Jim Carlson The Summer Firebird Pickleball Ladder League has been a well-attended, major success. As of the submission date of this posting, the Ladder League had completed 17 weeks of fun and competitive pickleball on Thursday nights at the Cottonwood Palo Verde pickleball courts, with more than 87 participants from every development in the Sun…
A Message from Joe Koken, Club President Since its establishment in 2008, the IronOaks Pickleball Club has mirrored the explosive national growth of the sport, evolving into one of the Southwest’s most dedicated and thriving organizations. Our mission is centered on maximizing the enjoyment, health benefits, and community fellowship that pickleball offers to players of…
Rod Badgley, VP, Sun Lakes Pickleball Club Cottonwood Pickleball fever is set to sweep the town this fall as a brand-new community league launches on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Presented by the Sun Lakes Pickleball Club Cottonwood (SLPCC), with eight spirited teams: the Roadrunners, Bulldogs, Huskies, Sun Devils, Buckeyes, Coyotes, Hawks, and Jackrabbits, the league promises…
Jeff Dunn In every great club there is someone whose energy, dedication, and joy leave an indelible mark. For the Cottonwood Pickleball Club, that heartbeat is Wanda Siedlecki. Over the past three years, with the assistance of Paul Nichol, Wanda headed up the club’s training program by pouring countless hours into a variety of classes…
David Zapatka The ESPY Awards, or Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards, are an annual American awards show produced by ESPN that recognizes individual and team athletic achievements and other sports-related performances. The awards are presented for achievements during the calendar year preceding the ceremony. Has pickleball ever been recognized in the ESPY Awards ceremony?…
Jim Carlson Pickleball must be an addiction if 30 people show up to play pickleball at the Cottonwood pickleball courts on the hottest day in August, ever! That’s right, the temperature on Aug. 7 set the all-time highest temperature in August! It did not deter the die-hard pickleballers from showing their skills, endurance, and savvy…
Jim Carlson Pickleball does not stop at the Sun Lakes Cottonwood Palo Verde pickleball courts during the summer months. Starting in May, the courts have been home to the Firebird Ladder League with 25 to 30 players each Thursday evening. Each week, the courts have been equally attended by men and women showcasing their skills.…
David Douglas … when five Sun Lakes Pickleball Club at Cottonwood Palo Verde (SLPCC) members were sitting on the Saguaro Room’s south porch relaxing and enjoying each other after a vigorous afternoon of pickleball play. Of course, all the courts were full of players, with many waiting in reload position as the club clock was…
Owen D’Net The Cottonwood Pickleball Club continues to elevate its commitment to player development with two complimentary training programs that have made a significant impact. The Top Performance classes, designed to refine technique and optimize game play, welcomed 273 students, each benefiting from one and a half hour of focused instruction. Meanwhile, the Strategy classes,…
David Zapatka Last month we discussed how to beat the bangers. Blocking at the kitchen line was a key strategy. This article will pick up with that focus. Consider these strategies to improve your blocking skills. 1. You know the hard shot is coming. Be prepared, knees bent, relaxed, eyes on the ball, paddle out…