faces of picklecon

proS & CELEBRITIES:

Allie Davis

Pickleball Pro

Allie is one of the lead female coaches with Pickleball Getaways, working alongside top professionals Ben Johns and Dekel Bar. With a background as a kindergarten teacher, she has transitioned into a full-time pickleball pro and coach. Allie’s approach to the game emphasizes the fundamentals—dinking, resets, drops, and above all, patience.

Allie Davis

Pickleball Pro

Ben McNair

Pickleball Pro

Ben is a premier coach based out of Las Vegas, Nevada and has taught across the country. After making the jump and switching from tennis to Pickleball, Ben uses biomechanics and physics to simplify the game and improve margins and overall shot tolerance.

Ben McNair

Pickleball Pro

Brad Penny

Former MLB Player

American former professional baseball pitcher and 2x MLB All-Star and World Series Champion. Current resident of Kansas City, MO

Competing in Celebrity Pickleball Bash>>

Brad Penny

Former MLB Player

Bryanna Ojeda

Pickleball Pro

I’ve always been an athlete at heart. Beyond tennis and pickleball, I’ve competed in beach volleyball leagues, soccer, performed professionally in aerial silks, played a professional spikeball tournament, and even competed in beach tennis back when it was played with traditional rackets. Sport—and the performing arts—have always been my outlet for creativity, connection, and pushing limits. Pickleball just happens to be the latest (and loudest) expression of that.

Bryanna Ojeda

Pickleball Pro

Da'Vinchi

Actor

A first-generation Haitian-American born and raised in Brooklyn, Da’Vinchi is an actor whose unique personality, charismatic good looks, and raw talent has created a considerable amount of buzz in Hollywood. Da’Vinchi can be seen co-leading the cast in the highly anticipated Starz series, “BMF” from executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. Da’Vinchi plays the lead role of the infamous ‘Terry Flenory. He also holds a recurring role in CW’s hit series “All American” which caught the attention of acclaimed director Gavin O’Connor, who cast him in his first movie “The Way Back” by Warner Bros starring Ben Affleck.

In his spare time, Da’Vinchi is an all-around sports enthusiast. He loves playing basketball, baseball, football, hiking, golfing and tennis. He also loves to create music and is an avid player of the piano and guitar.

Additionally, Da’Vinchi is an outspoken advocate for mental health and is passionate about fostering conversations around mental health awareness by shedding light on resources, organizations and

platforms within both his personal circle and his greater fanbase. He has successfully used his rising platform over the last years to help shed a light on mental illness in black and brown communities. He started his Mental Health Awareness College Tour and has drawn thousands to hear him speak on the topic of the current mental health crisis that is overtaking our youth in America.

Competing in Celebrity Pickleball Bash>>

Da'Vinchi

Actor

Danny Jensen

Pro & CEO of Paddle & Passport

Danny Jensen is a former Division I athlete at Ohio State, a professional pickleball player, and the founder and CEO of Paddle & Passport—a luxury travel company that combines world-class pickleball coaching with five-star destinations. As a professional coach, he’s brought the sport to players around the globe, including U.S. military bases in over 16+ countries

Danny Jensen

Pro & CEO of Paddle & Passport

Drew Nixon

Radio Host

The newest member of 610 Sports Radio, Drew joined the station in the summer of 2023 moving to KC from his hometown of Indianapolis. A graduate of Butler University, Drew has worked in multiple markets around the country. When not at work, you can find drew on the golf course or watching college football.

Playing in the Audacy Grudge Match.

Drew Nixon

Radio Host

Eli Steiner

Pickleball Pro

Eli, a former collegiate tennis player turned pickleball pro. is a top coach based in Northern Colorado. There he teaches over 20 private lessons a week and leads group classes and camps. Eli combines pro tour experience with a passion for helping players of all levels improve with purpose.

Eli Steiner

Pickleball Pro

Eric Rhodes

CPB Event DJ

Eric Rhodes is a JD, Creator and speaker who transforms music into an immersive experience, blending high-energy entertainment with storytelling and nostalgia.

Eric Rhodes

CPB Event DJ

Franco Finn

CPB Event Host

Franco is a native San Franciscan and widely known as the In-Arena MC and TV Personality for the Golden State Warriors, now in his 23rd Season as the ‘Warriors Hype Man’.

Franco Finn

CPB Event Host

Jenna Bandy

Former College Basketball Player

Former college basketball player and Guinness World Record (farthest football throw into a target by a female) who has become one of the foremost female creators in all of sports.

Competing in Celebrity Pickleball Bash>>

Jenna Bandy

Former College Basketball Player

Joseph Gannascoli

Actor/ Celebrity Chef

Joseph R Gannascoli is an American actor best known for his role as Vito Spatafore on HBO’s critically acclaimed series The Sopranos. In addition to his acting career, he is also a celebrity chef and author.

Joseph Gannascoli

Actor/ Celebrity Chef

Kasandra Gehrke

Pro/ Founder of Empowher PB

Three time national champion and owner of the #1 women's pickleball company, EmpowHER Pickleball.

Kasandra Gehrke

Pro/ Founder of Empowher PB

Mac Morey

Radio Host

Mac's dream since he was 8 years old was to be in sports radio, talking about the Chiefs. Born and raised in KC, Mac has pursued his passion to Nashville, Wyoming, Nashville (again), and finally back home where his dream is now a reality. In his free time you can find him with his fiancee, playing disc golf, playing with his dogs, or drinking a beer and watching a game with his friends and family.

Playing in the Audacy Grudge Match.

Mac Morey

Radio Host

Matt Besler

Former Professional Soccer Player

American former professional soccer player and 2025 Sporting Legends inductee. 2012 MLS Defender of the Year and 2023 MLS Cup winner. Member of the United States national team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Competing in Celebrity Pickleball Bash>>

Matt Besler

Former Professional Soccer Player

Nicole Mendes

Broadcaster & Entrepreneur

Nicole Mendes is a former NCAA softball champion, Olympian, and current ESPN broadcaster. She is also the founder of ChalkTalk, a mental performance company helping athletes strengthen the mindset behind the mechanics.

Nicole Mendes

Broadcaster & Entrepreneur

Ryan Sherry

Pickleball Pro

Former top ten professional pickleball player and college tennis player. Co-founder of Legacy Sports Pro.

Competing in Celebrity Pickleball Bash>>

Ryan Sherry

Pickleball Pro

Simone Jardim

Pickleball Pro

Former #1 ranked female singles and doubles player, winner of 32 PPA titles. Former All-American collegiate tennis player.

Competing in Celebrity Pickleball Bash>>

Simone Jardim

Pickleball Pro

Terrell Owens

Former NFL Player

Former NFL Wide receiver and 2018 Hall of Fame Inductee. He currently ranks third in NFL history in career receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Competing in Celebrity Pickleball Bash>>

Terrell Owens

Former NFL Player

Tyler Hansbrough

Former NBA Player

American former professional basketball player. UNC Tar Heel star and member of their 2009 NCAA championship team.

Competing in Celebrity Pickleball Bash>>

Tyler Hansbrough

Former NBA Player

Vivian Glozman

Pickleball Pro

Current MLP and PPA athlete. Former Division I tennis player.

Competing in Celebrity Pickleball Bash>>

Vivian Glozman

Pickleball Pro

Zack Taylor

Pickleball Pro

Zack Taylor is a Kansas City native living in Los Angeles, California. He is a full time touring professional on the APP Tour, sponsored by Joola Pickleball. With over 20 5.0 gold medals under his belt, and 3 professional medals to his name, Zack is so excited to be back in his hometown for PickleCon!

Zack Taylor

Pickleball Pro

Zen Nguyen

CPB Event Dance Performer

Visual and movement artist and creator.

Zen Nguyen

CPB Event Dance Performer

panel speakers:

Andrew Lentell, pt, dpt

Andrew Lentell, pt, dpt

Owner of MVP Physical Therapy

Angel Morales

Angel Morales

Founder of TailWag

Angela Garza

Angela Garza

Engagement Team Lead at CourtReserve

Ashlee Blakely

Ashlee Blakely

Co-Founder of Twisted Pickle

Cameron Linder

Cameron Linder

CEO of PIP and WBPI

Carrie Bartlow

Carrie Bartlow

Sr. Director of Communications - Chicken N Pickle

Casey Parnell

Casey Parnell

EmpowHER Coach

Coach Freddie

Coach Freddie

Playing In the Zone

Denise Richards

Denise Richards

Co-Founder/ Chief Operations Officer of Dill Dinkers

Denise Valente

Denise Valente

Founder of Courts N’ Ports

Devan Egan

Devan Egan

Owner & Founder of Club Pickleball USA

Dr. Joy Macci

Dr. Joy Macci

Global Pickleball Coach

Elena Saris

Elena Saris

Founder of the Recreational Pickleball Players Association

Gabriel George

Gabriel George

Director of MACS

Gary Zins

Gary Zins

Founder of Pickleball Travel

Gwyneth Talley

Gwyneth Talley

CEO of WanderinGwyneth Adventures

Heidi Block

Heidi Block

Founder of Playly

Jim Balding

Jim Balding

Architect

Kaitlin Miller

Kaitlin Miller

Head of Business Development at Court Kings

Kat Tomlin

Kat Tomlin

A Genesis Health Club Pickleball Director

Luke Wade

Luke Wade

Founder of KC Crew, Crew Social Club, and Facility Ally

Mitch Dunn

Mitch Dunn

Co-Founder of The Pickle Lodge

Ollie Taniyev

Ollie Taniyev

Director of Community Outreach for the Sport and Community Development Lab

Olu Owoeye

Olu Owoeye

sports physical therapist

Rob Harrison

Rob Harrison

Founder of Brand Caddy

Scott Smith

Scott Smith

Paddle Labs Founder

Stacy Warner

Stacy Warner

Director of the Sport & Community Development Lab

Suzanne Greever

Suzanne Greever

Co-Founder of Twisted Pickle

Taylor Nichols

Taylor Nichols

Adaptive Pickleball Coordinator

Timber Tucker

Timber Tucker

College Relationaship Manager at Six Zero Pickleball

Tony Gionfriddo

Tony Gionfriddo

Beautiful Lives Executive Director

Vanessa Carrington

Vanessa Carrington

Co Founder of 365Dink

Will Richards

Will Richards

Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Dill Dinkers