Australian Academy: Power Pickleball

Australian Academy, Power Pickleball, uses #TeamWaters tournament play videos to teach winning strategies.

The Reset


The Serve and Stay Back Position


The Poach

DELRAY OPEN 2021 Promo Reel

 

Registration now open for inaugural APP Tour event, Delray Beach Pickleball Open - $60K, March 18-21, 2021, hosted by Delray's own National Champions, Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters and Senior Pro Champion, Steve Kennedy.

2020 The Margaritaville Underground Invitational: Highlight Point

#TeamWaters vs Simone Jardim/Lucy Kovalova (Match Highlights)

Pickleball By Pros Interview

Pickleball By Pros Interview

Q: “What is the best part of pickleball for you & what makes this game so special in your opinion?”

A: The best part of pickleball is that is a sport we can do as a family. We play together, travel together, and this means overall more time spent together! What other sport can you play Pro w/ your daughter, and also go out on the weekends and play with your dad/grandfather? Anna Leigh’s first tournament was with her grandfather! Pickleball is so social and it is truly a game for all!

Q: “How did you choose your paddle and what is one mistake some people make when they pick a paddle to play with?”

A: Anna Leigh’s paddle, Paddletek TS-5, was actually put in her hand to try during her first tournament in Delray Beach. She fell in love instantly, and hasn’t switched since. For AL, she likes its more compact shape and lightweight maneuverability.

My paddle, Paddletek Phoenix Genesis, has a bit more narrow longer body with a little extra room in the handle for my two handed backhand. It has a nice pop which I like for power.

I think one mistake people make when choosing a paddle is not playing with it or demo’ing it before purchase. Different paddles definitely play differently, and you need experience hitting all kinds of shots as well as using the paddle for prolonged play to make sure a specific paddle is for you.

Q: “Who is your favorite women's partner & mixed partner to play with?”

A: Of course our favorite women’s partners are each other. We just love the camaraderie we have on the court, and we have been so successful together that it is a match made in heaven.

As far as mixed goes, I’m playing a lot with Tyson McGuffin Pickleball and Kyle Yates Pickleball this year, and I know I have a lot of fun on the court with both of them. Having fun is key in mixed dubs because it can be so intense. Anna Leigh is also looking forward to playing with Tyson and Kyle, and has always enjoyed playing with fellow junior William Sobek Pickleball.

Q: “Who would you love to play with or against in 2021?”

A: Now that the Bryan Brothers have retired from pro tennis, we would love to play with them or against them in pickleball. Mother/daughter and twin brothers—cool combo! Rumor has it they are great pickleball players!

Q:“What is one area of your game you are working on & what is one area of your game you are most proud of?”

A: I think we have the same answer for both questions. We are definitely most proud of our powerful and aggressive game. When we started playing, most players told us we couldn’t be successful playing this type of game. We stayed true to ourselves and ended up Nationals Champs! Further, we are always trying to come up with new ways to be aggressive! We definitely want some new tricks in our bag! 

Sponsor: Lasso Socks

 

Lasso Facebook Post December 2, 2020

Stay Moving is the message!

Every single action you take during the day matters.

Every little movement combines to create the energy of your life.

#StayMoving is about honoring every action and realizing time is precious.

You wake up early in the morning because you can accomplish a lot more with the time you have.

You recognize the wins come from the daily disciplines that keep you in check.

At Lasso, our goal is to help you stay moving and seize the day.

Lasso Socks 2.0 are an extension of that desire.

The foot and ankle support provided by the Lasso Socks help you perform and recover at peak levels.

What are you waiting for? #LassoUp!

Jonny Pickleball Show Exhibition, Boca Raton, FL

 

#TeamWaters Interview begins at 7:20 

Exhibition Match

The Jonny Pickleball Show October 30, 2020

 

Team Waters made their third appearance in 2020 on the Jonny Pickleball Show, Friday October 30, at the Fort Myers, Fl,  Racquet Club. The other Pro Pickleball Players on the show were:

• Catherine Parenteau 
• Athena Trouillot 
• Kyle Yates 
• Jonny Andrews

 

US Open 2021

Although, Anna Leigh has only played one 2020 tournament, the organizers are using the 13 year old to promote the "Biggest Pickleball Party In The World".

USA Pickleball Member Newsletter: Spotlight Provided by Lasso

 October 8, 2020

Spotlight Provided by Lasso

As the sport of Pickleball grows in popularity and participation across the country, many people are jumping onboard because off its fast-paced play and short learning curve. Lasso recognized this emerging sport as a powerful up in comer that people of all ages can play and compete and we wanted to make sure ankles and feet were ready to play their best. Lasso’s first step was to join forces with the governing body of the sport and recently announced its official partnership with USA Pickleball as the official performance sock of the league.

Our second step was to participate in the sport authentically.  The key to understanding the intricacies of a sport like Pickleball is to work and talk with its top competitors. To get the best input, we at Lasso went right to the top and started working with Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters, Pickleball’s leading doubles pair and only mother-daughter team. Both are fierce competitors and rank among the best – taking home such prestigious titles as the Florida Grand Slam, the Tournament of Champions and USA Pickleball Nationals.

We recently got the opportunity to talk with the mother-daughter pair about how they got involved in Pickleball, what motivates them on and off the court, their professional athletic career, and how Lasso Socks 2.0 are helping them Stay Moving on and off the court. 

The team started playing in 2017 when their family had to evacuate their Florida home during Hurricane Irma. As the Waters family waited out the storm at Leigh’s parents home in Pennsylvania, Leigh’s father passed the time by teaching them both the game of Pickleball. “My father Neil taught us to play about 3 years ago and we just fell in love with the game,” said Leigh. “It is such a social sport for all ages, and we love the fast paced play!” After the storm had passed, they moved back to Florida and continued to play and compete powerfully in the Pickleball world finishing number 1 in 2019 and were Pro National Champions.

Lasso’s mission is to design and produce the best possible products that improve performance, prevention, and recovery to help the modern athlete Stay Moving, and we wanted to know how they helped with Leigh and Anna Leigh’s training and playing regiment. Both ladies play aggressively on the court and that high-speed type of play can take a toll on your ankles and feet. “Pickleball requires a ton of quick lateral side-to-side movement, and Lasso socks help protect our ankles as well as our feet,” explained Leigh. Professional athletes like the Waters pair expect top of the line gear to help them play and recover at the highest level. “Pickleball tournaments are also very long and grueling, and Lasso socks help to keep us from getting too sore as the days and matches go on,” Leigh continued. “The compression helps to protect from injuries that can occur from prolonged play.”(Read More)

Pickleball Magazine 2020 October/November

 If you think I'm good now, keep watching

Anna Leigh Waters // Gold Medalist at 12 years old (Yep, 12) 

Paddletek  #LetsGoAgain

Paddletek: Some might say, “yeah right-just for a commercial.”

Some might say, “yeah right-just for a commercial.” 

But for #AL, this is real life stuff. 

Every week there are ladders and cones and more. 

Others might say, “ a little much for pickleball.” 

I say, not if you want to be National Pro Champion at 12. 

Done!! 

Work hard. 

Drill hard. 

Dream hard. 

Go Again!! 

Pickleball Canada: Pickleball Scoop

 

Pickleball is Evolving
Opinion of Wayne Kerr

As stronger and faster athletes enter the sport of pickleball, the game is evolving. Great footwork is becoming more and more important. The traditional idea of ​​planting yourself at the Non-Volley-Zone (NVZ) line is being challenged at the upper levels of the game. In fact, some of today's top players have stepped back a few feet (30 -120 cm) off the NVZ line much of the time. Of course, when their opponents are back or have popped up a ball, these innovators are eagerly up at the NVZ line ready to hit a put-away shot. However, when all four are at the net, many modern players take a step back, giving themselves extra time to defend or counter an attacked ball.

Another advantage of being back a few feet is that this allows a player to hit the ball from below the top of the net and have a better chance of it rising above the tape. Using topspin, these balls can be hit with considerable force, clear the net, and stay in-bounds. Teenager, Anna Leigh Waters of the United States and Catherine Parenteau of Canada are two of the best players in the world at employing this technique.

A good example of this style of court positioning can be seen in the Pro Women's Doubles Gold Medal Final at the 2019 US National Championships at Indian Wells featuring: Leigh Waters / Anna Leigh Waters vs. Jessie Irvine / Catherine Parenteau. (Read More)

Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Margaritaville Underground Invitational Highlights

Highlights: Leigh Waters/Anna Leigh Waters,13 vs Simone Jardim/Lucy Kovalova (Watch Match)

Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Margaritaville Underground Invitational July 18, 2020 Fort Myers, FL

University of South Carolina: GameCocks Online June 2020

Former tennis player now among world's best on another court

Leigh (Eichelberger) Waters may have put down the racket and hung up the lawyer suit, but the former South Carolina tennis player (1997-2001) picked up the paddle and has teamed up with her 13-year-old daughter, Anna Leigh, to become one of the top professional pickleball players in the world.

"It has allowed me to be competitive again," said Waters, who now lives in Delray Beach, Fla. "Who would have thought a 41-year-old could compete against 20-year-olds and win at a professional level? It's pretty cool.

"My daughter and I have contracts with pickleball paddle sponsors, and because we've been winning a lot, we're getting some decent prize money. Between the two, I decided this was a little more fun than 'lawyering.' So, I figured I would do this while I can!" (Read More)

Kids Day: 2018 US Open Pickleball

Kids Day: 2018 US Open Pickleball from Keith Bing on Vimeo.

Simone Jardim/Leigh Waters vs Kyle Yates/Anna Leigh Waters, 11

Jonny Pickleball Show

Jonny Pickleball Show Trailer July 2020




Jonny Pickleball Pre-Show Interview with Anna Leigh Waters, Leigh Waters and Kyle Yates



Highlight Reel (12+ mins)


Jonny Pickleball Show Fort Myers Racquet Club July 10, 2020

Paddletek "Until You Can't Miss" Ad (30 seconds)

Paddletek "Until You Can't Miss" Ad (30 seconds)

• go again
• until you strike just right (again and again)
• until the ball sings (again and again)
• until the other guy blinks (again and again)
• until the courts clear (again and again)
• and the Sun sets (again and again)
• until you see it in your sleep (again and again)
• and wake up swinging (again and again)
• go again (go again)
• until you can't miss (again and again)
• until you can't lose (again and again)
• go again (again and again)
• and again (and again)

Featured Pros

• Kyle Yates
• Leigh Eichelberger Waters
• Anna Leigh Waters
• Adam Stone

#paddletek
#teampaddletek
#paddletekpros
#goagain
#AL
#ripit
#ripitpickleball

Inside Florida Pickleball TV Show Interview

1:34 I'm sure you are happy to be out of the house? 1:51 Do you still play tennis? 2:05 When did you start playing pickleball? When did you team up to play professional pickleball? (1st Professional Tournament Gold Medal Match Highlights) 2:42 How is it playing with your mother? 3:30 What's the big difference in your doubles partners and getting that chemistry on the court? 4:28 Are nerves a factor? How about nationals? (Gold Medal Match Highlights) 5:33 Pickleball seems to have taken over your lifestyle? 6:15 Do you play singles? 6:43 Is there enough money in playing professional pickleball to do it 100 percent?

Part 2 (YouTube Time Codes)

12:58 How much time do you spend practicing together? Is it hard to fined people to practice with because you are so good?
13:46 How important is health and wellness?
15:09 When is your next event? How safe do you feel traveling? 
16:55 Are there college scholarships?
17:50 How do you guys get through the losses?

2020 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships

Anna Leigh's photo is on the front page of the 2020 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships website (May 2020).

The 2020 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships will be held October 31 – November 8, 2020 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California.

#PickleballNationalsRewind

Rising teen sensation Anna Leigh Waters (12) faced off against consistent superstar pro Simone Jardim in the Women’s Singles Open Division. Waters looked to add to her winnings for the tournament, as she had already won Gold in the Women’s Doubles Open Division alongside her partner (and mom!) Leigh Waters. (Web Page)

Match Highlight Reel

Morgan Evans: More or Less Pickleball Podcast

May 26, 2020: Morgan Evans interview Team Waters  Listen To The Podcast (49+ minutes)  

0:48 Interesting times - Over 2 months of quarantine 1:16 What are you doing to past the time? 1:25 What is AL baking? 1:44 Are you using dry instant yeast? 2:40 Morgan's sad sourdough starter story 3:54 Planning for Pizza - When we want pizza, we want it now. We are not big planners. 4:28 Are you making your own pizza sauce? 5:37 Naming Morgan's food processor - AL: "Bob"? 6:27 Lockdown 7:08 Taking precautions teaching pickleball during the pandemic 9:47 Life after Nationals 11:11 Creating a COVID vaccine - Holiday Inn Commercials 12:15 The new team - Simone/Lucy 13:24 AL - Who is the best person you have beaten in singles? 15:17 AL - How do your friends treat you as a professional athlete? 17:07 AL as a role model for kids 17:48 The Team Waters Coast-to-Coast challenge 19:28 Drilling 20:52 Skinny Singles - It is in but it is out! 30:41 Soccer, Pickleball, Fortnite? 33:02 Style of play 35:36 Deeper Waters 39:10 Q&A Mother vs Daughter Game

2019 Atlanta Open Mixed Doubles

Leigh Waters/Morgan Evans vs Lucy Kovalova/Matt Wright

Live Stream Interview: Heart-to-Heart with Anna Leigh Waters, Pro National Champion

Time Code Question List
2:22 Nicknames: A1 Steak Sauce, AL, Little AL, Shorty-Tall-ie, Pip Squeak
6:07 Music Playlist: Rap Music (Little Ozy)
7:16 Family Vacation: Banhams, Wipeout
8:24 How many states have you lived in? PA, NC, FL
9:48 Athletic Genes?
11:27 How is your golf game?
12:13 Sports Background? T-Ball, Soccer, Tennis (8)
17:04 Home school?
18:43 Favorite subject in school?
20:15 Hamilton Rap
21:03 Is auctioneering in your future?
21:25 College Sports
28:04 Do you think that great coaches make great athletes?
28:17 How does soccer help with pickleball?
29:41 How does tennis help with pickleball?
30:54 Are you team Eddy or Webby?
32:27 Let's talk about pickleball
32:47 2017 Delray Beach Classic Tournament 3.0 (10 years old)
36:06 Banger-Dinker T-Shirt
36:51 When do you know that you have the right partner?
40:13 Aggressive style of play: Playing tennis on a pickleball court
41:59 Kyle Yates advice?
43:56 Why does the “ripit style” of play work for you?
44:30 Two-handed backhand roll, slice, swinging volley
46:12 What is your paddle. Design?
48:41 When did you start playing together? 2018 Texas Open, 2019 Florida Grand Slam
51:32 Dynamic Duo Partnership
52:49 2019 - Turning Pro, US Open
54:30 Who manages who?
55:27 12 years old playing against professional adults. Nerves?
57:20 Pro Women's Doubles Day At Nationals - “AL we are winning and losing is not a option”
1:00:56 Eye Of The Tiger
1:02:50 Florida Skinny
1:03:41 Gambleing on Pickleball Matches?
1:04:22 You are 13 years old - Do you feel different?
1:05:15 What training and practice off the court do you do?
1:06:00 How are you so self motivated? Core drills? “I could have done more”
1:07:45 What helped you go from 3.0 to Pro in three years?
1:09:33 Singles Leigh vs AL
1:10:29 What is your mixed doubles dream team?
1:10:57 Hand signals
1:12:50 Playing on the kitchen line and playing off the kitchen line
1:14:22 Poaching?
1:15:22 Middle ball strategy
1:16:50 3rd shot drive vs the drop
1:17:36 New hats?
1:20:28 2020 Goals
1:21:04 Playing Simone and Lucy
1:21:48 COVID19
1:22:26 What are your emotions?
1:24:07 Daily COVID Routine
1:25:52 Cooking -Pizza, Meatloaf, Mac n Cheese, Tacos
1:26:38 What three people would you want to be quarantine with?
1:27:49 AL Eats
1:29:00 What Kid things do to do?
1:29:35 Moving your hips?
1:31:23 Home support system and success?
1:32:41 Favorite cities on the tour
1:33:15 Getting juniors involved in pickleball

2020 Florida Grand Slam

Florida Grand Slam Bonita Springs, FL 

Anna Leigh did not attend due to a soccer tournament.  

I was totally honored and humbled to receive #1 in the World Women’s Doubles player for 2019!!!

2019 was definitely a huge year for me, and I definitely couldn’t have done it without my partners #AL and Catherine!!!!! New challenges await in 2020, and I’m super excited to have new goals and new mountains to climb!! And of course, getting to play with #AL is my biggest blessing of all!❤️💪   (Faceoo  

(Facebook Post)

Leigh Waters played Women's Doubles Pro with Catherine Parenteau. They won a Silver Medal. 

Highlight Reel WD Pro Gold Medal Match: Simone Jardim/Lucy Kovalova vs Leigh Waters/Catherine Parenteau

Leigh Waters played Mixed Doubles with Kyle Yates and won a Bronze Medal.

• 3:08 Highlight Point Of Tournament Andrea Koop/Tyson McGuffin vs Kyle Yates/Leigh Waters
• Highlight Reel Andrea Koop/Tyson McGuffin vs Kyle Yates/Leigh Waters
• Highlight Reel Steve Deakin/Lucy Kovalova vs Kyle Yates/Leigh Waters

April Is National Pickleball Month

• April: PPA Dallas, TX

• April: US Open Pickleball Championships Naples, FL 

The Youngest Pro Athletes and Most Impressive Sports Prodigies of All Time

At 12 years 10 months, Anna Leigh is the youngest professional athlete to ever win a national title.

Youngest Debuts in Professional Sports (2014 SI)
Reviewing The Careers Of The Youngest Pro Athletes In American Sports (2019 The18)
The Youngest Pro Athletes and Most Impressive Sports Prodigies of All Time (Mens Journal)
How young is too young to play professional sports? (2019 Global Sports Matters)
Elliott: 10 of the world's youngest sports stars (2019 BBC)
THE YOUNGEST PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP (Grunge)
11-Year-Old Golfer Lucy Li Joins Youngsters Who've Competed at the Highest Levels (Athlon Sports)
World's youngest professional skateboarder is a 10-year-old, set to compete in Olympics 2020 in Tokyo (2019 Gulf News)

PPA Mesa Grand Slam Qualifier Tournament

Pro Pickleball Assoication: Grand Slam Tour Amateur through Professional Events



Highlight Reel: Anna Leigh Waters/Leigh Waters vs Simone Jardim/Lucy Kovalova (Winners Bracket)



Bronze Medal Match: Team Waters vs Catherine Parenteau/Andrea Koop



Mixed Doubles Pro: Anna Leigh Waters/Wes Gabrielsen vs Catherine Parenteau/Joey Farias

Timeline 2017-2019

• January 26, 2007 Anna Leigh Waters was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania
• 2015 The Waters Family moved from Clinton,  North Catalina to Delray Beach, Florida
• September 2017, Anna Leigh and Leigh sought refuge at Leigh's father's residence in Pennsylvania in response to Hurricane Irma. During their stay, he acquainted them with the sport of pickleball.
  
  “Anna Leigh started playing pickleball the same day I did in Pennsylvania,” Leigh explains. “I can’t tell you what an absolute privilege it is to get to play with her. She amazes me every time I step on the court with her. She is smart, encouraging, and her skills just keep getting better. Having her by my side on the court is so comforting and I have total confidence in her. We have that mother/daughter intuition that helps us play as a true team on the court. Winning a Major title together is something that we set out to do.”
  
  Hurricane Irma was an extremely powerful Cape Verde hurricane that caused widespread destruction across its path in September 2017. The storm's large wind field resulted in strong winds across much of Florida, except for the western Panhandle. The highest reported sustained wind speed was 112 mph (180 km/h) on Marco Island, while the strongest observed wind gust was 142 mph (229 km/h), recorded near Naples, though wind gusts of 150 to 160 mph (240 to 260 km/h) likely occurred in the Middle Florida Keys. More than 7.7 million homes and businesses in Florida were left without electricity at some point – approximately 73.33% of state. Many homes and businesses suffered damage or destruction, with more than 65,000 structures damaged to some degree in West Central and Southwest Florida alone. Agriculture experienced about $2.5 billion in damage. It was estimated that the cyclone caused at least $50 billion in damage, making Irma the costliest hurricane in Florida history, surpassing Hurricane Andrew.(Wikipedia) 
• 
  
• 2017-2019 Delray Beach Gunther Pickleball Classic 
• 2018 Texas Open 
• 2019 Florida Grand Slam 
• 2019 Tourament Of Champions
• 2019 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships 
• 2020 Due to COVID, TeamWaters played in one tournament

Anna Leigh's introduction to pickleball occurred by chance. Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, she moved with her family to Clinton, North Carolina, as an infant, where she spent the first eight years of her childhood. In 2015, her family relocated to Delray Beach, Florida.

please write out step by step how your plan to rewrite this for wikipedia

In September 2017, during Hurricane Irma, Anna Leigh and her mother, Leigh, went to her grandparents in Allentown, Pennsylvania, while her father remained in Florida to stay with their dog, Maggie, and attend to his construction materials business. Anna Leigh's grand father, Neil Eichelberger, introduced them to the sport of pickleball.  Anna Leigh won her first gold medal with 29-year old Stacie Townsend in her first tournament in November at the Delray Beach Gamma Pickleball Classic . 

, Hurricane Irma and its outer bands had knocked out power to the family’s home in Delray Beach, so they went to their grandfather’s home, while Leigh’s husband Stephen remained in Florida to stay with their dog, Maggie, and attend to his construction materials business.

For rewriting this passage for Wikipedia, I'll aim to make it more neutral and encyclopedic while preserving the important facts. Wikipedia style generally prioritizes conciseness, objectivity, and adherence to a neutral point of view (NPOV). Here’s a step-by-step plan:

Step 1: Identify Key Facts

1. Timeline: The events occur in September 2017 and November 2017.
2. Event: Anna Leigh Waters and her mother went to Allentown, Pennsylvania, during Hurricane Irma.
3. Family Members: Key individuals include Anna Leigh, her mother (Leigh), her father (who stayed behind in Florida), and her grandfather (Neil Eichelberger).
4. Introduction to Pickleball: Anna Leigh’s grandfather introduced her and her mother to pickleball.
5. Tournament and Achievement: Anna Leigh won her first gold medal with Stacie Townsend at the Delray Beach Gamma Pickleball Classic at age ten.

Step 2: Create a Neutral, Encyclopedic Tone

• Avoid Personal Details: Wikipedia prefers avoiding unnecessary details about family members unless directly relevant to the subject’s notability. For instance, mentioning the family dog or the father's occupation may not be essential unless they tie into Anna Leigh’s career or achievements.
• Third-Person Language: Wikipedia entries avoid personal language and maintain a formal tone.
• Direct Focus on Notable Events: Emphasize the notable aspect—Anna Leigh’s early introduction to pickleball and first competitive success.

Step 3: Structure in Chronological Order

• Start with the introduction to the sport (Hurricane Irma, trip to Allentown, and introduction to pickleball).
• Follow up with her first competitive success (winning a gold medal at the tournament).

Step 4: Avoid Over-Detailing, Stay Concise

Details like the age of her partner or location specifics of the tournament should be mentioned only if they contribute directly to her story of notability.

Step 5: Check for Citations

For Wikipedia, every statement needs to be verifiable through reliable sources. When writing for Wikipedia, it’s essential to ensure that each part of the rewritten text could be backed by citations if this were added to an article.

Step 6: Rewrite with Wikipedia Guidelines in Mind

Based on the above points, here’s how the passage might be rephrased for Wikipedia:

---

Draft for Wikipedia:

In September 2017, due to Hurricane Irma, Anna Leigh Waters, then 10 years old, traveled with her mother to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where her grandfather, Neil Eichelberger, introduced them to the sport of pickleball. Later that year, in November, Waters participated in her first tournament at the Delray Beach Gamma Pickleball Classic, where she won a gold medal alongside Stacie Townsend, marking the beginning of her competitive career in pickleball.

---

Step 7: Review and Edit

• Confirm the rewritten text is neutral, concise, and objective.
• Ensure there is no extraneous detail that doesn’t directly relate to Anna Leigh’s involvement in pickleball.

This final draft would align with Wikipedia’s tone, objectivity standards, and notability focus.

Here’s the final passage, refined and ready for a Wikipedia-style entry:

---

In September 2017, due to Hurricane Irma, 10-year-old Anna Leigh Waters and her mother evacuated to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where her grandfather, Neil Eichelberger, introduced them to the sport of pickleball. In November 2017, Waters competed in her first pickleball tournament, the Delray Beach Gamma Pickleball Classic, where she was paired with 29-year-old Stacie Townsend by the tournament organizers. Together, they won a gold medal in doubles, marking the beginning of Waters' competitive career in pickleball.

---

This version maintains neutrality, is concise, and focuses on verifiable achievements and key events.