Edward Jones MLP Mid-Season Tournament: The Edward Jones Major League Pickleball Mid-Season Tournament began on Wednesday, July 10, at Belknap Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. All 22 teams—16 in the Premier level and six in the Challenger level—are competing for a share of a $100,000 prize pool and valuable standings points.
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Though the event is not part of the regular season, the stakes are high. Teams that finish in the top three will earn direct cash prizes and standings points: six for first, four for second, and two for third. Challenger-level teams began play on Wednesday, while Premier-level competition will kick off on Thursday, July 11.
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College Teams Step Into the Spotlight
Two standout collegiate teams joined the Challenger bracket and will test their skills against top-tier teams in the first round. The College All-Star team includes Ellie Douglas from Texas Christian University, Zoeya Khan from the University of Texas at Austin, Liam Duffin from Utah Tech, and AJ Khawaja from Texas Christian University. They face a tough first match against the Las Vegas Night Owls, who enter the tournament with a strong 12-3 record and 35 points.
Florida Atlantic University, ranked No. 2 among collegiate pickleball programs, is also competing. The team features Ava Cavataio, Bella Nelson, Zachary Card, and Zachary Marceau. They’ll go up against the Nashville Chefs, who have an 11-4 record and 30 points.
Collin Johns Returns to Boost Bay Area Breakers
Collin Johns is back with the Bay Area Breakers for a second straight event, filling in for Sam Querrey, who is commentating at Wimbledon. Last week, Collin Johns went 8-2 at MLP New York, including a perfect run in men’s doubles with DJ Young. The Bay Area Breakers, who are 6-9 with 19 points, will play against the California Black Bears, currently at 5-10 with 16 points.
Florida Smash Mixes Up Doubles Lineup
The Florida Smash is making changes to their mixed doubles lineup for their match against the DC Pickleball Team. Paula Rives will pair with Cason Campbell, while Martina Frantova and Travis Rettenmaier will team up again after going 11-8 earlier this season. The Florida Smash has a 4-11 record with 12 points and lost both mixed doubles games to DC last week in New York.
What’s at Stake
This mid-season tournament is a big moment for teams to gain momentum. With cash prizes and league points on the line, results from this week could shape the standings going into the next part of the season. New faces, like the college teams, also have the chance to shine on a bigger stage.
News in Brief: Edward Jones MLP Mid-Season Tournament
The Edward Jones MLP Mid-Season Tournament began in Grand Rapids with 22 teams competing for a $100,000 prize and key standings points. College teams join the Challenger level, while pros like Collin Johns return to action. Florida Smash tries new pairings, aiming for a better result against DC.
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