Fourteen Tournaments Later: Lee Brightwell on Finding a Competitive Spark in Her Sixties
Pickleball Spotlight: Lee Brightwell
From Florida roots to Kaneohe courts, one player’s pickleball journey proves it’s never too late to catch the competition bug.
Lee Brightwell moved to Kāneʻohe with East Coast roots and a simple goal: stay active, enjoy the outdoors, and spend time with friends. A girlfriend showed her how to play pickleball in 2021, and at first it was just that—something to do on the weekends. Then she found the Sunday morning open play at Kamilioʻiki, and things started to click.
Fourteen tournaments and twelve medals later, Lee is living proof that starting something new doesn’t have an age limit. Along the way, she’s built friendships across Oʻahu, competing alongside players from ages 12 to 98, and learning from every single one.
Without further ado, please meet HPM’s newest ambassador, Lee Brightwell!
Currently residing in: Kaneohe.
Where did you grow up, and what high school did you go to?
I grew up on the east coast of Florida and went to Vero Beach High School. No one in Florida cares what high school you went to.
How did you discover pickleball, and when did you start playing?
A girlfriend taught me how to play in 2021. It was fun, and for a few years, I just enjoyed the social aspects of play. It was a way to exercise, be outdoors, and laugh a lot. And then I found the Kamilio’iki Open Play on Sunday mornings hosted by Jen and Mel Ona. Everyone is friendly, and the mix of age and skill level brought my game up quickly. I entered the HUGS tournament in 2024 and caught the competition bug. Fourteen tournaments and 12 medals later, I am astounded that I can learn and improve at a new sport in my sixties.
What do you love most about pickleball?
The mix of friends you make playing and competing all over the island. I play with groups in Kaneohe, Kailua, Hawaii Kai, Moanalua, Aiea, Ewa, and occasionally in town. I’ve played with men and women, locals and visitors, spanning ages 12 – 98. Everybody teaches me something and 99% of players exhibit good sportsmanship and prioritize the fun of the game.
How often do you play?
Three to four times a week for at least 3 hours per session.
What paddle are you using, and what do you like about it?
The Chillaxin Pua was designed by Kyle Paredes. It’s light and elongated, helping me reach more balls and keeping my ‘pickleball elbow’ at bay.
What is the next goal you’re working toward (in pickleball or otherwise)?
I am working on my USA Pickleball Level 1 Referee certification. I was inspired by Tracey Bennett, whom I met at one of the tournaments. Tracey provides on-court referee instruction to guide and mentor me through the training. She’s a delight and a true professional.
What do you do outside of pickleball (hobbies, work, volunteerism, school, etc.)?
I’m an engineer, project manager, and Real Estate Broker. Recreationally, my first love is water sports: scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, kite surfing, or just a day at the beach with a good book. I like hiking, but pickleball is the most fun you can have on dry land (in a public venue).
Anything else on your mind?
Recreation play creates great community interaction and satisfies my need for social interaction. If you really want to improve your game though, take lessons. Otherwise you’re just instilling the same mistakes over and over. I was lucky to take lessons on Saturdays at Le Jardin in Kailua with Heifara Ortas and Connie Zepeda for a year and a half. The regularity of drilling, learning proper execution, and their encouragement to compete in tournaments increased my confidence and capabilities.
Then my friend, Irene White, gave me the opportunity to substitute into a class with Kyle and Elaina Paredes where I learned a deeper level of Pickleball IQ. Their insightful and encouraging coaching taught me how to defeat bangers by blocking, slowing down the game with drops and forcing more dinking at the kitchen.
We have a lot of great coaches in our community so I encourage everyone to start taking lessons. I still have a long way to go to advance beyond my 3.0 skill level. I’m grateful to all the doubles partners who’ve helped me succeed in tournaments, and all those who play with me regularly.
