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CLEVELAND , TENNESSEE , PROUDLY DEDICATES COURTS AT TINSLEY PARK
Pictured from front to back : Robert Camara , Tyson Apostol and Chad Fougler .
PICKLEBALL BLAST HOSTS BRANSON CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE 2020
By Alessandra Camara PICKLEBALL BLAST EVENT PLANNER
F
rom July 31 through Aug . 2 , Pickleball Blast hosted the inaugural three-day Branson Championship Experience 2020 . The tournament was held at the Branson Convention Center in Branson , Missouri , where players battled for medals on 20 indoor courts .
A total of 300 athletes attended , and more than 300 spectators were there to watch the competition , consisting of Singles , Doubles and Mixed
Doubles . With the generosity of players and sponsors , Pickleball Blast helped raise funds for Together Forever , a Skyler Sanders Family Foundation .
Tyson Apostol , a four-time contestant and winner of the CBS television show “ Survivor : Blood vs . Water ,” traveled from Mesa , Arizona , to be a celebrity guest , interacting with fans , posing for photos , announcing winners and competing fiercely in the 4.0 division . •
Cleveland , Tennessee , is located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains near the Olympic Whitewater Ocoee River site . On July 31 , Mayor Kevin Brooks and several councilmen visited Tinsley Park to dedicate six new pickleball courts alongside six newly resurfaced tennis courts .
The Cleveland Ladder League has over 50 participants and the chatter was all about “ more courts .”
The Cleveland Daily Banner newspaper was on hand for the event , and people also mentioned a new indoor sports complex that might put in as many as 24 courts ! Sharon MacKenzie , Mid-Atlantic Regional Director and Brent Hall , District Ambassador , were on hand to hit the first serve .
Cleveland city councilmen joined in the opening serves to dedicate the new courts ( see photo below ). On the far right are Sharon MacKenzie and Claudia Fontana . •