First Paddle Portraits: Izzy Aycox Shines as Junior Mentor
- Beth Eberhard
- Aug 26
- 3 min read
If you happen to meet Izzy Aycox, you might think her shy and reserved. Yet under the quiet demeanor of this ninth grader shines a loving spirit aimed at helping others—and playing a mean game of pickleball. If you send an overhead lob her way, watch out: Izzy shines at spiking that ball down your court! And she’s a team player, loving nothing more than being able to continue a point when her teammate can’t.
Izzy was first introduced to pickleball in sixth grade during her Physical Education class. By the time she hit seventh grade, she had decided to give up soccer for this sport. “It just seemed really fun,” Izzy remembers. “It’s more hand-eye coordination.” She joined her middle school pickleball team, playing for two years.
Izzy credits pickleball with helping her make friends with a younger girl who was also on the team. “We were the only two girls [on the team]” she said. Pickleball allowed her to expand her social network, making a friend who she wouldn’t have known otherwise. (This should come as no shock to anyone who has played pickleball with a group for a length of time. The social aspect of this game makes building relationships effortless.)
As an eighth grader, Izzy took her game to another level, participating in the Southern Pickleball Academy’s pilot program of First Paddle in the fall of 2024 and then continuing in the spring with the Skill Builders level of First Paddle. And when she turned 14, Izzy moved into another role as she helped with the First Paddle Novice group as Junior Mentor.
Working under the supervision of a certified pickleball instructor and a senior mentor, Izzy shines as a Junior Mentor with the First Paddle program. “I think the best part was going to help people learn about pickleball and about being a better person more than just on the court.” Izzy took satisfaction from helping one of the beginners: “She was really shy, I would say, or didn’t know a lot about the game, and she became really good and more confident about herself.”
Being a Junior Mentor didn’t just put Izzy in a position for helping others. It also helped shine a light on her strengths. Izzy relates that she was “kind of scared” about being in this role, but learned that she was a good leader and loved helping people. “I think what I’ve learned about myself is more respect towards people and sportsmanship in general. Sportsmanship [in pickleball] is different than in soccer that I grew up playing because you come in, you tap paddles a lot of the time, you say ‘good game’ and you help each other.”
To play pickleball, Izzy affirms, “You don’t have to be good at sports, you just have to be a good person.” Izzy’s life as a high school freshman has ramped up, with a demanding course load and joining both the DECA Club and the NJROTC Rifle Team. Yet Izzy still feels the pull of pickleball and would love to help coach a youth team.
Learning goes both ways. Not only has Izzy learned about herself through her involvement in pickleball, but the staff at Southern Pickleball has learned about Izzy, seeing a light shining brightly through her. Mentor Cindy Ogden put it this way: “If I were to ever put a descriptive title on Izzy, it would be Compassionate Helper. She really is, and we see God in her too.” Whether by working with a youth team, starting a pickleball club at her school, or serving as a Junior Mentor with First Paddle, Izzy’s quiet light of love and helpfulness will continue to shine on all those around her. Just watch out for her spikes!
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