Medina Rotary Club plans Pickleball Tourney

It will be the first of its kind event for this area as the Rotary Club of Medina is planning to hold its First Annual Pickleball Tournament the weekend of July 10 and 11 on the Medina High School tennis courts.

Pickleball is a paddleball sport that combines elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, much like a wiffle ball, with 26-40 round holes, over a net.

Tournament Director Carl Tuohey believes this will become the biggest annual fundraiser for the Rotary Club.  “Pickleball is a fast-growing sport and this is the first tournament to be held in this area.

“This inaugural tournament will be a ‘fun’ tournament,” he added. “USPA rules will apply and players will make their own calls.  It will not be a sanctioned tournament this year but we hope to get to that point in the near future.”

While promoted as one tournament there will be four separate tournaments: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles.  The two Singles tournaments will be held on Saturday, July 10th with the Doubles tournaments on Sunday, July 11th.

There will be a limit of 32 total registrations each day, with eight slots reserved for the Men’s tournaments and eight slots reserved for the Women’s tournaments.  The remaining 16 spots will be filled in the order payment was received regardless of gender.

There will be food vendors onsite and spectators are encouraged to come watch.  “If you are unfamiliar with pickleball then this is your chance to see the game” said Tuohey.

Player registration is $15 plus $10 per event entered.  Registration opens on Saturday, May 1st.  It ends on either Wednesday, June 30th or when all the slots are filled.  Players need to register online.

In addition, the Rotary Club will be collecting canned goods for the local food bank.  These items can be turned in at the Information Table either Saturday or Sunday.

“We hope and believe the people and businesses in the area will support this” says Tuohey.  “Rotary will be seeking sponsors, volunteers and pickleball nets in the coming weeks.”

Participants will need to register at www.medinarotary.org/pickleball.  For more information visit the Rotary website or contact the Rotary Club at medinanyrotary@gmail.com.