Jack Lewis and Lori Brown Pickleball Journey: Pickleball players Jack Lewis and Lori Brown of Midland joined hundreds of competitors last week at the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) Great Lakes Open, held at the Greater Midland Tennis Center. The five-day tournament drew local and national players, showcasing the sport’s growing popularity.
Competition and Achievement
Jack Lewis, 63, competed in mixed doubles and earned a Golden Ticket, which qualifies him for next year’s national tournament. Lori Brown, 60, played in both women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
Lewis praised the facility for supporting the sport. “What a great thing the Tennis Center did, getting the funding for the new courts and actually landing the APP to come here,” he said.
Growing Numbers in Midland
Jack Lewis recalled that in 2017, about 20 Midland players used the TeamReach app to coordinate games. Today, about 1,500 players are connected through Midland’s M1234 code, making it the largest pickleball group in the Tri-Cities.
“It’s the biggest one in the Tri-Cities,” Lewis said. He is also a certified pickleball trainer and often brings extra paddles to help new players join in.
Social Connection Through Pickleball
Lori Brown said she turned to pickleball about four years ago after moving to Midland. The sport, she explained, has helped her build new friendships.
“I was trying to find new friends and fit in. And all of a sudden, playing pickleball, boom, my friendships exploded,” Brown said. “And I’m a competitive person a little bit. But I think the social’s the biggest thing that keeps me coming back.”
Lewis agreed, noting that players connect beyond the courts. “We even do other things outside of pickleball. We’ll do golf outings or cards or even kayaking or music downtown,” he said.
The Joy and Seriousness of the Game
For both players, pickleball is fun but also highly engaging.
“One thing I mention to people before they join pickleball is to make sure they have their life in order, because it’s so addicting that you don’t get anything else done. Seriously,” Lewis said.
Brown added with a smile: “Oh, it’s very serious, yeah. I called my daughter today. She goes, I’ve been texting you for three days. I said, ‘You should have called me if it was important. I’ve been at the pickleball courts.’”
Looking Ahead
Both Lewis and Brown hope the APP Great Lakes Open will return to Midland every year.
“I hope so. I think this is a great event,” Brown said. “I think it will get better. This is their first year. There’s a learning curve.”
News in Brief: Jack Lewis and Lori Brown Pickleball Journey
Midland residents Jack Lewis and Lori Brown competed in the APP Great Lakes Open at the Greater Midland Tennis Center. Lewis earned a Golden Ticket for next year’s nationals. With 1,500 local players active, pickleball is growing fast in the region, bringing competition, fun, and strong social connections to the community.
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