TUCSON, Arizona — Just a few years ago, Lorin Schlecht, a member of the Air Force, picked up a pickleball paddle for the first time. What started as a simple quest for more exercise in a new form has turned into a surprising journey of talent and competition.
“I just did it because I wanted to have more exercise in my life in a different dimension,” Schlecht said.
Despite his modest self-assessment—”I still don’t think that I do”—the rankings tell a different story. Schlecht is currently ranked No. 173 in the world in singles by the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA), a remarkable achievement for someone relatively new to the sport…