The Figueras Siblings: Family, Fun, and Finding Community at RT.12 Pickle

---

If you spend enough time around the courts at RT.12 Pickle, you’ll likely hear them before you see them. Laughter, friendly trash talk, maybe even a debate about whether a “drive drop” is a real shot, that’s usually the sign that the Figueras siblings are in the building.

Ali, Caryn, and Matt have become familiar faces at RT.12, and in case you didn’t know, there’s also a fourth sibling, Andrea! Whether they’re competing in league play, jumping into open games, or showing up in costume for a themed event, they bring humor and energy everywhere they go. But their story isn’t just about pickleball. It’s about family, resilience, and how shared experiences can bring people closer together.

A Bond Built on Sibling Energy

Like many families, the Figueras siblings share a dynamic that’s equal parts teasing, loyalty, and laughter. From the moment they sit down together, their playful chemistry fills the room. Their stories overlap, their jokes fly mid-sentence, and somehow it all just works. “I’m not mad, I’m just mad that I’m mad,” they all laughed, recounting one inside joke. On the courts, that same connection shows up naturally. They seem to read each other’s minds. Sometimes it’s a grunt, sometimes it’s a funny face, or a hand signal only they understand.

That sibling bond runs deeper than pickleball. Every morning, no matter where they are, they hop on what they affectionately call their “daily morning podcast.” In reality, it’s a daily group conference call during their commutes to work. “Ali’s always the moderator,” Andrea explains. “We all know to call Ali, and then everyone jumps on.” The topics range from family updates to friendly debates, and yes, “A lot of times it’s pickleball,” Ali admits.

Each sibling brings their own unique energy to the group. “Caryn is thoughtful, generous, and inclusive,” says Ali. “She always makes sure everyone feels welcome and involved.” Andrea adds warmth and wit. “She’s kind and genuine, but also hilarious—she always has a movie quote or one-liner ready,” Ali laughs. And Matt? “Matt’s just a big bear,” Ali says fondly. “He’ll tease you endlessly, but it’s all out of love.”

On and off the court their mix of personalities creates the perfect blend of fun and support.

Discovering Pickleball

The Figueras siblings all come from a tennis background, but their introduction to pickleball happened by chance. Caryn, a physical education teacher, first encountered the sport at an end-of-year school event that we had here at RT.12. “I was like, what’s this all about? I didn’t even know the place was here,” she recalls. “We played and I thought, oh my God, this is so fun.”

It turned out to be more than just a game. During a difficult period when their mom was ill, pickleball gave the siblings something joyful to share again. “After she passed, I realized we weren’t seeing each other as much,” Caryn said. “So I said, let’s play pickleball.” Soon, it became their favorite way to stay connected, and they were loving every minute of it.

A Home at RT.12

RT.12 Pickle quickly became their home base. “RT.12 is where we learned,” they all agreed. What keeps them coming back is the atmosphere. “It’s welcoming,” they say. “Even if you haven’t been here in a while, they’ll greet you like an old friend.”

That sense of community, and the encouragement from coaches has made a big difference. “The coaches always have nice things to say, or offer little tips,” Caryn notes. “Even when they’re just watching you play, they’ll help you improve.”

Four Players, Four Styles

Like any good sibling crew, each of the Figueras siblings plays with a distinct style.

“Captain Chaos on the end,” Matt jokes, pointing to Ali. “She runs around the court making up her own shots!”

Matt however recalls his own style as a bit of a 'Superman'. He can get to any ball, "especially the high ones," Andrea emphasized.

Andrea sums up her approach with a laugh: “My style is just to get in the way—however you can get to it, with whatever body part, just get there.”

Caryn’s game, on the other hand, is all about precision. “She hits this angled cross-court shot to your backhand—it’s amazing,” Ali says. And as for Ali herself? “I still play with a bit of a tennis mindset,” she admits. “It’s hard to break old habits!”

Pickleball With Personality

If you’ve spotted players in wigs, sequins, or themed costumes at RT.12, there’s a good chance it was the Figueras crew. For them, pickleball is as much about fun as it is about competition.

One of their favorite memories? “When I dressed up as Caryn,” Ali recalls. “I had the big blonde wig, McDonald’s Diet Coke and everything, and my partner dressed up as Matt.” What made that memory even better, "was breaking our losing streak," Matt and Caryn laughingly recalled, "we beat 'ourselves'."

Themed events are Caryn’s specialty. From Christmas outfits to her Halloween costume “Martini Navratilova”, to coordinated team looks like “The Solid Gold Dinkers,” she brings the fun wherever she goes. “If someone says dress up,” Caryn laughs, “we’ll dress up.”

Pickleball Meets Vacation

The Figueras family loved beach vacations long before pickleball entered the picture. Now, the sport has found its way into those trips too.

“We’re wicked big beach people,” Caryn explains. Their summer traditions include trips throughout New England—from Cape Cod to Maine—often involving beach driving, grilling, and long days by the water. But now, there’s a new step added to the routine. “We used to wake up and go straight to the beach,” they said. “Now we wake up, go play pickleball first… and then go to the beach.”

More Than a Game

For the Figueras siblings, pickleball is more than a hobby. It’s a way to connect, to share laughs, to remember what matters most, and at RT.12 Pickle, they’ve found a place that embraces that same spirit of community.