Who We Are
Mission & Vision
At Kansas Youth Pickleball, our mission and vision go hand in hand: we believe that meaningful, healthy connections between students and educators can transform lives - and that pickleball is the perfect catalyst. Through this fast-growing, inclusive sport, we create opportunities for physical activity, emotional growth, and personal connection that extend far beyond the court. Our vision is to see students across Kansas empowered through play, supported by caring mentors, and inspired to thrive together.
How It Started
On a travel bus full of Wichita high school students the invitation was given by a P.E. teacher to the ‘pickleball-playing’ bus driver. The invite was to teach pickleball to her students for four days. Courts were taped…the bus driver brought a few friends to help teach…the rest is history. The year was 2019. The bus driver was Dave New.
2020 - USD 259 District P.E. leadership was offered an opportunity from the pickleball community to conduct an In-Service for P.E. teachers. The offer was overwhelmingly received and accepted.
2021, August, 200 teachers were in attendance to learn and play pickleball. The day was lead by a U.S. Open Champion and carried out by a dozen volunteers who were, and still are, passionate about helping educators connect with students. Pickleball matriarch Becky Middleton helped Mr. New spearhead this event. She had lead many an effort before her passing. We carry on her legacy.
2022 - 2024 produced connections with a high school admins, students, professional organizations, professional players, amateur players, recreational players and venues, resulting in times of structured instruction and play, clinics and tournaments.
2025 presented an opportunity to create a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission it is to provide funds and opportunities for schools to connect with every student while facilitating competition matches between schools. Two such opportunities have happened. Partnerships and opportunities will continue to be gained throughout 2025 and well beyond. Donation funding will be an important driver for success.
What We Do
Kansas Youth Pickleball (KYP) offers every educator a ‘connection’ to every student for the betterment of their mental health, physical condition, social interaction skills, creative thinking capabilities, and sportsmanship mindset. These ‘connections’ are not available in ANY other sport or activity. Funding and facilitating pickleball play in every way possible including equipment, teaching/coaching, court reservations and fees, clinics, tournaments, is how we will invest in our educators efforts, and in the lives of young people. KYP will connect students with other area high school students for the same reasaons. Scholarships and grants will be part of our offerings.
Meet The Team
Board Of Directors
Dave New
Founder and Director of Kansas Youth Pickleball, Dave New is a passionate advocate for youth pickleball…particularly for high school students. He is a certified coach with the Professional Pickleball Registry and trained with the IPTPA orginazation. A Vietnam veteran and recipient of the Air Force Commendation Medal, Dave brings a lifetime of service, leadership, and athleticism to the board. His career spans successful Operations, and Sales & Marketing roles in freight transportation, radio advertising, Community & Economic Development, and safety related custom manufacturing. He is a former Red Cross National Disaster Relief volunteer providing food, shelter and clothing to people who lost everything in hurricanes, fires and tornadoes. Dave was a longtime KSHSAA Varsity and Junior Varsity Basketball, Softball and Volleyball sports official. A multi-medal winner in competitive pickleball and a Senior Olympics athlete, he’s committed to expanding the sport in Kansas schools. Dave is an ordained deacon who has served his church faithfully since 1972. Dave and his wife of of nearly 56 years, Judy, have two children and five grandchildren, who inspire his continued dedication to youth and community. Don’t ask him to sing “Fly Me to the Moon”…..he will!
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Jay Devilliers
Jay Devilliers is a professional pickleball player and passionate advocate for growing the sport worldwide. Originally from France, Jay moved to Wichita in 2013 to play tennis at Wichita State University, where he earned a BBA in International Business and Marketing. After college, he worked with the USTA and at the US Open before discovering pickleball while coaching at Wichita Collegiate. He quickly rose through the ranks, joining the PPA Tour in 2019 and becoming one of its top competitors. Jay has served as Pickleball Director at Chicken N Pickle and is now a team owner of the Montreal Lions in the Canadian National Pickleball League. This Spring, TapNPadles became “The Home of Jay Devilliers”. This partnership will provide an opportunity for Jay to share his talents with the Wichita community offering a place to practice, play and teach pickleball between his tour travels. Look for clinics Jay will host at TapNPaddles. He is committed to expanding access to pickleball and building connections through sport—locally and globally. Jay lives in Wichita with his wife, Aleksandra, and their three children.
Susie Ternes
Dr. Susie Ternes is an Audiologist and Newborn Hearing Screening Coordinator at Ascension Via Christi Hospital and serves as Executive Director of the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (KSHA). She holds a Doctorate in Audiology from the University of Kansas Medical Center and has been practicing since 2009. As KSHA’s Executive Director since 2016, Susie manages communications, events, advocacy, and organizational strategy. She also serves on multiple local and statewide boards supporting education, accessibility, and gifted youth. A competitive pickleball player and USA Pickleball Youth Program Provider, Susie is passionate about expanding youth pickleball in Wichita. Her free summer clinics at Seneca Park have introduced dozens of children to the sport. Susie enjoys traveling, family game nights, and pickleball adventures with her husband, Grant, and their three teenagers.
Penny Schuckman
Penny is an experienced educator and leader with a passion for student success and professional learning. She holds a B.A. in Education and a Master’s in Educational Administration and Supervision from Wichita State University. Penny currently serves as Director of the Learning Center in Haysville and is an adjunct professor at Baker University, teaching courses in classroom management, motivation, and stress management. Her background includes roles as principal, assistant principal, and classroom teacher in both Haysville and Maize. A frequent presenter at national and state education conferences, Penny is dedicated to innovative professional development and grant-supported opportunities that elevate student achievement. Outside of work, she enjoys playing pickleball, traveling, and spending time with her seven great-nieces and nephews.
David Elkouri
David is a retired attorney and executive with decades of leadership experience in law, energy, and community service. He co-founded Hinkle, Eberhart & Elkouri in 1987 (now Hinkle Law Firm), serving as Managing Member for 20 years. He later became Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Petrohawk Energy Corporation, leading through its $15 billion acquisition by BHP Billiton, and held the same role at Halcon Resources until his retirement in 2020. David has served on the KU Law School Board of Governors and as President of the Wichita Airport Authority. A devoted member of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral, he has led several major initiatives and co-founded Christ the Savior Academy with his wife, Debbi. They have three children and eight grandchildren, and remain deeply committed to faith, family, and community.
David Belew
David brings a unique blend of business leadership and competitive sports experience to the board. He currently works as an Execution/Buyer at Spirit AeroSystems and previously served as Controller, HR lead, and Investor Relations Manager at Audiience, Inc., an AI startup he and his wife, Lori, helped launch in 2018. A lifelong athlete, David was a three-time All-State basketball player at Mulvane High School and played collegiate basketball at Marymount, Pratt JuCo, and Sterling College. Since discovering pickleball in 2018, he has become a dedicated player on the Senior Pro Tour, competing nationwide and serving as a Pickleball Pro with Genesis Health Clubs and local sandboxes. David is passionate about growing the game and mentoring players of all levels. Off the court, he enjoys life as “Papa Dave” to his seven grandsons and spending time with his four children and wife, Lori.