Meet the 2026 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.

Tommy spent 20 years placing and assessing Board and C-level executives within the energy industry as a Partner and Head of Americas with Heidrick & Struggles, and more recently as the Chief Talent Officer for Quantum Capital Group, one of the largest global investors in the energy sector.

Prior to his business career, Tommy was a professional tennis player who reached the top 100 in singles and top 20 in doubles before chronic back injuries forced his retirement at 24yrs old. Introduced to pickleball during the COVID-19 pandemic, he now enjoys competing in senior pro events and building new relationships through the sport.

Tommy graduated from Rice University and stayed in Houston with his wife, Marcelle. They have two children, Braeden and McHaley, and two Maltese dogs named Two-Bits and Louie.

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.

Dayton, OH — Carolina Lopez Ascarate, one of the fastest‑rising athletes on the Senior Pro pickleball tour, continues her breakout ascent with a dominant stretch of results that has captured national and international attention. Fresh off a standout performance at the US Open, where she secured three gold medals and one silver, Lopez Ascarate has now accumulated 13 medals in just five months, solidifying her status as a premier force in the sport.

Holding a DUPR rating of 5.995 and ranked #2 in South America —in singles and doubles— she brings elite consistency, athleticism, and competitive fire to every event she enters. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and now based in Dayton, Ohio, Lopez Ascarate serves as the touring pro for Black Barn Pickleball, where her fun, energetic, and high‑value presence continues to elevate both players and programs.

With her blend of international experience, standout results, and magnetic on‑court personality, Carolina Lopez Ascarate is quickly becoming one of the most compelling names to watch on the Senior Pro tour.

Kimmie was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii, where she was a top–ranked junior tennis player and later earned a D1 Tennis Scholarship to play for Santa Clara University.  She played the #1 Line for the Broncos during the entirety of her collegiate tennis career. 

Kimmie is a “Pandemic Pickler”, being introduced to the sport of Pickleball during the COVID-19 Pandemic. As a physician, and leader in the health and wellness sphere, she immediately saw the benefits of this sport in terms of promoting longevity through both physical fitness and social connection. In addition, it was a great way to compete and have fun! 

She began her pro career in 2025, winning Senior Pro Mixed Gold with Jeff Giesie in the inaugural ESPN Honolulu Open. She then traveled to Atlanta PPA where she came second in the Women’s Doubles Pro Qualifier and qualified for the Women’s Doubles Pro Main Draw with partner, Madison Wolfe.  She went on to compete in PPA Senior Pro events (Atlanta, San Clemente, Worlds), earning a total of two Gold’s, two Silver’s, and one Bronze with regular partners—Julie Johnson and Joshua Cooperman. Subsequently, she was recruited to play for the Houston Hammers NPL team at the end of last season… coming in as a permanent sub. She helped the team to a win in Atlantic City, NJ, and a fifth–place overall 2025 season finish at Championships in Seattle. Since NPL, she has competed in her first USA Pickleball Nationals, first two APP events, and first US Open with Top Eight finishes in each of these prestigiouspro competitions. She is excited to be able to compete with Houston, again, for the 2026 CSP season. 

When not playing pickleball, Kimmie enjoys music, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and her job as a Primary Care Physician/Physician Wellness Leader. In addition to her excitement for CSP, she is ecstatic about travelling to London, England this Fall to be a presenter at The International Conference on Physician Health.

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.