St. Louis Shock Pickleball Expansion: Pickleball is quickly becoming a favorite sport in Monroe County. Local pickleball players like Karen Valerius of Waterloo and John Kleinschmidt of Columbia are now involved with the St. Louis Shock minor league team, helping bring the pro game closer to the community.

From Local Courts to Pro Play

Karen Valerius started playing pickleball in August 2020 after seeing a Facebook post about games at Lincoln Park in Red Bud. She loved the game right away. “Immediately fell in love, came home, told my husband, we went to St. Louis the same day and bought us both paddles and balls,” said Karen Valerius. “We went to the tennis courts in Waterloo, and I started teaching him how to play pickleball the same day.”

Since then, she has helped organize winter games at Camp Wartburg and taught newcomers four nights a week. She also plays often in Red Bud and says more courts are needed in Waterloo. Columbia’s Metter Park also offers public pickleball play.

Karen Valerius joined the St. Louis Shock’s minor league team earlier this year after learning about tryouts on Facebook. “Anybody could audition, so I was like, ‘I don’t know what this is, and I don’t know what this means, but I’m going for it,’ because anything that got me more involved with pickleball was where I wanted to be,” she said.

Leadership with Deep Roots in the Game

John Kleinschmidt, director of talent and minor league operations for the St. Louis Shock, also lives in Monroe County. He played college and professional racquetball and coached high school racquetball in St. Louis for 30 years. He discovered pickleball seven years ago.

“Seven years ago, I noticed somebody was playing some crazy game that looked like miniature tennis,” said John Kleinschmidt. “I asked what that was, and he said it was pickleball. I’d never heard of it in my life. I tried it out. I enjoyed it because I played a lot of tennis growing up, and I played racquetball.”

He became more interested in the sport during the COVID-19 pandemic. He earned a coaching certificate in 2020 and now works full-time in pickleball, offering clinics across the area.

Why People Love Pickleball

Both Karen Valerius and John Kleinschmidt say pickleball is fun and accessible. “I never played tennis, but a lot of people do come from tennis, and the reason they fall in love with pickleball is because it’s less running,” said Karen Valerius. “It’s a smaller court. You can play singles, but normally you’re playing with two people on a smaller court, so you don’t have to have that athletic ability to run back and forth on the court chasing that crazy ball. You just kind of play in your section.”

“You’re more active,” she added. “You’re not sitting on the couch. You’re doing something.”

While some injuries can happen, they both agree the sport is still easier on the body than many others. Karen Valerius joked about more visits to orthopedic doctors as a result of growing interest.

“The community of pickleball, there’s really nothing like it,” said John Kleinschmidt. “Everybody’s so friendly. So many people have met new people through the game, and it’s actually very good for your health.”

Karen Valerius shared similar thoughts from her own experience at tournaments. “You go to tournaments, and it’s not like, ‘Oh, you’re the enemy,’” she said. “It’s like everybody’s best friends, and you leave that tournament thinking, ‘I just got three new people’s phone numbers.’”

Open to All Ages and Skills

Both athletes praised the inclusive nature of pickleball. Karen Valerius said her team includes players ranging from age 12 to 70. “This is a sport for every age and every ability,” she said. “You don’t have to be that athlete, and I think that’s why pickleball is exploding. You don’t have to be that person that can run like crazy or have the best hand-eye coordination. You can play at any level.”

John Kleinschmidt added, “Anybody can play, any age, any shape, any size person can play. They can learn it pretty quickly. They can get good pretty quickly, but it takes a lot to get really good and master the game.”

Pickleball Events and Community Groups

A Major League Pickleball event will take place from July 17 to July 20 at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Locally, residents interested in playing can find active communities through Facebook groups like Waterloo Pickleball Group and Red Bud Pickleball Group.

News in Brief: St. Louis Shock Pickleball Expansion

Pickleball continues to grow in Monroe County with local players Karen Valerius and John Kleinschmidt now part of the St. Louis Shock minor league team. The sport’s ease, active play, and strong community have helped boost its popularity across all ages, with new events and local groups welcoming players.

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