Pickleball Magazine 2-6 Courtesy of PickleballTournaments | Page 24

U S A PA N AT I O N A LS
Double Stu
USAPA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
DOUBLES THE SIZE, DOUBLES THE FUN
BY MARK BERTON
I
f you attended the USAPA National Championships
last year, you would have been impressed with the 744
registered participants. If you attended this year, you
would have been awestruck by the 1,334 registered
participants playing for over $25,000 in prize money. It
doesn’t take a back-of-the-napkin calculation to know that
this was the USAPA’s largest tournament in the history of
the Nationals.
That growth was reflected in Casa Grande, Arizona, from
November 4-12, creating good problems like needing to
recruit nearby Robson Ranch’s courts to augment the 32
courts in play at the Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort, which
hosted the event.
While much of the country was dealing with the first
parries of winter weather making its way through the
northern states, Casa Grande couldn’t have delivered more
perfect weather for pickleball. For the entire nine-day
event, participants enjoyed 85-degree, low-humidity days
filled with Arizona sunshine. Under those clear skies, and
in front of a soon-to-be national audience, spectators saw
22
the best pickleball competition ever brought together in
one event.
The week kicked off with 130 age/skill division events
from November 4-8. Gold, silver and bronze medals were
awarded to the top three finishers in Men’s Singles (28
events), Men’s Doubles (29), Mixed Doubles (32), Women’s
Singles (20) and Women’s Doubles (21).
The age/skill events were the reason that most players
came to Casa Grande to compete; however, the week-
ending Open events drew the largest crowds, television
coverage and thousands of spectators anxious to see the
top players going head-to-head.
From Friday through Sunday, the Open divisions
showcased their skills at Palm Creek. All of the best players
in the world assembled to compete for the USAPA Open
National title and $25,000 in prize money.
Thousands of spectators enjoyed true stadium-style
seating this year to watch competitors from around the
globe as they converged in the American Southwest. And
the rest of the country will be able to watch two hours of
highlights from this year's Open and Senior Open matches
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