Fifty-eight-year-old Eva Welsher is the number one ranked senior female mixed doubles player in the U.S. and spends her winters in Naples, Florida. She was originally drawn to pickleball after her kids left home, and she became an empty nester.
A New Outlook On Life
Her winter pickleball court has become much more than just a playing surface for Eva – it’s now turned into a community she feels a part of and a place that has given her a new outlook on life.
“It was like the light came on again,” she said. “You know, the light came on again and said you have a path still, Eva.”
“Every day is about somebody else,” Eva explained to Zach Oliveri of Wink News, Fort Myers, Florida. “And all of a sudden, you’re like, you know, I don’t know if I took care of myself completely during that time. But I didn’t want to.
“Happy to just be a mother and a wife, trust me. But then when they leave, you’re like, what’s the best version of myself now? And I found the best version of me is being back in sports, which I gave up. And I’m happy I gave it up. No regrets.”
➡️ "Naples Mixed Doubles Classic".
— Florida Pickleball Tournaments (@PickleballState) November 9, 2023
Pickleball tournament in Naples, Florida.
January 6-7, 2024.
To register: https://t.co/kmESXr5jQx
PB 1965 LLC
The complete list of tournaments at https://t.co/0nJ0KWOs30 pic.twitter.com/F6r24b6dwu
Pickleball Came Quite Naturally
As a junior, Welsher used to be a formidable tennis player, and, at one time, she was good enough to represent Northwestern University in Illinois. Pickleball came to her quite naturally with that standard of preparation.
“I have those competitive juices,” she says. “And I saw that I could be good. I felt I could be good. I had the work ethic. I had the knowledge. I had some background. So I saw something I could become a kid again.”
Using all that desire and motivation, Eva had a very clear goal in mind: ”I wanted to be the best woman in mixed double with multiple partners and win. And I accomplished that this year.”
She finished last year as the top-ranking player for Women’s Mixed Doubles on the Senior Pro Tour.
“The Sport Is Just Growing And Growing”
This year is bringing Eva a whole new set of challenges, and she’s involved in this weekend’s inaugural Mixed Doubles Pickleball Classic at Veterans Park in Naples, Florida—a tournament she’s co-organizing along with Randy Sussman.
“The sport is just growing and growing; everyone is having a good time,” explains Randy. “It’s built a sense of community. It’s nice seeing people with big smiles on their faces hitting a little whiffle ball. If you can’t have fun hitting a whiffle ball, you can’t have fun.”
“I really try to put myself out there to make sure people know I notice them,” Eva adds. “I see them. I’m happy they’re there. And that’s what I want them to feel with the tournament as well.”
Naples Mixed Doubles Pickleball Classic
PB1965, a local pickleball-branded clothing company, and Eva Welsher are co-hosting the Mixed Doubles Classic Pickleball Tournament.
The event is free for spectators, who can watch the action and visit the Pickleball Vendor Village, featuring sporting companies, jewelers, clothing, and more. Proceeds will benefit the Naples Humane Society.
The Naples Classic is a mixed doubles format only, with divisions for age and skill ranging from 3.0 to a pro division.
