Pickleball prowess

After less than two years playing pickleball, Jim Bronson became the first Toledo native to reach the sport’s professional ranks, selected by the Columbus Hotshots in the 2024 National Pickleball League draft.

While that rise may seem quick, Bronson’s friends, teammates, and opponents are unsurprised. Prior to pickleball, Bronson played on the professional racquetball circuit. In fact, he and his self-described “racquetball buddies” only switched sports because not enough people wanted to play racquetball.

Two of those friends, Keith Tidd and Fred Borgerson, realized almost immediately that his dominance would carry over to the pickleball courts.

“He progressed in days what most players progress in months. In a month of him playing, he progresses faster than most players would in years,” Borgerson said. “Anything that he’s picked up, he excels at. He breaks it down and he studies the science and strategy behind any sport.”

Tidd provided greater detail on that studious nature, explaining that at the pair’s last racquetball tournament together, Bronson showed him a notebook containing meticulous scouting reports on the strengths and weaknesses of more than 15 years of opponents.

Although Bronson claims he started playing pickleball to have some fun with his friends, his competitive urge quickly rose to the forefront. Within three months, he was playing in his first tournament. After a few more tournaments, Bronson went to train at a camp in Arizona.

This commitment to improvement was nothing new. In addition to his racquet sport prowess, Bronson has previously raced in motocross competitions, and, after an accident derailed that career, switched to racing remote-controlled cars in tournaments across the Midwest.

“I honestly don’t know how to do anything a little bit,” Bronson said. “When I do something I go all the way, and I really enjoyed playing. I always want to see how good I can get.”

In March, Bronson won a round-robin-style tournament at the NPL’s Draft Combine in Naples, Fla., to guarantee himself a spot in the league.

A month later, the Hotshots selected him in the draft. While team owner, general manager, and player Jeff McKnight admitted that Bronson’s Ohio roots were an added bonus, his skills were the deciding factor.

“He is a high-level player, very personable, a great teammate, and he had the urge to keep improving,” McKnight said. “All of those really fit in with the type of player we want to get on our team.”

Each of the league’s 12 teams consist of seven men and seven women, all over the age of 50. One weekend a month, they travel to play four other teams at a tournament. Bronson had very little time to get to know his Hotshots teammates between the draft on April 14 and his first match on May 17 in Chicago.

He managed to get in a few days of practice with teammate Adam Painter in that time span, and the two quickly discovered their chemistry on the court.

“He’s a strong player on the left and right side,” Painter said. “He’s very flexible, a good communicator, and really understands the strategy of the game. I would just say he’s a very supportive teammate. If you’re not performing at a high level, he tries to build your confidence getting back into the match.”

At that first tournament, the Hotshots were one of two teams to win all four of their matches, leaving them in a tie for first place in the standings.

Between tournaments, Bronson returns to his job as a millwright in Toledo, practicing up to 20 hours per week in his free time. He still plays with Borgerson, who continues to marvel at his friend’s ability as “a freak athlete” and “the pinnacle of strength.”

Tidd, meanwhile, admitted he can no longer keep up on the pickleball courts. “For his age, his speed is just phenomenal,” Tidd said, before adding, “I thought I was a competitor until I met him.”

Despite his obvious competitive tendencies, everybody who has interacted with Bronson on the court emphasizes that his character is equally impressive.

Painter and McKnight emphasized his support as a teammate, and Borgerson explained that his friend has only worked to uplift the pickleball community in Toledo. In fact, Bronson has taken on a role as a teacher and mentor for many fellow players.

“Strong as he is, it hasn’t gone to his head. Everybody enjoys playing with him and it’s amazing how he’s helping everybody else excel,” Borgerson said. “A lot of people, as they move up the ranks and get to a high level, they pass people by and forget about people. Jim would rather bring everybody with him, and it really has made our local groups fun.”

With the league looking to expand, ideally all the way up to 30 teams, in the future, Mr. Bronson hopes to blaze a path for other Toledo pickleball players to follow.