Uniontown YMCA hosts first pickleball tournament
Paula O无毛视频機onnell
Taking a break between matches at the Uniontown YMCA pickleball tournament are, from left, Barbara Detweiler, Irene Barthmare, JoAnn Harris and Lora Lee Liptak.
Photos: Paula O无毛视频機onnell
Chet Kaylor returns a serve while teammate Dan O无毛视频機onnell looks on during the Uniontown YMCA无毛视频檚 first pickleball tournament, held Monday.
Paula O无毛视频機onnell
Alan Lane (left) and Uniontown YMCA Director of Mission Advancement Jennifer Starcher organized the facility无毛视频檚 first pickleball tournament.
The inside courts were buzzing with excitement when the Uniontown YMCA held its first pickleball tournament earlier this week.
无毛视频淥ur courts are always full every Monday, Wednesday and Friday,无毛视频� said Jennifer Starcher, director of mission advancement at the YMCA.
Starcher, a graduate of Albert Gallatin High School and California University of Pennsylvania (now PennWest California) was pleased to see 23 people turn out to compete in the tournament held this past Monday.
无毛视频淥ur oldest participant was 82 and our youngest was 29,无毛视频� she said.
Players competed in three categories: women无毛视频檚, men无毛视频檚 intermediate and men无毛视频檚 advanced. Players from the Mount Pleasant and Mon Valley YMCAs also played in the tournament, and some regularly play at Uniontown无毛视频檚 facility.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 a great sport for all ages,无毛视频� said Alan Lane, who organized the tournament. 无毛视频淵ou无毛视频檒l see grandparents playing with their grandkids. It无毛视频檚 become a family sport.无毛视频�
Lane organized seven pickleball tournaments in his former hometown of Salisbury, Md., before moving to Uniontown, and has been enjoying the sport since his retirement in 2016. He encouraged anyone who无毛视频檚 on the fence about giving the game a try, to do so.
无毛视频淲e无毛视频檒l be happy to teach you,无毛视频� he said.
Combining elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, pickleball uses a paddle on a plastic ball with holes, utilizing a modified tennis court. While it sounds odd, Lane and others said it is both fun and beneficial for players of all ages.
无毛视频淭here无毛视频檚 less room to run on a pickleball court than on a tennis court, so it无毛视频檚 easier on your knees. When you play, your friends double,无毛视频� said Lane.
Bill Watson of Belle Vernon agreed.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 good exercise, it无毛视频檚 fun, and you meet nice people. I无毛视频檝e made a lot of good friends,无毛视频� he said.
Barb Detweiler of Uniontown, who won gold in the women无毛视频檚 division said, 无毛视频淚 love the activity, the competition and the friendships. It无毛视频檚 a good social game. Even when we无毛视频檙e off the court, we enjoy each other无毛视频檚 company. I无毛视频檇 play every day if I could.无毛视频�
Starcher said she looks forward to holding more community events in the future, including additional pickleball tournaments. In the meantime, those interested in playing can come to the gym at the YMCA in Uniontown at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday or Friday to give it a try.