Women’s Pickleball Tournament
Yesterday was the Women’s Round Robin Pickleball Tournament here at The Village at Deaton Creek. Sixteen women played a total of 5 games each, with the top 4 high scorers battling it out in a 15-point match.
Round Robin tournaments were computer-matched, so the participants played with different partners and against different players on one of four pickleball courts.
The tournament began at 9 a.m. and was over by 11:30 a.m. Things moved along pretty nicely.
Larry, Gonzalo, and I are on the pickleball committee and have been planning for this event for weeks. In fact, we’ve been writing procedures on how to carry out a Pickleball Round Robin tournament as we go. Yesterday was a fun and interesting day!
Did you know that pickleball has been around for fifty years? That’s right! It was invented in 1965 by Congressman Joel Pritchard, Barney McCallum, and Bill Bell.
The Tournament!
The title match was worthy of its name. The game was very close from start to finish. I stayed courtside as the photographer and snapped some nice pictures of the action. They were definitely in the zone. The spectators were, too!
Going for the Ball
These ladies were zeroed in on the ball. If one didn’t get it, the other one was going to. Some fine teamwork.
The Crowd Enjoying the Match
The turnout was more than I expected. Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time. It was a warm day with a nice breeze—perfect pickleball weather.
A High Ball
Right after I snapped this photo, her feet actually came off the ground for a second! Don’t ever underestimate senior athletes. They may be older, but they’ve still got a lot of spring left!
Game Faces
As an avid pickleball player myself, I only hope my game face is even half as intimidating as the ones the ladies sported. They were really in the zone, and you could see it.
Sideline Chatter
This gentleman volunteered to help with the pickleball festivities. I love living in such a supportive community. So many folks just like him show up for events and offer their time and assistance. So many events wouldn’t be possible without volunteers!
Friendly Competition
On the court, these ladies are fierce rivals. Off the court, they’re good friends. Competition doesn’t stand in the way of friendly banter and laughter. You could tell they enjoyed each other’s company as much as they enjoyed the game!
Backhanded Hit
I must say, I’m impressed by the way she handles the paddle. Not to mention, how flexible she is! Like I said, don’t ever underestimate senior athletes.
Gonna Fly Now
I really liked this shot. She made a flying leap for the ball, determined to hit it. Honestly, if the men and women’s pickleball divisions ever decide to square off on the court, I’d probably lose to a lot of these ladies! Their pickleball skills put mine to shame.
Running for the Ball
Pickleball involves even more running than people realize. It’s truly a great way to stay in shape. Not to mention—it’s fun!
Catlike Reflexes
Their reaction time is quite amazing. I’m not sure mine is quite that fast.
Filling Out Forms
This was right before the championship game. If you’re curious to know who won, then scroll up to the top of the article. The very first photo you see features the two winners Bev Pomplun and Jane Ann Buturff.
I took this photo of the final four before the match as they beamed with anticipation. All the ladies did such a wonderful job. I hope that I get to arrange more pickleball tournaments in the future!
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Originally published September 26, 2023
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