Tallahassee Pickleball Association

Member Spotlight: Jeff Schroepfer

Jeff has been a member of TPA since its inception, after hearing about it through Fred Markham. One of Jeff’s friends went on a trip to Minnesota, and came back and told him all about pickleball. It sounded like fun, so he went out and bought a paddle and started playing regularly at Northside. Jeff said he took lessons, and for the next two years, he played just about every day from 9 to noon!

Pickleball evolved naturally for Jeff as he played tennis competitively in high school and placed in state tournaments. He stopped playing in college. Then, when he and his wife started a family, he ended up doing more coaching of his kids’ sports than playing himself.

All was going well until about three years ago, when he tore his Achilles tendon playing pickleball at Tom Brown. This was right around the same time that he qualified for nationals in Dallas. Jeff said, “I probably shouldn’t have, but decided to play anyway!”

Jeff Schroepfer and Robin Dye winning gold at Opelika

Determined to improve his game, he hired a trainer and lost 70 lbs by engaging in intensive weight training, eating less, and increasing his playing time. Being much “lighter” on his feet, he began playing more competitively. Recently, he played in the PPA tournament in Atlanta; won a bronze medal for mixed doubles, and came in 9th place in the senior pro division (50 & Up).

He is currently training for the probable entry into upcoming tournaments in Destin, Florida, and Wisconsin. He also qualified to play at nationals in San Diego in November.

Jeff has been coached by Mark Ardizzone at FSU for 2 years, and he says it has really improved his game, particularly because Mark tailors his coaching to his strengths and weaknesses. His current DUPR rating is 4.5.

Jeff said what attracts him to pickleball is, “I love to strategize and learn how to beat different types of opponents…whether it is a banger, or out-dinking someone. What's great about pickleball is that it is fast-paced, and I can teach someone to play in 30 minutes, and they will have fun!" He tries to balance his social, fun playing with his 

competitive tournaments. He normally plays with a couple of friends who have their own private courts, but he also plays at the Pickle Pad, and Tom Brown. He prefers outdoor play, weather permitting. “But come August in Tallahassee, I am heading to the Pickle Pad," he laughed

Jeff (pictured on the left with mixed doubles partner Sue Rasmussen) says that his strength is “knowing and understanding strategy. But putting it into practice, well, that is a different story, but I am working on it!”

Jeff has managed to strike a nice balance between playing competitively, for fun, and for socialization. He often plays with his wife and sons.

In fact, when his wife was a teacher at Deerlake Middle School, they helped turn some of the tennis courts into pickleball courts, and it may be the only school in Leon County that actively teaches pickleball. The school has a pickleball club, and Jeff said it was great to see kids who started out with little confidence begin playing and not only improve their athletic abilities but also their self-esteem and confidence.

One of Jeff’s most memorable moments playing pickleball was when he and his son played in a father/son tournament at East River in Texas. He thought it might be a worthy idea to start some parent/child tournaments in Tallahassee.

He advises new players to find a fun group of players and just go have fun and play often. He said, “Don’t take it too seriously. Just start by having fun, getting exercise, and making new friends.”

Jeff remarked, “It would be great if Tallahassee had some 4.0 (plus) level tournaments rather than traveling elsewhere to find that level of competition.” He is excited about the many new courts opening soon in Tallahassee.

Tallahassee Pickleball Association, Inc. is a tax-exempt organization under 501(c)(3).