Meet Jill and Randy

From beginner to devoted player, Jill discovered an unexpected way to stay active and join a community at the MVP Crahen Pickleball Building. 

Jill Remijn and her husband joined MVP Sportsplex in 2011 so he could play basketball. Excited about their new All-Star membership, which allowed them to visit all MVP clubs, Jill began her journey at MVP Crahen. She spent her time in group exercise classes while taking advantage of the free kids’ care for her seven children. Jill has enjoyed her membership so much, this past September, she decided to start working part-time in Kid’s stuff while her kids are in school. 

In 2024, Crahen opened its new pickleball building. Her kids signed up for the youth class, and Jill decided to try the adult beginner class held at the same time. 

“I wanted to learn how to play with my kids,” she said.

She was immediately hooked. Before long, her entire exercise routine flipped. 

“I was bit by the pickleball bug,” Jill said, laughing. "I’ve made so many great friends on the courts that I spend most of my time playing in the Pickleball Building now. I just love the pickleball atmosphere.”

Today, Jill is in the pickleball building three to five times a week. As a former college water polo athlete, pickleball gave her a new competitive outlet. 

“I had zero racquet experience when I started, but pickleball gave me that spark of competition and community I had been missing.”

Since her days in beginner drills, Jill has joined Monday Ladder League, organized a Thursday morning group that fills three to four courts, participated in tournaments, and consistently attends Live Ball with Randy—building friendships with members and instructors along the way.

As a Pickleball Pro at MVP Crahen, Randy Strawser teaches private lessons and leads classes such as Live Ball and drills. 

“A friend of mine from California told me about this class that they ran called Live Ball. The class is great because you get to drill and play out points as well. It’s a great combination to help people grow and learn to play the game.  I really try hard to make this a fun class for the members.”

Randy appreciates the dedicated group of members, including Jill, who attend every week. 

“We have a great time on the court,” Randy said. “Sometimes we have five in class, sometimes we have seven, but we always get to know each other and have fun. The best part about pickleball is that it’s social just as much as it’s active.”

“There’s just such a community here,” Jill said. “The girls I play with are so caring, and it’s really special. And the instructors are great. Randy is super encouraging and always wants you to improve—even though he gets mad at me when I skip class,” she added with a laugh.

No matter a player’s skill level, Randy gives the same advice: 

“I always tell people to find four people you enjoy playing with, have fun, and keep playing with them.”

He often emphasizes the balance between competition and cooperation. 

“Sometimes we play competitively, but sometimes it’s about working together and learning from each other. As long as you have people around your skill level, you can make a lot of progress while enjoying the process.”

Both Randy and Jill enjoy the classes, drills, and tournaments, but it’s the relationships with members and instructors that keep them coming back. 

“I feel like everybody genuinely cares about each other here,” Jill said. “Whether it’s Randy, Larry, or the girls I play with—they’ll text me outside of class or check in about my life.”

“It’s such a great sport because it keeps people active at any age,” Randy added. “But it’s the people and the community that make it truly special here.”