History was made on Saturday, June 13, as the Annapolis Pickleball Club hosted its inaugural APC Club Championship – King & Queen of the Court Tournament at Truxtun Park.
What a day it was!
With beautiful sunshine, great music, plenty of snacks and refreshments courtesy of the APC Social Committee, and an enthusiastic crowd of competitors and spectators, the stage was set for an unforgettable championship event. Most importantly, the courts were filled with outstanding pickleball, friendly competition, and plenty of APC camaraderie.
The members-only tournament attracted 70 APC players competing in five divisions and battling through an impressive 101 matches to determine the Club’s first-ever Kings and Queens of the Court.
The Championship Divisions
- Women’s Doubles – Ladies of the Court
- Men’s Doubles – Nobles
- Men’s Doubles – Royals
- Mixed Doubles – Nobles
- Mixed Doubles – Royals
A special thank you goes to JOOLA, presenting sponsor of the event, for its continued support of APC and for providing an incredible assortment of raffle prizes that added even more excitement throughout the day.
We also extend our appreciation to StretchMed, whose team provided complimentary stretches to players and spectators, helping everyone stay loose and ready for action.
2026 APC Club Championship Results
Women’s Doubles – Ladies of the Court
Queens of the Court
Queen Dinkers – Barbara Torreon & Melinda Popham
Second Place
Paddle Princesses – Stephanie Raspa & Julie Lewis
Third Place
Crown Jewels – Jordan Rupard & Jennifer Ralston
Congratulations as well to our other Ladies of the Court competitors:
- Queens of Chaos – Lillie Harrison & Karen Nichols
- Volley Duchesses – Missy Jones & Diana Redman
Men’s Doubles – Nobles
Kings of the Court
Dink Kings – Josh Hirakawa & Samuel Webster
Second Place
Lords of the Lob – Chris Price & Andy Baratta
Third Place
Kingdom of Crush – Nick Spurgeon & Zac Monica
Additional noble challengers included:
- Knights of the Kitchen Line – Mike Davis & Ben Torreon
- Ace Regents – Jon Opert & Jeff Tyson
- Royal Fault Line – Ward Street & Kerry Jernigan
- Smash Squires – Mike Borgese & Robbie Najjar
Men’s Doubles – Royals
Kings of the Court
Court Crusaders – Chris Shuppy & Rick Wheeler
Second Place
Noble Net Knights – Jorge Bacheli & Matt Horwitz
Third Place
Paddle Dukes – Peter Gaviorno & Victor Beshidze
Also competing in the Royals division:
- Royal with Cheese – John O’Leary & Alexander Awakian
- Pickle Princes – Nate Betnun & Ken Wasch
- Monarchs of Mayhem – Courtney Garton & Jeffrey Kelly
- Regal Racketmen – Lon Rosenberg & Mike Hook
Mixed Doubles – Nobles
King & Queen of the Court
Courtly Smashers – Ashley Wagner & Samuel Webster
Second Place
Monarchs of the Kitchen – Lillie Harrison & Chris Price
Third Place
Royal Rallies – Dai Bruns & Bryce Bruns
Other noble contenders included:
- Crowned Crushers – Laurie Holman & Vaughn Myers
- Dinking Dynasty – Barbara Torreon & Ben Torreon
- Royal Jesters – Karen Nichols & Cliff Nichols
- Royal Netmancers – Missy Jones & Mike Long
- Kingdom of Dinkdom – Kathleen Liedy & Andy Baratta
Mixed Doubles – Royals
King & Queen of the Court
Majestic Momentum – Mary Kay Falise & Scott McLellan
Second Place
Spin Sovereigns – Aoy Insamai & Bill O’Brien
Third Place
Paddle Parliament – Stephanie Raspa & Chris Gonzalez
Also making strong runs for the crown:
- Grand Regents – Lisa Wong & Matt Horwitz
- Aristocratic Aces – Diana Redman & Miles Robinson
- Court Sailors – Kim Evans & Bryan Evans
- Kitchen Court – Chris Tise & Courtney Garton
Special Thanks
Events like this do not happen without dedicated volunteers.
A heartfelt thank you to Tournament Director Tom Krieck and the tournament committee for planning and executing a first-class championship event:
Steve & Ginny Olson, Peter Gaviorno, Todd Redlin, Sara Aiken, Nick Passagno, Rick Wheeler, Phil Gallagher, and Mary Cissel.
We also extend our appreciation to the many APC volunteers who helped make the day run smoothly:
Hernando Cervera, Mary Blackborow, Cliff Nichols, Kathie Anderson, AJ Eckert, Lon Rosenberg, and Michael Hook.
Your time, energy, and commitment helped create a memorable experience for every participant.
What’s Next?
The crowns have been awarded, the champions have been celebrated, and APC history has been made!
Now it’s time to set your sights on our next major event:
APC Bay Capital Mortgage Open Tournament
September 12–13
Mark your calendars and get ready for another exciting weekend of competition, camaraderie, and great pickleball!
Until then, congratulations to all our 2026 Kings and Queens of the Court!
