Ep. 21 — From Hinge to wedding weekend tournaments (Maddie & Jeramy)

In this season finale, Deirdre sits down with Maddie and Jeramy, a couple who proves that pickleball isn't just a sport - it's a relationship game-changer. From competing against each other (with Maddie secretly hoping she'd finally found a sport where she could beat Jeramy) to creating their legendary friend group "Dinking Academy," their story is packed with laughs, love, and a few heated moments that almost canceled Christmas. You'll hear about their epic wedding week tournament, a honeymoon victory that came with unexpected perks, and how a simple paddle became the most thoughtful gift ever.HighlightsMeet two rec league addicts who somehow found time for yet another sport in their already packed schedulesMaddie's confession about her secret competitive agenda against athletic JeramyThe Christmas meltdown that almost happened over a pickleball serve (yes, really)How golf evolved from Jeramy's excuse to enjoy time with friends outdoors into his serious #1 sportWhy "Dinking Academy" is the perfect name for a bunch of gym friends who don't dinkTwo college kids who lived one floor apart but needed a dating app to finally meet six years laterHow extended family who traveled from far away for the wedding enjoyed the day-before tournamentThe honeymoon tournament win that came with a cool perkWhy some recreational players need a serious reminder about the "recreational" partThe family members who got sucked into the pickleball vortex thanks to these twoChapters00:00 Intro04:27 Their active lives playing in many rec leagues08:34 A reason to hang with friends, have fun and have a drink12:08 Maddie hoping that pickleball would be the sport she was better than Jeramy at14:00 Establishing the Dinking Academy to slow down their game - but has it?!15:39 How their pickleball friends have become the ones they lean on19:08 When pickleball brought the whole family together, the day before "I Do"22:16 Living in the same dorm at college but not meeting until years later25:04 Winning a pickleball tournament while on their honeymoon28:37 How Christmas almost got canceled over Jeramy's new serve32:23 People who are too serious when playing and the ones who call "out"36:45 The joke about being out on the courts for "fun and fresh air"40:55 A thoughtful gift - her first "nice" paddle42:36 The impact of pickleball on strengthening their relationship with each other and more45:38 Their passion for pickleball has been contagious for family members