NAPLES, FL – John Schwan, a Sun City Pickleball Charter Club member, is a national champion after winning his age bracket gold medal at the Minto US Open Pickleball Championship April 14 in Naples, Fla.
Schwan, 75, beat four opponents to earn the gold medal. He edged Randy Scott of Griffin, Georgia (who lives at a Del Webb community) for the senior singles skill 4.0 crown in the finals as thousands looked on. Schwan won the first game, 11-3, then the second, 11-8. A few days later, he described how the final round happened.
“I was ahead for the first game but the second game was much closer,” Schwan described. “In the second game I was up 9-3, but he made a run to close it to 9-8 but I finished it off. I think it was just being mentally prepared to enjoy it, and not put a lot of pressure on myself. After I won, I was pinching myself, saying ‘is this a dream, will I wake up’. Winning the tournament was not on my radar.”
Schwan arrived for the Naples area hosted tournament April 13 to ready for his three guaranteed matches the next day. He watched many professionals compete that first day. A record 3,000 amateurs and professionals took their hopes to the tournament. Amateurs such as Schwan could practice right next to top level professionals at adjacent courts.
“I went in thinking this is my first time here and I didn’t know what to expect,” Schwan said. “The facilities were just spectacular. There are 60 courts, and mini-stadium courts. It’s the best Pickleball facility in the world. The tournament is the pinnacle of Pickleball.”
Schwan said some of his fellow competitors in the Pickleball circuits in Chicago were vying at the national.
“Good news travels fast – I heard from a lot of players from Sun City. One of the best decisions in my life was three years ago when I joined the Sun City Pickleball Charter Club and learned to play. There are a lot of good players there who could compete nationally.”
Schwan is planning on another trip to Florida next April.
“I will go back and defend the title,” he said.
