Jake Kusmider

Jake Kusmider is a professional pickleball player from Charleston, South Carolina, who made the leap from competitive tennis to the pro pickleball circuit. Raised in downtown Charleston and homeschooled alongside his siblings, Kusmider dedicated his childhood to tennis with hours of daily practice, eventually earning a spot on the College of Charleston men's tennis team for the 2016-2017 season. He discovered pickleball at age 18 when fellow players in the gym suggested he try the sport. What started as a joke between tennis buddies about "becoming professional pickleball players and traveling the world" turned into reality when he entered his first pro doubles tournament in Camden in 2019.

Kusmider quickly climbed the ranks, reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 16 in men's singles by summer 2022. His resume includes a semifinal run at the APP New York City Open (one of the sport's Grand Slam events), multiple top-five finishes, and a first top-10 singles win at the 2021 PPA Grand Slam in Tampa. He trained alongside top pros like Tyson McGuffin in Idaho to sharpen his game. When he's not competing on tour, Kusmider serves as head pro at The Pickle Bar, a dedicated pickleball facility in Summerville, South Carolina, where he coaches players of all skill levels. Now based in West Ashley, he continues to push toward the top 10 while helping grow the sport in the Lowcountry.