Where’s Jimmy? MLP San Clemente

While the PPA event was happening in San Clemente last week, a lot was going down before, during, and after the MLP Waiver Period #2. So expect to see new faces on several teams. Here’s the rundown:

• UPA introduced a Restricted List that teams can use like injured reserve, for extenuating circumstances outside of injury. Australians Tom Evans (Squeeze) and Helena Spiridis (Hustlers) had traveled back home for an event, and were advised not to return to the US due to their P1 visas not being fully approved yet. Both were added to the restricted list.

• Orlando Squeeze picked up Grayson Goldin in Tom Evans’ place; NY Hustlers picked up  Luana Stanciu to replace Helena Spiridis. (As soon as Tom & Helena are able to return, they will be re-activated and Grayson and Luana will be dropped immediately.)

• Before waivers began, California Black Bears traded Rafa Hewett to the Texas Ranchers for Michael Loyd + cash.

• Premier waivers were conducted on a bid process (like the draft). Only NY Hustlers, SoCal Hard Eights, and Carolina Hogs placed bids (in that order).

• As a refresher: every team submitted their list of 4 starters & 2 bench players. During the waiver period, bidding teams could “steal” one of the designated bench players from any other team in the league, but must drop one of their starters in turn.

• NY Hustlers claimed Felicity Di Laura from the St. Louis Shock, dropping Lingwei Kong. To replace Di Laura, the Shock claimed Cailyn Campbell from available players.

• SoCal Hard Eights, despite making a bid, didn’t end up selecting anyone on their turn.

• Carolina Hogs selected Roscoe Bellamy from SoCal Hard Eights’ bench squad, dropping starter Brandon French in his place (Collin Johns had been dropped from starter to bench on the Hogs’ waiver list).

• To replace Roscoe, SoCal Hard Eights picked up John Lucian Goins from the open market.

• After the conclusion of the waiver period, all Premier teams could request bench player replacements (no bid required). This allows teams to pick up newly dropped (or traded) players, without having to sacrifice a starter as they would in the bid/waiver process. As part of this period:

  • Texas Ranchers dropped Rafa Hewett, picking up Wyatt Stone

  • Carolina Hogs dropped Collin Johns, picking up Martin Emmrich

• The following day, Challenger teams began their waiver process, which was determined by lowest to highest points per match (no bids required). The only team who made a move was Florida Smash who waived Sarah Ansboury and picked up Paula Rives Palau.

After waiver period #2 ended, a few additional trades took place:

• St. Louis Shock traded Cailyn Campbell to the SoCal Hard Eights for Judit Castillo.

• New Jersey Fives traded Christa Gecheva + cash to the DC Pickleball Team for Mari Humberg.

• Texas Ranchers traded Etta Tuionetoa to the Carolina Hogs for Kaitlyn Christian + cash.

• Texas Ranchers traded Helena Jansen + cash to the NY Hustlers for Felicity Di Laura.

Confusing enough for ya? Here are the new rosters after all the changes (just those who had a change, highlighted):

Texas Ranchers is now: Alshon, Oncins, Stone, Pisnik, K. Christian, Di Laura

St. Louis Shock is now: Tardio, Patriquin, Lange, Bright, Fahey, Castillo

Carolina Hogs is now: B. Johns, Bellamy, M. Emmrich, Tuionetoa, T. Emmrich, Truluck

New Jersey 5s is now: Navratil, Howells, C. Johnson, Waters, Dizon, Humberg

NY Hustlers is now: Ford, Young, Madonia, H. Jansen, Schaefer, Stanciu

SoCal Hard Eights is now: Hovenier, Fu, Goins, Tereschenko, C. Campbell, Ingram

Orlando Squeeze is now: Staksrud, Frazier, Goldin, Parker, Schneemann, Phillips

California Black Bears is now: Loyd, Benitez, Padegimaite, Sleeth

DC Pickleball Team is now: Auvergne, De La Rosa, Koop, Gecheva

Florida Smash is now: Rettenmeier, Campbell, Rives Palau, Frantova

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

Premier teams competing in San Clemente are Columbus Sliders, Brooklyn Pickleball Team, Los Angeles Mad Drops, Phoenix Flames, SoCal Hard Eights, and Utah Black Diamonds. All Challenger teams are participating, in a round-robin style event beginning Thursday, 6/26.

Brooklyn’s Dekel Bar AND Riley Newman are out this weekend, due to illness/injury. Word is that Pat Smith, their bench backup, is also sick, so tentatively he won’t be able to play either. Rafa Hewett & AJ Koller are the male onsite subs who are on deck to fill in for Brooklyn.

Meanwhile, Utah may be playing with a battered Tyler (as discussed on the pod), or will play with backup Yates Johnson (TBD based on Tyler’s healing progress).

Premier Teams

Challenger Teams

Competition Structure

• Rally scoring was replaced by traditional side-out scoring. Games will be played to 11 (win by 2).

• DreamBreakers will be played to 21 with rally scoring, and players switching every 4 points. A freeze will happen on game point, as the DB must be won on a serve.

Regular-season events will be played for standings points, calculated the same as last year:

• 3 Points: Regulation win (i.e.: 3-1 or 4-0 win; no DreamBreaker needed)

• 2 Points: DreamBreaker win (i.e.: 3-2 win)

• 1 Point: DreamBreaker loss (i.e.: 2-3 loss)

• 0 Points: Regulation loss (i.e.: 1-3 or 0-4 loss; no DreamBreaker needed)

Standings points will determine seeding at the Mid-Season Tournament held once again at the Beer City Open, where teams can win additional standings points (6 points for winning, 4 for second place, 2 for third place). Top 10 teams will advance to the playoffs.

Current Standings

Congratulations to our ticket giveaway winner, @pickleball_pirate10! Hope you have an amazing time courtside. Stay tuned for more ticket giveaways for future events!

If you’re planning to attend MLP San Clemente (or any future MLP event) you can secure your tickets at a discount using code KOTC. Click below for tickets to San Clemente:

NEXT EVENTS - Mark your calendar

Episode 149: Recap of PPA San Clemente, plus Tyler’s accident!