The MJCCA Hosts a Pickleball Tournament with Players From All Across Georgia, and Ages Ranging from 10 � 86 Years
The MJCCA’s Active Mature Adults department recently hosted a state-wide Doubles Pickleball Tournament, featuring three brackets of pickleball: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. 72 players (36 pairs), ranging in age from 10-86, came from across the state to participate.
Pickleball has been called “one of the fastest growing sports in America” by ESPN – 1400 AM. ESPN states, “Playing pickleball is a great way to stay active and healthy because it’s so fun. It’s the perfect game to play as a family; it is one of the few sports where kids, parents, and grandparents can all play together!”
The MJCCA Doubles Pickleball Tournament Recap
The advanced bracket – Out of the eight pairs that competed in the advanced bracket, the winning pair was: Bobby Russell (from Dunwoody), and Kevin Lenze (from Peachtree City).
The intermediate bracket – Out of the 24 pairs that competed in the intermediate bracket, the winning pair was: Basti Grau and Keland Scher (both from Druid Hills).
The beginner bracket – Out of the four pairs that competed in the beginner bracket, the winning pair was: father and son, Beau and Trevor Nugent (both from Kennesaw).
Players came to the MJCCA’s pickleball tournament that day from all over the state: Alpharetta, Dahlonega, Macon, Covington, Roswell, Snellville, Suwanee, Peachtree City, Helen, Norcross, Lilburn, Duluth, Decatur, and Woodstock.
“This event was such a terrific tournament. One player even came from Birmingham to play pickleball at the MJCCA,” says Nora Floersheim, Volunteer Coordinator of the MJCCA’s pickleball program. “The teams that participated in the tournament included a father-son, father-daughter, grandfather-grandson, and a husband-wife team. Extended family members were there to cheer on the players. It truly was a family affair.”
MJCCA Pickleball History
“We have had pickleball at the MJCCA since 2010,” explains Ed Feldstein, MJCCA’s Active Mature Adults committee co-chair. “The late Sid Cojac brought the game to the JCC after he experienced it in Charlotte, where he had lived. It took us a while to gain momentum for pickleball at the MJCCA. I remember going up to the fitness center and begging people to give the sport a try. Once people started playing, they were hooked. The program started with a group of four or five people, and it took months to add to those numbers.”
The MJCCA now has more than 200 people on the pickleball mailing list with 50-60 people playing pickleball on a regular basis six days a week. Nora Floersheim has been giving pickleball lessons to beginners on Mondays. In addition, this year the MJCCA has added a series of clinics to help beginners learn the game and allow more immediate players to improve their skills.
“Our dedicated group of players is always seeking new members, so please come and try pickleball with us,” says Feldstein. “Many of the people that have recently learned how to play have then become part of the pickleball program at the MJCCA. The lessons are a significant component in the welcoming atmosphere that has been created and sustained on our pickleball courts, and we are grateful to Nora for her leadership."
“Pickleball is a sport for all ages,” says Floersheim. “We have had players ranging in age from 10-101. Pickleball is an inter-generational sport. At one point we had a grandfather, son, and grandson all playing together. Pickleball is inter-gender, extremely supportive, friendly, and social. It is truly a joy to be a part of this wonderful activity.”
The next MJCCA pickleball tournament will be held in spring 2020.
For More Info about MJCCA Pickleball
Contact Earl Finley at 678.812.4070, earl.finley@atlantajcc.org or visit atlantajcc.org/pickleball.
###