The Henderson Baird Holiday Pickleball Tournament last weekend drew 238 competitors from as far away as Georgia, and according to organizer Eddie Minton, more than 30 people had to be turned away from signing up because of a lack of space.
The tournament—and its draw—is a local indicator of the sport’s incredible rise in popularity and a point of debate for local enthusiasts who want local government to assist in adding to the area’s current 14 pickleball courts.
Currently, there are six pickleball courts at Community Park, four at Audubon State Park and four at The Bridges Golf Club.
Minton, in his fourth year of playing pickleball, answers definitively if that’s enough.
“No,” he said. “Oh, no.”
He said the community probably needs another 10 courts.
Of the players who competed at the YMCA over the weekend, about 75 were from Henderson, according to Minton. Others came from western Kentucky, southern Indiana and Illinois, Louisville and Lexington.
Tanya Knight, a former avid tennis player, said she only picks up a pickleball paddle these days.
“It’s just fun,” she said. “It’s absolutely fun.”
Minton said another draw is the wear, or lack of wear, that the courts—much smaller than tennis courts—have on a player’s body.
“It’s so much easier on your body,” Minton said.
Henderson’s Baird branch sponsored the tournament for the second year in a row. Kevin Farmer, the branch manager, said the rise of pickleball throughout the nation in the past several years caught the eyes of corporate heads and the company decided to start sponsoring national tournaments.
With the company supporting big tournaments, Farmer thought why not support local pickleball tournaments.
“It made sense for us to look for local options,” Farmer said.
The sponsorship took care of the supplies of the 3-day tournament—medals, snacks, balls, T-shirts and hats for the first 100 people who signed up. And that helped to save organizers money that can be donated to local non-profits.
The tournament fetched thousands of dollars from entry fees. That money will be donated to local non-profits, including $1,000 to the newly formed Henderson Pickleball Club, Minton said.
The other non-profits receiving money are Riverview School which will receive $2,000; the Friends of Audubon which will receive $500; and the YMCA which will receive $1,300, Minton said.
List of winners
Women’s Doubles 2.5
1st place: Tammy Baird and Cathy Schuelke
2nd place: Kate Stinson and Karen Evans
3rd place: Sharon Davis and Darci Davis
Mixed Doubles 4.5 Division
1st place: Kayla Yeh and Tyler Denbo
2nd place: Jenny Hargrave and Brad Wilzbacher
3rd place: Jennifer Wilson and Brent Thompson
Women’s Doubles 3.5 Division
1st place: Sherry Bopp and Carolyn Powers
2nd place: Bonnie Venson and Delayna Meredith
3rd place: Mary Banks and Sharyn P Schleich
Mixed Doubles 4.0 Division:
1st place: Katelyn Storm and Azariah Mattas
2nd place: Gina Adams and Greg Baumgart
3rd place: Kris Wampler and Bill Dobson
Men’s Doubles 4.0 Division
1st place: Nathan Carman and Todd Carman
2nd place: Darren Stanton and Brandon Lindsley
3rd place: Evan Howe and Azariah Mattas
Men’s Doubles 4.5 Division
1st place: Steven Burgess and Bryan Kifer
2nd place: Kellen Fleener and Guy Durham
3rd place: Justin Yeh and Adam Gray
Mixed Doubles 2.5 Division
1st place: Sharon Davis and Cary Davis
2nd place: Julie Hill and Brandon Hill
3rd place: Debbie Murphy and Gary Murphey
Mixed Doubles 3.0 Division
1st place: Maddie Royster and Jonathan Royster
2nd place: Cindy Crawford and Cannon Cornelius
3rd place: Melody Chaney and Scott Hammond
Mixed Doubles 3.5 Division
1st place: Brooke Carson and Josh Macer
2nd place: Mika McAnally and Phillip Coleman Jr.
3rd place: Donna Chapman and Taylor Chapman
Open Doubles Division
1st place: Lindsey Hadley and Evan Franklyn Harvey
2nd place: Pablo Casas and Bryce Garrett
3rd place: Lauren Horrall and James Tapley
Men’s Doubles 3.5 Division
1st place: James Tipmore and Chris Rhoads
2nd place: Adel Alasam and David Holmes
3rd place: Jonathan Royster and Noah Mills
Women’s Doubles 3.0 Division
1st place: Melissa Dumes and Winnie Smee
2nd place: Bailey Martin and Molly Burnett
3rd place: Judy Onan and Mary Caton
Men’s Doubles 3.0 Division
1st place: Karter Stewart and Hunter Stetter
2nd place: Cash Moorman and Clay Settles
3rd place: Eric Brown and Larry Congleton
Women’s Doubles 4.0 (And Above) Division
1st place: Leigh Toby and Jennifer Wilson
2nd place: Laura Allison and Sarah Jones
3rd place: Karren Whitten and Sherril Leuken
Mixed Doubles 3.5 Division
1st place: Brooke Carson and Josh Macer
2nd place: Mika McAnally and Phillip Coleman Jr.
3rd place: Donna Chapman and Taylor Chapman
