Two years ago, when hanging out at Sports Pavilion Lawrence, Tennesee Potter decided to give pickleball a try. The game quickly piqued his interest, and he soon started playing pickleball beyond just recreation.
Fast forward to now, and freshman Potter just finished playing in his first Professional Pickleball Association [PPA] Junior World Championships in Dallas, TX. He frequently travels to Kansas City to train and compete, as well as making stops around the country for the PPA tour.
Although early in his career, Potter said he has steep ambitions as he continues his pickleball journey.
“Obviously there’s a lot less players [in pickleball] than other sports, so it’s pretty realistic that I can become a professional player in the future,” Potter said. “That’s my long term goal, and that’s what makes it pretty cool.”
Potter recently announced his sponsored partnership with NXTgen Sports, a pickleball paddle company in Ontario, Canada. NXTgen sponsors Potter through sending him paddles and gear that he in turn plays with and promotes on his social media.
“[NXTgen paddles] were exactly what I was looking for, so I decided to sign with them,” Potter said. “They fit my play style perfectly and definitely helped me get better at the game. The company itself has also supported me a huge amount in my pickleball journey, including paying for tournament gear, so they’ve been really helpful [to me].”
Along the way, Potter met his coach, Claudio Quiñones, a Spanish professional pickleball player and two-time tennis All-American during his time at Ottawa University. He is currently ranked inside the top-100 globally for both singles and doubles in men’s pickleball. Quiñones said that he notices the drive that he possesses as an athlete.
“From the first moment, Tennessee did not seem to me like a typical 13-year-old,” Quiñones said. “His motivation and work ethic are crazy for his age. Anything I tell him to do on the court he does, regardless of if it was a fun exercise or something more difficult, like doing sprints.”
Additionally, Quiñones said he recognizes Tennessee’s ability and potential as a pickleball player.
“Tennessee is taller than most of his opponents, which gives him an advantage in the kitchen as he is able to reach more balls in the air, …“ Quiñones said. “We are also working with Tennessee on his footwork and being more patient on the court.”
Potter said the World Championships were a good measuring tool for him, and he is prepared to put in the work to become successful at the highest junior levels.
“I didn’t exactly get the results I was hoping for, but it was a big learning experience,” Potter said. “I was competing against the best junior players in the country — it showed me what I need to work on.”
With his time in the junior category concluding in the next one-to-two years, Potter is determined to win junior tournaments across the country. Quiñones said he believes this goal will become a reality for Potter so long as he continues his striving efforts as a pickleball player.
“Tennessee has an incredible future ahead of him. His talent on the court is impressive for a 13-year-old, and if he is able to put in the hard work that complements that talent, in the next few months he will be among one of the best junior players in the world,” Quiñones said.
