The Ignatowich Siblings Taking Over Pro Pickleball 🤘 | James Ignatowich ...

 

Sibling Rivalry Fuels Lively Pickleball Podcast

Brother-Sister Duo James and Ava Ignatowich Trade Quips While Offering Insights Into the Sport They Love

As pickleball's popularity has exploded across the country over the past decade, the sport has attracted devoted enthusiasts from all walks of life who are drawn to its fast pace and friendly community. Among these passionate players are siblings James and Ava Ignatowich, whose shared obsession with the game manifests itself not only on the court, but through James’ popular The James Ignatowich Show podcast, where he interviews leading figures in the sport.

His most recent guest on the solo podcast was none other than his younger sister Ava, a top college player who has amassed impressive results. As one would expect between fiercely competitive siblings separated by just a year and a half, the conversation was filled with plenty of light-hearted banter and good-natured ribbing on issues ranging from James’ playing left-handed to their father’s unorthodox ping-pong style grip that he insists on utilizing despite pleas from his kids.

However, sprinkled amongst the brother-sister repartee offered several nuggets of insight into the psyche of two athletes, providing a window into their unique approaches to training, competing, and handling the mental pressures faced by all high-level players.

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1) 0:25, Ava Ignatowich intro + athletic background ⛹️‍♀️

The Ignatowich’s conversation begins with James poking fun at what he felt was an insufficient overview of Ava’s athletic background she had shared at a previous event. This prompts his younger sister to elaborate on her introduction to racket sports, explaining how she focused on junior competitive tennis from a young age, eventually becoming a top national recruit who played at the collegiate level for Davidson College while still finding time to establish herself as an elite pickleball player. With a shrug of her shoulders, Ava states," Now I'm the best pickleball player in the family."

2) 3:41, Ava's training routine 💪

Given her hectic schedule balancing school and picklball, James inquires about Ava’s training regimen. She details how she trains up to five hours a day during weekends at home, while doing fitness sessions and drilling in the mornings during the week before class when she stays near campus. She also makes time to play competitive games in the evening against highly skilled local players. However, Ava can’t resist taking a friendly jab at her brother, coyly admitting she sometimes claims to train with James more than what actually occurs.

3) 6:25, Mental training exercises 🧠

In one of the podcast’s most insightful exchanges, Ava asks James for advice on handling the mental pressures in pickleball, particularly managing nerves that can sometimes negatively impact her singles play. James thoughtfully explains techniques he employs to reach and maintain an intensely focused, yet tranquil mindset during matches, especially in critical moments like long rallies. This includes meditative practices to clear his mind and concentrated visualization drills staring at a fixed point to enhance his ability to stay present in the flow of games.

4) 9:35, James' pre-match routine 🎐

Sticking with the theme of their psychological approach to competition, Ava asks her brother if he relies on any pre-match routines or in-game rituals much like several top players utilize to get in the right headspace and concentrate between points. Somewhat surprisingly, James reveals he leans more on practical preparation through checklists and quiet meditation rather than superstitious actions, but agrees such focusing tactics can be helpful.

5) 10:38, James' top 5 tennis ranking 🎾

Ava calls out her brother for downplaying his accomplished junior tennis career despite having once been a Top 5 nationally ranked recruiting prospect who even earned ATP doubles points at just 16 years old. A self-described late bloomer, James admits he peaked as a tennis prodigy in his mid-teens before gradually losing motivation as he entered early adulthood, ruefully suggesting off-court diversions became more enticing than fully dedicating himself to that sport.

6) 13:18, Will James ever play singles again❓

When Ava relays that fans often ask why her brother no longer competes in singles pickleball tournaments, James insists his primary reason is that his 6’3”, 195-pound frame makes it hard for him to physically withstand so many taxing matches in one day. However, he also credits a desire to avoid overexertion before mixed doubles matches with his regular partner Anna Bright as being part of his rationale for stopping singles play. Ava refuses to let him off the hook so easily, arguing if he entered more singles events, he would definitively be the world’s top player.

7) 17:21, James' healthy diet 🥬

Displaying his trademark intensity when addressing nutrition and fitness, James outlines the clean, sugar-free diet he follows filled with vegetables, probiotics, protein shakes and other non-processed foods. He admits these stringent habits represent a shift after some wayward periods earlier in his life. Ava can’t resist divulging her brother’s odd tendency to raid their household refrigerator to snack on raw spinach straight from the bag, confirming healthy foods are indeed a genuine obsession for James rather than just a topic for idle chatter.

8) 22:37, Ava's favorite pickleball players to watch 📺

Ava's enthusiasm for pickleball was palpable as she delved into her list of top players. Topping her list was Anna Bright, whose prowess on the court evidently left a lasting impression. Following closely behind were Ben Johns and Colin Johns, both renowned for their strategic gameplay and remarkable agility. Julie Johnson secured a spot on Ava's list with her impressive performance, showcasing the diverse talent within the pickleball community.

However, what caught the attention was Ava's candid assessment of James'position on the list. With a hint of humor, she placed him "in the 30s," above Sam Querrey and just below Julie Johnson.

The conversation took an amusing turn as Ava playfully reassured her brother, asserting his place as her favorite pickleball player. The camaraderie and banter exemplified the close-knit community that surrounds pickleball, where family members support and uplift each other both on and off the court.

Beyond the excitement of gameplay, Ava offered insights into her academic pursuits, revealing her study of economics with aspirations of becoming a professional pickleball player. This ambition underscored the growing opportunities within the sport, showcasing its potential to carve out fulfilling careers for dedicated individuals.

9) 24:25, Will college pickleball ever become a Division I NCAA Sport 🤔

Finally, the two trade thoughts on if or when pickleball might achieve NCAA sanctioning as a Division I collegiate sport. While James believes a lack of financial incentives makes official designation for men’s teams unlikely to occur before 2030, he suggests schools could start sponsoring women’s squads much sooner to comply with Title IX scholarship requirements. Ava concurs with her brother’s assessment, providing a dose of hard-earned wisdom from a student-athlete balancing her own academic and athletic ambitions.

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While James and Ava naturally saved their most scathing attacks for when the microphones were turned off, their back-and-forth dialogue highlighted not only their promising playing careers, but the rare perspective they offer as rising young talents in a sport still defining its identity and place in the broader athletic landscape. If their rapid development on the court and ease bantering about pickleball are any indications, the Ignatowich siblings will be part of many more podcast episodes and tableaus of the game for years to come.

Time Code List

1. 0:25 - Ava Ignatowich intro + athletic background ⛹️‍♀️
2. 3:41 - Ava's training routine 💪
3. 6:25 - Mental training exercises 🧠
4. 9:35 - James' pre-match routine 🎐
5. 10:38 - James' top 5 tennis ranking 🎾
6. 13:18 - Will James ever play singles again❓
7. 17:21 - James' healthy diet 🥬
8. 22:37 - Ava's favorite pickleball players to watch 📺
9. 24:25 - Will college pickleball ever become a Division I NCAA Sport 🤔

The Ballad of the Ignatowich Sibs Let me tell you 'bout the Ignatowich sibs, Those rising stars making their name in the ribs Of the pickleball world where they're making their bid To take over the court where champions skid It's Ava and James, those competitive twins Though a year and half apart, their bond never thins United by blood and a shared obsession To be the best in their pickleball profession Little sis Ava, she's got quite the résumé A college standout player, she's here to stay Putting in the hours to make her dreams reality Balancing school while training with high intensity Up to five hours a day she's out on the court Improving her skills with each rally fought But she can't resist a friendly sibling jab Claiming she trains more with brother James – Ooh, that's bad! Meanwhile big bro is handling pressures mental Staying cool and collected in moments pivotal Using meditation to clear his mind rental Tuned into the flow, intense yet gentle He's got his routines to stay on his game Checklists and focus tricks to ease the strain And keep him consistent when stakes are the same No superstitions for this cerebral fame And both sibs are frankly health nuts you see James with his diet so strict, it's sugar free Chompin' on vegetables and greens aplenty Even raw spinach he eats with glee!

So whether it's training or banter blithe The Ignatowich sibs breathe this sport like life Rising young stars still defining their skills These two phenoms are hot like a vegetable grill!