in college basketball history , his brother and former NBA teammate Ben Hansbrough , as well as Hank Haney , Tiger Woods ’ former golf coach . In addition , the amateur field included big-wave surfer Kelson Lau and former Rubik ’ s Cube world record holder Christopher Olson .
Championships . Presented by Deep Eddy Vodka , a Guinness World Record attempt for the most participants in a continuous pickleball match was successfully completed when 288 players hit the court constructed along “ Pickleball Boulevard ” over a 12‐hour period . The world ’ s top-ranked players Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters were among the participants who played in 10-minute intervals to officially etch their names in the record book . The effort broke the previous mark of 250 players . All 288 participants will be sent an official Guinness World Records certificate commemorating their involvement in the achievement .
Feature
The Golden Bachelor hung out with the pickleball community .
Gerry Turner , best known from TV ’ s “ The Golden Bachelor ,” created a buzz when he stopped by the event . Turner , 72 , a widower from Hudson , Indiana , is the first Golden Bachelor on ABC ’ s new reality series , a spinoff of the popular dating show “ The Bachelor .” The special season began in early fall with 22 women , and as of late November was down to two still looking for a love match . Along with classic cars and off-roading on all-terrain vehicles , Turner ’ s interests include playing pickleball , which he has been doing for nearly three years . “ I think [ pickleball ] is one of the perfect activities ,” he said .
PHOTO CREDIT : STEVE TAYLOR
Cierra Gaytan-Leach named 2023 Biofreeze Bounce Back Player .
After beginning the year playing in Major League Pickleball ’ s first event of Season One in Mesa , Arizona , Cierra Gaytan-Leach decided to take some time off to prepare for the birth of her first child . Her son was born in June , and by September she was back on the court . The former collegiate tennis standout at Missouri was recently redrafted into MLP ’ s Challenger Level , and in early November was named the women ’ s recipient of the 2023 Biofreeze Bounce Back Player Award . “ I was definitely not expecting that ,” Gaytan- Leach said . “ I feel honored to have won , and I ’ m just happy to be playing competitive pickleball again .”
Guinness World Record completed !
History was made in conjunction with the 2023 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National
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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2023 | MAGAZINE 65