Gary Pelphrey First, the good news: The SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) now has close to 800 members who regularly enjoy a low-impact, excellent cardiovascular workout. On the other hand, older players may experience injuries. The most common injuries include sprains, joint pain, and falling. Wrist, shoulder, knee, and ankle injuries can also occur. So, the…
Evelyn Wiltshire As the sun peeked over the Santa Catalina Mountains on Feb. 22, 14 SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) members gathered at the DesertView parking lot, trading paddles for grabbers to battle litter on Edwin Road. SPA has actively participated in Pinal County’s Adopt A County Road Program since 2017, supplying volunteers with safety vests…
Raymond H. Goettsch The SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) sponsored four teams in the Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL), and three teams advanced to the Arizona state tournament and earned medals. Other SPA members advanced to state in separate teams, advancing to state and receiving medals. On April 7 in Mesa, SPA’s Soft Serve team (women…
Raymond H. Goettsch On the afternoon of Dec. 7 SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) members celebrated the holidays with a pizza party. The SPA Social Committee, Lori Polichnowski (chair), Barbara Mithell, Nancy Prentiss, and Tracey Rathjen, planned the party at the home of Bonnie and Fred Barazini. Pizzas and salad were served to more than 100 SPA…
Raymond Goettsch On Oct. 20 through 22, 118 members of the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) faced off against 118 SaddleBrooke Ranch Pickleball Association (SRPA) members on the Ed Robson Pickleball Center courts in the Battle for the Saddle Tournament. The tournament was for women’s, men’s, and mixed doubles teams competing in a round-robin format in which…
Raymond H. Goettsch SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association, Inc. (SPA), is fielding four teams to compete in the Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL) for the coming season. The teams are all 65 years of age and older (65+): 3.0 65+ men, 3.0 65+ women, 3.5 65+ men, and 4.0 65+ women. Currently, the team participants are engaging…
Raymond H. Goettsch On Sept. 23 SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) members Cherri Block and Michael Hovan won the gold medal in mixed singles 70+ at the United States Senior Pickleball (USSP) National Championship tournament in Greater Dallas at the Oasis Pickleball Club in Rockwell, Texas. Michael and Bob Steinhoff of Windsor, Colo., also earned gold…
Raymond H. Goettsch During the last two weeks of September 2023, SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) members volunteering to be instructors in player development classes had their own pickleball skills tested. The successful volunteers will be assigned to assist in three player development classes created by Player Development Director Paul Massara: Pickleball 101, Pickleball 201, and…
Raymond H. Goettsch On Sept. 9 SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) members Doug Turley and Greg Wilkins competed in the 2023 Labor Day @ Espire Sports pickleball tournament in Prescott, Ariz. The U.S. Senior Pickleball circuit tournament was sponsored by PIG (Pickleball Is Great) and was held on indoor courts in the Espire Sports Complex. Doug…
Raymond H. Goettsch Members of the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association, Inc. (SPA), will have a rematch against members of the SaddleBrooke Ranch Pickleball Association (SRPA) on Oct. 20–22. This now annual tournament has been named The Battle for the Saddle and will be held this year at the Ed Robson Pickleball Center in SaddleBrooke. In the…