How Catherine Parenteau Became a Pickleball Pro
The well known professional player Catherine Parenteau switched to pickleball from tennis like many other players who are popular now. On the Pickleball Fire podcast she talked her about her background, and she told us that she used to play tennis at Michigan State University.
She used to play tennis under the supervision of Simone Jardim, who is widely considered one of the best female pickleball players in the world. In her fifth year, Catherine found herself unable to compete anymore due to the institution's rules. At that point, she could only help Simone out with the coaching and teach newer players. Noticing that she was missing competition, Simone suggested that she start playing pickleball. That was what made Catherine look up pickleball and take some interest in it.
Even so, Catherine refused to try pickleball for the next three weeks. Simone kept pushing her to do so, saying that she could make a career playing pickleball and compete in tournaments as well. That's when Catherine decided to try it out and ended up falling in love with the sport. She started playing four to five times a week in her fifth year of college, which was 2015. A few months later, Catherine flew out to Naples to play in the U.S. Open.
She signed up to teach pickleball on public courts after getting her degree. Soon afterward, she got sponsored by a company to become a pickleball director. Catherine has won in several tournaments, but she considers winning a silver in the US nationals one of her greatest successes. In that tournament, she lost to the Waters – Leigh and Anna Leigh. The mother and daughter that Catherine lost to are well-known for their strong partnership in pickleball. Since then, Catherine has also had the chance to partner up with Simone Jardin and win some tournaments playing alongside her and others.
Catherine considers herself lucky because she lives close to Simone and has the chance to practice with her before playing alongside her in tournaments. Pickleball came as a delightful change in Catherine's life. She loved sports and had idealized a career in sports since she was only four.
She has always been interested in psychology, but she wanted to pursue sports psychology specifically as a career choice, even in that field. When her tennis career was over, she considered herself lost in a way. Pickleball gave her the chance to live her dream life again.
