Pickleball Pros

Maryhelen Atkins is an IPTPA-certified instructor and the former director of the NC IPTPA training facility. She is qualified to train and certify instructors on how to uphold the strict IPTPA standards of pickleball instruction so I don’t think you will find anyone more qualified to lead our clinics! Additionally, Maryhelen is consistently in the top 10 in the Senior Pro Doubles rankings and has recently been recruited to join in the National Pickleball League draft!  

Some recent notable wins in 2022 include GOLD at the Rocky Mountain Championships in Senior Pro WD & MXD; GOLD in Senior Pro MXD at the Atlanta Metro APP; SILVER at the Atlanta Metro APP in Senior Pro WD; SILVER at the Boca Raton APP in Senior Pro WD; SILVER at the APP Los Angeles in Senior Pro WD; SILVER at the APP Hilton Head in Senior Pro WD & MXD; and BRONZE at the Sunmed Houston APP in Senior Pro WD.

Jodie Merrill has been teaching for 4 years and assisting pickleball players who are ready to launch their skills to a higher level. She uses knowledge, creativity and drills that promote the most enjoyable ways to improve.  Her engaging personality is a bonus and she is delightful both on and off the court! With Jodie as your instructor, you will find that fun and learning go hand in hand.  

Some notable past accomplishments include GOLD in the USAPA Mid Atlantic 4.5 WD; GOLD in the 35+ WD open division at the NC Open; GOLD in 4.5 WD at the River Run Grand Prixe Indoor; SILVER in 4.5MXD at the Atlantic South Regional; and BRONZE in 4.5 WD at the US Open!

Mindy Yoder hails from Fort Wayne, Indiana but moved to The Villages, Florida in 2022. She was introduced to Pickleball in 2017 by her father. Since then, she has played in tournaments across the United States and has been on the podium more than 100 times. Mindy is a certified International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA) Level II instructor, and Level I Referee. Mindy left her job as a Nurse Practitioner to teach pickleball full time starting fall 2021. Since then, she has taught for LevelUp, Suncoast Pickleball and around the U.S. Mindy is passionate about teaching fundamentals, strategies and helping others to have fun and to be healthy through the sport of Pickleball.

 John & Leesa are a dynamic duo who are most commonly described by the adjective PASSION!  Both are Master Certified IPTPA instructors, the highest certification available.  Leesa is Director at Pickleball Charlotte where she oversees instructional programming, leagues & competitive events.  John is a lead instructor at Pickleball Charlotte and a frequent medalist in tournament play.  John and Leesa are Brand Ambassadors for Paddletek.  They often travel locally and abroad to share their passion and expertise of the great sport of pickleball!

Doug Abell’s athletic and sports teaching background is in gymnastics and he started playing Pickleball in 2016. He first met Mindy at a Pickleball camp in September, 2018. They got married on the pickleball court at that same camp in September 2023. When he is not at his full time job at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Lexington, KY, Doug is a 4.5/5.0 tournament player and travels with Mindy to teach. He enjoys watching people smile and laugh while helping them reach their pickleball goals.

Deb is a Certified PPR/IPTPA coach with 24 years of coaching and playing experience. She is a gold medalist at prestigious tournaments, including the US Open, Nationals, State, Regionals, and Huntsman World, in both table tennis and pickleball over two decades. In 2018, she was honored as the Florida State Senior Games Athlete of the Decade and was also nominated for the Pickleball Hall of Fame. With over 200 videos available under her “PicklePongDebYouTube” channel, Deb shares her expertise with the community. As a traveling clinician, she has taught in various locations, including California, Illinois, Texas, Vermont, North Carolina, Georgia, Utah, Michigan, Delaware, Maine, all parts of Florida, and even aboard Royal Caribbean cruises. Deb’s mantra is, “It is more about the whack than the yack.”

Bob and Elizabeth Higginbottom are the Head Pros and Department Heads at Beech Mountain Country Club in Beech Mountain, NC. 

They began running the BMC Pickleball Center the year it opened in 2015.

Under their guidance, the Center operates a full calendar of daily and weekly pickleball activities, private lessons, and hosts numerous events throughout the season, such as mixers, festivals and tournaments.

Bob and Elizabeth began playing pickleball in 2007, traveling around the country in their RV to feed their addiction. Each has attained a USAPA legacy tournament rating of 4.5 through medals won at various tournaments throughout the country.  They began teaching 13 years ago. Bob is a level 1 and level 2 IPTPA-certified teaching professional as well as a Certified Ratings Specialist.  Elizabeth has served on the board of the Pickleball Hall of Fame as well as chairing the PHOF Nominating Committee.  She has run numerous large tournaments, including the inaugural PHOFC in Dripping Springs, TX.