One of the toughest challenges in any sport is to repeat as champion.
Sun City’s top pickleball player, John Schwan, accomplished that feat at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida, on April 27. He took on four challengers in the mens singles 75-79 age bracket, 4.0 rating, and defeated them all, returning as a repeat national champ.
John Schwan proudly shows his US Open Pickleball Championship gold medal. (Photo provided)
Schwan’s scores on the memorable Sunday: he began with a 15-2 win over Anthony Gray; then defeated Rick Meyer, 15-4; defeated Ed Kramer, 15-5 and in the title match, outlasted Jeff Starfield, 15-3.
“I was pretty exhausted,” Schwan said in a phone interview the next morning. “I wanted a chair and some shade.”
He was happy with the way he played in all of the rounds, which were all done by noon Sunday. Schwan arrived at the complex earlier in the week, so he was acclimated to the set up. He stayed with a pickleball playing friend and was cheered on to victories.
“I was focused and thought all facets of the game came together,” Schwan said. “My serve, volley, ground strokes, were all in a zone.”
Illinois title
Schwan sought some good competition before defending his U.S. Open Pickleball Championship in Florida.
“I was looking for a tune-up for the U.S. Open,” Schwan said. “I entered the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Illinois Amateur Pickleball Championships in Naperville, and won gold for 70 plus and silver for age 50 and over,” Schwan said. “With the title, I also won a ‘Golden Ticket’ to their nationals in Dallas in November with no fees. That’s the next big target.”
Schwan downed Mark Kobernick 15-1 in the gold medal match.
“The 50-year-olds had quicker footwork and harder serves,” Schwan said with a smile. “It was a challenging tournament.”
In addition to the US Open Pickleball title crown last season, Schwan picked up titles at Senior Olympics state meets in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Schwan mentioned that there is also the social aspect of the sport.
“At the recent state tournament, I met up with a fellow competitor and we got to know one another. He lives in Peru, Illinois and on April 12 I went there and we played pickleball.”
Locally, Schwan plays at Sun City and Hanover Park pickleball courts. He thanks his wife, Susan, for always being supportive of his pickleball interests.
“All of my family are into the racket sports, he added. “My son Jay plays tennis and pickleball as does his wife Gina and my daughters, Josi-Hensen Schwan and Katie Garner-Schwan. I coached tennis for 10 years at Maine East High School.”
