Kara has over 30 years as both a pediatric and adult Occupational Therapist. A former college Atlantic 10 tennis player, both Coach and Head Pro throughout New England.

“I stumbled upon Pickleball after being laid off from work during Covid. Playing for a month I realized this sport is like Occupational Therapy. Pickleball encompassess all vital aspects of a healthy/holistic activity: cognitive, social-emotional and physical. Having both a background in teaching-coaching tennis and as a therapist, I asked myself why not bring more of this healthy activity to our community.

Anything is possible through authentic intentions and taking the right actions. My goal is to teach, facilitate fun programs, and challenge our athletes of all levels to grow and then use their newly acquired experience to better their lives and the people around them. This Pickleball journey has brought so many amazing people into my life and has been the driving force behind Ocean State Pickleball.

As this adventure organically unfolds. I constantly remind myself that it is an honor to share all of this with so many people.

We look forward to Ocean State Pickleball being a place filled with fun, fitness, and friends everywhere!”  

Andy has been involved in athletics his whole life. He was the New England Junior College Tennis Singles Champion while at CCRI and then a three year starter and captain at the University of Rhode Island. He loves teaching/coaching, training and competing. Andy is currently a PE/Health teacher in the Town of South Kingstown. He was the head coach of the South Kingstown Boys’ Tennis Team for 28 years. During that time, Andy’s teams won a record seventeen Rhode Island Division 1 State Championships. He is passionate about helping
players of all ages and ability levels reach their full potential. Andy became involved with the sport of pickleball three years ago and hasn’t looked back since. When people ask him why he likes the sport so much his reply is, “because it is fun and I have met a lot of great people.” Andy and Kara want to make Ocean State Pickleball Club a great pickleball destination!

Zak is from Woodbridge Ct. He currently owns a local clothing recycling company. As a multi sport athlete growing up Zak was introduced to tennis at the age of ten. Along with tennis Zak played competitive table tennis, basketball, was a snowboard instructor and currently holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Zak found Pickleball in the spring of 2021 and soon won two local tournaments but always considers himself a student of the sport. Zak specializes and takes pride in skill set assessment/making course corrections and game play strategy.