PICKLES TO HOST MLP “MVP” PRO LEE WHITWELL ON AUG. 21ST

Fan favorite “Lady Gibraltar” to hold meet-and-greet and then compete on the court.

Pickles is excited to welcome Lee Whitwell, the reigning MVP of Major League Pickleball (MLP) on Sunday, August 21st for a day of camaraderie, competition, and fun.

All are invited to attend this special event, to be held at Pickles Pickleball Club at 357 Columbia Road in Hanover, Massachusetts.

The day will begin with a 9 to 11 a.m. meet-and-greet, providing the opportunity of a lifetime for pickleball devotees to hang out with Whitwell, also known as “Lady Gibraltar.”

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. attendees can watch Whitwell on the court competing with 4.5 session (advanced players), two hours of guaranteed electrifying pickleball.

An exhibition of rally scoring “MLP Style” will run from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., when Whitwell will be joined by some of New England’s local legends and highly rated Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR) players for an “MLP Style” competition.

Voted by her pro peers as MLP’s MVP, Whitwell has quickly gained the hearts of pickleball players throughout America and is a proven fan favorite every time she steps on the court. Born in Gibraltar, Whitwell grew up playing tennis and became a Division II national champion, capturing consecutive   doubles titles in 1993 and 1994 at Francis Marion University in South Carolina. After graduating in 1996 she briefly played professional tennis before returning to campus life as an assistant coach at Alliant International University in San Diego.

Her passion for tennis met its match in 2017 when Whitwell picked up a pickleball paddle for the first time and soon after participated in her inaugural pickleball tournament – and won! Since then, she has become one of the top players on the women’s tour.

Known for her quick wit, Whitwell’s equally quick hands with a paddle and ability to reset anywhere on the court are rivaled only by her funny one-liners.

Whitwell’s special appearance will also serve to promote the MLP’s first ever, ongoing, Amateur team-format draft and Championship Tournament. Pickles is the premier host of the event, which allows players to qualify based on participation in a series of one-day, timed round robins held over eight weeks, with the culminating Championship Tournament slated on Labor Day Weekend (September 3 and 4).

“Lady Gibraltar has an amazing presence both on and off the court and once you see her in action, you’ll know why she is the reigning MLP MPV,” said Lisa DeMeritt, co-founder. 

“What a thrill it will be to have Lee Whitwell play on our courts,” added Wanda Melampy, co-founder.  “To say we’re excited about this special August 21st event is an understatement!”