Mark Van Matre, Bob Koerner, Joan Van Matre
Pete Giljohann
Joan Van Matre, Mark Van Matre and Bob Koerner, who recently won a silver medal with Joan in the Mixed Doubles at the USAPA National Tournament in Casa Grande in the age 65-69 group, are now rated at the 5.0 skill level, the highest level in the sport. Bob, Mark and Joan are the first players from SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch to receive this outstanding rating, which puts them in the top 5% of all Pickleball players in the country. What an accomplishment.
Joan and Mark started playing pickleball in SaddleBrooke on the original courts behind the DesertView Theater. Bob’s wife, Jodie Koerner, talked him into playing pickleball at the Preserve. Tournament play for Joan started nine years ago in the Tucson Senior Olympics where she won a gold medal at the 3.5 level. Bob’s first tournament was at the USAPA Nationals in Phoenix in 2012, a tough way to get your feet wet. Now he has achieved his dream of winning a medal at Nationals.
Mark and Joan have played in many tournaments, winning many medals. Three years ago Joan and Bob decided to play together for fun at the first SPA Club Tournament here in SaddleBrooke. Joan and Mark used to play racquetball and tennis while Bob played tennis and ping pong. Their quickness and power is evident on the courts. All three love the fast pace and managing the court with the chess match-like strategy to play at a high level.
Bob graciously says he was able to reach the 5.0 level by “picking great partners” – a tribute both to Joan and to Mark whom he pairs with in Men’s Doubles. In Mixed Doubles tournament play, 80% of the balls are hit to the woman and, according to Bob, Joan’s outstanding play over the last year was the reason for their recent 5.0 rating. Of course, Mark says the same thing.
When asked about tips and advice for less skilled players that are trying to advance to higher levels, some of their comments were “Play in tournaments; Try to play better players; Keep your eye on the ball; Watch you-tube videos and do drills.” Bob also mentioned that because of tournament play he has learned how to finish a match.
What they like best about pickleball are the friendships they have made with people all over the country. Most of their best friends here in SaddleBrooke are Pickleball players as well.
The magnitude of their runner-up finish at Nationals sunk in for Joan when these friends showered them with congratulatory emails. Joan describes Pickleball as “the most fun game I ever played, with the nicest people I ever met.”