Before showing up at a Pickleball & Pizza event in March of 2024, this player had never picked up a paddle. Wearing canvas hightops and khaki pants, she went out on the courts with Tony Kemper and as they say, the rest is history.

Southern Pickleball Academy is thrilled to announce Caitlin Barry as the new Program Director for our First Paddle program.

We all know the physical, mental, and social benefits of pickleball; let's use these benefits to help others.

Because of a $15,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) recently awarded to our Academy, we will be able to bring our First Paddle program to even more youth in 2026!

She had a sparkle in her eye that was present when speaking about family, her interactions with her grandchildren, introducing and teaching pickleball to anyone, and when giving assistance to various charities by offering her time, teachings, and artistic contributions.