Miami claims Challenger level title with Match 3 victory over Chicago
The Miami Pickleball Club (Milan Rane, Eric Oncins, Bobbi Oshiro, Noe Khlif) are the 2024 Challenger level champions after a 2-1 series win over the Chicago Slice (Jack Munro, Megan Fudge, Wyatt Stone, Michelle Esquivel).
The Slice were without two of their usual players with Brendon Long and Allison Harris out with injuries, but Stone and Esquivel filled in admirably to help get them to the final.
The two squads traded sweeps in their first two matches on Sunday; Miami swept the first 3-0, while Chicago did the same in the second.
In the deciding match, Rane/Oshiro struck first for Miami with a dominant 25-10 victory over Fudge/Esquivel.
Oncins/Khlif followed suit in men’s doubles, earning a tightly contested 28-26 win over Munro/Stone to give Miami a 2-0 advantage going into mixed doubles.
Fudge/Munro helped Chicago stay alive with a 28-26 victory over Rane/Oncins in the first mixed doubles contest, but Oshiro/Khlif clinched the title with a comfortable 25-11 win over Esquivel/Stone in the final Challenger level match of the season.
Even though it was Miami who ultimately triumphed in Central Florida, all four Challenger teams competing this weekend have earned a promotion to the Premier level in 2025.
That list includes Miami and Chicago, of course, as well as the SoCal Hard Eights (who took third place on Sunday) and Atlanta Bouncers.
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