Pickleball tournament raises $13,000 — winners all around

Submitted by the Orcas Island Pickleball Club.

In its sixth year at Buck Park, the Orcas Island Rotary Pickleball Tournament more than doubled the dollars raised for the Orcas community with a net of $13,000. Tournament Director Linda Hamilton said, “It’s our mission with this tournament to use our pickleball nets to strengthen the social services safety net in our community.” The proceeds will be donated to Orcas Island Community Resource Center and local scholarships for college and trade-school programs.

Congratulations to the following first and second-place pickleball finishers:

Group A Mixed Doubles: 1) Leah and Gib Black; 2) Christine and Kevin Lee

Group B Mixed Doubles: 1) Shelbi and Ryan Kendrick; 2) Monica Connell and Ethan Brazil

Group A Women’s Doubles: 1) Leah and Jen Black; 2) Jenny Shrum and Carolyn Story

Group B Women’s Doubles: 1) Monica Connell and Barb Skotte; 2) Donna Laslo and Rosedanie Cadet

Group A Men’s Doubles: 1) Jemuel Morris and Nigel Oswald; 2) Michael Harlow and Valerie Alexandov

Group B Men’s Doubles: 1) Ron Claus and Tony Andrade; 2) Bob McPherson and Matthew Laslo

The two-day tournament (August 24-25) hosted 62 players from Orcas, San Juan, Lopez islands, Oahu, and the mainland. Featured events included mixed doubles, women’s and men’s doubles; a BBQ in the park Saturday afternoon; and a prize raffle to support the launch of the new Orcas Island Pickleball Club. Next year’s tournament is scheduled for the weekend of August 10-11, 2024 – mark your calendars!

The key to success was the generous support of the following community sponsors: Island Market, Presenting Sponsor; Co-Sponsors Banner Bank, Chicory Wealth, Island Petroleum and Rays Pharmacy + Con’s Pit Stop + Island Life; Sponsors Gudgell Properties, Linda Hamilton, Bob McPherson, Rainshadow Solar, Sea Island, and Star Surveying; Supporters Frank & Barbara Fagen, Island Hardware & Supply, Island Thyme, Paul & Tammy Pollard and Greg Stafford; and Donors Dianne Bennett, Forest Ceramics, Orcas Food Co-op and Orcas Island Parks & Recreation.

The pickleball community extends its gratitude to the tennis players who granted us access to the two tennis courts at Buck Park. We put up four temporary courts, doubling the number of pickleball courts available for the tournament. We appreciate their cooperation and support: thank you, tennis players!

Orcas Island Rotary supports the values and efforts of Rotary International. As a satellite of the Rotary Club of the San Juan Islands, they embrace the club’s purpose: “Changing our community, our country, and the world through goodwill and service above self.” Orcas Rotary meets by Zoom every 1st Friday at 9 a.m. and every 3rd Friday at 5 p.m.

Orcas Island Pickleball Club (OIPC) is a new organization of pickleball players committed to supporting a strong pickleball community on Orcas Island. Founding memberships in OIPC are available at https://orcaspickleball.org/ (taking cash or check until online pay is up).

Pickleball is open to everyone. Court times are scheduled on playtimescheduler.com and drop-ins are welcome. Newcomers and visitors are welcome to join in play and new player orientation sessions are available.