Kevin Hillstrom
More than a dozen PebbleCreek Pickleball Club members made the 50-minute drive across the urban desert to Mesa to play in the Celebrity Tanning Open. This event attracted approximately 500 souls for three days of competition. I am happy to report that many Creekers came away with hardware!
Women’s 3.5 60+ was a particularly fertile field to harvest a medal from. Linda Tompkins and friend, Debbie Ginsberg, earned gold medals, defeating Creekers Chris Stelplugh and Ellen Enright in the gold medal match! Tournament organizers considered allowing only PebbleCreek residents to win medals, but, upon further evaluation, allowed bronze to be awarded to other players. Chris and Ellen played well in their six-hour silver medal run. This reporter notes that Linda is still smiling from her win, though others suggest she has a perma-smile.
The super-duo of Renee DeLassus and Andrea Dilger earned gold in 4.5 60+. Both players have a polished and coordinated style of play, paired with the kindness of offering tournament advice and playing tips.
Steve Manns and Jo Comstock earned a gold medal in Mixed 4.5 50+. We watched in awe as Jo fended off an onslaught of balls, as is typically the case in mixed competition. Steve’s steadiness and Jo’s tenacity thrilled the crowd.
Steven Shaefer and Renee DeLassus battled for five hours in Mixed 4.0 50+, earning a bronze medal. A wonderful team, they walked the fine line between intense competition and a skyward gaze when unique airplanes fly overhead.
Steve Manns and Steven Shaefer took home a silver medal in the 4.5 50+ bracket. One of the advantages of playing in outside tournaments is that you get to see numerous styles of play, helping your game evolve. Steve and Steven got their share of diverse playing styles in this tournament.
Creekers Bob Weldon and Jeff Tompkins earned a silver medal in Men’s 4.5 60+, losing a heartbreaking 16-14 outcome in their final game. Both players can hold their heads high, given how tough their competition was.
Your intrepid reporter notes that Tori and I failed to win a medal in Mesa, though we battled hard. Tori Benz-Hillstrom and Lynn Manns gave a solid effort against quality competition. Jeff Antrican and I earned a loser’s bracket victory by retirement, a win I will forever cherish. In mixed doubles, Tori and I fended off six match points before winning a game 12-10.
Outside tournaments are a great way to enjoy fellowship with Creekers who play and watch the matches, to meet new friends in your rating/age bracket, and to enjoy the two pork sliders and chips special for $8 for pickleball players. I’m proud of all the Creekers who participated in Mesa. Consider playing in one of the tournaments this fall/winter in and around Maricopa County. Visit http://pickleballtournaments.com for more details.