From Fort to Faraway: A Pickleball Journey Update

A Long Overdue Update

First things first—I owe you an apology. It’s been way too long since my last blog post. Life has been a whirlwind, and I’ve been pouring more energy into other parts of my platform—especially Instagram, where I’ve been sharing short clips and experimenting with the algorithm to better tell my story. But no matter how much social media evolves, I always want to come back here. Writing lets me share more of the behind-the-scenes, the deeper reflections, and the moments you might not catch in a 30-second reel.

So—here it comes. Since my last post, months have flown by, filled with travel, tournaments, family adventures, and some big decisions. I’m sure I’ll miss a few along the way, but let’s dive in.

Finding a Base in Fort Lauderdale

We’ve given Frankie (our RV) a bit of a home at The Fort in Fort Lauderdale, the headquarters of the APP Tour. Having a base has been such a blessing for our family. It gives the kids stability—routine, training partners, and even a church community—while also lowering my own stress levels. My body has definitely thanked me for having that consistency.

Of course, “settling” in Florida hasn’t slowed us down. Since my last blog, we’ve circled the globe again—California, India, England, Michigan, Chicago, and more—while squeezing in clinics, workshops, and lessons in between.

Back to Mumbai – A Place That Feels Like Home

One of the most memorable stops (as always) was Mumbai, India. The culture, the people, and the energy there are unmatched. This time was even more special because the kids connected with other junior pickleball players and made real friendships, which made them just as excited to return.

Ryler and I even ended up playing mixed doubles together—something we don’t normally do (to protect our marriage, ha!). It wasn’t planned, but it turned out to be an amazing opportunity for us. After a tough battle against Quong Duong and Emilia Schmidt from Australia, we came away with the gold.

The Mumbai crowd was electric, and they honestly made me feel like I was one of their own. That’s the magic of India—it always feels like home. And I was so happy for Ryler too. He got to shine on a big stage, showing the world what I already know he’s capable of.

See epic highlight video here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNDO95iT4CN/?igsh=MWJ4bGc0cHU2ZHdtbQ==

The English Open – A Family Anniversary

From there, we headed to the English Open, which has a special place in our hearts. It was the very first tournament our kids ever played in three years ago, so being back felt like an anniversary of sorts. Even better, my parents were able to come and watch, which always means the world.

Shout-out to Karen and Pickleball England for hosting the largest tournament outside of the U.S.—2,700 players, with 1,000 signing up in just the first 40 minutes of registration! That’s a powerful sign of pickleball’s growth in Europe.

On court, I had the privilege of partnering with Sofia, and together we captured her first-ever women’s gold. We were crowned the “English Queens” side by side—a memory we’ll both cherish.

Michigan APP – Every Medal Has a Story

Next up was a new stop for us: Midland, Michigan. It gave us a chance to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and see another slice of the U.S. I came away with bronze in women’s doubles—not always the goal at this stage of my career, but still a medal with its own story.

As I shared on social media, every medal—whether gold, silver, or bronze—has meaning. You can read more about that in my post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNgrwJHg95f/?igsh=MW85cXFqNmVrYWc5eg==.

Back to Chicago

After a short recharge at The Fort, I jumped straight into training before heading back on the road again for the Chicago APP. Right now, as I type this, I’m sitting in a café in downtown Chicago between a video shoot and a series of sold-out clinics and workshops.

Coaching and connecting with players fuels me just as much as competing. Helping others grow while sharing my own journey is one of the best parts of this adventure.

Family Update

The kids are thriving—they’re embracing the travel more and more, making friends around the world, and enjoying their own pickleball journeys. Super proud of Lily’s gold medal in singles in Michigan as she thrived the most off 4 week travel stint apparently. Ryler is doing well too—adapting to the chaos I seem to keep creating, and continuing to be the rock that holds us all together.

There are plenty more adventures on the horizon, and I can’t wait to share them with you soon.

Thank you for reading, for cheering us on, and for being part of this journey.

Until next time,

Megan

Career in commentary next?!