Medal winners at Tucson Senior Olympics
Shawne Cryderman
The 2016 Tucson Senior Olympics (TSO) Pickleball Tournament was held at Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club on January 11, 12 and 13. This popular tennis venue has 12 permanent Pickleball courts with plans to add more courts in the very near future. Pickleball tournament directors Priscilla Scott and Michael Botwin did a fabulous job running the entire event. The SaddleBrooke participants had fun and met many other pickleball enthusiasts.
At this particular tournament, players are divided into two age groups, 50 plus and 70 plus and then by skill levels. The 50 plus events had 78 participants in women’s doubles, 84 participants in men’s doubles and then 116 participants in mixed doubles. Participating in the 70 plus events were 14 women, 48 men and 28 participants in mixed doubles.
Congratulations to all who participated. And the winners from SaddleBrooke are the following:
Women’s Doubles
Gold 4.5 Joan Van Matre Sara Santora
Men’s Doubles
Gold 3.5 70 plus Stan Strebig Jim Haakenson
Gold 3.5 Paul Frederickson Ray Howard
Silver 4.5 Mark Van Matre Bob Koerner
Mixed Doubles
Gold 3.0 Nancy Carlson Randy Olsen
Bronze 3.5 Fred Kennedy Joyce Tarrant (SBR)
Gold 4.5 Tina Huber Bob Koerner
Silver 4.5 Joan Van Matre Mark Van Matre
Unfortunately there is a rumor going around that this may be the last year for the TSO. City government officials are questioning the bang for the buck of holding this well received senior event for all sports and categories, not just Pickleball.