Author: kipstercnmt

On a cold snowy day in mid December I found the most wonderful place. The South Bend Racquet Club, located at 4122 N Hickory Rd, Mishawaka, IN, is spectacular. Everyone was so nice and I recommend stopping by any chance you get. The owner, Juan, is a wonderful gentleman who is anxious to grow pickleball and runs a first class establishment. The people are very nice (as usual) and the people I got to play that late afternoon were really good players. Really good! The games were all competitive and I had to step up my game. It was a great experience! One person I met, Wayne, was very nice and showed me around and was nice to introduce me to everyone as well. I regret I only had one day to spend there. If I ever go back I will play there again!

A special shout out to the campus of Notre Dame. I had never been there but I drove through one afternoon. If you enjoy architecture as much as I do…..and historic college settings you will enjoy a quick drive through. It is stunning.

I happened to be in Chicago, Illinois for the RSNA ( Radiological Society of North America) annual meeting and I was lucky enough to sneak away one night for some pickleball at the Tennis and Fitness Center, located at 301 Lake St, Oak Park, IL. It was crazy cold and there were only two players (Richard and Mike) playing that evening, but they were kind enough to let me play with them and I got in several games. Everyone was very nice! Richard and Mike were both very nice and showed me around a little. The front desk personnel were also very nice, as were both Uber drivers that drove me to and from the Fitness Center. I enjoyed it! Thank you to everyone there! And….I picked up state number 5!

A special shout out to the Chicago Art Institute. I was fortunate enough to attend a meeting there on Tuesday, December 3, 2019. A beautiful place with incredible displays. I was lucky to encounter a guide there who visited with me for quite some time and showed me around. He was very nice and knowledgeable. I am sorry that I do not recall his name. But I will never forget the experience!

On November 18, 2019, I received the news that I had been officially approved as a USAPA Ambassador for the Middle States Region.

I am very grateful to be chosen for this position and I will do my best to promote and grow the wonderfully inclusive sport of pickleball.

If you have read any of my blog posts you already know how much I love the sport of pickleball and the people who play. I will continue my blog posts and will also add to the USAPA Places2Play (www.places2play.org). If you have any questions or if there is anything I can help you with, please contact me or go to usapa.org. You can sign up for a membership there as well.

A special thank you to USAPA Ambassadors Jerry Rolland and Cindy Butler! Thank you so much for believing in me and including me in this organization.

On an early Sunday morning, November 9th, 2019, exactly one month to the day that I broke my ankle, Missina and I drove to Bentonville, Arkansas to play in the Northwest Arkansas Pickleball Classic presented by Walmart.

The tournament was indoors at the Walton Fitness Life Center. The facility is very nice (although we heard that they are tearing it down to build a new one). There were twenty temporary courts set up on permanent tennis courts. There is a nice viewing area from above, plenty of space with temporary stands in between the main courts and a nice clubhouse and bathrooms.

We played in the 3.5 mixed bracket, which was a round robin bracket with eight teams total. The matches went fast, back to back and the tournament was well run as there were LOTS of entries in numerous divisions.

We played well and learned quite a bit. In hindsight, it might not have been the best idea to play one month after breaking my ankle. Thankfully, as I did not wear a boot this time, I was not injured worse! However, I did not have the stamina needed to play several hours of tournament matches. I wore down fast! Plus, for Missina, it had only been six weeks since she had torn her groin. Once again…..hindsight. We had not played much and it showed in our lack or timing and energy. Regardless……our opponents were all very skilled! We were both impressed with the level of play and we learned more about what we have to do in the future to become better.

Our first matches were good and our opponents were very nice! A special shout out to Rusty and Kelley (our first match opponents) who were a lot of fun to play against and Kathryn and Rob (our second match opponents) who were also great and we have seen before. I hate to leave out anyone…..but as the matches progressed my physical ability and memory faded. Carol and Brian, our last match were also very nice…….although I think I had already retired in my head.

As ever, most all of pickleball people are wonderful and we are now starting to see some familiar faces along with the new. It was an awesome experience and we look forward to the next challenge.

An added note. Things to work on…..dinking, angles and faster hands. Bring on the drills!

There are times in life you get the opportunity to be a part of something that is far greater than you are. On Saturday, November 2, 2019 I got that chance.

I was fortunate enough to be a part of a pickleball demonstration for developmentally disabled and special needs adults through the Community Support Services of Joplin, Missouri.

The event took place from 2:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Carl McConnell Activity Center in Joplin. There was food, fun, smiles, laughter, prizes and lots of pickleball. The players caught on quickly and there was a lot of skill on display. Everyone had a great time! All the volunteers and participants alike.

If you ever get the chance to do anything like this, I implore you to do it. It was a special day! One that I will remember forever. I can only hope I brought as much joy to them as they brought to me.

I look forward to doing it again soon!

On Sunday, October 27, 2019, two and a half weeks after a broken ankle, I decided to play mixed doubles with Missina in a tournament…….with a boot on my right foot!

If you have read my blog, you have realized that I am very competitive. Now you will know that I may not be very smart. But then again….I do love pickleball!

The fall tournament was a double elimination tournament with round robin “seeding” in the morning. It was a great time! We got to meet some great people and future friends. Such is pickleball and one of the reasons I love it so much!

We played well. As well as we could. Missina was still injured as well…..so the kitchen line, at times, seemed a long, long way away for both of us. Regardless, we enjoyed it and finished well (5th or 6th I am told) out of seventeen teams.

The Millennium Family Fitness, as I have written before, is a wonderful place. If you live locally it would be a wonderful site to call home. The facility and staff are awesome! Joplin is very fortunate to have the Millennium.

On October 9, 2019 I was both lucky and unlucky enough to play pickleball at the Fretz Park Recreation Center in Dallas, Texas.

The positive? Almost everything. The indoor courts consist of several temporary nets set up on a traditional basketball court. There were at least six courts that were all busy with people waiting. When I arrived, everyone I met was nice (as always with pickleball people) and I placed my Selkirk Invikta paddle in a pile with others. Moments later I was on a court with a gentleman named Barry, who was very nice and welcomed me immediately to the group. We won our first match and he took my paddle….placing back in the next pile with his making sure we would play together again. This was very kind of him. I appreciated that very much! We won the next match we played and went to play our third match.

The negative? It was in the third match I fractured my right ankle. We were up 8-6 and ended up losing 11-8. Yes….I am that competitive that I kept playing. And yes….I am upset that we still lost.

Regardless, the drive back to my hotel was quite an experience. And the night was long.

Overall I truly enjoyed Fretz Park. I believe they only play on Wednesday nights there, but it is worth the visit! They also have numerous tennis courts there, a beautiful park, trails, a pool, soccer field, basketball courts, a gym, a baseball field and a library. There is literally something for everyone! Highly recommended!

Also, another special shout out to Fitness Connection in Mesquite, Texas. It is a HUGE gym with a wide assortment of free weights, hundreds of machines and lots of aerobic equipment upstairs. They were very nice and helpful at the front desk and I had a great workout the only night I went. There are so many options (it was back day) that you just keep lifting and lifting! If it wasn’t for my ankle I would have gone back for more! I highly recommend this facility!

On October 6, 2019, MIssina and I played mixed doubles in the Nick Hostler Memorial Tournament at the Twin Oaks Country Club in Springfield, MIssouri.

The tournament was very nice. There was a great turnout with lunch served, raffles for great prizes (we both won paddles) and lots of added amenities.

Missina had a torn groin going into the tournament, and I mistakenly thought I could cover the entire court. No excuses! We played well and were in the running for a medal until a violent storm attacked southwest Missouri ending the tournament for the players who had not finished. We were lucky we made it to the car! It continued to rain all day Sunday so there were no more matches.

Once again, we met some very nice people that we look forward to seeing again. Hopefully soon!

On September 28, 2019, I had the chance to attend, with my mixed doubles partner Missina, a pickleball clinic in Springfield, Missouri hosted by KaSandra Gehrke. It was a great time, with lots of participation and we were fortunate enough to meet some new people and make some new friends.

The clinic KaSandra puts on is fast paced with loads of information. It is centered around the things you want to learn and the nuances you want to improve upon. Each drill includes details to make your game better.

You can definitely use all these drills with a partner during practice sessions to strengthen your game and have fun (there is scoring for the competitive among us) while doing them.

I highly recommend attending one of KaSandra’s clinics if you get the chance!

I am a very fortunate person as I get to travel a bit. When I do, I find places to play and meet the wonderful people of pickleball. Two weeks in August 2019 I happened to be in El Paso, Texas.

El Paso, Texas is a beautiful, desert city located on the US and Mexico border. It has bright sunny days and cool, dry nights. The food is wonderful with an abundance of Mexican restaurants to try. Ah…..steak tacos and a Dos Equis or two. It doesn’t get much better than that. However, there is one thing I learned about dining in El Paso? Make sure your drink is on the table before trying the salsa. Whew! The salsa is delicious, but wow is it hot! At least for a mid-western person like me!

Another unique opportunity, if you get the chance, is to walk over the bridge into Juarez Mexico. Dining at the World Famous Kentucky Bar & Grill is an experience unto its own. Once again, great food, and the best guacamole I have ever tasted!

The biggest plus about El Paso, however, has to be the people? They are the friendliest, most approachable folks you could possibly meet. It is easily one of my favorite cities in the US.

The only shortage is Pickleball. El Paso needs more places to play pickleball. But one that I found and loved was Fiveset Net Sports. It is located in Sunland Park, New Mexico, which is essentially part of El Paso. You will not realize you left the city as you make the drive west.

Fiveset Net Sports has four indoor courts and is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the daytime. Danny works at the front desk and is extremely likable and accommodating. He was very nice to me and welcomed me immediately. He even began my session by playing singles with me for a short time. The players are very nice and skilled, and they also welcomed me with open arms. I recommend stopping by if you are ever there. Please tell them I say hello!

Fiveset Net Sports is a first class place!

Also, a special shout out to Impact Strength, located on Goodyear Drive. I dropped by their gym one morning when I had to catch a flight. The gentleman at the desk showed me around several well equipped weight rooms and offered to let me lift with a guest pass. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time that day but I hope to go back soon. If you desire a great workout in a no nonsense gym, this is your place!