Cynthia Schwartz Pancho Epstein was one of the founders and a dear member of the PebbleCreek Pickleball Club. In April, the club celebrated his life by hosting the 2020-21 Pancho Epstein PebbleCreek Pickleball Club Championship. Pancho is remembered for his enduring, endearing, irreverent, comical, positive, and always entertaining contributions to pickleball in PebbleCreek. Bob Chester, PebbleCreek Pickleball…
David Zapatka This 12 common mistakes column began after playing with some very excited and highly motivated new pickleball players at our community courts recently. After playing a couple games, this question was posed to me, “What should we do to improve and become 3.5 players?” We reviewed the first eight mistakes over the past four months. This…
Cynthia Schwartz The PebbleCreek Pickleball Club members elected the club board for the 2021-22 season. Officer terms are one year and will begin May 1. The new board is: President Nancy Popenhagen, Vice President Jeff Antrican, Secretary Kathryn Villeneuve, Treasurer Sharon Hadley, and Officer-at-Large Tony Wells. Nancy Popenhagen commented, “Most people know that pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the…
Chris Stelplugh A talented group of PebbleCreek women pickleball players took first place in the West Valley Region of the Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL). With eight wins and two losses at the 3.5 skill level, Dinkalicious team members earned the right to represent the West Valley Region in APPL’s first state championship, held April 5 through…
Cynthia Schwartz Theresa Carter is the PebbleCreek Player/Volunteer of the Month. Theresa started her racquet sports career early when she became the ping pong champion in elementary school for two years. Theresa said, “I had an advantage because I was left-handed. My opponents were confused. This advantage has carried through when I learned to play…
Cynthia Schwartz Pickleball players in PebbleCreek celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on the courts. Players wore emerald green shirts, hats, socks, fun necklaces, earrings, bowties, and shoelaces. Heard on the courts: * We’re always looking for a holiday to celebrate on the pickleball courts. * Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’ Day. * Some players blended into…
Chris Stelplugh and Ellen Enright Four teams of PebbleCreek women players have been representing our community and making an impact in the Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL) since early January 2021. APPL was formed in 2019 to develop and introduce competitive team-based league pickleball to Arizona. Last year, 95 teams consisting of over 1,100 players participated…
Cynthia Schwartz Pam Cagle is the PebbleCreek Pickleball Club Volunteer/Player of the Month. While Pam is new to PebbleCreek and the club, she is not new to volunteering and helping others. Reflecting back on her childhood, Pam commented, “In grade school there was a girl who didn’t have shoes or clothes that fit her. Most…
Cynthia Schwartz The American Athletic Union (AAU) recently sponsored a pickleball tournament, AAU Pickleball All Ages and Skills plus The Road to The AAU Junior Olympic Games. Held in Wickenburg, the tournament offered events for ages seven to 99. This non-sanctioned tournament attracted players from PebbleCreek. It included matches in skill/age and also senior categories.…
David Zapatka This 12 common mistakes column began after playing with some very excited, highly motivated, new pickleball players at our community courts recently. After playing a couple games, this question was posed to me, “What should we do to improve and become 3.5 players?” We reviewed the first four mistakes the past two months. This month…