OS1st Partners with Pickleball Newport Beach Tournament Champion James Ignatowich
The Leading Brand of Performance Socks and Compression Bracing Products Teams Up with Professional Pickleball Champion to Highlight the Importance of Health and Wellness
HICKORY, NC (April 4, 2023)—OS1st, the leading manufacturer of performance socks and compression-bracing products, today announced it entered into an agreement with professional pickleball champion, James Ignatowich, to act as a sponsored athlete and brand ambassador .
Ignatowich began his professional pickleball career in 2022 after a D1 tennis career at Vanderbilt University. During his first professional season, he joined the top 10 world rankings and won the 2022 Major League Pickleball Newport Beach Tournament. In 2023, he took gold at the Pickleball Professional Association Indoor National Championships in both Men’s Singles and Mixed Pro Doubles with Catherine Parenteau.
Ignatowich’s passion for the sport is evident in his performance on and off the court. He’s known for his razor-sharp focus, coordination and agility. In fact, his split-step was once so enthusiastic he was famously called out by a referee for ‘aggressive stepping’ at the Major League Pickleball Mesa Tournament.
In addition to his athletic achievements, Ignatowich is known for his lighthearted approach to post-match media; delivering viral moments such as dubbing himself “Big Papa Jimmy” later attributing it to the effects of mustard taken for cramps.
“I finally found the one sock that can handle split steps as aggressive as mine,” said Ignatowich. “I’m excited to partner with OS1st, they’ve become my go-to sock on the court, and compression helps stop cramps so now I don’t have to rely on the mustard as much. And, yes, you can quote that from Big Papa Jimmy.”
Ignatowich can often be seen wearing The Pickleball Sock that uses a bamboo charcoal cushion in the heel and toe for friction, impact and blister prevention and a light top panel for heat relief while playing on hot surfaces.
“We’ve been fans of James since day one for both his talent and playful spirit on the court. We are thrilled to welcome him as an OS1st sponsored athlete,” said Josh Higgins, president of OS1st. “As the pickleball community expands and athletes continue to perfect their craft, we are committed to providing innovative and sustainable solutions to help athletes perform to the best of their abilities.”
To learn more about OS1st, please visit our website at https://os1st.com/.
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About OS1st
OS1st® performance socks and compression bracing keep players on the pickleball court by targeting and preventing pain from a variety of conditions. Made with high-quality materials and Compression Zone® Technology, our products were designed together with podiatrists, athletes, and real people to target Plantar Fasciitis, bunions, knee injury and more. The science behind every OS1st product is what makes it the number one compression bracing product in United States specialty retail. OS1st® is the official sock and compression bracing product of Life Time® Pickleball and the Pro Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour.