Seventh Annual Rotary Pickleball Tournament

August 3, 2024 1:30 am
Contributed photo The 2023 women’s doubles gold medal winners Donna Laslo and Rosedanie Cadet hold their pickle-jar trophies; mother and daughter team Barb Skotte and Monica Connell with their silver medal gift bags.
Contributed photo The 2023 women’s doubles gold medal winners Donna Laslo and Rosedanie Cadet hold their pickle-jar trophies; mother and daughter team Barb Skotte and Monica Connell with their silver medal gift bags.

Here come the pickleball players! During the weekend of Aug. 10 and 11, pickleball players from throughout the region will be on island for the 7th annual Orcas Island Rotary Club Pickleball Tournament, co-hosted by the Orcas Island Pickleball Club and Orcas Island Park & Rec. Registration is now open for Mixed Doubles (Saturday) and both Women’s Doubles and Men’s Doubles (Sunday). All proceeds go to support Orcas non-profit organizations. Last year, the tournament raised $13,000 to support the Orcas Community Resource Center and scholarships to local youth.

Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome! To register, go to www.orcaspickleball.org Registration is $50 for one event or $70 for two. All events include two skill levels: Beginner/Recreational and Intermediate/Advanced. Tournament play begins at 8:00am each day and spectators are welcome. Please note that the tournament has the use of the tennis courts for the weekend.

In addition to exciting tournament play, there will be a raffle of great local services and goods to raise funds for the pickleball club – anyone can purchase raffle tickets – and a hosted barbeque for players and their families on Saturday afternoon, following the awards ceremony. Please join us for fun, food and friendship at Buck Park.

Big thanks to the sponsors who are supporting the tournament and community beneficiaries: Chicory Wealth, Island Market, Island Petroleum and Ray’s Pharmacy; Gudgell Properties, Linda Hamilton, Bob McPherson, Orcas Island, Rainshadow Solar and WaFed; Island Hardware & Supply and Island Thyme. We appreciate our in-kind donors: Eastsound Sporting Goods, Forest Ceramics, Orcas Food Co-op, Orcas Radio. If you would like to sponsor the tournament or donate goods for our prizes or raffle, please contact Suzanne Olson at 360-622-0850.

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 purpose: “Changing our community, our country, and the world through good will and service above self.” Orcas Rotary meets by Zoom every 1st Friday at 9 a.m. and every third Friday at 5 p.m.

Orcas Island Pickleball Club is a 501-c-3 organization committed to supporting a strong pickleball community on Orcas Island. Pickleball is open to everyone: court times are scheduled on playtimescheduler.com and include open sessions for all. Newcomers and visitors are welcome to join in play and new player orientation sessions are available. Memberships are available: www.orcaspickleball.org.