, with Lake and Jay handing Kyle and Nicole their only mixed loss of the day 21-19. While on the other side of the tennis net, Matt and Dee took down Manny and Jen Sheedy in extras 22-20, setting up another dreambreaker for the near capacity Sta Fit crowd. The breaker would be a tight back and forth battle, with 23andMO coming out on top 21-18.

Round 2

In round 2, we magically only saw one dreambreaker (WTF!?). Providing us with the drama was Ice against 23andMO. Their women's doubles game was perhaps one of the best of the day, going 26-24 with Nicole and Dee coming out on top, while the Ice's men continued their strong showing winning 21-19. This set up a few fantastic mixed games, as Kyle and Nicole topped Jason and Beth, leaving it to Chris and Alissa vs Matt and Dee to try to send it to a dreambreaker. The Spaniol/Mavetz combo prevailed 21-19 in a hell of a pickleball game that had the crowd on their feet and Mavetz shouting "Are you not entertained?!" The dreambreaker was started out HOT by the Ice's men 11-3. The women of 23andMO fought hard to try to flip the script, but Alissa and Beth hung on 21-16, and team Ice claimed the match victory.

Ice Ice Ladies

Once again finding themselves on the middle court and hoping to improve upon their rough start, NRNP saw themselves up against the colorful Squakers. The men in red, John and Tom, topped Manny and Jay 21-16. The women's game, which had been played multiple times before at a pre season practice session at Pints and Paddle, came down to the wire before Johnson and Sheedy pulled out a two point victory over JJ and Emily. In the mixed, NRNP put out the first lefty/lefty combo in TPL history as Emily and John took on Jen and Manny, who were able to overcome the lefties in a 21-16 victory. This meant it was left to JJ and Thomas Richard to get it done to send their team to a dreambreaker. In a great back and forth contest, at 19-19, Spaniol was gifted a floater to his backhand at the net. And into the net is exactly where he put it, setting up the Squakers with a game point which they would cash in on for a 21-19 victory and giving the Squakers the match win.

No preseason practice no problem for Jen and Manny

The YAAK Pak looked to continue their hot start into round two facing off against the Pink Flamingos, but found themselves in a 1-1 tie after gendered doubles with the Flamingo ladies coming out with a narrow two point win. In mixed doubles, it was Emily and Mark hanging on for a two point victory against Kris and Yang, while on the other side of the net Missy and Darrin took down Lexi and Adam 21-18. After two rounds, the Flamingos found themselves flying yet again with a 2-0 start to the day.

Fly Flamingos fly!

Round 3

The final round of pool play would provide plenty of drama as all the teams were settled in with the early round jitters wearing off. YAAK Pak and Ice lead it off with yet another "overtime" game in women’s doubles, seeing the Portz ladies edge out Alissa and Beth 24-22. The Ice's men would have their revenge for their gals as they won 21-18, tying things up heading into mixed. Adam and Lexi cruised to a win over Alissa and Jason, and all eyes turned to season 1 championship mixed pairing Mavetz and Trout to try and force the dreambreaker. In yet another incredible game that wouldn't end at 21, Mavetz and Trout pulled out the win over Kris and the Laotian Laser 22-20. Using up all that energy in the first four games melted the Ice a bit too much, as they would fall in the dreambreaker, providing The YAAK Pak with the #2 seed and a first round bye.

The Portz ladies

Mavetz and Krueger were the only gendered doubles team to end the day undefeated!

If you thought the battle of the bands was intense, you clearly haven't seen the battle of the birds. In a highly anticipated matchup the 2-0 Pink Flamingos met the 1-1 Squaking Parrots. This round it was the Parrots who walked the walk and talked the talk, cruising to a 4-0 victory, and earning themselves the #1 seed heading into bracket play as they edged out the YAAK Pak with a higher games net.

Saturdays are for The Squakers

23andMO met up with NRNP in a battle of two teams looking to build some momentum heading into the playoffs. NRNP's women did just that coming out hot and winning 21-10, before Kyle and Matt evened things up at a game a piece. In mixed, Kyle and Nicole took down Emily and John, before JJ and Tom got the W over Matt and Dee sending this match into yet another dreambreaker. It was the 5th dreambreaker of the pool play round for those keeping score at home, and the 3rd dreambreaker in a row for 23andMO!! Emily and JJ gave NRNP an 11-8 lead, providing Tom and John with a shot of adrenaline to come on and finish things off. NRNP would win the breaker 21-18 and secure their first match win of the day. It proved to be just enough for a last place finish heading into the bracket!

JJ and Tom got hot at just the right time

Math was once again needed to determine the seeds, as season 3's pool play ended up being as mathematically close as it can be, with three teams finishing 2-1, and three teams finishing 1-2. Heading into the bracket the seeds were:

#1 Squaking Parrots, 2-1 (first round bye)

#2 YAAK Pak, 2-1 (first round bye)

#3 Pink Flamingos, 2-1

#4 Ice, 1-2

#5 23andMO, 1-2

#6 No Rodillas No Problemas, 1-2

Quarterfinals

In the first QF the #5 seeded 23andMO took on #4 seed Ice in a rematch of a round two classic. This time, however, no dreambreaker would be necessary. The wisdom, power, and experience of 23andMO would shine over the youth and exuberance of team Ice, as they cruised to a 3-1 win, only dropping a game in mens doubles, and securing their spot in the semifinals.

Kyle and Nicole ended as the day's top mixed team

In QF two, the red hot squad from NRNP took the stage against the Pink Flamingos. The lower seed would once again prevail, as NRNP sent the Flamingos flying on home with a 4-0 sweep.

John and Emily saved their first W for the playoffs

Semifinals

After being well rested from their bye, the top seeded Squaking Parrots were ready to chirp when they met up with 23andMO, looking to avenge a round one dreambreaker loss. The Parrots were led by Season 2 champion and MVP Lake Johnson, who was once again off to a hot TPL start and held a perfect 6-0 record through pool play. 23andMO decided they didn't care about records or seeds, and would hand Johnson her first and only two losses of the day on their way to a 4-0 sweep securing their place in the title game.

Matt and Dee earning a victory over Manny and Jen

It was another round one rematch in semifinal number two as bottom seeded NRNP came up against the mighty YAAK Pak. After falling 21-12 in round one, JJ and Emily were on a roll, and topped the Portz ladies for their third women's doubles win in a row. Tom and John had a chance to put NRNP up 2-0, leading 20-18 late in the game. With the serve on their paddle, Michaud hit a great third shot drop that forced a pop up from the YAAKs. Spaniol came flying over to hit the easiest game winning putaway of his life, but forced it long. That opening was all that Adam and Yang needed, as they scored the games next three points and won 22-20 to tie things up heading into mixed. NRNP went with a different mixed lineup than their round one match against YAAK, keeping Spaniol and Johnson together looking to stretch their win streak to three. They did just that against Yang and Kris, and then all eyes turned to Adam and Lexi against Michaud and The Schadow. With the score at 20-14 in favor of YAAK, it looked like we were headed to another dreambreaker. Remembering the words that Spaniol threw into the team text thread the day before the contest, "As long as there's still a rally to be had, it's never over," John and Emily started chipping away. Game point save after game point save, dink after dink, they stayed alive, using their lefty craft to torment their opponents. Finally, in what many are calling the greatest comeback in TPL history, Emily and John prevailed, sending NRNP to an on court team hug of jubilee, and into the championship match.

That epic comeback feeling

Season 3 Championship

Months prior to this event on a cold October day in Savage MN, Spaniol and Mavetz lost all of their pool play matches except the very last one, snuck into the bracket as the last seed, and went on to win the tournament. One of the opponents they beat in the championship that day? Kyle Jordre. Would NRNP be in for the same fate? Could Spaniol and squad do it again, rising from the dead after a cold start to topple Jordre in the championship!? This time, Jordre would prevail. 23andMO hopped out to a 2-0 lead after gendered, before putting out Matt and Dee to take on Tom and JJ. In a much tighter contest then their round 3 matchup, Tom and JJ won 21-18, setting the stage for team captain Nicole Idalski and Kyle Jordre to try and secure a win over the comeback kids Emily and John. It was a great back and forth game, before Jordre sent a beautiful two handed backhand shot down the middle to secure the title for 23andMO.

Our Season 3 champs: Matt, Dee, Nicole, Kyle

While season 2's championship featured the #1 and #2 seeds, this season it was the bottom two seeds meeting in the title match. It really was the tightest competition we've ever had, and something we can only hope continues in future events. With a combined age of 228 years young, 23andMO showed us all what wisdom and experience can provide on the court. They are an example and an inspiration to all of us, showing what it means to take care of your body, and that age is just a number. A big congratulations to Matt Otto, Dee Johnson, Nicole Idalski, and Kyle Jordre, whose names will forever be engraved upon the TPL Cup!

Insert Stats Section for the Nerds

Top Performing Gendered Doubles Teams:

• Chris Mavetz and Jason Krueger: 4-0
• Lake Johnson and Jen Sheedy: 4-1
• Yang Lo and Adam Couzens: 3-1

Top Mixed Teams (minimum 4 games)

• Kyle Jordre and Nicole Idalski: 5-1
• Jennifer Johnson and Tom Spaniol: 4-1
• Jay Portz and Lake Johnson: 3-1

Top Individual Records (not including dreambreakers)

• Chris Mavetz: 7-1
• Lake Johnson: 6-2
• Who the hell let them be on the same team last season!?!?

A Few Other Stats

• New Players: 4! This season we welcomed Yang, Jen Sheedy, Mark and Missy. And they all balled out in their TPL debuts!
• Teams who had the same idea for jerseys: 2. Coincidence that NRNP and 23&MO met in the championship!? I think not.
• New scorekeeper and new photographer: 2. Thank you so much Volly and Ruby!!
• Ping pong opponents Nicole beat at the after party: 5 (all of them)
• Elephant noises produced by Jen Sheedy: 2
• Times I invited everyone to come visit us in Mexico: 33
• Number of shots Ryan and I missed in beer pong: 157
• Time Alissa and I left the after party: 9pm
• Time it felt like it was when we left the after party: 2:30am
• Waking minutes that I think about the TPL: All of them

As great as the competition was on the court, it is really all the rest of it that has had me feeling overwhelmed these past few days as I reflect upon this season. I know the purpose of this writeup is to do this exact thing, to put the TPL into words, but it's been tough for me to put into words how special this season was.

From where we started only 6 months ago with season 1, to where we are now with season 3 is insane. This season we had a sponsor, had a logo made, and saw that logo (and sponsor) appear on team uniforms. When JJ first sent our team the photos of the uniforms she created, with the TPL logo on the front, and Rich Cat logo on the back, I couldn't help but smile. Seeing multiple individual's skills and creativity come to life on one shirt was a special moment for me. On one hand I never could have imagined season 3 looking like it did so soon, we looked like a real damn tournament. But on the other hand, of course it would look like this with the people we have involved. Before we launched season 1, I never could have expected such enthusiasm and such an extreme buy-in from all the participants. But at the same time of course I should have known you all would go nuts for an organized pickleball event that ends with an off the court party. 

I also should have known this about myself. I have a way of taking things that are normal and making them a way bigger deal than they should be. If you knew me from 2011-2021, you probably knew about or attended our July 3rd party (aka The Third.) What started as a small gathering by the lake turned into an 80 person extravaganza. People would fly in from around the country for it, talk about it all year, and live for that one day in July. The things that seemed excessive and obscene were the very things that had people coming back each year.

The same goes for the TPL. You all play a lot of pickleball, and many of you play in tournaments. But what sets The TPL apart are the little things. It's the things like the team names and the coordinated jerseys. The drafting of the teams, the pre tournament practices, the smack talk, and the engraved trophy. Heck, it's having a pre and post tournament write up. And of course, it's the after party.

I would just like to say I could write an entire blog about this season's after party. It was so much fun getting to hang out with you all further. Eating that Chipotle, watching the epic ping pong games, the girls having a dance party with Lizzy, and all the wonderful chats and connections around the kitchen table. 

The official Passing Of The Cup.
From Season 2 captain Emily Gerads, to Season 3 captain Nicole Idalski.

Emily and Ryan, thank you so much for welcoming us all into your home. It really was a beautiful ending to the best TPL we've had yet, and the perfect way to cap off 2023. I know you'll think twice before inviting Pond Johnson back, but we're so honored that you hosted the TPL Season 3 after party!

Pickleball, people, and pyramids

Best Christmas presents ever

My team captain Jennifer Johnson may have said it best in a text she sent us after the event saying, "I SO loved having the TPL as an excuse to get to practice, hang, and know you all more 💗." 

That for me is everything. I want the TPL to be a great excuse to get together with old friends and to meet new ones. To get together for human connection and arduous activity. To share stories of TPL's past, and forecast upon events soon to come. As was talked about in the season 3 preview post, every event has three phases. We've now entered the third phase of season 3 where we reminisce upon it. It's only been a few days since the event but I've already done this with countless of you, and I know you've been doing the same with others. And that is what I love about the TPL the most. It's an event that lives on year round, that lives on between seasons. It's something that we all look forward to sharing and building together. I know the name of the event is the TPL, aka Thomas Pickleball League (we have Kyle or Jason to thank for the name, we may never know who.)

But it's not "my event." It's all of ours. It's each and every one of you who bring your enthusiasm and energy, your talents and your passions, that make this something worth talking about all year long. I'm proud of us. Pardon my french, but I fucking love you guys. 

Together we've created something extremely special. Together we've created the TPL.  

Numerous "TPL practice sessions" with friends who've become family

No matter what corner of the globe we find ourselves in,
We will be thinking of you, the People of The TPL.

I wish you all a wonderful winter full of pickleball. Keep training, keep creating, and keep smiling. The TPL returns in 149 days.

-Tom Spaniol