The Four States NPR News Source
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Professional Pickleball Players and Pittsburg State Grads Seek To Raise Funds For Courts and Pickleball Programs

JW Johnson is among the top three professional pickleball players in the world and is ranked #1 in Men's Singles. He was the youngest player in history to win the men’s singles title at just 19.

Calling all Pickleball players, join and meet some of the top-ranked players in the country today in Pittsburg.

KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

Pittsburg natives turned pro-pickleball players Julie, JW, and Jorja Johnson, and their coach Jack Johnson are coming back to their hometown today for Pickle in Pitt – The Johnson Family Pro Pickleball Day.

Joining the Johnsons will be professional pickleball players Gabriel Tardio and Dylan Frazier.

Pickle in Pitt is a celebration recognizing the Johnson Family for their achievements in the pro-pickleball arena, as well as a fundraising event to raise support for enhancements to the Jack Johnson Courts and new pickleball programs at the Four Oaks Sports Complex in Lincoln Park.

The event kicks off with the Play with the Pros Games and the Jack Johnson Pickleball Clinic from 8:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Jack Johnson Courts at Four Oaks Sports Complex in Lincoln Park.

The event continues with more activities from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Pittsburg State University John Lance Arena in the Garfield Weede Building.

This event is open to the public and reservations are not required

Since 2017 Fred Fletcher-Fierro has driven up Highway 171 through thunderstorms, downpours, snow, and ice storms to host KRPS’s Morning Edition. He’s also a daily reporter for the station, covering city government, elections, public safety, arts, entertainment, culture, sports and more. Fred has also spearheaded and overseen a sea change in programming for KRPS from a legacy classical station to one that airs a balance of classical, news, jazz, and cultural programming that better reflects the diverse audience of the Four States. For over two months in the fall of 2022 he worked remotely with NPR staff to relaunch krps.org to an NPR style news and information website.

In the fall of 2023 Fred was promoted to Interim General Manager and was appointed GM in Feburary of 2024.
Related Content