It was a crisp January morning when I showed up to my first pickleball clinic, not knowing what I was getting myself into. That’s when I saw Janice—rocking a super cute outfit, radiating positivity, and warmly welcoming me to the group. We hit it off instantly. By the end of the clinic, we’d exchanged numbers, and our casual chats quickly turned into texts filled with funny pickleball memes, travel inspo, adorable pups, and our shared obsession with matcha and all things pink. As our friendship grew, so did our time on the courts. Not only did we play pickleball together, but we also teamed up with our significant others and friends. Now, we’re on the lookout for a tournament to showcase our killer skills. But what makes Janice so special isn’t just her fun-loving nature; she’s an incredibly thoughtful and genuine friend. She’s always checking in, cheering others on, and finding ways to make the people around her feel loved, heard, and special. Oh, and her matcha cookies? Absolute perfection—just like her! From that first morning in January to now, Janice has become one of my closest friends, and I’m so excited to stand by her side as she starts this amazing next chapter.

I met Janice on the sidelines of ultimate frisbee as she supported my teammate Derek. I had recently moved to LA that year and Janice was one of the first friends I made. At first we would chat on the sidelines but then the more we chatted, the more we realized we had in common. I would look forward to Janice bringing Angel to the sidelines with her and if she didn’t tag along, soon Janice was bringing all sort of baked goodies with her. Our team quickly became her very willing taste testers as she tried out new things to bake. Our friendship moved off the frisbee fields and onto the pickleball courts where she and Derek first started their new found interest. My husband and I would play with them until they quickly surpassed our tennis-fueled level of pickleball. As I am competitive and know Janice would kick my butt at pickleball now, we have moved over to ice cream dates and chats with my beloved cat Ace joining us. Janice is the most caring and attentive friend and I know that translates over as a partner as well. She and Derek complement each other in the best ways and I cannot wait to be a part of their special day.

Janice and I’s story began with frisbee (shocker I know!) I moved to LA for grad school and started playing Pasadena pick up with Janice’s fiancé Derek. I’d often bring along one of my rental pups (I dogsit), and quickly became acquainted with Janice through our mutual love for dogs. For months, it was a cute cycle of Janice loving on my dogs, while I loved on her homemade cookies ;)  Seriously, the best. Her generosity and kindness were tangible, and we soon began to spend more time together off of the frisbee field. Through countless pickleball matches, coffee dates, beach days and day trips, I learned more and more about Janice. To this day I am in awe of her artistry, humility and sweet nature. She is such a special person to be around, and MOST deserving of the incredible marriage I know she and Derek will share 🩷

I met Janice on Derek’s frisbee team back in 2021, and we connected right away. I am one of Janice’s biggest fans when it comes to her baked goods—I always compliment them whenever Janice brings treats to practice or tournaments. We always find fun and unique things to do together, like visiting a wolf sanctuary or trying goat yoga, which has made our time together even more memorable.

Derek and I of course met playing frisbee, but my wife, Megan, is actually the reason Derek and I met! Megan and Derek were on the same summer league team. I was in town visiting prior to moving to LA and convinced Andy Bandit to let him sub for the tournament. Quickly, I realized that Derek could run down his overthrows and then we started talking about mechanical engineering. At the end of the day, I turned to Megan and said “super nice nerdy engineer that plays frisbee, we are going to be friends with him.” The rest is history from being the first official member of our club team Spoiler Alert to many weekends of running around. Megan and I were extremely excited when Derek talked about a cute soft spoken girl that has a dog. We realized quickly that this was special. Often Derek and I talk aerospace engineering while Janice and Megan talk arts. Now the four of us enjoy sushi nights with many more to come!

I met Derek a little over ten years ago (Wow time flies). I met him like many of the groomsmen on the ultimate frisbee field. First thing that I noticed was God, this guy is fast. I felt like I could keep up with him for the first few seconds, but then he hit that second gear and was gone. I remember thinking this guy is a problem. We ended up on a summer league team 10 years ago. Our captain picked us because we were young and fast and full of energy. (Remember those days, when we were considered young and fast and full of pep?). We had a great season full of young guns running all over the field, throwing our bodies around, with no care in the world. I remember Derek, besides being a great player, just being a sincere, kind, and warm dude (he was temperamental on the field though, I remember him spiking the disc and swearing at opposing players. I think he's matured though, he only swears at himself now). We got on really well from the beginning. Like most guys, I considered him a friend, but never really hung out outside of the frisbee field until much later. Now we live together and played on the same club team for years. It's just been a wonderful time and relationship and I hope the best for him and his life with Janice moving forward.

As long as I have played Ultimate in LA D Lay has been part of the scene. He may have driven in from Texas, but he is an East Side Baller. My experience playing ultimate frisbee in LA has been so much better because of Derek’s beaming, smile, fierce, competitive play, and mindful leadership. His generosity and humble presence have made my life better on and off the field whether we are making a fool of ourselves on the dance floor or on the Pickleball court I can always rely on the incredible integrity that Derek demonstrates for his whole community. I feel like a better person knowing that I have him as a friend and teammate. Janice and Derek are a match made in heaven cuz golly, does she sure live up to so many of these same values. I love this couple and am so impressed with their partnership as they face the challenges of the world together.

It was a dark and stormy Tuesday night… Just kidding the weather was fine but it was in fact a Tuesday night when I found myself on the same frisbee field as Derek. As a fellow dashingly handsome half Asian, with (decent) speed, i think it was meant to be. In all seriousness, it was his fiancé’s obsession with my cute dog that drew me to Derek. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to play on numerous teams graced by Derek’s quiet demeanor yet fierce athleticism. He was also the first to offer to help me move apartments in this crazy city. My fellow dog dad, and the Barnacle Boy to my Mermaid man, Derek is an all around good dude and I’m glad to know him.

Uhhh I met him when I was born so….