MISSION STATEMENT

A proud father, substitute teacher, and a retired U.S. Army officer who values community-building. Four years ago, while looking for a fun new activity with his son at the Thayer YMCA, Doug discovered the fastest-growing sport in America—pickleball. What started as a casual game quickly became a passion. Now a Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) certified coach, Doug has turned his attention to a new mission: introducing the game to the youth of Columbus. He believes the sport offers more than just exercise; it teaches teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship in a fun, accessible package.

Chami Chedrick is an office manager in the mental health field with a passion for wellness and community. A former tennis player, she discovered pickleball at her church in 2018 and has been devoted to the sport ever since. Beyond the court, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Justin, their daughter, Naomi, and their dogs, Reppie and Baja. Chami is especially excited to help kids learn about pickleball, showing how exercise and the outdoors can positively support mental health. 

Payton grew up in Harris County and is a graduate of Columbus State University with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. He played tennis with his parents and for his school, but his dad introduced him to pickleball at a young age. Since then, it’s been his favorite sport. He enjoys playing, competing, and sharing the game with others, and says some of his best friendships have come from the pickleball community.  Payton also captained Columbus's first city-wide championship pickleball team.

Maddie grew up in Columbus and moved to Harris County during high school. She was introduced to pickleball about two years ago and has loved the game ever since. Maddie is currently a Biology student at Columbus State University. She enjoys playing in tournaments, staying competitive, and sharing her love for the sport with others. For Maddie, pickleball is not only a fun way to stay active but also a great way to connect with people and build lasting friendships.

Noah has been a pickleball player for over two years and served as an assistant coach for an adult league pickleball team.  He also plays baseball and traveled to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.  He is a graduate of Northside High School, recently completed an internship at TSYS, and is a valued Publix team member.  When he's not on the court Noah enjoys riding bikes, playing airsoft, and swimming.  He is a very patient coach and excels at introducing pickleball games to keep practices lively and fun.

Greg learned pickleball at the Thayer YMCA in downtown Columbus four years ago.  He competed in several local pickleball tournaments and won the Georgia State Games 13 and Under singles pickleball championship in 2024.  He is in the eighth grade at Richards Middle School.  Although Greg likes pickleball, his favorite is baseball.  He says that the hand/eye coordination of pickleball improves his batting average on the diamond. 

Will has been playing pickleball for a little over two years. He works as an Emergency Medical Technician in Columbus and has aspirations to become a firefighter. Will shares a strong desire to grow pickleball in Columbus and looks forward to teaching basic and advanced skills to emerging youth players.

Born and raised in Germany, Ursula has called Columbus, GA home for over 20 years. A true people-person, she serves as a Community Director in property management, where she thrives on building connections. In the past three years, Ursula has discovered a passion for pickleball—loving the mix of exercise, camaraderie, and lasting friendships it brings.  When she’s not on the court, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and her three beloved dogs.

Brian is currently serving in the US Army at Fort Benning.  He plays pickleball regularly with his family and has two kids that are participating in the youth league.  Last Fall, he led a team as captain in the Columbus adult fall league.  

Juli Pope, a native of Columbus, Georgia, is married to Dale and they have three children. She was introduced to pickleball by her father over two years ago and instantly fell in love with the game. She has since participated in two local leagues. While she has not previously coached pickleball, she has extensive experience coaching girls' basketball, ranging from middle school to varsity levels. Juli is passionate about the benefits of team sports and enjoys seeing both adults and children develop a love for social sports.