Aiken Pickleball News

Savannah Lakes Mini-Scramble by Jay Wilson

A group of Aiken and Savannah Lakes Pickleballers joined together on Dec 13 for a recreational mini-scramble.  In addition to playing numerous games against and then integrated play format with Savannah Lakes, Team Aiken got a tour of Savannah Lakes Recreational Center which is a multiple functional sport entertainment complex.   Select Read More to see photo.  

 Adjacent to this complex is Hickory Hobb State Park with 18 hole golf course, campgrounds, cabins, lake access activities and other outdoor activities.  

 

 

 

Pickleball for Parkinson's - It Can Change Your Life

Pickleball- it’s the rage! People all over America are enjoying this low-impact paddle sport, while enjoying the fun, laughter, and exercise it provides. Described as a combination of ping-pong, tennis, and badminton, pickleball is simple to learn, easy on the body, lots of fun, and you don’t even have to be fit to play.

Studies have shown that pickleball is particularly beneficial for those with Parkinson’s Disease, an incurable neurological disorder involving muscle control. Since exercise is a key component in slowing down the progression of Parkinson’s, many people with the disease are turning to pickleball to help them maintain balance and mobility, better perform daily tasks, and continue to live normal, productive lives. It’s a means for these people to be active and keep going while they still can.

Several years ago, what I thought was only a minor tremor in my left hand, turned out to be the early stages of Parkinson’s. In an attempt to slow the progression of this debilitating disease, I began playing pickleball several days a week. I soon found myself laughing and having so much fun on the courts that I would often forget about my symptoms while playing.

With this disease, you have to be active and keep yourself going. Pickleball proved to be a great way for me to improve my coordination and movement, become mentally and socially active, and delay my need for Parkinson’s medication. Eight years later, I am still enjoying pickleball several days a week and continue to reap its benefits while keeping my symptoms at bay. Pickleball has changed my life!

Clinics for “Pickleball for Parkinson’s” are currently being offered at the Hillview Baptist Family Life Center at no cost. The clinics are open to anyone with Parkinson’s Disease, essential tremors, or other movement disorders. To sign up or get more information, contact Nelson Swartzentruber at truber3066@gmail.com. Pickleball can change your life!

Aiken Standard

 

 

Boomers and Beyond Bash

The results are in for Boomers and Beyond Bash Round Robin held at Gregg Park this Saturday, November 12th. Special thanks to Joyce Noland and all her helpers for putting on this event.   And the medal winners were -

4.0 Mixed Doubles 60+
Gold - Kathy and Mark Giddings
Silver - Kathy Thornton and Booker Paige
Bronze - Marian Garcia and Ben Lacy
 
 
4.0/4.5 Mixed Doubles 30-59
Gold - Lisa Barrett-Johnson and Zach Carpenter
Silver - Susan Toomey and Mo Garcia
Bronze - Cheryl Breidenbach and Harve Mobley
 
 
3.5 Mixed Doubles
Gold - Anne Rheins and Kenny Sanders
Silver - Barb Dellamora and Jim Wheeler
Bronze - JoAnn Norelius and David Buck
 
 
3.0 Mixed Doubles
Gold - Bebe Quick Murphy and Andrew Stivanson
Silver - Martha Bartell and John McCowan
Bronze - Sandy Talbott and Scott Talbott
 
 
And congratulations to Claudia Domke, Loretta Rhodes, and Billi Jager for winning gold, silver, and bronze in the 2.5 women's scramble at the Boomers and Beyond Bash
 

 

Please clear the courts when you are finished

Just a reminder - Now that there are two sessions each day, if you are the early session and no one has arrived to take the court when you are finished - take the net down.   If you are the last session of the day, make sure all the nets and dividers are put away before leaving.   Court 6 was left up Thursday evening.  Thank you.   

 

$2 - Daily Rate at Odell - $2

The City of Aiken has once again changed the daily rate to play pickleball at Odell Weeks and Smith-Hazel Recreation Centers. The rate is the same for City residents and non-residents - $2. This is for people who are ONLY playing pickleball and does NOT include access to the weight room or other activities. Your voices have been heard!

When checking into Odell Weeks for the first time, please arrive early so that you can be put into the computer system.  This must be done even if you are planning to pay the daily fee and not join.

 

Gregg Park

Gregg Park has asked that we remind everyone to put the netting and other equipment back in the proper place. Please do not block the racquetball courts with the pickleball equipment. There are now signs posted as to where to store and where not to store equipment. Please adhere to those designated areas. Nets need to be either on or all the way under the shelves.  See photo below for correct way to store the nets.  Thank you.

 

 

Friday Fun Night Potluck Play Social

Great turnout for our Friday Fun Night Potluck Play Social. Food was great. Mike Beckner, one of the founders of pickleball in Aiken, took a moment to acknowledge Ron Nelson's contributions to Aiken Pickleball these past years. Kay Goers and Billy Haller won the door prizes, gift certificates for lessons with Mo and Ben. The evening ended with open play in Gym 2. All-in-all a great evening. Special thanks to Faith Loeb, Pat Smith and everyone else that made this happen.  Select Read More to see  photos. 

 

 

City of Aiken Rate Change

Paid annual memberships include twelve guest passes per year and can be used any time during the twelve-month membership period.

Silver Sneakers and Renew Active memberships are free and do not qualify for guests passes.

Note: Silver Sneakers® is a fitness and wellness program for seniors age 65 and up. It includes free gym memberships across the country, and it is included with many Medicare Advantage Plans.

Renew Active™ is another program offered by a carrier with select Medicare Advantage plans. It also offers access to gyms and fitness places across the country.

UnitedHealthcare Medicare plans that once covered Silver Sneakers membership have replaced that coverage with CRC Renew Active. Renew Active is similar to Silver Sneakers but also incorporates brain health activities. 

 

 

Palmetto Doubles Invitational Tournament

In case you missed it, there was a pickleball tournament at Odell a couple of weeks ago - The Palmetto Doubles Invitational Tournament.   Several Aiken players participated and did quite well.  You can select read more below to see a full list of the medal winners.   But  more importantly, we like to thank all of you that volunteered to help make this event a success.  Thank you. 

Results

Mens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 19+ or 50+) Sunday 3.0:19+

Gold:Will Redick-Ryan Carnes 

Silver:Matt Frey-Jarjar Avret 

Bronze:Jerry Mershon-Joshua Hust 

 

Mens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 19+ or 50+) Sunday 3.0:50+

Gold:Steve Kling-David Hyams 

Silver:Robbie Bell-Bill Moseley 

Bronze:Figs Figueroa-Russell Crews 

 

Mens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 19+ or 50+) Sunday 3.5:19+

Gold:Drew Walker-Derek Kidd 

Silver:Marcus Vaught-Mike Vaught 

Bronze:Robbie King-Jeb Brown 

 

Mens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 19+ or 50+) Sunday 3.5:50+

Gold:Fawzi Naji-Ranjeet Singh 

Silver:Scooby Webb-Bey-Luis Hernandez 

Bronze:Rod Baldwin-Russell Carey 

 

Mens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 60+ or 70+) Friday 3.0:60+,70+

Gold:Doug Ditter-Andrew Stivanson 

Silver:Ken Mason-Michael McCullen 

Bronze:Steve Schnitzer-Tony Kemper 

 

Mens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 60+ or 70+) Friday 3.5:60+ - Pool 1

Gold:Thomas Gull-David Swartling 

Silver:Jerry Mershon-Dwight Jones 

Bronze:  N/A 

 

Mens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 60+ or 70+) Friday 3.5:60+ - Pool 2

Gold:Ken Oliphant-Mike Newman 

Silver:Rod Baldwin-Russell Carey 

Bronze: N/A

 

Mens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 60+ or 70+) Friday 3.5:60+ - Pool Winners -

Gold:Thomas Gull-David Swartling 

Silver:Jerry Mershon-Dwight Jones 

Bronze:Ken Oliphant-Mike Newman 

 

Mens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 60+ or 70+) Friday 3.5:70+

Gold:Mike Howard-George Dalzell 

Silver:Carey Tankersley-Thomas Price 

Bronze:Ken Sanders-Rasta Hesser 

 

Mens Doubles (4.0, 4.5 or 5.0) Sunday 4.0 19+, 50+, 60+: - Pool 1

Gold:Peter Dorton-Anil Karn 

Silver:Brian Eberhard-Gary Bussey 

Bronze:  N/A

 

Mens Doubles (4.0, 4.5 or 5.0) Sunday 4.0 19+, 50+, 60+: - Pool 2

Gold:Peyton Starkey-Mikey Harris 

Silver:Phil Breidenbach-Harve Mobley 

Bronze: N/A

 

Mens Doubles (4.0, 4.5 or 5.0) Sunday 4.0 19+, 50+, 60+: - Pool Winners

Gold:Peyton Starkey-Mikey Harris 

Silver:Brian Eberhard-Gary Bussey 

Bronze:Peter Dorton-Anil Karn 

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 3.0 :50+,60+,70+ - Pool 1

Gold:Rhonda Bennick-Tim Hampton 

Silver:Debra Wissinger-Bob Massie 

Bronze:Christina Thompson-Guido Porter 

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 3.0 :50+,60+,70+ - Pool 2

Gold:Barbara Davis-Sheldon Davis 

Silver:Cookie Gonzalez-Jimmy Lovett  Jr. 

Bronze:  N/A

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 3.0 :50+,60+,70+ - Pool Winners

Gold:Rhonda Bennick-Tim Hampton 

Silver:Barbara Davis-Sheldon Davis 

Bronze:Debra Wissinger-Bob Massie 

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 3.0:19+ - Pool 1

Gold:Maria Swanson-Trent Swanson 

Silver:Julie Quattlebaum-Jerry Mershon 

Bronze: N/A

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 3.0:19+ - Pool 2

Gold:Faith Van Rengen-Matt Frey 

Silver:Mary Sarver-Blake Sarver 

Bronze: N/A

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 3.0:19+ - Pool Winners

Gold:Julie Quattlebaum-Jerry Mershon 

Silver:Maria Swanson-Trent Swanson 

Bronze:Faith Van Rengen-Matt Frey 

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 3.5:19+,50+ - Pool 1

Gold:Chasse Bailey-Dorton-Peter Dorton 

Silver:Tonya Catanzaro-Joe Catanzaro 

Bronze: N/A

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 3.5:19+,50+ - Pool 2

Gold:Diane Pepple-Ranjeet Singh 

Silver:June Melton-Ronald Nelson 

Bronze: N/A

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 3.5:19+,50+ - Pool Winners

Gold:Chasse Bailey-Dorton-Peter Dorton 

Silver:Diane Pepple-Ranjeet Singh 

Bronze:Tonya Catanzaro-Joe Catanzaro 

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 3.5:60+ - Pool 1

Gold:Susan Gulledge-Michael McCullen 

Silver:Miriam James-Dwight Jones 

Bronze: N/A

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 3.5:60+ - Pool 2

Gold:Christy Pritchard-Mike Howard 

Silver:Kathy Thornton-Ken Oliphant 

Bronze: N/A

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 3.5:60+ - Pool Winners

Gold:Christy Pritchard-Mike Howard 

Silver:Kathy Thornton-Ken Oliphant 

Bronze:Miriam James-Dwight Jones 

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 3.5:70+

Gold:Mimi Borchers-Ken Sanders 

Silver:Barb Dellamora-George Dalzell 

Bronze:Sally Serago-Doug Ditter 

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 4.0:19+ - Pool 1

Gold:Erika Johns-Ari Schmidt 

Silver:Lisa Barrett-Johnson-Next Big Thing Salazar 

Bronze: N/A

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 4.0:19+ - Pool 2

Gold:Maria Binnicker-Caleb Miller 

Silver:Alex Mouton-Marcus Vaught 

Bronze: N/A

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 4.0:19+ - Pool Winners

Gold:Maria Binnicker-Caleb Miller 

Silver:Lisa Barrett-Johnson-Next Big Thing Salazar 

Bronze:Alex Mouton-Marcus Vaught 

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 4.0:50+

Gold:Pam Jackson-Anil Karn 

Silver:Kim Clarke-Mark Spackman 

Bronze:Rita Turner-Greg Sparks 

 

Mixed Doubles -Saturday 4.0:60+

Gold:Rhonda Fink-Drew Walker 

Silver:Christine Chandler-Booker Paige 

Bronze:Leslie McCowan-Brian Eberhard 

 

Womens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 19+ or 50+) Sunday 3.0:19+ - Pool 1

Gold:Andrea Motley Crabtree-Jessica Coon 

Silver:Julie Quattlebaum-Brenda Schaefer 

Bronze: N/A

 

Womens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 19+ or 50+) Sunday 3.0:19+ - Pool 2

Gold:Anna Adkins-Lynne English 

Silver:Faith Van Rengen-Stefanie Frey 

Bronze: N/A

 

Womens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 19+ or 50+) Sunday 3.0:19+ - Pool Winners

Gold:Andrea Motley Crabtree-Jessica Coon 

Silver:Anna Adkins-Lynne English 

Bronze:Julie Quattlebaum-Brenda Schaefer 

 

Womens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 19+ or 50+) Sunday 3.0:50+

Gold:Lori King-Christina Thompson 

Silver:Julie Newman-Van Fleming 

Bronze:Judy Degregorio-Glory Lynch 

 

Womens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 19+ or 50+) Sunday 3.5:19+,50+

Gold:Mary Sarver-Robin Brown 

Silver:Chasse Bailey-Dorton-Pam Jackson 

Bronze:Lanie Hassel-Tonya Catanzaro 

 

Womens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 60+ or 70+) Friday 3.0:60+,70+

Gold:Debra Wissinger-Rhonda Bennick 

Silver:Mimi Borchers-Barbara Erndl 

Bronze:Peg Sharp-Nan Racki 

 

Womens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 60+ or 70+) Friday 3.5:60+

Gold:Kathy Thornton-Lisa Pelfrey 

Silver:Lorraine Harrison-Judith Fowler 

Bronze:Miriam James-Susan Gulledge 

 

Womens Doubles (3.0 or 3.5 60+ or 70+) Friday 3.5:70+

Gold:Barb Dellamora-Sally Serago 

Silver:Peggy Taylor-Janice Casaday 

Bronze:Bebe Murphy-Doris Hauer 

 

Womens Doubles (4.0, 4.5 or 5.0) Sunday 4.0, 4.5:19+,50+,60+,70+ - Pool 1

Gold:Joyce Noland-Cheryl Breidenbach 

Silver:Marian Garcia-Christine Chandler 

Bronze: N/A

 

Womens Doubles (4.0, 4.5 or 5.0) Sunday 4.0, 4.5:19+,50+,60+,70+ - Pool 2

Gold:Maria Binnicker-Amy Honea 

Silver:Vivian Chi-Lisa Barrett-Johnson 

Bronze: N/A

 

Womens Doubles (4.0, 4.5 or 5.0) Sunday 4.0, 4.5:19+,50+,60+,70+ - Pool Winners

Gold:Maria Binnicker-Amy Honea 

Silver:Vivian Chi-Lisa Barrett-Johnson 

Bronze: Cheryl Breidenbach-Joyce Noland

 

 

 

ODELL WEEKS DROP-IN PLAY SIGN-UP FOR BEGINNERS

Something new at Odell Weeks starting Wednesday, October 5 and every Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday thereafter:  Court 1 at Odell Weeks will be reserved for beginners with sign-up for the court designation morning slot.  
The sign-up will be available on Thursday mornings at 8am through Sign-up Genius just as if you were making a court reservation. Wednesday and Thursdays - 10am-12pm; Saturdays –10:30am-12:30pm.  For more information for what this is all about, contact Linda Blake atmrhanKey@gforcecable.com.   For assistance in signing up contact George Carr at gfcarr146hr@gmail.com.

 

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