Vivian started playing pickleball at the end of 2022, just a few months into working her real life adult job. She was introduced to the sport by one of her neighbors, who Vivian deems her“pickle mom.”
“It’s really funny the way it all unfolded. I was literally on a walk with my mom, crying about how miserable my life was, when we ran into our neighbor. She told me about pickleball, but I met her with a lot of hesitation, because I was so set on earning my work hours for PA school as fast as possible. But for whatever reason, she had a vision for me and did not give up on this vision. Not only did she provide me with all the necessary gear I needed to get started, she also connected me with friends, coaches, and pros to play with. I call her my ‘pickle mom,’ but that could not be more of an understatement, because she quite literally changed my entire life in ways I could never have thought.”
In June of 2023, a mere 6-7 months after picking up a paddle (gen Z will appreciate that one), Vivian quit her job & went full time into pickleball. Since then, her life has been nothing short of adventurous.
“Although every job has its ups and downs, I sincerely could not be more grateful for the life pickleball has given me. I have gotten to travel to so many cool places, meet people from all walks of life, and experience things I never could have imagined.”
I really thank you all for being here and taking the time to read this. I am always happy to talk, hear what you guys have to say, or answer any questions you may have, so please feel free to shoot me a message here or come talk to me in person!
Sincerely,
Vivian aka Viv aka the Glozdawg
Vivian started playing tennis at the age of 5 and quickly rose to the top of the ranks in the Pacific Northwest. She won her first U18 tournament at the age of 10, racked up five Sectionals titles, and keeps a glass trophy case in the living room of her parents’ house to let everyone know how amazing she is.
Despite dealing with a lot of injuries, Vivian consistently stayed inside the top 10 in the nation throughout her junior career and as high as #1. There was no shortage of schools that wanted her, but when it came time to make a decision, one could argue there were a few bumps in the road.
“My college tennis journey was definitely less conventional than most… I started out with a verbal commitment to the University of North Carolina, but after deciding to graduate high school a year early, things went a bit astray. I ended up playing for 3 entirely different schools: The University of California, Berkeley, the University of Virginia, and the United States Air Force Academy. Although this created a lot of extra stress, I am so grateful for my time at every school, because I got to meet so many different people, experience different cultures, and learn so much about myself.”
