Twin sisters Jade, left, and Jackie Kawamoto are 2014 graduates of Greenwood High School.
Submitted photo
Some of Jade and Jackie Kawamoto’s fondest recollections are of working to better themselves as tennis players on the Craig Park courts.
Later this month, the twin sisters, 2014 graduates of Greenwood High School, return with no less expected of themselves.
The Kawamoto’s, former all-state tennis players for the Woodmen who have transitioned into becoming two of the nation’s premier women’s pickleball talents, co-host the inaugural Making Memories Classic pickleball tournament at Craig Park from July 29-31.
Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter board member Dr. David Mandelbaum, a general surgeon in Indianapolis, is also a host. Both of Mandelbaum’s parents died with dementia, which is why event proceeds are being used to provide local care and support, as well as fund dementia research around the world.
“Dave Mandelbaum is a good friend of ours, and now that me and Jade have kind of made a name for ourselves, we decided to put our names on (the tournament), and it’s for a good cause,” said Jackie Kawamoto, who like Jade turned 26 in April (the latter is 49 seconds the senior).
“I think it’s important to have the tournament in Greenwood because it’s a great pickleball community. Even when we started playing, everyone was so welcoming, and we’ve made a lot of lifelong friendships because of it.”
Pickleball was invented in the mid-1960s, but has gradually become more and more popular, particularly in recent years. It is a paddle or racket sport that contains elements of badminton, tennis, wiffle ball and table tennis.
Tournaments such as the one in Craig Park have become common throughout the United States.
Jackie Kawamoto was the 2013 girls tennis state singles champion as a Greenwood junior, while Jade earned runner-up status the following spring.
Both went on to play women’s tennis at the University of Dayton, and they are now employed by the NCAA in Indianapolis. Jade Kawamoto works as coordinator of the eligibility department; Jackie is assistant coordinator of championships and alliances.
Jade and Jackie both started playing pickleball in the spring of 2019.
Their respective tennis backgrounds and skill sets benefited the Kawamotos greatly as they improved enough to climb into the top 20 nationally in women’s doubles. Jade’s DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) in women’s doubles is 5.81, ranking her 10th; Jackie is 12th at 5.76.
Ratings usually range from 3.0 to 5.0. Professional ratings are expanded above 5.0 up to 8.0.
“Having a full-time job, it’s hard to be all in on pickleball,” Jackie Kawamoto said. “But we both enjoy the social aspect, and it’s a little less running than tennis. The basic strokes were natural for us, but the strategy and scoring are different. Once you get the hang of it, you kind of get addicted to it.”
As of Tuesday, 178 players had registered to play in the Making Memories Classic. The goal was to have between 150 and 200, so already the tournament has been a success.
Due to their rankings and stature in the sport, the Kawamotos won’t be competing. Nonetheless, they look forward to hosting an event they hope is repeated during future summers.
“We both have the same passion for the sport,” Jade Kawamoto said. “It’s always nice to be so close to my sister, so that we can do this together.”
