Marylou Furaus and Don Simmons
Arizona Singles Champion Marylou Furaus
There were over 900 participants from the U.S.A. and Canada that participated in the eighth USAPA National Pickleball Tournament in Casa Grande, Arizona from November 4 to 14. Age groups were from 19 plus to 85 plus in five year increments.
Marylou won the Gold Medal in Women’s 70 plus Doubles with partner Bev Youngren from Happy Trails Resort in Surprise. This was a nice win for Marylou and Bev because they had finished in second place the last two years in the national tournament. She also won the Silver Medal with her partner Bob Youngren in the 70 plus mixed doubles. There were 28 teams competing in the 70 plus mixed doubles competition.
In the Arizona Senior Olympics that was scheduled from October 19 to 23 at the El Mirage Pickleball Facility, Marylou won gold medals in Women’s 70 plus Singles and also 70 plus Mixed doubles with her partner Don Simmons from Colorado.
USAPA membership jumped 69% in 2016 to over 15,500 members and is a testament to Pickleball being one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S.A. PebbleCreek membership is roughly 1200 members and growing.