"There is not a chance that I am chasing a Wiffle Ball all over a silly, little court," I answered my dad a few years ago when he invited me to play Pickleball. Two things about that statement. One, I know God has a real sense of humor because every time I make a emphatic statement like that, it turns out to be 100% wrong. Two, I should have known, dad is always right. I am grateful for the day he demanded, "get your stuff, we are playing!" He could not get me off the court that day. Why did I wait so long?
Dad
During the pandemic, I played quite often and now that I can travel again, my first two vacations have included Pickleball. I played in a big Newport Beach tournament in May. It did not go well! My friends and I have vowed never to speak of that incident again! Shhh! Don't tell anyone I referenced it here.
Last weekend, we traveled to Meridian, Idaho for the Pacific Northwest Regional Pickleball Championship. I did not have high expectations. I played mixed doubles with my partner, Debi. She played awesome and we gave our first opponents quite a challenge, 11-6, 9-11, 8-11. They ended up wining gold and we ended up going 3 more rounds in the consolation division before we lost. It was a big improvement over our Newport Beach results.
Debi also did well with our good friend, Tami, in their women's doubles division matches.
Debi (white hat) and Tami (blue hat)
The next day, Randy Seevers and I played men's doubles. We ended up winning first place in our 3.0 division. Our third trip for the year is now set. Our win gave us a golden ticket to Indian Wells Tennis Garden in December for the 2021 Margaritaville National Pickleball Championships (near Palm Springs). Life sure has some strange twists and turns.
View our 3.0 Northwest Regional Pickleball Tournament Match
Dad is right! ! ! It is fun to chase that little ball all over the place. Pickleball has been a real blessing through the pandemic and, it looks like, for years to come.
Debi and Randy are wonderful partners and I am lucky to be on their teams. We were all lucky to have a contingent of really good Runnin for Rhett friends join us to play and support one another. The tournament was a success for that reason alone. Runnin for Rhett is a wonderful organization that gets kids and adults (including me) moving into life.
The Players!
Two years ago, Pickleball was not part of our Runnin for Rhett training, but our friend Brian (front and center in the picture above with a sandwich) introduced us to the game. He has spent many patient hours teaching us the game. He is talented pickleball player and an even better person. There are few that would do as he has done. One person can make a real difference.
Brian!
Runnin for Rhett's fall training season starts Sat., July 24th. We have those that train in many ways; walking, walk-running, running, trail running, hiking, cycling and PICKLEBALL! Come join us!
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