Kids America hosts pickleball tournament
Diane Erwin and Suzie Tupper were excited to take part in the first USAPA – sanctioned pickleball tournament at Kids America, which was held Jan. 12-13. Josie Sellers | Beacon
COSHOCTON – Diane Erwin and Suzie Tupper were excited to take part in the first USAPA – sanctioned pickleball tournament at Kids America, which was held Jan. 12-13.
“We wanted to support our local club,” Erwin said.
The friends have enjoyed learning about the game.
“Once you try it you can’t play enough,” Tupper said. “It’s good exercise and you meet great people.”
A pickleball group started at Kids America with three people and now about 35 people consistently meet to play the game.
Rob Veitch, pickleball director, IPTPA certified instructor, thought the tournament would help build excitement about the sport.
“It’s the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.,” he said. “Isaac Bush (Kids America Executive Director) and I thought this would be a great way to build the pickleball program and bring people into our facility.”
Eighty-four people were signed up for the tournament and that included people from the area and out of state. Veitch also received help with the tournament from a Nashville couple, Candy and Don Stanley, who are very involved with the sport.
“I’m managing the software that helps keep the tournaments rolling along and staying timely,” Candy said. “Pickleball is coast to coast now. I love the people you meet and connections you make.”
Also helping out with the tournament was Steve Hast, a certified referee.
“I reached out to Rob,” Hast said. “There are only 150 certified referees out there and about 75-80 percent of them are west of the Mississippi. I want to make myself available to different tournaments.”
Hast has worked with Candy and her husband, who also is a referee, at other tournaments.
“This is a very social sport,” Hast said. “You can show up to play and get included in games. I’ve lost over 40 pounds since I started playing. If you’ve ever played tennis or table tennis, it’s easy to pick up.”
For more on pickleball, visit www.usapa.org. Games are played at Kids America from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. For more on how to join the local pickleball group, call Kids America at 740-622-6657.
