SUN CITY – Sun City has some seriously talented pickleball players.
Five of them recently went down to St. Charles and almost stole the show. Diane Olsen (N20), won first place in her division, Ben Manibog (N3)Â took second in his, and Gene Kraus (N29) came very close to the top spot in his division. Five Huntley Sun Citians participated in the 32-member tourney. Others included Marge Kraus and Diane and Jerry Sabal.
The indoor event was sponsored by the St. Charles Park District. âPlayers came from all over northern Illinois and other states,â said Olsen. âThere was one player from Des Moines, Iowa. I think all five of us had winning records.â
Pickleball is a combination of tennis and badminton but is played on a much smaller court. Equipment includes a plastic whiffle-type ball and wooden rackets slightly larger than those used in table tennis. Games are played to 15 points.
Players ranged in age from their early 20s to one gentlemen of 78, Olsen said. âWe just had a lot of fun. Pickleball is played with partners, so I had a lot of good partners to help me score points. There were no menâs and womenâs divisions; all 32 players were mixed together into four competitive groups on four separate courts. Each of us played seven games. It was nice to find out I can play well against players of all ages.â
As is done in tennis, players were divided into A and B levels, depending on their skill level. Olsen herself has played the game for about six years, the last four of which have been since she moved to Huntley from Arizona.
âThe five of us really enjoyed this event, and weâd like to see the Huntley Park District sponsor something like this sometime,â she said. All five Sun Citians are members of the Huntley Sun City Pickleball Charter Club, which plays on two of the Tall Oaks Tennis Clubâs courts in the summer.
