FROM THE USAPA
USAPA JUNIORS LAUNCH
PROGRAM AT USAPA
NATIONALS VIII
BY BOB NIBARGER, USAPA JUNIORS COORDINATOR
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T
he stage was Nationals
VIII and the event was
the official launch of the
USAPA Juniors program.
Over 50 juniors enthusiasts
attended a kickoff social on
Thursday between 4 and
6 p.m. at the Palm Creek
Pickleball Pavilion. The
social featured time for both adults and juniors to visit as they shared
pizza while talking about their favorite activity: pickleball. You could
feel the “buzz” in the air as the players displayed intense anticipation
of an upcoming event. That event would be an opportunity to play
with and against several pros who were in attendance. Pros and invited
guests included Sarah Ansboury, Rodney Grubbs, Josh Grubbs, Zach
Grubbs, Christine Barksdale, Allison Hastings, Doug Hastings, McKenna
Hastings, LeEllen Lane, Dave Weinbach, Kyle Klein, Stephanie Lane
Dave and Nancy Jordan, Brian Staub, Marcin Rozpedski, Kyle Yates,
Anna Copley, Pickleball Central, Pickleball Channel and a host of juniors.
The program was organized and sponsored by the USAPA with Rodney
Grubbs, Pickleball Rocks, serving as event organizer. The next juniors
milestone will be the addition of a juniors webpage which will launch
sometime early next year.
The Pickleball Channel,
www.pickleballchannel.
com, was at Nationals VIII
and captured several juniors
in action.
If you would like to
volunteer or join the juniors
program, simply email us at
[email protected]. •
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TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 724.942.0940 OR GO TO THEPICKLEBALLMAG.COM
START PREPPING FOR THE
2017 STATE
GAMES OF
AMERICA
N
ext August 3-6, a major pickleball tournament
will be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as part of
the State Games of America. This is a busy time of the
year in West Michigan with the annual Coast Guard
Festival happening the same week in Grand Haven,
just a few miles to the west, which brings in more than
300,000 people to the coastal town. If you plan on
attending, you may want to reserve your hotel rooms
now.
The 2017 State Games of America is open to
all Michigan residents and only to out-of-state
residents who meet certain eligibility requirements.
To learn more about eligibility, please visit
www.stategamesofamerica.com.
The State Games of America, a property of the
National Congress of State Games, is a national
multi‑sport event, held biennially, for athletes of all
ages and skill levels. Medal winners from 31 State
Games nationwide earn the right to compete against
other winners and match their skills and competitive
desire in a national arena. •