SPA Players Compete in Dinking in the Desert

Men’s doubles 4.0 winners: Sam Alkhoury and Bill Lucy (center), gold; Dirk Anderson and Lou Szathmary (left), silver; Ed Szympruch and Rich Breunich (right), bronze (photo by Paul Massara)

Mixed doubles 2.5 winners: Marc Schwartz and Amy Schwartz (center), gold; Steve Amento and Betsy Amento (left), silver; Cindy Witt and John Bidegain (right), bronze (photo by Paul Massara)

Mixed doubles 3.5 winners: Mark Graham and Helen Graham (center), gold; Lou Szathmary and Donna Szathmary (left), silver; Kandi Connor and Derrell Mincey (right), bronze (photo by Paul Massara)

Mixed doubles 4.0 winners: Sam Alkhoury and Kristy Johnson (center), gold; Ed Szympruch and Susan Deskovich (left), silver; Diana Giljohann and Pete Giljohann (right), bronze (photo by Paul Massara)

Raymond H. Goettsch

On March 15 through 17, more than 148 members of the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) played in the second annual Dinking in the Desert intramural tournament. The tournament was for men’s doubles on March 15, women’s doubles on March 16, and mixed doubles on March 17. Due to the weather, the men’s doubles matches were not completed until March 20. The doubles teams competed in a modified round-robin format in which each SPA team played each other SPA team in the same class. Medals were awarded to the top three teams in each skill level: gold (first place), silver (second place), and bronze (third place).

The medalists in the men’s double were: 3.0: Greg Wilkins/Glen Wirtanen, gold; Mark Cates/Reid Lewis, silver; David Ellman/Corey Loyd/sub, John Roberts, bronze; 3.5: Kevin Peck/Gary Simpson, gold; Ken Hallman/Jerry Savage, silver; Tom Frame/Joel Ficke/sub, Jim Bauman, bronze; 4.0: Sam Alkhoury/Bill Lucy, gold; Dirk Anderson/Lou Szathmary, silver; Ed Szympruch/Rich Breunich, bronze.

Overall, in the women’s doubles competition, the medalists were: 2.0/2.5 teams combined with 3.0: Lizzie Bayard/Stacy Olson, gold; Diana Schulz/Missy Roberts, silver; Susie Payne/Brenda Browning, bronze; 3.5: Kandi Connor/Ann Lange, gold; Paulette Bosselman/Sue Wood, silver; Catherine Carmody/Amy Benson, bronze; 4.0: Diana Giljohan/Kristy Johnson, gold; Cherie Block/Susan Deskovich, silver; Carolyn Nickum/Janine Sullivan, bronze.

The mixed doubles resulted in the following medalists: 2.0/2.5: Amy Schwartz/Marc Schwartz, gold; Betsy Amento/Steve Amento, silver; Cindy Witt/John Bidegain, bronze; 3.0: Diana Schulz/Reid Lewis, gold; Liz Gray/Bill Gray, silver; Jen Wilken/Mark Cates, bronze; 3.5: Helen Graham/Mark Graham, gold; Donna Szathmary/Lou Szathmary, silver; Kandi Connor/Derrel Mincey, bronze; 4.0: Kristy Johnson/Sam Alkhoury, gold; Susan Deskovich/Ed Szympruch, silver; Diana Giljohan/Pete Giljohan, bronze.

The intramural tournament was organized and managed by Paul Massara on behalf of the SPA Tournament Committee. Other members of the Tournament Committee volunteered for promotion, preparation, and operation: Michael Hovan, chair; Barbara Mitchell, secretary; Maude Ruffin; Jim Wall; Nancy Maglio; and Bill Gray.