A Weekend to Remember | Continued
From left to right : Gigi LeMaster , Yannet Brister , Alex Hamner and Jennifer Lucore . Hamner and Lucore won gold in the WD 50 + 5.0 over Gigi LeMaster and Yannet Brister in a loaded Hall of Fame group .
One of the highlights of the tournament was the hybrid doubles — one player in a wheelchair with a nonwheelchair partner . Jamie Elliott of Texas said , “ Where there is a wheel , there is a way ,” as she scooted around the court in her wheelchair named “ Barney ” with Zorano Tubo of New York . A number of top players joined the hybrid doubles so it was very competitive and the spirit of pickleball was ever-present .
Another wonderful feature of the tournament was having age events for seniors . Players actually got to play people of similar ages , and Higginbottom said that these categories will be offered again next year . The WD 80 + category was a Texas duel ending with Kay Seamayer and Myrlene Nichols taking gold , and Becky Overcash and Pert Garraway taking silver . These are also top senior basketball athletes who are fun to watch on a different court too .
The senior pros didn ’ t disappoint either . Stephanie Lane of Tennessee and Mircea Morariu of Florida won the MXD 50 + 5.0 over Gigi LeMaster and Enrique Ruiz . Morariu has also formed a seven-player Senior Council whose objective is to represent the interests of all the senior professionals and to promote pickleball . It is endorsed by the APP and could be a template for the younger professionals .
The WD 50 + 5.0 event was filled with Hall of Fame players and
drew a large crowd of young Texas female players . There are not a lot of sports that offer the chance to rub elbows with the professionals and to see them play just a few feet away . This tournament offered top pickleball competition along with the chance to learn from the best and to meet the people who are shaping the future of the sport . Jennifer Lucore and Alex Hamner won a close final over Gigi LeMaster and Yannet Brister .
In the MD 50 + 5.0 , Hall of Fame player Enrique Ruiz and Mircea Morariu defeated Joe Nguyen and David Redding for the gold .
In the wheelchair doubles , gold went to Pamela Fontaine and Steven Harper while silver went to Jamie McRibless Elliott and Smilie Wright .
Inclusivity was certainly the magic word because some of the top juniors put on a show and a glimpse of what is on the horizon . The young players are smartly dressed and are strutting like the professionals .
Leadership is so critical in the sports world . The Pickleball Hall of Fame provides a wealth of talent and experience for the growth of pickleball . Seeing everyone together respecting the dedication of so many people was a real joy for all of the players . Leadership matters . Leadership by example matters even more .
Kudos to Seymour Rifkind , Elizabeth Higginbottom , the many excellent volunteers , the players , and most of all the inductees who were so deservedly honored . •
From left to right : Enrique Ruiz , Mark Friedenberg , Steve Paranto , Jennifer Lucore , Alex Hamner , Steve Wong , Seymour Rifkind , Gigi LeMaster , Fran Myer , Earl Hill , Jim Hackenberg , Yvonne Hackenberg , Hilary Marold and Robert Lanius .