David Lawell
Fall in Arizona ushers in tournaments of all kinds for active senior residents. There are golf tournaments, tennis tournaments, softball tournaments and of course, pickleball tournaments.
Pickleball players fall into two groups of competitors. Many players show up every morning just to get up and get moving and greet another sunny day in Arizona. It’s important to play well and win now and then, but the fun is in just the activity and socializing. The other group of players is goal oriented, and their play has an additional purpose aside from those previously mentioned. They are the avid competitors who are taking their game to the next level. Added to the fun they get from just socializing, there is the fun of competing on center court for the hardware given to the champion. So with the start of a new season in Arizona many of your neighbors will compete in area pickleball tournaments. A few are listed here with dates and our community entrants. All information is at time of publication.
Trilogy at Vistancia (Peoria) – 10/16 to 10/19: Brenda and David Amans, Barb Sewell, Sue Sherwood and Karen Woodcock
AZ Senior Olympics (Surprise) – 10/22 to 10/25: Terri Yates and Steve Arthur
Surprise Courts Tournament – 10/30 to 11/1: Donna and Jim Duran and Connie and Fred Koser
East Valley Tournament (Mesa) – 11/17 to 11/19: Steve Arthur, Connie Koser, Jeanine and Kelly McKinna, Pat Pennington, Susan Phillips, Sue Sherwood and M.J. Wong
Voyager Holiday Open (Tucson) – 12/3 to 12/6: Donna and Jim Duran, Terri Yates, Steve Arthur, Dave Wong and David Amans
Steve Judy/Mesa Regal 50+ Tournament – 12/7 to 12/9: Brenda Amans, Sue Sherwood, Jeanine McKinna, Jim Duran and Dave Wong
And last but definitely not least the USAPA Nationals VII – 11/8 to 11/16 to be co-hosted at Robson Ranch and Palm Creek. This year celebrates 50 years of organized pickleball in the U.S., and we are fortunate to have the National Tournament in our area. The events include the following:
Women’s and Men’s Singles: Age Group, Open and Senior Open
Women’s and Men’s Doubles: Age Group, Open and Senior Open
Mixed Doubles: Age Group, Open and Senior Open
Junior Doubles, Singles and Mixed Age Groups
The breakdown of tournament events will be as follows:
All Age Divisions will be at Robson Ranch November 8-11
All Open Divisions will be at Palm Creek November 12-15
Our community players (at press time) registered to play are David Amans, Mike Campbell, Donna and Jim Duran, Al Hager and Artie Wachter.
So with all the opportunities to cheer on your Robson neighbors at any one of the tournaments scheduled in 2015, make time to see them compete and cheer them to victory!