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Dave Nydell, Carolyn Pilcher, Don Swanson enjoyed some lively pickleball competition during the summer at the HUB Sports Center. Open play is available at various times during the week, and the annual Slamma Jamma indoor tournament will be held Sept. 19-20 at the HUB.

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In the September Fountain: Pickleball brings people together
8/27/2015 12:03:23 PM

By Sarah Robertson 
Splash Contributor

Addictive. 

It's not a word most would associate with pickleball. But on a recent Wednesday afternoon visit to the HUB Sports Center, it was the word most used to describe the sport. 

The HUB, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave., hosts pickleball players of all ages and ability four days and two evenings a week. During the week most of the players are a bit on the older side, with the oldest player being 94. 

But according to longtime player, Janice Gillingham, 68, "You can play it into your old age." 

Don Swanson, 80, jokingly called it "old people tennis" as he cooled down from a couple hours of play.

As a group of four ladies left the court after an afternoon of pickleball, they shared what makes the sport so fun and addictive. A long-time pickleball player, Kathy Mills, 73, said she enjoys the game because she can play year-round. Mills even enjoys an outdoor game when she is spending time in Arizona. 

She remembers playing in the earlier days at the HUB. 

"We used to get six to eight people," she said.

Now the HUB averages about 25 players every day and sometimes upward of 50, said HUB Executive Director Phil Champlin. Champlin recalled bringing pickleball back to the HUB in 2011. 

"We didn't have very good nets," he said. "The nets we used for our first tournament were very unpopular. We received a grant to buy new nets, and players also donated money for nets." 

The popularity of the sport has grown as well. The HUB now hosts six sessions of pickleball - up from three when they reintroduced the sport in 2011.

The nets aren't the only new thing in pickleball. If you remember playing the game in your grade school gym class, you probably recall the heavy wooden paddles. Those paddles are no more - the new paddles are lightweight and very easy to use. 

Many of the players enjoy socializing after playing or off the court in general, as evidenced by the ladies leaving the court to go grab coffee together. Though, clearly, a fair amount of socializing happens on the courts too. 

"I love it," Carolyn Giltner, 73, said. "You can also talk between games and meet all sorts of people."

The group joked and laughed about the fun they have had playing pickleball and taking road trips to regional tournaments. Gillingham chuckled when she recalled that her mother called the game, "cucumber ball."

The HUB host two tournaments a year. There is a small tournament in May to introduce players to the idea of the tournament. It's generally intended for any intermediate players interested in competing.

This month, they will host their 5th Annual Spokane Slamma Jamma Indoor tournament on Sept. 19 and 20. According to Champlin, about half the players are local and the other half are from around the region.

It is open to all ages. Saturday features men's and women's doubles, and Sunday will be for mixed doubles. As Champlin noted, it's round-robin style guaranteeing six games for each player. 

"We don't want anyone to come all this way to only play three games," he said.

Registration closes Sept. 4; visit www.hubsportscenter.org for more details. 

Joe Meyer, 67, loves the tournaments and the competition. He has been playing pickleball two to three times per week for over two years. A friend introduced him to the game.

"You kinda' get better all the time," Meyer said. "You keep playing with someone better than you are and you get better."

In addition, Meyer loves the exercise and bringing his children and grandchildren to play as well. "It just a bunch of really nice people. You make so many nice friends."

After a couple hours of pickleball, a trio of players was found cooling down. Dave Nydell, 71, was visiting from Phoenix, where he plays indoors and outdoors all year round. He was visiting his sister, Carolyn Pilcher, 75, a regular at the HUB. 

"I really like the people, and it's good therapy," Pilcher said with a laugh. 

Nydell notes that the HUB has lots of room for courts, which is a bonus because there are not that many places to play in Spokane and the surrounding area.

Don Swanson, 80, the third of the trio, said he enjoys playing in the tournaments. 

"It's fun to gauge where you are at. You have to play younger people when you get older!" he joked.  

The HUB hosts pickleball 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday nights. No membership or sign-up is needed. Participants are charged a drop-in fee at every visit - $2 for 50 and older and $4 for younger.  

For more information on this sport that offers a great workout and a fun crowd, contact the HUB at 927-0602 or at www.hubsportscenter.org.

• • •

If you go ...

Pickleball drop-in play
HUB Sports Center, 19619 E. Cataldo Ave.

12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday nights 

Drop-in fee is $2 for those over age 50; $4 for those under 50. 

Spokane Slamma Jamma Pickleball Tournament
Sept. 19 and 20 at the HUB

This tournament is open to all ages and features men's and women's doubles, as well as mixed doubles. Registration closes Sept. 4.  

For more: 927-0602 or www.hubsportscenter.org

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