Meet Chris Karges. She’s a tennis player through and through since the age of 8, a former all-American tennis player from the University of Kentucky and served 15 years as tennis coach at Purdue and Northwestern Universities.
She’s also the Queen of Pickleball here in East Tennessee.
Originally from Joliet, Illinois, Karges was drawn to Knoxville by a UT tennis coach, and she fell in love with the area. It was here that several friends cajoled her into joining them at the Deane Hill Recreation Center to try her hand at pickleball. “Pickleball has a quick learning curve, making it accessible to everyone, but mastering the game is where the challenge really comes into play.” Karges sees her storied background in tennis as an asset to pickleball. “Some tennis players aren’t open to pickleball, but I was willing to try it. The skill sets go hand in hand.”
Karges is currently the Director of Pickleball at Premier Pickleball Club in Knoxville. Scheduled to open in April 2025, Phase 1 of the indoor facility features six courts and is the only space of its kind in the city. Outside the climate controlled area, an “Apres Pickle” area will contain yard games and outdoor furniture and be available to rent for parties. “The idea is to make it a great pickleball destination for every level of the sport,” Karges says. “We want to feature clinics, social events, parties and exhibitions.”
When she’s not getting the Premier Pickleball Club ready to open, Karges is a full time pickleballer, playing (and winning!) in past seasons for the Austin Ignite as the National Pickleball Leagues number one draft pick, and serving as the team’s captain. At the end of her second season with Austin Ignite, Karges was recognized with the NPL leadership award, a distinction bestowed on her by the owners of the league. This season, Karges will be playing for Naples JBB United team in Florida.
Karges entered her first national tournament in 2018, just hoping to win one match. Instead, she took home silver. Her pickleball career has skyrocketed since that time, and she is thrilled to take her experience and prowess as a coach to bring the sport to Knoxville. When in January of 2023 several members of the Schaad Family approached her and invited her to be part of Premier Pickleball Club, she jumped at the chance. “The staff has spent a lot of time and effort to give the facility a welcoming vibe,” she says. “This is a great team with great chemistry. I’m looking forward to coaching and teaching the sport at Premier Pickleball Club.”