Aiken Pickleball News

Bench Dedication

In memory of Christy Pritchard (May 15th, 1954 - August 4th, 2025), API will dedicate a bench on the outdoor pickleball courts at Virginia Acres. The presentation will take place at 11:00am on Dec. 13th, 2025.

Christy was a member of the API leadership team as a 3.5 player representative and a supporter of many goodwill organizations as, Toys for Tots, Food Drives for the hungry, and a long-time advocate for children as Program Coordinator for Guardian ad Litem. 

Please join us for the dedication. 

 

Schedule

 

 

Freaky Friday Oct 17

Aiken Pickleball sponsored yet another Fun Freaky Friday event held on October 17 from 6-7PM inside the Odell Weeks gymnasium.

Approximately 22 participants attended Freaky Friday, including two players who were brand new to the game! Those two individuals were treated to an hour of instruction on the basics of pickleball; from how to hold the paddle, to playing out a point and keeping score (which as we all know is the most difficult part of pickleball)!
The rest of the participants drilled various skills at five different stations. Afterwards everyone participated in a raffle for two prizes; a free lesson with Harve Mobley and a brand new paddle. Many enjoyed the cookies at the reception desk and a good time was had by all. Happy Halloween!
 
A special thanks to all the volunteers who coached the participants at each station and welcomed players at the reception table:

 

API Leadership Team Nominations Due by Oct. 15!

API is a two-year-old tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Our intent is to promote the game of Pickleball and to provide competitive and social pickleball activities. Our responsibility as delineated in our MOU with the City of Aiken’s PRC is for the management and growth of Pickleball within the greater Aiken area which includes but not limited to; the annual Palmetto Tournament, the Aiken Area Social Pickleball League, social activities, scheduling for courts, player ratings and various Pickleball clinics.

Those interested in running for the Nov. 10 API Leadership Team elections should send an email to aikenpickleball@gmail.com. That email should include a brief resume about the nominee to include prior experience with pickleball and other qualifications.

We will elect a minimum of five people  as board members.   Members of the current API board and the Leadership Team members have voting rights. The term of office begins Jan. 1. Most Board Director positions are two-year terms, although some will be limited to a one-year term. 

Ideal candidates should support API’s goals of promoting competitive and social pickleball activities. They should be willing to encourage sportsmanship and camaraderie and be able to work well with other board members. They should be of good character and operate with integrity and honesty. Duties include monthly meetings and occasional special meetings.

** All Board and Leadership positions within this organization are strictly volunteer and entirely non-compensated roles.  Individuals serving in these capacities are driven solely by dedication to the organization's mission and objectives, with no financial renumeration, salary, or stipend provided for their service. The volunteer nature of these critical roles fundamentally affirms an organizational commitment to selfless service and mission advancement. 

If you need more information, call Dean Cheatham at (760) 443-4379 or George Carr at (803) 507-4640.

 

Minutes for the November Leadership Team Meeting

The minutes for the November Leadership Team Meeting held on Monday, November 10th, have been posted.   Click here to read the full report.
 
 

 

2025 Palmetto Invitational Pickleball Tournament

Congratulations to all the players that participated in our Palmetto Indoors Invitational Doubles Tournament July 31 - August 3.  Two hundred thirty one registered players made this our most successful tournament ever.  Special thanks to

the Tournament Committee (Joyce  - Jay - Mo), the City of Aiken, our many sponsors and all the volunteers that made it possible.  You guys and gals are the greatest.  Gold -  Silver - Bronze medal winners are as follows -

Men's Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (11 To 49)

Gold Medal 

Tony Flowers

Jeff Stoutenburgh

Silver Medal

William Krueger

Ken Lido

Bronze Medal 

Zachary Weaver

Stuart Boswell

 

Men's Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (50 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Kenneth Hicks

Quentin Scott

Silver Medal 

George Dearden

Gary Burns

Bronze Medal 

Ward Richardson

Russell Crews

 

Men's Doubles Skill: (3.0)  Age: (60 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Mark Williams

Brian Marter

Silver Medal 

Michael Colucco

Harry Draggoo

Bronze Medal 

James Crowe

Richard Peterson

 

Men's Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (70 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Lynn Bowers

Byron Hewitt

Silver Medal 

Dr. Fred Jahad

Bill Hudson

Bronze Medal 

David Leffler

Neil Walwyn

 

Men's Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (11 To 49)

Gold Medal 

Mark Giddings

Elijah Slater

Silver Medal 

Matthew Cook

Hunter Coleman 

Bronze Medal 

Felix Latorre

Robbie Tant

 

Mens Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (50 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Jeremy Crow

Greg Whitaker

Silver Medal 

Scott Talbott

Augusto Donatelli

Bronze Medal 

Jose Gonzalez

Adolphus King

 

Mens Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (60 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Jerry Harris

John Peters

Silver Medal 

Scott Talbott

Paco Bogue

Bronze Medal 

Jim DeCosta

John Mavromatis

 

Mens Doubles Skill: (3.5)  Age: (70 And Above)

Gold Medal

Michael Howard

Mark Giddings

Silver Medal

Scott Mozley

Paul Miller

Bronze Medal

Myles Richard

Steve Petersen 

 

Mens Doubles Skill: (4.0 And Above) Age: (11 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Dylan Fahrbach

Davion Bellinger

Silver Medal 

Greg Sparks

Brandon Johnson

Bronze Medal 

Dennis Vermilye

Christian Walters

 

Mens Doubles Skill: (4.0)  Age: (60 And Above)

Gold Medal

Mark Carter

Jeff Simizon

Silver Medal

Ronald Nelson

Mark Morgan

Bronze Medal

Jerry Mershon

Dwight Jones

 

Womens Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (11 To 49)

Gold Medal 

Elizabeth Smith

Katherine Crumbaker

Silver Medal 

Kelly Boswell

Jennifer Reddick

Bronze Medal 

Rochelle Bergren

Stephanie Hollis

 

Womens Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (50 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Lora Gillis

Jessica Yang

Silver Medal 

Allie DeCosta

Cookie Gonzalez

Bronze Medal 

Tracy Meink

Karen Burns

 

Women's Doubles Skill: (3.0)  Age: (60 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Marie Klofenstine

Andrea Motley Crabtree

Silver Medal 

Diane Petersen

Debby Colucco

Bronze Medal 

Peg Sharp

Nancy Racki

 

Women's Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (70 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Mimi Borchers

Barbara Erndl

Silver Medal 

Pamela Schaefer

Pam Thacker

Bronze Medal 

Judy Walwyn

Sharon Richard

 

Women's Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (11 To 49)

Gold Medal 

Jessica Lanier

Jeannette Hammers

Silver Medal 

Amy Mitchell

Miriam James

Bronze Medal 

Brittany Fahrbach

Catherine Toury

 

Women's Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (50 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Jeanie Kirby

Loretta Rhodes

Silver Medal 

Liz Malyszek

Alisa Dearden

Bronze Medal 

Cindy Bogue

Lona Kelly

 

Women's Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (60 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Jessica Yang

Brenda Kyzer

Silver Medal 

Sherri Nelson

Jill Ross

Bronze Medal 

Xinna Sheng

Victoria Miller

 

Women's Doubles Skill: (4.0 And Above) Age: (11 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Holly Gilbert

Valerie Karrasch

Silver Medal 

Tammy Pruitt

Amy Myers

Bronze Medal 

Elliana Fahrbach

Lily-Rose Toury

Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (11 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Terri Dunnigan

William Krueger

Silver Medal 

Jessica Lanier

Allan Hickman

Bronze Medal 

Saumya Patil

Jace Logue

 

Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (50 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Cookie Gonzalez

Dr. Fred Jahad

Silver Medal 

lynn Dominguez

Felix Latorre 

Bronze Medal 

Karen Burns

Jeff Stoutenburgh

 

Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (60 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Jessica Yang

Kenneth Stevens

Silver Medal 

Karen Trujillo

Jim DeCosta

Bronze Medal 

Andrea Motley Crabtree

Bob Klofenstine

 

Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (70 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Mirabelle Dickhart

Carlton Merriam

Silver Medal 

Nancy Racki

Glen Jager

Bronze Medal 

Judy Walwyn

Neil Walwyn

 

Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (11 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Rebekah Slater

Elijah Slater

Silver Medal 

Jennie Dodd

Tony Flowers

Bronze Medal 

Brittany Fahrbach

Derek Fahrbach

 

Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (50 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Sharon Stone

Augusto Donatelli

Silver Medal 

Janalyn Elkins

Kip Elkins

Bronze Medal 

Denise Hough

Jeremy Crow

 

Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (60 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Miriam James

Josiah Rich

Silver Medal 

Michelle Howery

Brian Howery

Bronze Medal 

June Melton

Ronald Nelson

 

Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (70 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Barbara Karahalios

Kenneth Porter

Silver Medal 

Pat Truesdale

Byron Hewitt

Bronze Medal 

Nancy Urban 

Steve Petersen 

 

Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (75 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Barbara Dellamora

Alain Rossignol

Silver Medal 

Nancy Benson

William Weeks

Bronze Medal 

Caroline Popicg

David Berns

 

Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (11 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Tammy Pruitt

Jerry Mershon

Silver Medal 

Amy Myers

Dennis Vermilye

Bronze Medal 

Allie Williams

Brandon Johnson

 

Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.0) Age: (60 And Above)

Gold Medal 

Diane Miller

Paul Miller

Silver Medal 

Amy Petersen

Bruce Patton

Bronze Medal 

Kati Smallwood

Dwight Jones

 

New Player Clinic at the Gregg Park on Saturday, August 16th.

Aiken Pickleball, Inc. is hosting a  New Player Clinic  at the Gregg Park Civic Center on Saturday,  August 16th. In this clinic you will learn everything you need to get started playing the sport of pickleball.  Please wear tennis shoes  and bring something to drink.  Balls and paddles provided. Class limited to eight.   Cost is $10 per person.  Schedule as follows:

 

1030 - 11am - Check-in at front desk

11am - 12pm  - New Players Clinic Instruction

12 - 1pm -  Practice Play

 

Players must register and pay in advance which can be done online at GreggParkonline.com or at the Gregg Park Civic Center.  Cost is $10 per person.  Non-members are welcome to attend but must also pay an additional  $10 daily admittance fee.

Fee also includes attendance at a  New Players Practice session  on the following Saturday at Gregg Park.  Non members will still be required to pay the Gregg Park $10 additional admittance fee.  

 

 

Players Rating Sessiions

There will be a Players Rating Session at Odell Weeks on Saturday March 29th.  Sessions are free - sign up required.

 

 

Fabulous Friday - June 28th - Doubles Strategy Clinic

To help prepare for the Palmetto Doubles Tournament being held at Odell July 31 - August 4, there will be a  doubles strategy clinic on Friday evening June 28th from 6 - 7 pm.  We are calling it  Fabulous Friday as there is no evening play on Tuesdays between now and the tournament. The clinic is free and no sign up is required.  The clinic is for 3.0 - 4.0 doubles teams that have registered for the Palmetto and  everyone who is thinking about it even if you still need a partner.   Schedule for the evening of Friday June 28th as follows.

4-6 pm - Open play for everyone - all six courts 

6-7 pm - clinic on doubles strategy 

7-830pm - Open play for everyone - Court designation 

If you haven't already,  find a partner and sign up for the tournament.  Discount for early registration has been extended until June 15th.   We also need volunteers for the check-in & event desks, raffle & silent auction and lots of court monitors.  All of these positions come with an official T-shirt and a free lunch.  A volunteer sign up sheet will be available at the clinic. 

In the meantime players may now stay together with their partners during drop in play from now until the end of July.

 

 

Minutes from May Leadership Team Meeting

Minutes for the May Leadership Team Meeting held on May 6 have been posted.  Marcia Stivanson was introduced as our new secretary.  Topics discussed -  Court reservations -  An upgraded version of the Sign up Genius was tested and it was decided we were better off with the version we a using;  Groovy Tuesday - was so successful we decided to have another one on May 28th with a free clinic from 5-6pm on all six courts; Special Clinics for Pacer Life and Special Olympics were held in May; the final approval of our bylaws and much more.  Go to the Forums page or click here to read the full report.

 

 

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