Meet the 2025 Team

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Aye is known for her fiery singles game, tactical mindset, and unshakable grit. A lifelong athlete, she played Division I tennis at Tulane University and also grew up competing in soccer—experiences that laid the foundation for her movement, discipline, and competitive drive on the pickleball court. 

She discovered pickleball while helping her best friend through cancer—a journey that not only deepened her perspective on life but sparked a new passion that turned into a professional career. With over five years on the pro tour, she’s earned multiple podium finishes and is widely respected for her singles dominance and smart, strategic doubles play. 

She balances elite competition with coaching, international teaching, and running a thriving functional medicine practice, where she’s committed to helping people live healthier, fuller lives. Passionate about her roots, she regularly spends time in Thailand—teaching, training, and staying connected to the culture and community that continue to inspire her. 

Off the court, her favorite place to be is with her two dogs, Allie and Niko. Her guiding belief in both medicine and sport: What happens to you matters to you—because every experience shapes how we show up, heal, and compete.

orn in Laos, grew up in France.

Former Professional Table tennis player, played in French national league 1988-91.
Played 25+ years of tennis, badminton and paddle tennis as well.

Started pickleball in 2015. 

Engage sponsored player since 2016.

Pickkeball highlights: 

Nationals champion at Usapa nationals 2017 men’s 35+, multiple gold medalist at PPA and Seniors Pro tour events and 2 NPL title.

Amy is a litigation attorney who became a pickleball addict in 2020 when her son suggested she give it a try. Amy’s skills as a former college tennis player quickly transitioned to pickleball wins at tournaments. Amy loves introducing family and friends to her love of the game and also helping the community come together to play pickleball and support various causes such as Big Brother Big Sister. Amy resides in Houston with her spouse, two sons and three dogs.

I grew up in Tomball, Texas, which is a suburb of Houston.  Once I graduated high school, I moved up to Aggieland to attend college and have stayed in College Station ever since.   As a fightin’ Texas Aggie (undergraduate class of ’93 and masters in ‘08), I have the honor of being with the brightest students in the nation, teaching courses in the in the areas of general health and wellness, nutrition, and lifetime activity as an Instructional Associate Professor.  My areas of expertise include yoga, group fitness, tennis, PICKLEBALL, beginning canoeing, paddle boarding, sand volleyball, rock climbing and ropes course.  In 2016, I won the prestigious Mamaliga Teaching Award. This honor is the highest honor in the Physical Education Activities Program (PEAP) in the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management.  I have worked for Texas A&M University for 24 years.  Before coming to Texas A&M, I worked in the Bryan Independent School District for 5 years as a Teacher/Coach.  My passion is people – of all kinds – and health and wellness.  My life’s work has revolved around teaching people the importance of physical activity in ALL of our lives.

My first loves are my husband, Neil, and our son, Tyler.  My second love is of course – PICKLEBALL and admittedly so… I’m addicted.  As a former college “club” tennis player, I have competed and been a high-level athlete all my life.   I found pickleball in 2018 and immediately fell in love with the game.  I have directed over 20 tournaments (some on the Texas A&M Campus) and am the co-advisor for the A&M pickleball club team.  In my spare time, I help lead clinics and teach private lessons to people in the Bryan/College Station community, where I am the USA Pickleball Ambassador.  Fun facts about ME:  I am a 5^th generation Texan; I live on a farm North of Houston; I own 12 Nigerian Dwarf Goats, 4 dogs, 2 cats, and a handful of free-range chickens.  My nickname is the ball crusher (ask her about this unique story); I can juggle and can do the worm, but not at the same time.  I love a good campfire.  My philosophy –Live life to the fullest, LOVE with all your might, and include laughter every day, even if it’s at yourself … As a breast cancer survivor, I am always grateful for each day on earth. I feel EXTREMELY blessed to represent H-TOWN and to be a part of this Houston Hammers organization.  LET’S GO HAMMERS!!!!!

Kim has been playing pickleball since 2019, when his partner, Helen Wilhelm, convinced him to finally try it. Helen knew Kim would be a “natural”, because Kim was a standout collegiate tennis player at SMU,with his team placing second, third and fifth in the NCAA tournament from 1982-1984; and he individually was a southwest conference champion. After college, Kim endeavored on a career in professional tennis, achieving world rankings in singles and doubles. After retiring from tennis, Kim pursued his other passion of food and entertainment. Kim is a restaurateur owning several establishments, including Sambuca, the Rayleigh Underground, and Lawless.

From Ogden, Utah.  I have been playing Pickleball for 11 years now and just had my 30th Anniversary April 1st!  My wife Melissa, pushing me to to chase my dream is why I made it on this team Houston Hammers.  Also my son Treyten is running our restaurant Tokyo Station, so I can pursue my Pickleball dream.  We also have Twins who live in Burlington Vermont.  Kyra is getting her Master’s degree this May and Jaxsen is working for Beta which is a great company!  We also have a grandchild name Theo who is 3 years old and keeps us on our toes!  So proud of my family cause we are good people and good things happen to good people!  So excited for this year with Houston Hammers!  

Andrew Painter was a doubles specialist on the ATP Tour & appeared in the men’s doubles main draw of the Australian Open 3 times, Wimbledon 3 times and the US Open.  Best result  was qualifying and making the second round of the 1998 Wimbledon Doubles Championships.

His big career highlight was qualifying in singles as a teenager at the Wimbledon Championships in 1995 and facing top seed & number 1 in the world Andre Agassi in the opening round.

He made 1 ATP Tour Event final and won 5 ATP Challenger doubles titles during his career which spanned from 1994-2002.

After retiring from the ATP Tour he worked at Lakes Tennis Academy for 12 yrs running the junior elite tennis program, traveling with juniors, TCD and adult programming. 

He began playing pickleball in 2022 and started playing some PPA Pro Tour events in 2023.

He has 3 PPA Titles in men’s 5.0 doubles and 5.0 Mixed doubles & has qualified for main draw of 2 PPA Pro mixed doubles events. 

Andrew was born in Australia and since retiring in 2002 from the ATP Tour  has resided in Frisco and now Prosper. He is a full time real estate agent with the Painter Jackson Group @ Compass RE & enjoys teaching private lessons/clinics and corporate events. 

Bernard LeBlanc was born and raised in Dominica, the nature Island of the Caribbean. Growing up he has always been a sports enthusiast, excelling in sports like track and field, soccer, cricket and table tennis. Bernard represented Dominica nationally and internationally in High Jump, Long Jump and Tripple Jump and a key member of the 4×100 meter relay.

In 2000 he picked up tennis and played regularly for coupleyears. Obtaining a 5.5 USTA rating within a short period of time, and competed around the country in several high-profilematches. After sustaining a shoulder injury, Bernard transition to golf in 2011. Currently considered a scratched golfer, Bernard competed and won several competitive tournaments nationwide. He has won his club championship as well as player of the year.

Bernard picked up Pickleball in September 2021. He was invited by a friend, and after about 5 minutes, he was hooked. He spent the remainder of the year competing in several golf and pickleball tournament. Bernard played and won his first tournament at the 3.5 level after less than a month of playing pickleball. This win propelled him on the journey to drastically improve his game to higher competitive levels. In December of 2021, he competed in the Margaritaville National championship winning a gold medal in his very first USAPA National Championship Tournament. Bernard was first drafted into the NPL as an INDY DRIVER IN 2024 and the following year as a Huston Hammer in 2025.

Bernard is currently a certified PPR certified professional. He has voluntarily dedicated his time on countless occasions assisting friends guiding them through the use of drills and playing strategies.  He has a passion for teaching and loves witnessing the light bulb moments for the ones he has assisted.

A professional Civil Engineer by profession, Bernard currently resides in Houston, Texas with his wife Suprena LeBlanc a Lawyer by profession and step daughter Serenity Grace Hill. Bernard also has a biological Daughter name Chloe LeBlanc.  

Helen is originally from England, but moved to the US as a child and became a US citizen in 1983. She was a collegiate tennis player, and won several USTA national tennis titles with her father, Ken Crump, and her daughter, Rachel Thompson. After having hip replacement surgery when she was 46, she was looking for a sport that was less damaging to her body. Her father introduced her to pickleball in 2018, and she has been actively playing the senior tour since then. Helen has been a proud member of Team Engage since 2018.