PBisLife: Alix Truong Interview

 

Alix Truong: Rising Star in Pickleball Shares Her Journey at Just 16 Years Old

From tennis to pickleball, balancing school with tournaments, and playing alongside her father, Alix Truong opens up about her life in pickleball and the future of youth involvement in the sport.

Introduction:

In the fast-paced world of pickleball, 16-year-old Alix Truong has made a name for herself. Balancing high school life with competitive pickleball tournaments, Alix represents the growing youth presence in the sport. In an interview with Chrishon Murphy from "Spacman Interviews," Alix shares how she got into the game, the bond she’s built with her father as her doubles partner, and her hopes for seeing more youth in pickleball.

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Q&A with Alix Truong

1. (0:26) Chrishon Murphy: I want to introduce Alix Truong and I'm going to have her kick us off with a little bit of background about herself. Welcome, Alix!

Alix Truong:
Alix Truong introduces herself as a 16-year-old sophomore from Northern Virginia. She shares that she’s been playing pickleball since 2018 but only got serious about it a year ago. Alix started by playing in a local league and has since transitioned into more competitive play, making significant strides in tournaments.

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2. (0:40) Chrishon Murphy: How did you get into pickleball at such a young age?

Alix Truong:
Alix describes how her family was introduced to pickleball by a family friend who played tennis. She started playing in the fall of 2018 with a local league, Legend Sports Leagues, but didn’t take the game seriously until February of last year. Since then, she has participated in numerous tournaments, including her first local one in February of last year, which marked her transition into more serious competition.

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3. (1:37) Chrishon Murphy: What made you fall in love with pickleball?

Alix Truong:
Alix highlights two main reasons: the game itself and the community. Coming from a tennis background, she loves the strategic aspect of pickleball, the lighter touch, and the unique sound of the ball. She also finds the pickleball community incredibly supportive and friendly, noting how heartwarming it is to have people cheering her on during tournaments. Furthermore, the family-friendly nature of pickleball makes it a sport she can enjoy with her entire family.

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4. (2:41) Chrishon Murphy: How do you balance school and pickleball, especially with all the tournaments you play in?

Alix Truong:
Balancing school and pickleball is challenging for Alix, but she’s found ways to make it work, especially with the shift to online schooling during COVID-19. She shares that she often brings her computer to tournaments, logging into her classes before matches and meeting with teachers afterward. Despite the difficulty, Alix is a self-proclaimed perfectionist and ensures she keeps up with schoolwork. She credits her success in school as a motivating factor for her success in pickleball.

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5. (4:56) Chrishon Murphy: Do you find it difficult to play with adults given your age?

Alix Truong:
Alix reveals that she doesn’t find playing with adults difficult at all. The pickleball community in her area is welcoming, and on the court, age feels irrelevant. She enjoys competing against adults and believes it’s her only option at times, given the lack of junior players in her area. Alix wishes more youth would get involved in pickleball, especially in her local community.

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6. (6:21) Chrishon Murphy: Who is your mixed doubles partner?

Alix Truong:
For 98% of her tournaments, Alix’s mixed doubles partner is her father. She shares how pickleball has brought them closer, though they aren’t afraid to yell at each other on the court, a dynamic she finds unique to their father-daughter relationship. She admires other family partnerships in pickleball, like Lee and Anna Leigh Waters and Rossi and William Sobek, but believes she and her father are one of the few father-daughter duos in the game.

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7. (8:00) Chrishon Murphy: What are your thoughts on the youth participation in pickleball, and how do you see it growing?

Alix Truong:
Alix expresses her desire to see more juniors in pickleball. In Northern Virginia, she and her brother are among the few young players, though she occasionally brings friends along to play. She notes that college students are beginning to get involved, especially in Richmond. However, when she traveled to Utah for the Great Salt Lake Classic, she was amazed at the size of the junior pickleball community there, thanks to programs like the Junior Pickleball Organization led by pro Tyler Long.

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8. (10:29) Chrishon Murphy: You mentioned traveling to Utah for the Great Salt Lake Classic. Can you share your experience with the pickleball youth community there?

Alix Truong:
Alix describes her amazement at the vibrant youth pickleball community in Utah. She shares that, unlike her home state of Virginia where there are few junior players, Utah's scene is thriving. Programs like the Junior Pickleball Organization led by pro Tyler Long have done an excellent job of fostering a community of young players. Alix was impressed by the level of competition, noting that the youth in Utah are well-coached and highly skilled. She wishes there were more opportunities like that in Virginia to encourage the growth of pickleball among younger players.

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9. (12:12) Chrishon Murphy: What are your goals for pickleball?

Alix Truong:
Alix’s primary goal is to continue improving her skills and competing at a higher level. She hopes to become a professional pickleball player in the future, but she acknowledges that it will take dedication and hard work to reach that level. For now, her focus is on playing in as many tournaments as possible and building her experience. Alix also aims to inspire other young players to join the sport, especially in areas where youth participation is still low, like in Northern Virginia.

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10. (13:33) Chrishon Murphy: You have a contagious personality that many young players can look up to. How do you think your personality has influenced your success in pickleball?

Alix Truong:
Alix attributes part of her success to her positive and energetic personality. She shares that her enthusiasm on and off the court has helped her connect with other players and build strong relationships in the pickleball community. Alix believes that being approachable and friendly makes it easier for her to work with others and to learn from more experienced players. Her upbeat attitude also keeps her motivated during tough matches, allowing her to stay focused and resilient, even when the competition is tough.

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11. (14:17) Outro: Final thoughts and closing remarks

In the closing remarks, Chrishon Murphy thanks Alix for her time and wishes her continued success in her pickleball career. Alix expresses her gratitude for the opportunity to share her story and hopes that her journey will inspire more young players to join the sport. She’s excited for what the future holds and looks forward to continuing her growth both on and off the court.

Article Summary:

In this interview, Alix Truong offers an inspiring glimpse into her journey as a 16-year-old pickleball player. She shares how she fell in love with the game, the challenges of balancing high school and competitive play, and the strong bond she’s built with her father through pickleball. Alix is a promising young player, and she hopes to see more youth joining the sport, particularly in her area. The interview also highlights the growth of youth involvement in pickleball, especially in regions like Utah, where junior programs are flourishing.

Descriptive Time Code List:

1. 0:26 – Alix introduces herself as a sophomore from Northern Virginia and shares her pickleball background.
2. 0:40 – Alix explains how she first got into pickleball through a tennis family friend.
3. 1:37 – What made Alix fall in love with pickleball? She shares her love for the game and its community.
4. 2:41 – Alix discusses balancing school with pickleball and how she manages her time between both.
5. 4:56 – Alix shares her experience playing with adults and the lack of youth players in her area.
6. 6:21 – Alix reveals her mixed doubles partner is her father, and how pickleball has strengthened their relationship.
7. 8:00 – Alix talks about youth involvement in pickleball and the impressive junior programs she’s seen, especially in Utah.
8. 10:29 - Alix describes her trip to Utah for the Great Salt Lake Classic, highlighting the impressive youth pickleball community and how it contrasts with her local scene in Virginia.
9. 12:12 - Alix shares her long-term goals for pickleball, including her aspirations to go pro and inspire more youth players in underrepresented areas.
10. 13:33 - Alix talks about how her positive attitude and energetic personality have contributed to her success, both in building relationships and staying resilient in competition.
11. 14:17 - Chrishon wraps up the interview with closing remarks, and Alix expresses her gratitude for being able to share her journey.