featured-image

CEDARBURG — After a career playing and coaching tennis, a Wisconsin woman traded her racket for a paddle. She had immediate success. Gina Cilento has only been playing pickleball for seven years, and she is already a professional.

“I’ve won, you know, maybe five medals out of the eight tournaments I’ve played," Cilento said. At one point she was ranked as high as 15th in the country for senior women. In 2024, she was drafted by the Indy Drivers to be in the National Pickleball League.



She has also played on the Association of Pickleball Players tour. She has played in Chicago, New York City, and all across the country. Beyond being a pro, she is creating a robust pickleball community in Cedarburg.

She started the Pickleball Lab in Nov. 2021. It's a members-only pickleball club.

It has two indoor courts with plans to build one outdoor court. "I knew a lot of big chains were going to be opening up and they're massive environments. There's 17, 18 court facilities, and I wanted something more intimate, cozy, you know the people that belong so you can network easily with getting play," Cilento said.

It costs $350 to join and is $30 per month. Her goal was to create an environment of like-minded pickleball players. She personally screens each applicant before they are allowed to join.

You have to call her cell - (414) 975-7673. So far there are about 140 members. “I wanted to build a boutique experience.

Not all you can play pickleball, but just like a small intimate expe.

Back to Fashion Page