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Pickleball players relish their game Forrest Sellers fsellers@communitypress.com
Wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with an image of a pickle and a ball, Robert Gates was ready to once again hit the court. Gates is among a growing number of seniors who are immersing themselves in the sport of pickleball. “I like the exercise and challenge,” said Gates, who is a resident of Pleasant Ridge. Gates makes an effort to play daily at the Pleasant Ridge Recreation Center. Gates, who was active with the Madeira Pickleball Association, had originally played on the outdoor courts at McDonald Commons. He eventually began playing at the Pleasant Ridge Recreation Center because of its close proximity to his home. A number of facilities associated with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission have pickleball courts. Gates had played tennis in high school and college, but was deterred by what he called “a bum shoulder” later in life. However, he said he found pickleball to be a great alternative. “(It’s) a lot more enjoyable than being on a stair climber or elliptical,” he said. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States and Canada with more than 2.5 million players, said Madeira resident Jane Niehaus, who runs the Madeira Picklers, a group that plays almost daily in Madeira. “A lot of seniors have gravitated to it,” said Indian Hill resident Mark Rosenblum. Rosenblum said he started playing pickleball because it is less grueling than tennis. “I was a 35-year tennis player and I played five days a week. I recently had back surgery and I can’t play at the same competitive level of tennis that I used to play at. But, I can play at a very high competitive level of pickleball,” Rosenblum said.
PHOTOS BY FORREST SELLERS/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Among the Cincinnati Recreation Commission facilities that have a pickleball court is the Pleasant Ridge Recreation Center.
WHAT IS PICKLEBALL? A paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong that is played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net. Source: USA Pickleball Association
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Jeff Roman, a racquet sports manager at the Cincinnati Sports Club, serves up a shot on the club's pickleball court.
Hyde Park resident Susan Teat frequently joins Gates on the court. Teat began playing pickleball earlier this year in South Carolina. “When I got back in town, I
looked online for a place to play,” she said. Like Gates she learned about the Pleasant Ridge recreation facility and welcomed the opportunity to join others on the court.
Teat said it’s not only great exercise but a way to bond with others. “People are great helping out and giving pointers,” she said, adding that she enjoys the social aspect of the game as much
as the fitness component. “It’s encouraging,” Teat said. “You see people in their 80s who are playing with physical challenges, and they are excellent.” Like Teat, Gary Gerwe, who is a resident of Mount Washington, had previously played pickleball in another state, specifically in Florida. “You don’t have to run as much as in tennis,” said Gerwe, echoing a sentiment expressed by a number of other seniors. “It’s relaxing and not overly competitive,” said George Deimling, who regularly joins Gerwe and other players on the inside courts at the Mount Washington Recreation Center. “What we like about it is See PICKLEBALL, Page 2A
Anticipation builds for upcoming Neighborhood Games Forrest Sellers fsellers@communitypress.com
Olympic enthusiasts don’t have to head to Rio de Janeiro this summer. The Cincinnati Neighborhood Games will have plenty of competitions this July. The Cincinnati Neighborhood Games as an Olympic-style event geared toward bringing the 52 Tristate neighborhoods together. A variety of games will be offered with just a few examples being cornhole, giant Jenga, 40-yard dash, football accuracy toss, chess and trivia. The opening ceremonies will start 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 9, at Washington Park, 1230 Elm Street in Over-the-Rhine. A variety of competitions will then be a week later starting 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 16, at Sawyer
Point Park and Yeatman’s Cove, 705 E. Pete Rose Way. Various qualifiers have taken place during the last few months. Several area team captains were enthusiastic to be a part of the Neighborhood Games. “The idea of being part of a fun and spirited citywide event really appealed to me,” said Angela Bronzie, a team captain for Mount Lookout. “I didn’t want Mount Lookout to not be included.” Madisonville team captain Catherine Botos said getting a team together may have been as big a challenge as trying to win an actual competition. However, she said she felt the games were a great idea. See GAMES, Page 2A
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FORREST SELLERS/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Angela Bronzie, left, Henry Frondorf, Wendy O'Neal and Catherine Botos are gearing up for the upcoming Cincinnati Neighborhood Games in July. Bronzie, O'Neal and Botos are team captains, while Frondorf is an organizer of the event.
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