MEET THE TEAM
DAVE VELARDO
Competition Background
After playing first pro match against Ben Johns as the bottom seed, progressed up the seedings over a few years playing men’s and mixed doubles, reached the #27 ranked pickleballer in the world (based on DUPR’s summer 2021 rankings which analyzed pro tour results from the previous few years).
Coaching
Approach: help players find the technique that works for their unique grip/style/game; highly customized coaching & showing players what to prioritize (via private lessons, playing lessons, and video coaching).
Strengths: Kitchen-line volley defense for beginners intermediate and advanced players, helping 3.5-4.0 achieve 4.5 skill level, helping 4.5 players achieve 5.0 skill level, skinny singles with 4.0-5.0 players, on-ramping new players into the game, kitchen play for 4.0-5.0 players, soft game for 3.5+ players, serving “yips”, tournament preparation and tournament strategy for intermediate and advanced players.
Teaching Background
- 5+ years teaching all over the San Francisco Bay Area and New England, teaching all levels from true beginners all the way up to 5.0 national-level tournament players.
- Got into teaching pickleball to 1) be an innovator and leader in defining how this new sport will be taught for decades to come, and, 2) provide customized teaching to contrast a lot of the non-customized teaching that is common in the sport.
- Original teaching background in piano & golf.
Krista Trefethen
Krista comes to NEPC after spending the past 21 years working for the City of Dover Recreation Department – the last 14 as the Assistant Director. Her experience helping run one of the biggest recreation departments in the Seacoast means Krista intimately understands what it takes to run smooth operations and maintain high standards. With her leadership, the City of Dover converted the first dedicated pickleball courts in the Seacoast in 2015, setting the bar for both facilities and programming in the area. She has experience running all types of pickleball events and has also helped our visiting Senior Pro Yvonne Ting run the Birch Hill tournaments for the last several years.
Krista also has plenty of experience on the court – including being one of now NEPC Senior Pro Greg Bennett’s first tournament partners – where they teamed up to win Gold in the 4.5 35+ Mixed Doubles bracket at the 2022 USAP Atlantic Diamond Regional Tournament. Krista has several other medals in the 4.5+ women’s and Mixed divisions from Atlantic Regionals and the Connecticut Open as well as several other New England tournaments.
STEPHEN IANDOLI
Stephen’s passion for pickleball picked up in 2020 when he founded The Midtown Pickleball Club to connect core players with the appropriate competition in a fun, social, setting. MPC players (men and women) won nearly 40 medals in 2021. It’s that experience of matching the right players with the right competition that has him so excited for all the different group play options offered at the New England Pickleball Club.
A multiple-medal winning tournament player, Stephen is also a certified instructor. When not playing, or organizing group pickleball play, Stephen leads students in various Comm/Jour courses on college campuses in MA.
Stephen received his BA from Villanova University, MS from Boston University and had a 20+ year career in broadcast/print journalism, covering some of the biggest stories in the nation. Many friends joke that Stephen’s days revolve around pickleball, dinner and his rescue dog, Mia. Simple things bring the most pleasure. Good vibes only.
RILEY STOCKWELL
Coaching
Approach: To make players feel at ease on the court and break down the mental barriers that hold players back from reaching their potential. Observing a player’s strengths and weaknesses, working with them to balance their game while further highlighting their personal style.
Strengths: Team building (partner communication, court positioning, doubles strategy). Helping players slow down OR speed up their game as needed. Roll volleys, backhand comfort, proper dinking technique/dinking to set up advantage. Training 4.0-4.5 level players in softening their game, high level strategy, and reaching new levels of patience using micro-aggression. Teaching 3.0 and 3.5 players how to balance their game, develop a healthy confidence, and empowering players to take up space, and embrace aggressive play.
Competition Background
- 5.0+ rated player
- Experience playing with/against top pros.
Teaching Background
PPR Certified (Pro Level)
2+ Years of Private Instruction, workshops, clinics.
DUPR ambassador and experience helping hundreds of players find their rating.
Head coach at Pickles Hanover, MA.
High performance pickleball coach at Quail Ridge Country Club Acton, MA.
Assistant coach for Tyson Mcguffin PB camps.
10+ years private guitar instruction.
Greg Bennett
Greg Bennett was born with a tennis racquet in his hand – winning youth state championships in doubles and singles and playing avidly until his mid 20’s. Greg’s teaching background began with offering tennis lessons privately and with the Phillips Exeter Academy Tennis Camps. He was introduced to platform tennis in the 90’s – playing tournaments nationally and breaking the top 10 one year. He sold a travel document company, retired early, and raised two children as a single father.
Lucky for New England Pickleball Club, Greg’s return to the racquet and paddle sports world was when he was introduced to pickleball. Pickleball and platform tennis have many similarities (including court size) which helped Greg’s smooth transition to his new passion.
Greg enjoys teaching clinics and private lessons at the NEPC. His strong racquet skills background helps him quickly assess and address what players need to achieve their pickleball goals. Whether it’s stroke mechanics, getting to the next rating level, winning more competitive matches or just feeling more comfortable playing with friends.
Greg is already a several time medalist (including Gold) at the 5.0 level, has played Senior Pro events and was recently drafted by the Austin Ignite Senior Pro Pickleball team which is part of the National Pickleball League and will compete with the top senior pros.
TED WELCH
Administration and Education Background
38 Years in Education as a Teacher, Coach and Administrator in the York School Department.
- Served 28 years as the Athletic Director at York High School (YHS).
- !8 years as a teacher and coach including Varsity Football and Tennis Presently the Boys Varsity Tennis Coach at YHS.
Pickleball Teaching Background
Upon retiring from Athletic Administration I returned to my roots as a teacher and coach.
- Seven years teaching pickleball in The Seacoast Area.
- Launched the Pickleball Program at York and Kittery Parks and Recreation in 2015 which has become an integral part of adult recreation in the surrounding communities. ● Introduced Pickleball to the Lifetime Activity Program at The University Of New Hampshire (UNH) Durham in 2018.
Presently an Adjunct Professor teaching pickleball at UNH. Pickleball Instructor and Program Coordinator at Kennebunk River Club (KRC) in Kennebunkport, Maine 2021 – present.
Teaching strengths include:
- Making personal connections with students of all ages and varying skill levels and athletic backgrounds.
- A solid foundation in teaching fundamentals and understanding the importance of proper progressions in skill development.
- Great appreciation of the physical, social, emotional, fun and competitive benefits of athletic activities.
- Open minded to new ideas and teaching techniques and the importance of evolving as a teacher and coach.
Goals at NEPC
Assist and enhance the Pickleball Players experience at NEPC. Provide personalized, fun and quality instruction and programs for all skill levels. Lay the foundation for success from beginner to advanced play by utilizing the Four Bases.
Yvonne Ting
Yvonne has been competing in pickleball tournaments since 2017 and has won multiple national titles in the senior pro division and 5.0 skill level. Yvonne played competitive badminton growing up and competed for the Malaysian national team. Badminton helped her develop quick hand reflexes and strong overheads.
Yvonne believes in creating a positive and inclusive learning environment, where students feel comfortable and motivated to improve their skills. Her teaching approach focuses on the fundamentals of pickleball, emphasizing proper techniques, strategy, and game awareness.
Yvonne tailors her instruction to the unique needs and goals of each student, ensuring personalized attention and growth. She loves to share her enthusiasm for pickleball with others & enjoys teaching group clinics as well as private lessons.
Yvonne is actively involved in the pickleball community both as a player and a coach. She has taught at various pickleball clubs, community centers, and private lessons, honing her skills as an effective communicator and instructor.
As a pickleball instructor, Yvonne is not only committed to helping her students become better players but also to instilling a love for the game that will last a lifetime. She believes that pickleball is not just a sport but a way to foster camaraderie, fitness, and fun.
Sue Haskell
She’s working behind the scenes, as well as in the limelight to provide NEPClub and it’s members an avenue to help out those in our local community.
DAVID VELARDO
Competition Background
After playing first pro match against Ben Johns as the bottom seed, progressed up the seedings over a few years playing men’s and mixed doubles, reached the #27 ranked pickleballer in the world (based on DUPR’s summer 2021 rankings which analyzed pro tour results from the previous few years).
Coaching
Approach: helping players find the technique that works for their unique grip/style/game; highly customized coaching & showing players what to prioritize via private lessons, playing lessons, and video coaching.
Strengths: Kitchen-line volley defense for beginners intermediate and advanced players, helping 3.5-4.0 achieve 4.5 skill level, helping 4.5 players achieve 5.0 skill level, skinny singles with 4.0-5.0 players, on-ramping new players into the game, kitchen play for 4.0-5.0 players, soft game for 3.5+ players, serving “yips”, tournament preparation and tournament strategy for intermediate and advanced players.
Teaching Background
- 5+ years teaching all over the San Francisco Bay Area and New England, teaching all levels from true beginners all the way up to 5.0 national-level tournament players.
- Got into teaching pickleball to 1) be an innovator and leader in defining how this new sport will be taught for decades to come, and, 2) provide customized teaching to contrast a lot of the non-customized teaching that is common in the sport.
- Original teaching background in piano & golf.
STEPHEN IANDOLI
Stephen’s passion for pickleball picked up in 2020 when he founded The Midtown Pickleball Club to connect core players with the appropriate competition in a fun, social, setting. MPC players (men and women) won nearly 40 medals in 2021. It’s that experience of matching the right players with the right competition that has him so excited for all the different group play options offered at the New England Pickleball Club.
A multiple-medal winning tournament player, Stephen is also a certified instructor. When not playing, or organizing group pickleball play, Stephen leads students in various Comm/Jour courses on college campuses in MA.
Stephen received his BA from Villanova University, MS from Boston University and had a 20+ year career in broadcast/print journalism, covering some of the biggest stories in the nation. Many friends joke that Stephen’s days revolve around pickleball, dinner and his rescue dog, Mia. Simple things bring the most pleasure. Good vibes only.
Krista Trefethen
Krista is currently the Assistant Recreation Director for the City of Dover, NH.
She helped get the first dedicated outdoor pickleball courts built in the Seacoast and has experience running large group drop in play, shootouts, round robins, tournaments, and all things pickleball related.
When she isn’t organizing pickleball activities – you’ll find her on the court playing!
RILEY STOCKWELL
Coaching
Approach: To make players feel at ease on the court and break down the mental barriers that hold players back from reaching their potential. Observing a player’s strengths and weaknesses, working with them to balance their game while further highlighting their personal style.
Strengths: Team building (partner communication, court positioning, doubles strategy). Helping players slow down OR speed up their game as needed. Roll volleys, backhand comfort, proper dinking technique/dinking to set up advantage. Training 4.0-4.5 level players in softening their game, high level strategy, and reaching new levels of patience using micro-aggression. Teaching 3.0 and 3.5 players how to balance their game, develop a healthy confidence, and empowering players to take up space, and embrace aggressive play.
Competition Background
- Gold/Silver Medals in National/Regional tournaments at 5.0 (US Open Naples, NY Open at Flushing Meadows, Atlantic Regionals, Boston Pickleball Classic)
- 5.0+ rated player
- Experience playing with/against top pros.
Teaching Background
PPR Certified (Pro Level)
2+ Years of Private Instruction, workshops, clinics.
DUPR ambassador and experience helping hundreds of players find their rating.
Head coach at Pickles Hanover, MA.
High performance pickleball coach at Quail Ridge Country Club Acton, MA.
Assistant coach for Tyson Mcguffin PB camps.
10+ years private guitar instruction.
Greg Bennett
Greg Bennett was born with a tennis racquet in his hand – winning youth state championships in doubles and singles and playing avidly until his mid 20’s. Greg’s teaching background began with offering tennis lessons privately and with the Phillips Exeter Academy Tennis Camps. He was introduced to platform tennis in the 90’s – playing tournaments nationally and breaking the top 10 one year. He sold a travel document company, retired early, and raised two children as a single father.
Lucky for New England Pickleball Club, Greg’s return to the racquet and paddle sports world was when he was introduced to pickleball. Pickleball and platform tennis have many similarities (including court size) which helped Greg’s smooth transition to his new passion.
Greg enjoys teaching clinics and private lessons at the NEPC. His strong racquet skills background helps him quickly assess and address what players need to achieve their pickleball goals. Whether it’s stroke mechanics, getting to the next rating level, winning more competitive matches or just feeling more comfortable playing with friends.
Greg is already a several time medalist (including Gold) at the 5.0 level, has played Senior Pro events and was recently drafted by the Austin Ignite Senior Pro Pickleball team which is part of the National Pickleball League and will compete with the top senior pros.
TED WELCH
Administration and Education Background
38 Years in Education as a Teacher, Coach and Administrator in the York School Department.
- Served 28 years as the Athletic Director at York High School (YHS).
- !8 years as a teacher and coach including Varsity Football and Tennis Presently the Boys Varsity Tennis Coach at YHS.
Pickleball Teaching Background
Upon retiring from Athletic Administration I returned to my roots as a teacher and coach.
- Seven years teaching pickleball in The Seacoast Area.
- Launched the Pickleball Program at York and Kittery Parks and Recreation in 2015 which has become an integral part of adult recreation in the surrounding communities. ● Introduced Pickleball to the Lifetime Activity Program at The University Of New Hampshire (UNH) Durham in 2018.
Presently an Adjunct Professor teaching pickleball at UNH. Pickleball Instructor and Program Coordinator at Kennebunk River Club (KRC) in Kennebunkport, Maine 2021 – present.
Teaching strengths include:
- Making personal connections with students of all ages and varying skill levels and athletic backgrounds.
- A solid foundation in teaching fundamentals and understanding the importance of proper progressions in skill development.
- Great appreciation of the physical, social, emotional, fun and competitive benefits of athletic activities.
- Open minded to new ideas and teaching techniques and the importance of evolving as a teacher and coach.
Ted’s Academy Goals
Assist and enhance the Pickleball Players experience at NEPC. Provide personalized, fun and quality instruction and programs for all skill levels. Lay the foundation for success from beginner to advanced play by utilizing the Four Bases.
Yvonne Ting
Yvonne has been competing in pickleball tournaments since 2017 and has won multiple national titles in the senior pro division and 5.0 skill level. Yvonne played competitive badminton growing up and competed for the Malaysian national team. Badminton helped her develop quick hand reflexes and strong overheads.
Yvonne believes in creating a positive and inclusive learning environment, where students feel comfortable and motivated to improve their skills. Her teaching approach focuses on the fundamentals of pickleball, emphasizing proper techniques, strategy, and game awareness.
Yvonne tailors her instruction to the unique needs and goals of each student, ensuring personalized attention and growth. She loves to share her enthusiasm for pickleball with others & enjoys teaching group clinics as well as private lessons.
Yvonne is actively involved in the pickleball community both as a player and a coach. She has taught at various pickleball clubs, community centers, and private lessons, honing her skills as an effective communicator and instructor.
As a pickleball instructor, Yvonne is not only committed to helping her students become better players but also to instilling a love for the game that will last a lifetime. She believes that pickleball is not just a sport but a way to foster camaraderie, fitness, and fun.
Sue Haskell
Sue is NEPC’s Giving Coordinator and will also be organizing some club play.
…
description of types of group play(s) sue plans to offer (and any relevant experience)?