5th Annual Cypress Cove Pickleball Tournament

March 9, 2013 (Kissimmee, FL) — The 5th Annual Cypress Cove Pickleball Tournament was held today at beautiful Cypress Cove Nudist Resort and Spa just south of Orlando. Treated to beautiful, warm early Spring weather, twenty-four competitors from as far away as Germany played in a full day’s tournament, which was divided into two halves.

The morning qualifying round started at 9am and matched players with a new partner randomly against random competitors in each of three games to 15. Player’s scores were recorded from each game and each player’s total score for the morning was used to seed them into the afternoon double-elimination bracket tournament.  Above, Phyllis Schnell (L) and Babs Haggerty, both from Solivita, compete in bracket elimination action early Saturday afternoon on March 9 at Cypress Cove.

 Players were matched with others who had equal or similar scores and were paired as partners for the afternoon. All 24 players then played a standard double-elimination tournament for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. Play concluded at 3pm after some very exciting finals-round matches.

All 24 players enjoyed a wonderful day of vigorous competition and camaraderie. Everyone was able to play a minimum of five games to 15, with many teams playing as many as 9 games before the champions were crowned.

Pictured from left to Right are the tournament winners:  Bronze:Tyrone Pasquet (Solivita) &  Brendon Smith (Cypress Cove).   Gold: Tammy Brown (Cypress Cove)& Don Kelleher (Solivita)   and Silver: Tom Guminski (Solivita) & Ray Brown (Cypress Cove)

Interesting notes about the champions: Don Kelleher took Silver at last year’s 4th Annual; Tammy Brown, the only female in the finals today at Cypress Cove, also earned a Bronze in Women’s Doubles 55-59 on the prior Tuesday at the Polk County Senior Games at Solivita. Brendon Smith is just 26 years old and played in his first tournament today!

Pickleball is gaining steam every month at Cypress Cove, where we play at least five mornings a week year-round in a tropical garden setting next to a private 80-acre lake. Contact Mike Sullivan at pickleball@me.com for information on visiting and playing pickleball with the fun, friendly folks from Cypress Cove!

 Pictured are the Gold Medalists Tammy Brown and Don Kelleher.

Tanglewood pickleball players fare well in tourney
www2.highlandstoday.com - March 9, 2013, Poinciana, FL

 On March 5 and 6, several of Tanglewood's pickleball players traveled north to Solivita at Poinciana, which is 20 minutes south of Disney World, to participate in the Polk County Senior Games. Solivita is an active-adult-lifestyle community boasting seven pickleball courts, with another four to be built in the near future.

The Polk Senior Games served as another chance for Tanglewood players to hone their skills in preparation for the Heartland Games for Active Adults Pickleball Tournament that will be held at Tanglewood on March 15 and 16. Pickleball has the largest registration of the 13 events that comprise the Heartland Games, which speaks volumes about the growing popularity of the sport.

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More pictures from the Polk Senior Games can be found at
www.the ledger.com. CLICK HERE

The MJCCA Hosts Successful Pickleball Tournament With Players From All Across Georgia, and Ages Ranging from 16 – 99 Years

On Sunday, March 3, 2013, the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) Mature Adults hosted their second Pickle Ball Tournament.

This tournament hosted 42 players from all over Georgia – Chateau Elan, Lake Oconee, & Dunwoody ranging in age from 16 – 99.     A great day of Pickleball was had by all.

Grandfather Jerry Schwartz & Grandson Jared Cohen Take First Place. This team was made up of players from the MJCCA.

 Brenda Young & Fred Reese (below) take Second Place. This team was made up of players from Lake Oconee.

 Sid Cojac, Age 99, Known as the MJCCA’s ‘Mayor of Main Street’  also participated  in Tournament

For more information on Pickle Ball at the MJCCA please contact  Lilly.Mahana@atlantajcc.org or 678-812-4064.   The MJCCA plays on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30am-1:00pm September-May. Summer hours vary. Play is free for MJCCA and Silver Sneakers Members and $5 each time you play for Non Members. New players are always welcome.

Tournament organizers are hard at work on a Tournament date for August. The August tournament date will be announced the week of 3/18 and early bird pricing will be available.

Serving up pickleball for Cartersville
 www.daily-tribune.com - March 6, 2013, Cartersville, GA

Cartersville residents will be getting a whiff of pickleball at a weekend clinic aimed at generating local support for the sport. Steve and Patrice Dunn of Cartersville will be conducting the clinic Saturday from 2 until 4 p.m. at the ATCO tennis courts off Goodyear Street.

 The two said they will supply pickleballs and paddles to Cartersville residents who attend.

 He said a lot of cities such as Cartersville do not offer the sport, and one of the aims of the clinic is to spark local interest.

 “Our goal is to have the sports played two or three times a week locally,” Steve Dunn said.

Patrice Dunn said local badminton courts or old tennis courts could be adapted for pickleball, which uses a 34-inch tall net at its center, rather than 36 inches.

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Pickleball league's 'Shootout' attracts strong teams
www2.highlandstoday.com - March 6, 2013, Sebring, FL

Pickleball teams from Del Webb at Haines City, Lake Ashton of Lake Wales and Riverbend in LaBelle came to Tanglewood on Monday to play in the South Central Florida Pickleball League "Shootout" against local teams from Highlands Ridge and Tanglewood.

The A team champs were: Gary Schinderle and Doug Ebeling of Highlands Ridge. In the B division, Doug O'Loughlin and David Majick took top honors. The C flight was a draw while Tanglewood's Debbie Yandell and Diane Reynolds were the D victors.        READ MORE

Pickleball finding its niche
www.sun-sentinel.com - March 3, 2013, Delray Beach, FL

Boynton Beach's Eileen Tuckman, a former racquetball champion, positions herself for a return shot. Her group meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the Delray Beach Community Center.

"We are trying to introduce it to Palm Beach County," his wife said. "We know there are pockets of players out there, but this seems to be a good central point at this time. We are trying (to establish) multi-use pickleball courts. There is no place outside right now to go to."

 Jerome, 74, also of Delray Beach, said the sport will take off once people realize there is a local venue.

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Good Life Games 

 Registration Reminder

 It time to register for the 2013 Good Life Games

 Events are scheduled from March 7th through April 10th 

 Register Today! 

 Download your registration form at: http://www.GoodLifeGames.org

Pickleball at Port St. Lucie Civic Center