Pickleball Marathon

Photos by Linda Belgiano

Well, that was one incredible weekend! Thanks to everyone who came out to support the Great American Pickleball Marathon on Saturday, Sept. 11.

We thought we had it all covered – but we forgot to invite Mother Nature, so she crashed our event!

As you know, our local segment the Great American Pickleball Marathon was a 12-hour event that ran from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the PC MARC’s 10 pickleball courts. At the same time, pickleball clubs across the country were also playing as part of the marathon effort. 

The event was created as a way to contribute and bring awareness to the Wounded Blue, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of injured and disabled law enforcement officers through support, education & legislation nationwide. This event was held specifically on 9/11 to pay respect to everyone and everything that our nation lost on that date in 2001.

Local dignitaries who participated included Park City Mayor Andy Beerman, who came out and played several games. Basin Recreation District Director Dana Jones and three of her colleagues also enjoyed playing for the first time.

TownLift reporter Parker Malatesta and Park Record Sports Editor Brendan Farrell, who is a PCPC member, also joined in.

More than 150 players participated in the event. We are proud to say that we raised over $2,000 for the Wounded Blue.

PCPC also wants to thank Smith’s, the Market at Park City and Starbucks for keeping us all happy and healthy during our event.

For more coverage of the event, check out the Park Record’s article and photos.

Join the Pickleball Marathon

Photo by Joan Azeka

[The following article was reprinted by permission of TownLift. To register for the pickleball marathon, click here.]

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City Pickleball Club will be hosting The Great American Pickleball Marathon on Saturday, September 11 at the MARC.

Proceeds from the event will go to The Wounded Blue Foundation based out of Las Vegas.

Park City Pickleball Club President Greg Leitzke said he hopes 300 to 500 people come out to play.

The schedule is below:

  • 8 a.m.-10 a.m. – 4.0+ level
  • 10 a.m.-noon – 3.0 level
  • Noon-2 p.m. – 3.5 level
  • 2-4 p.m. – 2.5 level
  • 4-6 p.m. – juniors
  • 6-8 p.m. – open/ social play/ all levels

You can learn more about pickleball player skill ratings here.

You can register for the Marathon here.

For additional information, you can email traceyswen@yahoo.com.

Playing with a champion

Photos by Carol Wexler

How can you make open-play competition at Willow Creek even more exciting? Try adding the No. 1 men’s senior player to the mix.

That’s what happened from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 25, when senior pro Scott Moore dropped by Willow Creek to play. Park City Pickleball Club members rotated into games with Moore, who is not only the top men’s senior player but also the winner of seven Triple Crown pickleball championships.

Moore offered tips, posed for pictures, and showed club members what it’s like to share a court with the best.

Park City Summer Classic

Three days, two locations, scores of volunteers and over 200 players from a dozen states: Add it all up and you have the Park City Summer Classic.

Park City Pickleball Club’s first USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournament was held Aug. 12 (women’s doubles), Aug. 13 (mixed doubles) and Aug. 14 (men’s doubles) at City Park and the Park City MARC.

Medal winners by event and skill level:

Women’s Doubles, 2.5 – Isabel Dulfano and Susan Plomin (gold); Cori Abbruzzese and Joan Ehrlich (silver); Elaine Murray and Melissa Allen (bronze)

Women’s Doubles, 3.0 – Kristina Clayson and Andy Andersen (gold); Shirl Sumner and Timi Fife (silver); Cindy Bedford and Sharron Bird (bronze)

Women’s Doubles, 3.5 – Denise Hytonen and Debby Smith (gold); Julie Schleck and Kat Martz (silver); Connie Greene and Cheri Toolson (bronze)

Women’s Doubles, 4.0 – Lisa Sigaty and Tamara McLennan-Novak (gold); Deserea Dunn and Kathryn Sperry (silver); Tina Eng and Stephanie Stocking (bronze)

Women’s Doubles, 4.5 – Maureen O’Malia-Tracey Swenson (gold); Debbie Matamoros and Marlo Dwelle (silver)

Mixed Doubles, 2.5 & 3.0 combined – Liz Fannon and Patrick Fannon (gold); Sarah Childs and Spencer Childs (silver); Laura Freeman and Mark Freeman (bronze)

Mixed Doubles, 3.5 – Holly Beal and Jeff Beal (gold); Bonnie Coffey and Joe Plomin (silver); Katie Willette and Randy Campbell (bronze)

Mixed Doubles, 4.0 – Deserea Dunn and Ben Bagshaw (gold); Valerie Yeoman and Jody Whitesides (silver); Sandy Crawshaw-Sparks and Jonathan Sparks (bronze)

Mixed Doubles, 4.5 – Maureen O’Malia and Dave Hall (gold); Tracey Swenson and Jeff Farber (silver); Marlo Dwelle and K. Priebe (bronze)

Mixed Doubles, 5.0 – Debra Jean Baptiste and The Unicorn Jean Baptiste (gold)

Men’s Doubles, 3.0 & 3.5 – results not yet posted on pickleballtournaments.com

Men’s Doubles, 4.0 – Jared Bishop and Evan Merrill (gold); Erik Bergerud and Paul Targosz (silver); Ben Maddox and Mr. Whiskers Perry (bronze)

Men’s Doubles, 4.5 – Adam Fullmer and Rick Peterson (gold); Jared Hedberg and Mark Walker (silver); Brandon Janis and Brad Jenson (bronze)

Men’s Doubles, 5.0 – Dave Hall and Sammy McCabe (gold); Ben Williams and Worm Bennett (silver)

Photos by Linda Belgiano, Carol Wexler and Randy Weatherly

July Members’ Tournament

Games were competitive and clearly fun as more than 120 players converged on the MARC for Park City Pickleball Club’s second annual July Members’ Tournament. The July 5 event began at 8 a.m. and continued until sundown. It drew a record 48 players at the popular 3.5 level alone, and also included the club’s first-ever event for juniors.

Park City Council member Nann Worel gave the opening remarks for the tournament, which was played in a mixed-doubles format.

The July Members’ Tournament was coordinated by Jenny Dorsey and powered by a group of volunteers who arrived early to set up, check in, and tabulate the scores. The group included Rhoda Stauffer, Patti Peters, Lisa Mosher, Carol Hollander, Donna, Trish Harbers, Kathy Leitzke, Pattiann and Girard Andres, Teresa McMillan, Carol Wexler, Kathy Moder, Jay Zorzy, Valerie Schkade, Doris Schmidt, Marie Thrasher, Richard Wells and Michele Henry, and Jennifer Schwam.

Pool captains kept the tournament on track; they included Jody Whitesides, Franco DeSantis, Paul Cassell, and Jim Jones. Jody Whitesides spent the entire day as either a pool captain or referee for the medal rounds.

Karen Halverson-Zorzy donated her time and talent as photographer for the event.

Memorial Day memories

Park City Pickleball Club members came out in force for the annual Memorial Day Tournament, with 100 players and scores of spectators enjoying the action at City Park.

Medal winners were:

Women’s 2.5 –  June Krigman & Arlene Kesluk (gold); Janice Plummer & Barbara Dowie (silver); Shirley Noon & Val Robinson (bronze); Missy Enberg & Laurie Spear (bronze)

Women’s 3.0 – Mia Price & Melissa Price (gold); Isabel Dulfano & Julie Harrison (silver); Christin van Dine & Jess Moran (bronze)

Women’s 3.5 – Karen Cohen & Laurie Lambert (gold); Julie Schleck & Katherine Martz (silver); Lita Hoffman & Jennifer Lansky (bronze)

Women’s 4.0 – Maureen O’Malia & Tracey Swenson (gold); Cathy Turchan & Kirsten Nordstrom (silver); Stephanie Donovan & Chris Lapointe (bronze)

Men’s 2.5 and 3.0 – Jason Owen & Brian Kesluk (gold); Charlie Enberg & David Enberg (silver); Michael Levinthal & Bill Grodnick (bronze)

Men’s 3.5 – Jame Donovan & Colin House (gold); Jim Jones & Rusty Martz (silver); Richard Gottlieb & Randy Weatherly (bronze)

Men’s 4.0+ – Ky Coffey & Alex Neumann (gold); Jody Whitesides & David Hall (silver); Mark DelVecchio & Cal Regan (bronze)

Photos by Carol Wexler and Randy Weatherly

July Mixed Doubles Tournament

Park City Pickleball Club’s second annual July Mixed Doubles Tournament is planned for Monday, July 5 at 8 a.m. at the Park City MARC.

All club members are invited to participate in the event, which will feature mixed-doubles teams in a round-robin format, at skill levels of 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0+.

Teams can sign up at LivePickleball.com. Those who sign up as singles will be matched with a partner by organizers.

The registration fee is $25 per club member. Non-members who wish to play must join the club first and then register for the tournament.

All proceeds will benefit the club’s Capital Campaign for a new Park City pickleball complex.

Social event: You’re invited!

The Park City Pickleball Club’s social committee has been waiting 18 months to throw a party, and they’re hoping to see all the club members there. The event, billed as a club mixer/ fun social/ pickleball mixer for everyone, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 14 at Willow Creek Park.

All the courts and the pavilion have been reserved for the event. It’s potluck, so bring something to share along with BYOB. (Willow Creek is a non-alcoholic park, so the club will not condone liquor on site.)

It’s free, with all members invited to stop by to meet the club’s board and learn more about plans for the summer.

Invitations have been sent out to all members of the club; the first 75 to sign up will be able to play on the courts, using organized social play run by the club. If more than 75 people sign up, everyone will be welcome to stop by, share in the fun, and maybe play later as the courts open up. Sign-ups (for the club and the event) are on LivePickleball.com.

There will also be people on site to answer questions from the Membership, Open Play, Communications, and Skills Development committees. Participants can find out how to better use LivePickleball.com, and learn about the club’s plans to grow pickleball in the Park City market.

For questions about the event, send an email to parkcitypickleball@gmail.com