Auvergne, a member of the D.C. Pickleball Team under the Major League Pickleball (MLP) banner and fitness industry professional, has utilized his tremendous reach and undeniable athleticism to become a top player in the sport.
February 28, 2023 – Stefan Auvergne, a top professional pickleball player despite discovering the sport only two years ago in 2021, inked a sponsorship contract today with the leading pickleball paddle brand, Selkirk Sport. Auvergne has experienced a quick rise to the highest levels of pickleball, and he made noise in 2022 with several impressive results and deep tournament runs, particularly on the Association of Professional Pickleball (APP) Tour circuit. Auvergne currently competes alongside Shelby Bates, Monica Paolicelli, and decorated American tennis player Sam Querrey on the D.C. Pickleball Team. DCPT’s ownership group includes Al Tylis, Sam Porter, Eva Longoria, Justin Verlander, Kate Upton, Rip Hamilton, Shawn Marion, Odell Beckham Jr. and Mesut Ozil. He has opted to wield the popular Vanguard Power Air for its unparalleled pop and high-rpm spin rate.
“We are thrilled to welcome Stefan Auvergne to Team Selkirk”, said Mike Barnes, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Selkirk Sport. “Stefan is an incredible player and advocate for our great sport, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for him as an important member of our great team of professional athletes here at Selkirk.”
Auvergne is a jack of all trades with a particularly unique background ahead of his rise in the world of professional pickleball. Originally from France, Auvergne moved to the United States and achieved a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from North Carolina State University in 2013 as well as a Masters degree in Computer Science from Nova Southeastern University in 2017. One of Auvergne’s primary passions is health and fitness, and he has over five years of experience as a Personal Trainer working with and improving the lives of countless clients at both the FitnessEffect facility and his alma mater of North Carolina State University. Auvergne also streamlined his passion for fitness as an IOS Engineer at Fitbod, a fitness and workout app that keeps workout ideas fresh and supports users as their fitness needs evolve.
Off of the court, Auvergne’s interests also include competitive gaming and race car driving. Coming from a high level tennis background, he first discovered pickleball when he noticed people playing in the parking lot of his gym. He asked to jump in and picked a paddle up for the first time. Since then, he has utilized his racquet sports background and experience to climb the ranks, becoming a well-rounded player in singles, gender doubles, and mixed doubles. He has settled in the pickleball hotspot of Austin, Texas, where he is able to train regularly amongst several other top players in the world. Auvergne has risen to become known as one of the craftiest left-handed players on tour, and he will be among the deep roster of Selkirk players looking to grow their game and achieve new heights in 2023.
About Selkirk Sport
Selkirk Sport, a Made-in-the-USA Manufacturer of Pickleball paddles and accessories, is a family-owned and operated company based in Hayden, Idaho, located in the shadows of its namesake, the Selkirk mountain range. Founded in 2014, Selkirk Sport is born off a passion for sport, as well as the great western outdoor leisure lifestyle that was afforded to the Company’s founders, Rob and Mike Barnes, along with their father Jim, who is Selkirk’s production manager. Backed by the philosophy of always pushing the limits, Selkirk Sport is committed to manufacturing products that deliver the highest performance with unmatched quality and service. As part of their early success, Selkirk Sport was the very first Pickleball manufacturer to offer an unprecedented lifetime warranty on its high-performance products. And, to meet the demands of the game’s premier professionals, the Company regularly develops the latest and greatest paddle technology innovations. Selkirk Sport has become one of the industry’s fastest growing companies with paddles used by many of the game’s premier players, such as Tyson McGuffin, Catherine Parenteau, Parris Todd, Dylan Frazier, James Ignatowich, Mary Brascia, Maggie Brascia, Wesley Gabrielsen, Cammy MacGregor, and a host of others who are premier players and national/regional champions.
