Pickleball tournament a big hit with locals and visitors alike – The Coastland Times

The OBX Pickleball Group recently held their first Dare tournament at the county tennis facilities in Kill Devil Hills. The event drew 90 players – both men and women – from as far away as South Dakota and Florida, according to event organizers. Many locals participated in their first organized pickleball event. Others who came from central and western North Carolina as well as Virginia Beach.

Some players won their first medals in a round-robin format. Teams played up to seven matches against each opponent in the 10 brackets consisting of men’s and women’s groups on the first day and mixed doubles were played the following day.

The OBX Pickleball Group, with its network of volunteers, transformed the four tennis courts into 10 pickleball courts which saw over 200 matches played during the two-day event. Players were treated to a raffle-style giveaway of 25 donations from numerous local businesses.

“Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America and it’s growing here in Dare County,” an event organizer said. “It was great to see all the smiling faces as there were lots of comments about how the tournament went and stayed on time.”

Local businesses also provided food and water.

Scott Garber, president of OBX Pickleball Group, said more pickleball events are planned for the fall to benefit local hotel and restaurant businesses. “It’s a win-win when we host a tournament for our local players to compete against higher level players and it attracts travelers to come to OBX and spend money in our local economy.”

For more information about the group, visit facebook.com/groups/759772638205728.

The tournament winners were:

Men 3.0 50+ – Peter Erickson/Dave Pureza 1^stReid Zobel/Scott Murphy 2^n/aRick Pureza/Bret Burgess 3^rd

Men 3.5 40+ – Richare Delugo/James Lauder 1^stShannon Epps/Craig Joines 2^n/aMorgan Stark/Gunn Unoppet 3^rd

Women 3.0 19-64 – Dianna Plippo/Ramona Waltermeyer 1^stLori O’connor / Holly Sleph 2^n/aAbbie Joines/Mimi Petry 3^rd

Women 3.0 65+ – Terri Sawyer/Anna Miller 1^stPriscilla Cahoon/Pamela Evans 2^n/aMarinene Dubresson/Ann Carey 3^rd

Women 3.5 19+ – Kate Heggie/Tara Salch 1^stAnn Wellham/Cayce Patterson 2^n/aCandice Moore/Julie Stark 3^rd

Mixed doubles 3.0 59-under – Miki Wallace/Reid Zobel 1^stDebbie and Johnny Fortenberry 2^n/aDiana Flippo/Rick Pureze 3^rd

Mixed Doubles 3.0 60-64 – NiNi Petry/Mike Heider 1^stRamona Waltemeyer/Chuck Wakefield 2^n/aJoan and Duke Rollins 3^rd

Mixed doubles 65+ – Cynthia and Peter Erickson 1^stPriscilla and Jack Cahoon 2^n/aMarianne Dubresson/Jay Lamb 3^rd

Mixed Doubles 3.5 19-49 – Kate Heggie/Tomasz Buchta 1^stCandice and Jack Moore 2^n/aCayce Patterson/Randy Jones 3^rd

Mixed doubles 3.5 50+ – Laurie Coyne/James Lauder 1^stJulie and Morgan Stark 2^n/aSusan and Charles Voigt 3^rd

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