dinks
What’s News in Pickleball
A STAR IS BORN
Submitted by Arlene Petrunich and Melissa Robin
Photo credit to Susan Hagstrom.
A
sk almost anyone from the Northeast what the biggest challenge
is facing the pickleball community and they’ll likely say, “Finding
indoor court space.” In fall 2018, as a new USAPA Ambassador
and only six months in as a player, Melissa Robin met that
challenge head-on.
Scouting venues on the South Shore of Massachusetts, she stumbled
upon a family fun park in Hanover built in the 1960s and redeveloped five
years ago into a sportsplex. Although the building was packed with sports,
including basketball, volleyball, lacrosse and baseball during the after-
school hours and weekends, the 85,000-square-foot gym was virtually
empty on weekdays.
Melissa met with the general manager who was very receptive to the idea
of adding pickleball, and the program launched last October with a “Dink
and Drink” party for 150 people. It quickly flourished into a robust program
with 24 courts serving
players from more than
30 cities and towns with
daily drop-ins of 60+
people, leagues, clinics,
coaching certification
and tournaments.
Starland’s overnight
success with the local
pickleball community
soon drew the attention
of Atlantic Regional
Director Rocky Clark,
Photo credit to Amelia Kunhardt, Patriot Ledger.
14
TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 888.308.3720 OR GO TO THEPICKLEBALLMAG.COM
who had been searching for a venue to host the
2019 Atlantic Regional Tournament. Its proximity
to Boston made it an ideal location. Tournament
and USAPA District and Regional Directors Susan
Carnevale, Joe Lyman and Rocky Clark officially
selected Starland to host the 2019 USAPA-
sanctioned Atlantic Regional Tournament, which
will be held June 27-30. It’s the first time the
tournament will be held in Massachusetts.
Local attractions such as Fenway Park,
Freedom Trail and the beaches of Cape Cod make
the location ideal.
Increasing Awareness at
the Grassroots Level
Josh Jenkins, certified IPTPA instructor,
USAPA Ambassador and pickleball addict,
has just introduced
his children’s book,
“Pickleball with Pop.”
Josh has donated
copies of his book to
charities, libraries
and children’s groups
to promote the game
of pickleball. Be
sure to check it out!
The USAPA Congratulates
Recently Certified REFEREES
Jon Bradbury
Shannon Carter
Claire Cavanaugh
Rick Folk
Colleen Haggart
Jim Haggart
Andrea Mayorga
Peter McClean
Bill McManus
Theresa Rattey
Diahann Viada
Robin Weaver
Continued on page 16 >