APP NEXT: The Champion Factory Building Pickleball’s Future
From Kansas City to Fort Lauderdale, the APP Tour’s development program keeps doing what it does best: turning young prospects into tomorrow’s stars. And the numbers prove it: the players who competed here yesterday are ruling the pro tour today.
They’re between 16 and 23 years old. They show up with a paddle in their hand, fire in their eyes and a dream they don’t quite dare to say out loud yet: to turn pro.
This past weekend in Kansas City, that dream got a little closer.
Kansas City: Two Triple Crowns And A Clear Message
From October 23 to 25, Chicken N Pickle in Overland Park, Kansas, became the lab of the future. 35 athletes from 12 states came to the latest APP Next stop, and two names shined above the rest.
Tristan Dussault and Averry Chew claimed the overall titles with dominant performances: a Triple Crown for both. Gold in everything they played. No doubt, no debate.
But at APP Next, it’s not just about competing. Off the court, the young athletes received hands-on mentorship from APP Founder Ken Herrmann and APP U.S. National Team head coaches Chad Edwards and Lee Whitwell.
Imagine being 17 and getting advice from the man who built the tour. That’s APP Next.
Where The Number Ones Come From
If anyone doubts that the program works, just look at the rankings.
Jack Munro came through APP Next. Today he’s the No. 1 men’s doubles pro on the APP Tour and ranks among the top 10 all-time in several APP Tour medal categories.
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Ronan Camron came from here too. Today his name sits atop the APP Tour men’s pro singles rankings. The best player on tour.
And the list goes on: Richard Livornese Jr., Tristan Dussault, Riley Bohnert, Emilia Schmidt… Names that went from APP Next courts to pro podiums and into the record books.
It’s no coincidence. It’s a pathway.
How The Factory Works
APP Next is designed for players ages 16 to 23, and its formula combines three key elements:
Three-day tournaments with high-level competition
On-court instruction and educational seminars with experienced coaches
A $15,000 purse, split equally among the top five male and top five female finishers
And the most valuable part: eligible matches award APP Tour professional ranking points. Here, players aren’t just competing for a medal. They’re competing for a way into the pro game.
In 2026, the circuit has already stopped in Kansas City, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and St. Louis.
The Founder’s Voice
For Ken Herrmann, APP Next isn’t just another program. It’s personal:
“APP Next is one of the most meaningful things we do at the APP because it gives young players the opportunity to discover how far they can go. Watching players gain confidence, grow through competition and take that next step toward a professional career is incredibly rewarding to me. Pickleball’s future depends on the opportunities we create for its young athletes today, and we have a responsibility to give them the coaching, encouragement and competitive foundation to succeed. That is why this series means so much to the APP, and why it will remain central to our vision for the sport.”
The National Team: The Elite Of The Elite
Since 2023, APP Next has had one more step up: the APP U.S. National Team, made up of 10 to 12 of the fastest-rising pickleball professionals in the world, representing the APP at home and abroad.
Nobody gets in by luck. Players are selected based on their rankings and ratings, tournament results, head-to-head records and development potential. The roster has included collegiate champions, APP Tour medalists, top APP Next players… and even players as young as 14.
Next Stop: Florida
APP Next is coming to the Sunshine State. From December 11 to 13, the series heads to The Fort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It’s a golden opportunity for the state’s young talent and for fans who want to see tomorrow’s champions up close.
The 2027 schedule will be announced soon. Program details and registration are available at TheAPP.global/APP-Next.
Because every great champion had a first tournament, and every star had someone who believed in them before anyone else.
APP Next is that first tournament. And that someone.
From Kansas City to Fort Lauderdale, the APP Tour’s development program keeps doing what it does best: turning young prospects into tomorrow’s stars. And the numbers prove it: the players who competed here yesterday are ruling the pro tour today.
They’re between 16 and 23 years old. They show up with a paddle in their hand, fire in their eyes and a dream they don’t quite dare to say out loud yet: to turn pro.
This past weekend in Kansas City, that dream got a little closer.
Kansas City: Two Triple Crowns And A Clear Message
From October 23 to 25, Chicken N Pickle in Overland Park, Kansas, became the lab of the future. 35 athletes from 12 states came to the latest APP Next stop, and two names shined above the rest.
Tristan Dussault and Averry Chew claimed the overall titles with dominant performances: a Triple Crown for both. Gold in everything they played. No doubt, no debate.
But at APP Next, it’s not just about competing. Off the court, the young athletes received hands-on mentorship from APP Founder Ken Herrmann and APP U.S. National Team head coaches Chad Edwards and Lee Whitwell.
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Imagine being 17 and getting advice from the man who built the tour. That’s APP Next.
Where The Number Ones Come From
If anyone doubts that the program works, just look at the rankings.
Jack Munro came through APP Next. Today he’s the No. 1 men’s doubles pro on the APP Tour and ranks among the top 10 all-time in several APP Tour medal categories.
LOVE PICKLEBALL?
Get Dink Authority Magazine updates, new editions, pro stories and event alerts.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ronan Camron came from here too. Today his name sits atop the APP Tour men’s pro singles rankings. The best player on tour.
And the list goes on: Richard Livornese Jr., Tristan Dussault, Riley Bohnert, Emilia Schmidt… Names that went from APP Next courts to pro podiums and into the record books.
It’s no coincidence. It’s a pathway.
How The Factory Works
APP Next is designed for players ages 16 to 23, and its formula combines three key elements:
Three-day tournaments with high-level competition
On-court instruction and educational seminars with experienced coaches
A $15,000 purse, split equally among the top five male and top five female finishers
And the most valuable part: eligible matches award APP Tour professional ranking points. Here, players aren’t just competing for a medal. They’re competing for a way into the pro game.
In 2026, the circuit has already stopped in Kansas City, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and St. Louis.
The Founder’s Voice
For Ken Herrmann, APP Next isn’t just another program. It’s personal:
“APP Next is one of the most meaningful things we do at the APP because it gives young players the opportunity to discover how far they can go. Watching players gain confidence, grow through competition and take that next step toward a professional career is incredibly rewarding to me. Pickleball’s future depends on the opportunities we create for its young athletes today, and we have a responsibility to give them the coaching, encouragement and competitive foundation to succeed. That is why this series means so much to the APP, and why it will remain central to our vision for the sport.”
The National Team: The Elite Of The Elite
Since 2023, APP Next has had one more step up: the APP U.S. National Team, made up of 10 to 12 of the fastest-rising pickleball professionals in the world, representing the APP at home and abroad.
Nobody gets in by luck. Players are selected based on their rankings and ratings, tournament results, head-to-head records and development potential. The roster has included collegiate champions, APP Tour medalists, top APP Next players… and even players as young as 14.
Next Stop: Florida
APP Next is coming to the Sunshine State. From December 11 to 13, the series heads to The Fort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It’s a golden opportunity for the state’s young talent and for fans who want to see tomorrow’s champions up close.
The 2027 schedule will be announced soon. Program details and registration are available at TheAPP.global/APP-Next.
Because every great champion had a first tournament, and every star had someone who believed in them before anyone else.
APP Next is that first tournament. And that someone.
