Meet Chris Karges, known as the Queen of Pickleball in East Tennessee. On this episode, Dr. John-Mark talks with Chris about her journey into pickleball, how players can level up their game, and tips for overcoming nerves to perform your best. She also shares what makes Premier Pickleball so special, with insights for everyone from beginners to pros.
Chris played tennis from a young age, was an All-American tennis player at the University of Kentucky, and spent 15 years as a tennis coach at Purdue and Northwestern before falling in love with pickleball. Originally from Illinois, she was drawn to Knoxville by a UT tennis coaching connection and never left. She’s represented Austin Ignite as the National Pickleball League’s number-one draft pick and team captain, and more recently played for Naples JBB United in Florida. She entered her first national tournament in 2018 hoping just to win a match, and took home silver instead. Today she’s a high-performance coach and Director of Pickleball at Premier Pickleball Club in Knoxville.
What you’ll hear in this episode
- Chris’s backstory and how she got started playing pickleball
- How to “level up” your pickleball game
- Getting over nerves to play your best
- What makes Premier Pickleball so special
- Tips from a top local women’s professional pickleball player, for beginners through pros