USAP Founder’s Legacy Cup Redefines Pickleball: USA Pickleball is set to establish its championship tradition with the introduction of the Founder’s Legacy Cup. This new trophy will honor the history of pickleball and will be awarded to champions at the 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships, taking place from November 9-17 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Arizona.
Ties to History
Several elements of the Founder’s Legacy Cup connect directly to the sport’s origins, which trace back to its founding in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle. The trophy’s base is crafted from walnut, a wood that was favored in architecture and furniture during the 1960s.
This material mirrors the Maldon wood that was commonly used in northwest Washington to create the sport’s first paddles. Even the font adorning the trophy evokes the style of the 1960s.
Prominently displayed on the front of the trophy are the names of the sport’s founders—Bill Bell, Barney McCallum, and Joel Pritchard. Additionally, the trophy’s design pays homage to USA Pickleball’s deep-rooted connection to the desert landscape, as 13 of the 14 national championships have taken place in this unique environment.
A Personal Touch from a Champion
Jennifer Lucore, a professional pickleball player and 2019 inductee into the Pickleball Hall of Fame, embodies the spirit of pickleball’s history. As a passionate ambassador of the sport, she believes that honoring pickleball’s past through the trophy awarded at nationals is a fitting tribute.
“I think it’s fabulous. (Honoring) the history is very good for the game, and it makes the players and visitors, especially at nationals, go, ‘Wow, we’re really part of something that has been around for a while. How cool is that?’ Maybe players will stop and think, ‘Oh wow, 1965, how cool is that? Bainbridge Island off Seattle. How cool is that?’” – (Jennifer Lucore)
Jennifer Lucore reminisces about attending the first national championships in 2009, watching her parents, Bob Youngren and Bev Youngren, compete. Witnessing the event’s evolution into a prominent show of talent brings immense joy to her heart.
“It makes me so happy because those that play, we know how great it is, we love it, but when you think of these new people from all over the world playing, they get to have the (same) fun. The growth of the sport makes me so happy because I think everyone deserves to have fun. That’s what the sport brings.” – (Jennifer Lucore)
A Cup of Memories
Atop the Founder’s Legacy Cup sits a unique cup filled with pickleballs, symbolizing the champions’ connection to the game’s traditions. Champions will be invited to add their championship-clinching ball to their trophy, creating a personal memento of their achievement.
For Jennifer Lucore, seeing Barney McCallum’s name on the trophy carries significant meaning, as she shared a deep friendship with him for a decade before his passing in 2019.
“It’s very cool I’m part of the history because I have such fond memories of hanging out with Barney McCallum for 10 years, visiting him at Bainbridge Island, and to really know the founder of a sport. It was kind of like a grandpa. He didn’t have computers or cell phones, so he didn’t really know what was happening in the pickleball world.” – (Jennifer Lucore)
The bond between Jennifer Lucore and Barney McCallum was evident in their monthly phone conversations, where she would share updates about the growing sport, including news of the vibrant new magazine, Pickleball Magazine.
“We’d talk once a month on the phone. I’d tell him there’s this new magazine out, Pickleball Magazine, it’s full color. He was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ He’d been to Indian Wells (in California) watching tennis there. He got to come to Indian Wells when they painted over all the courts to pickleball.” – (Jennifer Lucore)
She recalls Barney McCallum’s astonishment at the development of pickleball, especially when he saw Indian Wells, a major tennis venue, transformed into a pickleball hub.
“He was blown away because Indian Wells is a big deal in the tennis world, and the fact that we did nationals there and took over the place for a week and a half or two weeks was huge. He couldn’t believe it and he would say it was one of the happiest days of his life.” – (Jennifer Lucore)
The first player to be sponsored in the sport, Jennifer Lucore received support from Barney McCallum’s company, Pickle-Ball Inc., before sponsorship became prevalent.
“I got to wear a little Pickleball.com (logo) on my shirt before anyone was doing that because there weren’t really any sponsorships because there weren’t the deep pockets like there are today.” – (Jennifer Lucore)
A Win-Win for the Sport
For longtime fans like Jennifer Lucore, incorporating the history of pickleball into the trophy awarded at nationals is a remarkable achievement.
“Everyone deserves to have fun, and the ease of (play in) this game, no other sport’s like it. The ease of it and you can play with different generations and family and really be competitive is the coolest thing ever.” – (Jennifer Lucore)
News in Brief: USAP Founder’s Legacy Cup Redefines Pickleball
USA Pickleball is set to introduce the Founder’s Legacy Cup at the 2024 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships, honoring the sport’s history and its founders, Bill Bell, Barney McCallum, and Joel Pritchard.
The trophy features a walnut base reminiscent of 1960s design and will allow champions to add their championship pickleball to commemorate their victory. Professional player Jennifer Lucore emphasized the importance of honoring the sport’s past, expressing excitement about its growth and the shared joy it brings to players of all generations.
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