The minutes for the Leadership Team Meeting that was held Wednesday, August 18th, 2021, at 4pm at Gregg Park, have been posted. Topics included what is happening at Odell and Gregg Park, an update on the tournament in September; our next Social scheduled for Friday, October 15th, and much more. Go to Forums or click here to see the full report.
Aiken Pickleball News
If today’s Men’s Twelve Teams Open Round Robin is any indication, there is going to be some exciting play at the Palmetto Doubles Tournament coming in September. As with the Women’s RR earlier this month, this event was meant as a tune-up for the main tournament just weeks away and it did not disappoint. Three teams finished at 7-1 in this eight game, play to 11, win by 2 RR. Everyone was a winner with Greg Sparks and Fawzi Naji having a slight edge over Chris Tubbs/Brandon Hoffman and Brian Eberhard/Doug Boessneck in the point differential tiebreaker. Well done everyone, and thanks for participating. .
See below for pictures.
Wow, what an exciting finish to a great RR. After six rounds of play, the twelve women's teams were divided into two groups and seeded based on their win/loss records for a two-game playoff. Surprisingly the number-three seeds in both groups won back-to-back matches over the top two seeds Barbara Dellamora and Christy Prichard won Group B, and Leslie McCowan and Michelle Bullington won Group A. Leslie and Michele also won an earlier head-to-head match over Christy and Barbara. Way to go, players!. See below for pictures from the event.
Approximately thirty people attended the farewell for Jeana held outside at one of the Odell Weeks picnic shelters on a beautiful evening in Aiken. No wind, no rain - no mosquitoes - could not have been a better evening.
Thanks to all of you that contributed, we were able to get Jeana some nice departing gifts to include a five page scroll with over sixty-five signatures thanking her for everything she had done for Aiken Pickleball these past years. The gifts were much appreciated.
Dear Aiken Pickleball,
As some of you have probably heard, my last day with the City will be next Tuesday, August 3. I have had such a great time over the past 3.5 years (or less for some) getting to know each of you. I hope you all know how much I cared about the success of your programs during my time here and how much I hope your success continues. As we all know, working here is not about becoming rich in money but becoming rich in friendships, experiences, gratitude, health, and love; these are the things I will miss most about working here and with you. I am still going to be living in Aiken and I hope to bump into you some time (maybe in line at Dunkin Donuts so you can buy me an Americano! ha) and I really would love to keep in touch.
Rasheka and Alison will be your points of contact for a little while until the new Secretary becomes situated. Please please please let me know if there is anything I can do over the next week to help you and your program get through this change of guard. Thank you again for all of your support!
Jeana Carter
Recreation Secretary
Odell Weeks Activities Center
There will be a men’s open round robin on Saturday. August 21st in gym 2 at Odell Weeks. You must have a partner to sign up for this event and only one of you should do the signing. Check-in 1215 pm - court setup 12:30pm. Play/warm-up will start at 12:45pm. Fixed partners - twelve teams - eight games - play to 11 win by 2. Three-minute breaks between rounds. No frills, no charge, no medals - just fun - everyone's a winner. Each team please bring one Onix Fuse orange ball. All slots full. Click here to sign up for the wait list even if a single.
Fun was had by all at the Gregg Park Civic Center round robin on Saturday, July 17th, with many competitive, hard-fought matches at all levels.
For pictures click here..
The results were:
4.0 Division
Gold - Cheryl Breidenbach and Harve Mobley
Silver - Kelly and Grant Haney
Bronze Medal - Christine Chandler and Brandon Hoffman
3.5 Division
Gold – Tanya Hoffman and Greg Sparks
Silver – Michele Bullington and Andrew Escobar
Bronze – Cristy Pritchard and Mike Howard
3.0 Division
Gold - Rolene Roux and Michael Breidenbach
Silver – Bebe Murphy and Greg Powers
Bronze - Marcia and Andrew Stivanson
The minutes for the Leadership Team Meeting that was held Wednesday, July 14th, 2021 at 4pm at Gregg Park, have been posted. Topics included what is happening at Odell and Gregg Park, an update on the tournament in September; and much more. Go to Forums or click here to see the full report.
There will be a women’s social round robin on Saturday, August 7th, in gym 2 at Odell Weeks. You must have a partner to sign up for this event. Check-in and court setup will begin at 12:30pm. Play/warm-up will start at 12:45pm. Fixed partners - twelve teams - eight games - play to 11 win by 1. Three-minute breaks between rounds. No frills, no charge, no medals - just fun - everyone is a winner. Each team please bring one Onix Fuse orange ball. Click here to sign up on the wait list. You do not have to have a partner to sign up on the wait list.
On Saturday, August 21st, there will be a Men's Social Round Robin - same format - 12 teams. Sign up for that will be open o/a August 1st. More on that later.
The Volunteer sign up list for the Palmetto Indoor Doubles Invitational Pickleball Tournament being held at Odell Weeks, September 9 - 12, is now available online at our Aiken Pickleball website under the Sign-Ups tab. Volunteers are needed for Venue set-up (2); Player check-in (20); Event desk (27); Court Monitors (63); Lunch Room (3); and Referees (24). Training will be held for Referees and Court Monitors.
A lunch will be provided for shifts that end or begin during lunch time. Volunteer t-shirts will be the same lime green shirt as those from previous years. Volunteers who want or need a shirt (or an additional shirt) this year need to indicate the size on the sign-up.
This tournament provides support to Aiken's local hotels, restaurants as well as new equipment for the pickleball community. The tournament will not function without volunteers, so please be generous with your time. Click here to sign up.
Good news! - You can sign up more than once. Thank you.