Today we’d like to introduce you to Mickey Napier
Hi Mickey, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Going into the summer of 2023 I felt lost due to not landing an internship after applying to many. I ended up working at a warehouse where I was bored and not happy, just looking forward to school starting back up in the fall. I was upset at God because I didn’t understand why his plan for me lead to this. During the end of June, I came across a YouTube video about a vlogger playing pickleball. I thought the sport was silly and couldn’t be that fun. My aunt had been trying to get me to play for years, but I never did. So after being bored for the first half of the summer, I thought I’d go to the West Hills public pickleball courts in Knoxville and give this “stupid” sport a try.
I first played pickleball in July of 2023 and quickly became addicted to the sport! That summer while working 40 hours a week, I played pickleball 25-35 hours a week also! My boring summer had turned into the best summer of my life. Everyday I looked forward to getting better and better at the sport I originally misjudged. I still wasn’t sure why God had my summer laid out this way, but I gave thanks to him for introducing a new found passion of mine and for allowing me the time to explore it.
Fast forward to starting my senior year at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in October I decided to pitch my pickleball business idea in the Vol Court pitch competition, hosted by the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. I ended up placing 2nd, winning $1,000! Then in November I pitched my idea again in the Graves Business plan competition hosted by the Anderson Center, placing 2nd and winning $3,000! Then, on January 4th, 2024, Napier LLC, DBA Napier Athletics became a legal business! Napier Athletics posted open registration for the public to play in our tournament at the West Hills courts, where my love and passion for the sport began. Next in March of 2024, I became a certified pickleball coach through the Professional Pickleball Registration. And ever since, I have been coaching lessons and clinics for kids, adults, and beginners at POP, the Pavillion of Pickleball. Lastly in May of 2024, Napier Athletics won $2,500 in the Boyd Venture Challenge hosted by the Anderson Center. And next up is our tournament on June 22nd-23rd! Through this whole process I know understand why God shut all the doors to me getting an internship like all my friends. I am beyond grateful for what he did for my life during the summer. Because otherwise it would not had lead me to finding my passion for the sport and for launching my very own pickleball business! A business where I get to share my love and passion of the sport with others.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Since finding my passion for pickleball I’ve played and placed in tournaments around the state, I’ve started building a pickleball company, and I’ve started coaching. Although this sounds like rainbows and sunshine, this process has been one of the hardest chapters of my life!
For example, a day in my life (up until graduating on May 18th, 2024), I’m running on 2 hours of sleep or less. As a full time student during my senior year I was taking 16 credit hour classes, while being an active member 2 greek life chapters and 3 clubs, worked 2 jobs, was an ambassador for the Anderson Center, had pickleball training 10-15 hours a week, preparing for the next pitch competition, and not to mention school took more time for me because I’m dyslexic with adhd. So while juggling all of this I was also building a business by myself from scratch.
Through my senior, I hit brand new levels of both highs and lows. Highs full of great moments and lows that had me hitting rock bottom… a lot. During the few hours I had to sleep, I rarely sleep at all. A huge piece of entrepreneurship that I learned that I was not expecting in the beginning was teaching yourself the legalities, contracts, and more. I had a lot of sleepless nights because of stress, but the stress was because I wanted to make my goals happen that bad. Your mind never stops thinking about the business and I hadn’t learned how to turn that part of my brain off just yet. It has gotten better and I’m doing better with it now, but it is a skill that has to be worked through.
I noticed when having meetings with other businesses in attempt to doing work with their business and mine, I was mistreated or not taken seriously because I am a female and for being a young 22 year old. This happened a lot actually. Despite the situation, it taught me a lot and now going into new opportunities I feel that I have corrected my mistakes so that the chances of this happening are rare. I’ve also had to learn how to professionally address the situation when it happens. It is unfortunate that this sort of thing happens in today’s age, but I am treating it as a way for me to learn and become a better professional.
I make these points because I want others to know that if you put your mind to it you can do it. If you want to do so many things, do it while you are young and have the opportunities. I was able to pull everything off while making the deans list and winning pitch competitions because of time management skills, Jesus, remembering my why, and by surrounding myself around the right crowd full of love and support! And most importantly, take every “fail” and “no” as a lesson and not a reason to quit. Once you change your mindset to see these setbacks as a great opportunity, thats when you become unstoppable!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Napier Athletics is a pickleball company that aims to foster the growth of the sport by providing opportunities of play throughout the South! We provide pickleball tournaments, coaching, clinics, social events, bachelor/bachelorette parties, staff outings, and so much more! What sets us apart is that we are personal, passionate, and provide. As the founder you can see me partaking in pickleball social events, tournaments, clinics, etc. all around the state because I want to meet the company. This translate into Napier Athletics because I want the pickleball community to know us as a personal brand that is active in the community, providing opportunities for play, and to share the love of the game that we are so passionate about! As Founder and CEO I am a young 22 year old entrepreneur that started this business during my senior year because I have the passion for the sport and want to share that with others and foster even more opportunities for the community to enjoy the sport. I want the readers to know that we have our upcoming tournament in Knoxville on June 22nd-23rd! I also want the readers to know that Napier Athletics is wanting to collaborate and work with fellow pickleball brands, businesses, and enthusiasts. So if someone is interested, contact us at pickleball@napierathletics.net or message us on any of our social media platforms @napierathletics!
Who else deserves credit in your story?
All of the staff at the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation! While each of these individuals influenced and helped me in all aspects that I am forever grateful for, there is one staff member that I especially want to credit and that is Lia Winter. Lia mentored me during my senior year, spending hours upon hours with me on zoom to answer any and all of my many questions, she worked with me before every pitch competition, and she was and is my biggest cheerleader! I wouldn’t be where I am today without her and each person at the Anderson Center!
The second person that I’d like to give credit to is my friend Kevin Frerich! He has been my closest friend at college and has been there by my side through all the ups and downs. His love for Jesus and support has been a game changer and I couldn’t have done it without him by my side.
Lastly, I want to shoutout my family. They are my biggest advocates and have my back no matter what. If it weren’t for their countless sacrifices I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Pricing:
- $55 for tournament entry
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/napierathleticsofficial?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw%3D%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553580927112&mibextid=LQQJ4d
