Sports & Leisure
‘Play Ball!’ call almost here for softball
“We’re ready for the new year and hope we won’t be hindered by the weather on opening night,” Sun City Softball Club President Chuck Hund said. “We have a great field crew, led by John Roccosanto, who has worked on leveling the field.”
Tall Oaks Tennis Club secures USTA support for red ball pilot program
“If we go back maybe seven, eight years ago, I saw that the population of Sun City was getting older and a lot were getting injuries or they can’t do what they used to…I had shoulder surgery so I understand now. So, I said, ‘There’s got to be a way that I can make it easier for older people or people that have injuries to do this.’ So, I came up with this brilliant idea that if I had a slower ball and a smaller court, it might make it easier for the older people,” Fontana told My Sun Day News.
Just peachy
As a new Major League Baseball season dawned with Spring Training’s start, an audience of 25 heard about the Rockford Peaches success in the AAGPBL from Tulloch at Huntley Area Public Library Feb. 11.
Schwan brings home pickleball gold
Sun City resident John Schwan has kept a memorable pickleball season going strong.
Schwan recently won two gold medals in two Illinois Senior Olympics competition singles for age 75 plus. Illinois Senior Olympics conducts the games, offering with many sports for ages 50 and above.
Fishing derby makes big splash!
This popular event was hosted in conjunction with the Del Webb Anglers for Sun City residents and their grandchildren over two years of age. Prizes were awarded for various categories for ages 2-7 and 8 and above. Each child was able to choose a prize due to the generosity of donations from the Anglers, grandparents, Bait Shanty, Ace Hardware in Huntley, Culvers, and Moretti’s.
Go fish!
Francis Rowinski beautifully encapsulated Johnson’s dedication: “Randy has been deeply devoted to our Angler’s Club, tirelessly working to create a space where anglers of all skill levels can grow and find new friends. His instrumental role in organizing fishing tournaments at Wildflower Lake twice a month during each fishing season is a testament to his unwavering commitment.”
Sun City granddaughter snags impressive running award
Reflecting on her journey, Wade shared, “The whole event was enjoyable. It was a little overwhelming, especially the school bus ride to East Peoria. But it was a great feeling knowing my family and friends were supporting me.”
Sun City keeps up with paddle sport trends
There are over 25 million active padel players in over 170 countries.
Keep the ball rolling
But the club may soon come to an end if no one volunteers to be president or vice president.
Can you swim the Fox River?
Nancy Cihlar, Club Vice-President said, “The club exceeded their goal. We achieved 291 miles. That is over half a million yards.”
Local yoga program pairs with animal therapy
Mike Caserno is the host of the show. Caserno said, “We discuss yoga spirituality with a positive vibe.”
Tennis day a perfect match for two clubs
Mare Roccosanto, Vice President of Tall Oaks Tennis Club (TOTC) said, “Thank you GG & Me for letting the Tennis Club put on this event again. Forty-Five minutes before we were ready to start, the courts were wet. It was touch and go with the rain. A little delay did not stop us. Thank you to the Softball Charter Cub for lending us their blowers. Courts were dry in a jiffy.”
Wimbledon at Sun City
Talk Oaks Tennis Club introduced the Pro-Am last year to give any Sun City resident an opportunity to challenge one of the Tennis Pros. The event is scheduled this year on August 27 from 1-4 p.m. on the Stadium Court. Any resident will have a chance to play against a pro, but with a decided handicap such as playing with a wooden tennis racket, or different lines.
Pickleball and tennis clubs must compromise on sharing courts
In its early days, the Sun City Pickleball Club had to share time on two of the eight tennis courts at the formerly named Tall Oaks Tennis Center with members of the Tennis Club.
Despite negotiation efforts by past leaders of both clubs, there appeared to always be constant tension and controversy amongst pickleball and tennis players in Sun City, according to a My Sun Day News story from 2017.
Sun City Softball honors vets
Groebli kicked off the event by giving thanks to the people who prepared and put the event together: Wayne Wagner, Phil Haugens, Gary Krewer, Jim Czysz, Phil Miller, and Leo Ouellette. Recognizing the veterans in attendance, Groebli said, “We call them heroes because today, as we look around the problems of the world, we are still and will always be, the best country in the world due to the heroes you will meet today. May we never forget the men and women that served our country.”