2026 Pickleball Open Photo Gallery
Browse highlights and memorable moments from the 2026 Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open.
Comfort Keepers
A Heartfelt Thank You to Julie & Bryan Burns
For the second consecutive year, Julie and Bryan Burns of Comfort Keepers have served as the Title Sponsors of the 4th Annual Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open, and we are incredibly grateful for their unwavering support, generosity, and commitment to our community.
Title Sponsor
Comfort Keepers
Sponsor Suite
Elevating the Tournament Experience
Their partnership has helped elevate this tournament into one of the premier pickleball events in North Central Florida, creating an unforgettable experience for players, families, spectators, and volunteers alike.
At Comfort Keepers, caring for people is more than a business—it’s a mission. That same spirit of compassion, service, and community involvement shines through in everything Julie and Bryan do. Their dedication to supporting local events and bringing people together perfectly reflects the values that make the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open so special.
Thanks to their continued leadership and sponsorship, we have been able to enhance the tournament experience, provide meaningful opportunities for athletes, and create a welcoming environment that celebrates competition, friendship, and community.
More Than Sponsors—Community Champions
Julie and Bryan are not only supporters of this event; they are champions of the people who make our community thrive. Their belief in the power of connection, wellness, and active living has made a lasting impact on countless individuals throughout the Gainesville area.
We are honored to have Comfort Keepers as our Title Sponsor and are proud to recognize their contribution to the continued growth and success of the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open.
Your partnership means more than words can express, and we look forward to continuing this incredible journey together.
Comfort Keepers Highlights
Event Photos
Browse moments from the 2026 Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open, including featured highlights and the full event photo collection.
The Winner’s Circle at the Pickledome
Celebrating the standout moments, smiling winners, and community excitement from the 2026 Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open. Congratulations to our Selkirk Paddle Giveaway winners and everyone who helped make the event such a memorable success.
Selkirk Paddle Giveaway Winners
Congratulations to our featured giveaway winners.
Winner Highlights
Be Featured on Gainesville’s “Who’s Who in Pickleball” Map
The Greater Gainesville pickleball community is full of players, leaders, supporters, sponsors, and local champions who help the sport grow. The “Who’s Who in Pickleball” feature celebrates the people and organizations helping shape the local pickleball scene.
Celebrate Local Pickleball Leaders
Recognize the players, organizers, partners, and community members helping pickleball thrive across Gainesville.
Increase Community Visibility
Give local pickleball supporters a polished place to be seen, remembered, and connected with the event.
Connect Sponsors and Players
Highlight the people and organizations investing their time, support, and energy into the pickleball community.
Build a Lasting Event Feature
Create a memorable recognition piece that extends the impact of the tournament beyond event day.
More than a map — it’s a community spotlight.
This feature helps showcase the people behind Gainesville pickleball while giving the event a premium, community-centered recognition piece that can grow year after year.
Celebrating the Next Generation of Pickleball Players
The future of pickleball starts with encouragement, opportunity, and community support. Future Pros Corner recognizes the young players and rising talent who bring energy, excitement, and fresh momentum to the game.
Learn the Game
Creating a welcoming space for younger players to discover pickleball, build confidence, and enjoy the sport.
Grow the Future
Encouraging the next generation helps keep the Greater Gainesville pickleball community strong for years to come.
Confidence on the Court
Every young player deserves the chance to feel welcome, supported, and excited to keep learning the game.
Positive Community Energy
Future Pros Corner highlights the joy, encouragement, and connection that make local events feel meaningful.
Growing Local Pickleball
Supporting younger players helps build a stronger, more active, and more inclusive pickleball community.
Memories Beyond the Match
The event is more than competition. It is about creating moments that inspire players and families alike.
Where the love of the game begins.
This section is designed to celebrate young pickleball enthusiasm in a respectful, professional way. No child photos are displayed here unless photo permission is confirmed.
Betsy Pepine
The Vision Behind Pepine Gives
The 4th Annual Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open was especially meaningful as our founder, Betsy Pepine, shared her personal journey behind launching Pepine Gives and her continued passion for expanding access to affordable housing in our community.
Betsy’s remarks reminded everyone that this tournament is about far more than pickleball. It is about purpose, connection, and using community events to shine a light on causes that truly matter.
Betsy Pepine
Pepine Gives
Community Impact
A Mission Rooted in Service
Through Pepine Gives, Betsy has created a platform dedicated to bringing people together, supporting local families, and helping address the growing need for safe, stable, and attainable housing. Her commitment to affordable housing continues to inspire the heart of this event and the people who gather around it each year.
Her message set the tone for a weekend filled with competition, generosity, and community impact.
Celebrating Those Who Help Make It Possible
During the opening celebration, Betsy had the honor of recognizing several of the partners and leaders who played a meaningful role in making this year’s tournament possible.
She presented sponsor awards to Luis of VeneAuto Cars, our Official Tournament T-Shirt Sponsor, and Amy McCoy of Stellar Cares, our Presenting Bag Sponsor, celebrating their generosity, leadership, and commitment to supporting the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open.
Betsy also honored Mayor Walter Welch, who officially kicked off the 4th Annual Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open and shared an important message about the value of affordable housing and building stronger communities.
Recognizing Pickleball Mary
A very special moment of appreciation was also shared for “Pickleball Mary” of the Alachua County Pickleball Association, whose gracious support helped facilitate the entire event.
From coordination and community connections to helping bring the pickleball world together, Pickleball Mary’s involvement was instrumental in creating a smooth, welcoming, and memorable tournament experience for players, sponsors, and guests.
Leading with Heart
Betsy’s leadership continues to be the driving force behind Pepine Gives and the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open. Her ability to connect people, elevate important causes, and celebrate community partners is what makes this event so special year after year.
💚🍊 Thank you, Betsy, for your vision, your heart, and your continued commitment to creating meaningful impact through Pepine Gives.
Because of your passion and leadership, this tournament continues to grow as a celebration of sport, service, affordable housing, and community.
Betsy Pepine Photo Highlights
“Pickleball Mary”
A Champion for Pickleball and Our Community
The Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open was proud to recognize and honor Mary Russow, affectionately known throughout the pickleball community as “Pickleball Mary,” for her extraordinary dedication, leadership, and support in helping make our tournament a tremendous success.
As the Pickleball Ambassador for the Alachua County Pickleball Association, Mary has become one of the most respected and beloved advocates for the sport in our region. Her passion for growing pickleball, connecting players, and building community is evident in everything she does.
Mary Russow
Pickleball Mary
Well-Deserved Honor
Helping Make the Tournament Possible
One of Mary’s most meaningful contributions was helping secure our tournament venue at the beautiful Legacy Park Multipurpose Center, providing an incredible home for the 4th Annual Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open.
Through her relationships, leadership, and commitment to supporting the pickleball community, Mary helped make it possible for players from across the region to enjoy an exceptional tournament experience at one of the area's premier facilities.
Her behind-the-scenes efforts, guidance, and support played an invaluable role in the success of this year's event.
An Ambassador in Every Sense of the Word
Mary is much more than a pickleball advocate—she is a connector, a mentor, and a true champion for the people who make this sport special.
Whether welcoming new players, supporting local tournaments, promoting community engagement, or helping organizations like Pepine Gives bring events to life, Mary consistently leads with kindness, enthusiasm, and generosity.
Her impact reaches far beyond the courts and has helped strengthen the pickleball community throughout Alachua County and beyond.
A Well-Deserved Honor
During tournament weekend, we were honored to recognize Mary for her many contributions and her unwavering commitment to the success of our event.
The recognition was well deserved and long overdue. Few people have given so much of their time, energy, and heart to growing the game and supporting the pickleball community.
💚🍊 Mary, thank you for believing in our vision, helping us secure such an incredible venue, and supporting the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open every step of the way.
We are deeply grateful for your friendship, partnership, and leadership, and we were honored to celebrate you during this year's tournament.
Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition. The pickleball community is stronger because of you, and we are proud to call you part of the Pepine Gives family.
Fueling the Fun: Our Amazing Food & Hospitality Partners
A successful tournament is about more than the matches. It is also about the people, flavors, refreshments, and hospitality that keep the day moving. Thank you to our generous food and hospitality partners for helping make the 2026 Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open welcoming, memorable, and full of community spirit.
Fueling the Fun
Thank You
Hospitality
Thank you to the partners who helped keep everyone fed, refreshed, and smiling.
Their generosity added comfort, flavor, and hospitality to the tournament experience. These contributions helped players, families, volunteers, and guests enjoy the day from start to finish.
Food & Hospitality Highlights
A Special Thank You to Our Food Truck Partners
Our food truck partners helped bring extra flavor, fun, and energy to the 2026 Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open. Their support helped create a more welcoming event experience for players, families, volunteers, and guests throughout the day.
Food Truck Partners
Thank You
Local Flavor
Kat of Kona Ice
Thank you for bringing refreshing treats and cheerful energy to the tournament experience.
Jessica of Real Italian Ice
Thank you for helping guests cool down, enjoy the day, and feel welcomed at the event.
Rachel of Avocado Vibez Food Truck
Thank you for adding delicious food, local flavor, and hospitality to the tournament.
Food Truck Highlights
Stellar Cares
Celebrating Amy McCoy and the Heart Behind Stellar Cares
Pepine Gives is proud to recognize Stellar Cares as the Presenting Bag Sponsor of the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open. Their generosity helped create a polished and memorable tournament experience while reflecting a deeper commitment to service, leadership, and community impact.
Stellar Cares
Presenting Bag Sponsor
Community Leadership
A sponsor spotlight rooted in service and generosity.
Stellar Cares represents the kind of community partnership that makes events like the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open possible. Their sponsorship helped support a meaningful tournament experience while also showing how local leadership can create lasting impact.
The Presenting Bag Sponsorship gave players a special piece of the event to take with them, adding professionalism, visibility, and appreciation to the tournament experience.
Recognizing Amy McCoy
Pepine Gives is also proud to celebrate Amy McCoy and the heart behind Stellar Cares. Her commitment to service and community leadership reflects the mission of helping people, strengthening connections, and supporting organizations that make a difference.
This spotlight honors not only a sponsorship, but the people and purpose behind it. Stellar Cares helped make the tournament feel more connected, more polished, and more meaningful for players, guests, volunteers, and community partners.
Community Leadership Award Moment
Amy McCoy is pictured accepting the Community Leadership Award, a meaningful recognition of the service, generosity, and leadership represented through Stellar Cares.
VeneAuto Cars
Celebrating Luis and VeneAuto Cars
The Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open is proud to recognize VeneAuto Cars as our Official Tournament T-Shirt Sponsor, helping ensure that every player, volunteer, and participant had a lasting keepsake from an unforgettable weekend of competition and community.
VeneAuto Cars
T-Shirt Sponsor
Community Support
Helping create a lasting keepsake from a weekend of competition and community.
Led by Luis, VeneAuto Cars has become a valued supporter of our tournament and a strong advocate for community engagement throughout the region. Their sponsorship helped provide the official tournament shirts that players proudly wore both on and off the courts, creating a sense of unity and pride that extended throughout the event.
More Than a Sponsor — A Community Partner
At VeneAuto Cars, success is built on relationships, trust, and a commitment to serving others. Those same values were evident in their support of the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open.
From the first serve to the championship matches, the tournament shirts became a symbol of the friendships, competition, and memories created throughout the weekend. Thanks to Luis and VeneAuto Cars, every participant was able to take home a piece of the tournament experience.
Supporting the Growth of Pickleball
As pickleball continues to grow across our community, partnerships like this help elevate the player experience and contribute to the continued success of the tournament. VeneAuto Cars’ commitment to supporting local events demonstrates the importance of businesses investing in the communities they serve.
Their generosity helped make this year’s event even more memorable for hundreds of players and spectators who traveled from near and far to be part of the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open.
Your partnership helped create lasting memories, strengthen our pickleball community, and make the 4th Annual Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open a tremendous success. We are grateful for your support and proud to recognize VeneAuto Cars as an important part of our tournament family.
Photo Caption Suggestion
Luis of VeneAuto Cars, Official Tournament T-Shirt Sponsor, helped ensure every player took home a memorable piece of the 4th Annual Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open. Thank you for your support, partnership, and commitment to our growing pickleball community.
A Special Thank You to Raj & A2M Sports
Helping bring the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open to life.
Pepine Gives is grateful to recognize Raj and A2M Sports for their support, coordination, and commitment to helping create a smooth, organized, and memorable pickleball tournament experience for players, guests, volunteers, and community partners.
A2M Sports
Tournament Director
Event Support
Tournament leadership that helped make the day organized, welcoming, and successful.
A strong tournament depends on more than great players. It takes planning, communication, organization, and leadership behind the scenes. Raj and A2M Sports helped support the structure and flow of the event so the community could enjoy a polished tournament experience.
Their work helped bring together players, matches, event flow, and on-court energy in a way that supported the mission of the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open.
Pepine Gives is thankful for the time, care, and expertise Raj and A2M Sports contributed to the event. Their support helped make the tournament feel professional, community-centered, and memorable.
Raj & A2M Sports Highlights
A Special Thank You to Mayor Walter Welch
Recognizing community support at the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open.
Pepine Gives is grateful to recognize Mayor Walter Welch for joining us and supporting the community spirit behind the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open. His presence helped highlight the importance of local connection, civic support, and events that bring people together for a meaningful cause.
Mayor Walter Welch
Community Support
Event Moment
Celebrating the people who help strengthen community connection.
Events like the Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open are built through collaboration, volunteer support, local partnerships, and community leadership. Having Mayor Walter Welch take part in the day helped reinforce the value of coming together around recreation, service, and shared purpose.
His support added a meaningful civic presence to the event and helped celebrate the players, partners, volunteers, and families who made the tournament special.
Pepine Gives is thankful for leaders who show up for local events, recognize the people behind the work, and help make community gatherings feel seen, supported, and appreciated.
Mayor Walter Welch Highlights
Gainesville Street Rods
Bringing Excitement, Generosity, and Heart to Pepine Gives
The Greater Gainesville Pickleball Open and Pepine Gives are proud to recognize one of our most enthusiastic and dedicated community partners—Gainesville Street Rods.
Over the years, this incredible organization has gone above and beyond to support the mission of Pepine Gives, bringing not only their stunning collection of classic cars and hot rods, but also their generous spirit and unwavering commitment to giving back.
Gainesville Street Rods
Classic Cars
Community Impact
More Than Classic Cars
Gainesville Street Rods has been a valued partner in helping create memorable experiences for our community. Whether hosting special events alongside Pepine Gives or participating in fundraising activities, their members consistently show up with energy, excitement, and a passion for making a difference.
One of the most heartwarming ways they have supported our mission is through their participation in drive-by car shows for various Pepine Gives fundraisers and community initiatives. These special appearances have brought smiles, encouragement, and excitement to countless families while helping raise awareness for important causes.
Driving Change in Our Community
The generosity of Gainesville Street Rods extends far beyond their events.
We are honored to recognize their contribution of a Legacy Brick in support of Pepine Gives' 4th Affordable Home Build, coming in 2026 during Season 4. Their investment represents more than a donation—it is a lasting symbol of their belief in strengthening our community and helping families achieve the dream of homeownership.
Partners in Purpose
The members of Gainesville Street Rods understand that community is built through connection, service, and generosity. Their continued support has helped Pepine Gives expand its impact and bring people together in meaningful ways.
From classic cars and community events to affordable housing initiatives, they have consistently demonstrated what it means to be true community champions.
💚🚗🏡 Thank you, Gainesville Street Rods, for your partnership, your generosity, and your commitment to helping Pepine Gives make a lasting difference.
Your support fuels more than excitement—it fuels hope, opportunity, and the dream of homeownership for families in our community.
We are grateful to have you as part of the Pepine Gives family and look forward to many more miles together on this journey of giving back.
Gainesville Street Rods Photo Highlights
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