PBD: Special: Meet Team Canada: Open Team: Matthew Kawamoto & Senior player Corey Osborne

[00:00:34] Hello everyone and welcome back to the Pickleball Diaries podcast. I'm your host Andrew Gorman. Unfortunately, Vic's not able to be with us today, but we do have two OGs of the CMPL. We have Matthew Kawamoto and Corey Osborne. Both guys have been in the CMPL for four years. Matt, all four years with Toronto United, inaugural champion, multi-time national champion. And of course, Corey, he has been on a few different teams, but he's been with Jessica Kawamoto every single year.

[00:01:01] Yes, I've been lucky. Matt's sister. And then of course, big thing from last year, Corey on the bronze medal winning team at the World Cup last year in Fort Lauderdale. How you guys doing? Oh, really good. Thanks. How about yourself? Great. Yeah. How are you? I'm doing good. Thank you so much for joining me on the podcast here. So I have, we have a thing that we do for every, every time it's someone's first time on the podcast. How did you guys get into pickleball?

[00:01:29] And whichever one of you wants to go first. I'll go first. I, I kept get bugging by a friend of mine that I played racquetball with to try pickleball out. And I kept telling him, no, I'm not ready yet. And finally had the opportunity to go out and try it and fell in love. And, you know, a month later, I'm on the court playing against Matt Kawamoto.

[00:01:51] So my first tournament, you can see how probably that one went, right? But, uh, uh, yeah, so it was amazing. Uh, I'm so glad I get, I'm happy that I got involved in the sport. I've, uh, not looked back since, and, uh, it is my life now. So.

[00:02:10] Yeah. Mom got the whole family into the sport. Uh, she had a friend who, uh, had a tennis injury and got her into it. And then she got all of us into it. Dad was the last one. And after that, uh, the rest is history. And then, yeah, I met Corey at a, at a tournament in the Georgian triangle. Uh, we played each other. And when I saw him warming up, I was like, Oh, this guy has a lot of potential. He's going to be good.

[00:02:33] And I had heard that it was his first time playing a tournament. And, uh, after, after our match, I remember sitting off to the side and talking with Jess. And then we see Corey going and he looks like he's about to jump the net and he starts picking up speed, picking up speed. And he clears the net with no problem. I'm like, who is this guy? Aspiring to move like you, Maddie. Oh, we had so many good times.

[00:03:01] Yeah. And of course, uh, seeing how you mentioned her a big shout out to your mom, Mrs. Kawamoto. If you guys have not watched the CNPL, you can always hear the Kawamoto clan cheering in the background, whether it's for Matt or whether it's for Jess playing with Corey. Um, it's always a treat to watch. I got to meet her at the, uh, when you guys were in Edmonton in year one, this is right after you were recovering from the, uh, from that, um, that whiplash thing that you had.

[00:03:29] I remember talking to your mom about that when you were at the hat on and the glasses on for the very first time, but amazing human being. She's always a pleasure to talk to and watch. Um, so guys, um, both of you obviously have been pros for a fair amount of time now, obviously four years in the CNPL.

[00:03:49] And you guys are both insanely good coaches as well. I see you guys, I see on your socials all the time. Like you guys go, go away to different countries and do coaching, uh, coaching clinics and stuff like that. But, um, what has gone into like your guys is whether it's preparation or training regimen to get you guys at this level and to stay at this level. Corey, go ahead.

[00:04:13] Yeah. I mean, um, being on court helps, uh, a lot, even, uh, teaching, uh, feeding balls, drilling with, with players. I mean, the more touches you get, uh, I think that is all helpful things. And then, you know, your own kind of training regimen that you have with your own kind of crew where you live and, uh, and getting some gameplay in as well is, uh, all a good, uh, recipe for, you know, hopefully improving.

[00:04:42] And, um, yeah, I think we're, you know, the game has changed so much that we're constantly learning new skills and new shots to keep up with, with the, the game and the technology of the paddles and the balls. And, you know, it's been, uh, it's been amazing. So it's been a cool run. Yeah. I, I couldn't say it, say it better. Uh, the games changed so much that we just have to keep experimenting and trying out new things. And then, uh, yeah, I'm getting on court almost every day drilling once or twice a day.

[00:05:11] Uh, quite often I'll drill with some of my close friends a few times a week, Evelyn and Janet. And then Maria, who's on my Toronto United team is in Ottawa. So I'm lucky to have her. We get to drill usually once or twice a week as well. And I'll go out a second time and sometimes just toss balls, solo toss to myself and analyze my own technique and just get it into muscle memory. So lots of time and effort, but it's, it's definitely worth it. That's awesome. And like, as someone who's watched you guys from the CMPL day one, it's been awesome.

[00:05:41] Just watching your guys' progression. Like, even though I already thought you guys were insanely much better than me at the first year, just watching your guys' improvements and the different shots you guys have developed over the, these four seasons and things like that. It's just been a pleasure to watch. It's been awesome. It's been awesome guys. Thank you. And thank you for all the coverage you do and all the, uh, you know, the wrap ups and everything. I mean, it's a lot of work watching all those matches and reporting back and, uh, it's, it's nice to hear back feedback.

[00:06:10] And it's, uh, it's great to have someone like, um, like you guys, uh, following us and reporting on us. That's kind of cool. Well, thank you. I'm going to replay that to my wife because there are a couple nights I keep her up when I'm watching, watching games that I can't watch live, but, uh, she, she enjoys it too. She's, uh, cause she's actually, she's a little bit higher than me now on the pickleball thing. I'm actually kind of weighing her down a little bit in the mixed department because we play together, but, uh, she's taken a lot of stuff from watching me sitting there analyzing your guys' game.

[00:06:40] She was like, Oh, I really liked that shot that Matt does. Or I really liked that trick shot that Corey did. She goes, I'm going to implement that. Right. So hold down the line. I know that one. Well, yeah. And the funny thing was we were actually just in the Alberta provincials, um, a week or two ago and we got into, uh, we are the game that got us into the gold medal name. Irene won it with a down the line shot. Like I was like, Oh, perfect. Right. So I saw her play in Alberta. She was playing really well when we were at the, uh, in Red Deer.

[00:07:11] Yeah. Yeah. It's been, it's been really fun. And so, yeah, unfortunately because, because she's been playing so well, well, bittersweet, she's on, she made team Alberta to go play at the national. So I'm going to be going there with her. So unfortunately I won't be able to watch you guys play in Burnaby, but, uh, I'll have to retroactively go back and rewatch the games there. That's good. You're going though. That's close to our home. Yeah, I know. Well, figures, right. You guys are all over there. The majority of the season. And the one time I do go over there, you guys are over in Vancouver.

[00:07:37] Um, so, uh, this one's for Corey. Uh, so Corey, obviously last year, you guys got the bronze medal in the world cup. You guys are bringing back almost the exact same team. I think almost the same team this year. So running it back, uh, how awesome it is to bring that team back for another shot at the podium, maybe even improving, get up to that, uh, get up into that gold medal game.

[00:08:01] Yeah, it's, uh, it's great. You know, when you, when you're comfortable playing with people and you're not having to relearn or, you know, play with someone you haven't played with before, it's always helpful. I think, um, and just the experience, I mean, you know, going to Vietnam and playing in Da Nang is going to be just incredible experience. And, you know, to be able to share it with a lot of the people that I love in pickleball is even a better experience.

[00:08:24] Uh, yeah, we want to win. Uh, but you know, we're going to put it all out there for our country and do the best we can. And, uh, hopefully we can repeat or do better. And, uh, I think last year our draw, uh, unfortunately we came up against the, uh, U S team in the semifinals and lost in the tiebreaker, which was heartbreaking. Uh, and they won pretty easy in the finals. So, um, you know, I think there's definitely, uh, a chance to, uh, win the whole thing if we, uh, come together and play well.

[00:08:54] Absolutely. And then for you, Matt, uh, obviously you couldn't play last year because of the duper cap, you were too good. Right. So, but, uh, thankfully they've removed the duper cap this year and now the team this year, like it's you, Ernesto, uh, Ryan and Sophie, Jada, Louise. It's literally a CMPL all-star team. Um, what is it going to be like? I know, and I know you and Ernesto played a lot. Like you guys are back-to-back national champions as well. Uh, what is it going to be like? Um,

[00:09:23] basically playing on this all-star team with all these insanely good players. I, you know what? I'm honored to be asked, uh, to represent Canada and I'm so happy and, uh, grateful that I get to share the court with, with these wonderful people and coach them. Uh, they're wonderful people. They are great athletes and great for the sport. And I, I actually, because I haven't been there, I don't know how we're going to do.

[00:09:46] I, I know we have a, a good chance of doing well because, uh, we, we have a amazing players. I just, uh, I don't know what kind of quality is going to be down there. So either way, it's going to be a great experience and I'm super excited to go down with them.

[00:10:00] Awesome. And then for both of you guys, um, obviously, uh, like Corey, you've experienced, you experienced this last year, but obviously for a lot of athletes playing or representing your country on the world stage is always a big thing on the bucket list. Um, what is, what is it for you guys to be able to just represent the country on this world stage against like 90 plus other countries?

[00:10:23] Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's always, when you're carrying your flag, it's always something special, uh, in sport and, uh, you know, it's definitely becomes a really emotional time when you're playing, you know, uh, it's, it's incredible. It's, uh, not many people get to do it and, uh, having the opportunity is wonderful. So, uh, I'm proud and I'm proud of the, my team and even the chat of the team around us. Uh,

[00:10:50] they've done so much to get us there and, uh, put this team together. It's, uh, we're so lucky to have the, the volunteers and the coaches and the management staff and everybody who's pitched in to get us there. It's, uh, you know, it's amazing. I also think it's really cool that although all of us are CNPL players and we play against each other, we're coming together as one. And, uh, I think we're going to make a great team. It's, it's really cool to, to be able to do that and play with Ernesto and Ryan again.

[00:11:20] And, and so in Jada and Louise, uh, yeah, it, it's going to be an unbelievable experience. Perfect. And, um, one last question for each of you guys, uh, just so I don't take up too much of your time. Um, so for someone like me, who's like right around that four or five kind of starting to push the five Oh barrier there.

[00:11:39] Um, in comparison to that, to getting to like, say the pro level, what is like a fundamental either drill or something they work on like footwork that you guys think is necessary that you don't see maybe a lot of people working on that want to aspire to be a higher level.

[00:11:56] I'm big on footwork and balance, you know, hitting every ball, the, the more, you know, the better footwork you have and better preparation, uh, before your shot and being balanced when you're hitting that shot is definitely going to increase your consistency. And consistency is pretty much, uh, you know, the, the, the game breaker of, uh, winning more rallies.

[00:12:20] So, yeah, I had a clinic this week for three fives and four Oh's on footwork and mobility and just efficiency of the footwork. But also to go off of that, I think the control and softness is a huge aspect. The paddles are changing and everyone's going into power powder power paddles and just bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. But if you can control that paddle and just start placing it a little better rather than exchanging power with power, uh, it gives you a big advantage. What do we say? Make it bounce, eh, Matt?

[00:12:49] Yeah. Make the ball bounce. That's perfect. I love hearing that. Cause that's the type of game I play where Irene is the more aggressive kind of banger. So we kind of compliment each other with that, but I love hearing. I'm not saying that there isn't just, no, no, no, no. She's, she's got the soft game too. But like when it's funny, cause when you compare the two, it's when we play mix, it's almost like she plays more of like the stereotypical kind of guy role. And then I'm like the resetter and like set up person for her.

[00:13:16] So when, when Corey and I played the split age, uh, well last year, but also at the U S open, I was the guy who was taking up more space, but mainly just setting Corey up for the finishers. Yeah. Yeah. We, we actually, we had a very good tournament and, uh, lost to some very good players. So, uh, that was one of my, uh, favorite experiences, uh, in pickleball. Definitely that.

[00:13:39] Yeah. Yeah. They should have, they should have that event more. Like I know the, the APA did it in red year where they had the split age category, but I like to see that at nationals or even at the world cup where you get to do that split. Cause I know there's a couple of people at my club here that are over that 50 that I'd love to play with for that. Yeah. Yeah. We can play together again, Corey. We'll do it again for sure, buddy.

[00:14:00] All right, boys. Um, I'm not going to take up any more of your time. Thank you so much for being on here. Uh, for those of you, uh, watching or listening, if you want to catch these two in action before the world cup, they're both going to be in Burnaby on August 29th and 30th playing in the season finale. Um, Matt, Matt's team is trying to catch that number one spot. They're only at what, two games back at the smash there, Matt. Two games. Yeah. And then Corey's team, I think just needs one win to lock up that last spot.

[00:14:30] But then I think you guys can also hop the, uh, hop the lions. If, uh, if you guys, or the owls game for sure, or the owls. Yeah. And you guys have been on fire the last couple of games, the last couple of splits. So yeah, we're looking forward to it. Well, yeah. With the addition with Jacob and who's also a junior team, uh, team member of the Canada. Yeah. That's made a big difference. Yeah. He's really been a good big part of our team. So yeah. Awesome. Perfect.

[00:14:59] All right. Well, thank you so much for being on here guys. Um, it's been a pleasure watching you these past four seasons and watching and it'll be fun to watch you guys compete at the world cup. Uh, can't wait to, uh, talk to you guys again. Unfortunately, I won't be in Vancouver to, uh, to talk to you guys, but hopefully I run past with you guys, uh, either season or either, either in the playoffs. If I can pull that off to be off or, uh, or next season as well, but, uh, good luck guys. And we'll be cheering for you for sure. Good luck. Thank you. Yeah.

[00:15:30] Take care. Thanks again for everything you do. Thanks guys. All right, guys. Okay. Take care. Bye. Bye. Cheers.