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Kenny Long is the SSIPA Star for December

Sun City Pickleball Club Posted on by

Kenny Long

The Pickleball Pastor

I live and play pickleball in Sun City Arizona, but my pickleball journey started in Grand Junction Colorado. After playing racquetball for 20 years I had to give it up after back surgery. While I was recovering, I was invited to play pickleball. After my first trip to the courts in Grand Junction, I was hooked on the game.

I don’t have a long resume of wins at big tournaments, but I love to compete. I have picked up 15 medals in local tournaments in Colorado and Arizona at the 3.5 and 4.0 levels because I have been pretty good at picking partners.  I am also a founding member of SSIPA.

Kenny Long, Pastor

Pickleball has opened up a whole new world for me. It has even brought opportunities for ministry into my life. I have performed 2 weddings for friends that I have made playing pickleball.

I was born and raised in Tennessee and you will often see me on the courts wearing Tennessee Orange and ready to talk about the Tennessee Volunteers. I also love to talk about hunting deer, elk and bear. I served as a guide in Colorado for 13 years, but now at age 67 I would rather talk about climbing the mountains than actually having to climb them again.

As much as I love pickleball and hunting, my first love is preaching the gospel and serving as a pastor of a local church.

I serve as the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Sun City Arizona and pickleball has allowed me to meet a lot of folks and make many new friends and to do ministry as well.  I will often invite folks to come hear me preach so they can say, “I beat that preacher in pickleball”.  Being a pastor has allowed me to make friends all around the world. I have been on mission trips to Mexico, Thailand and Nepal. I have been to Zimbabwe twice and 3 times to China.

If you ever need a “Pickleball Pastor” you can find one at First Baptist Church in Sun City or on the courts at the Marinette Center in Sun City AZ. I won’t be able to help you get over your pickleball addiction, but I will be able to sympathize with you.

See the article with more photos at https://www.ssipa-pb.org/ssipa-star…

Women’s Ladder and Men’s Ladder

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Registration is underway for the WOMEN’S LADDER and MEN’S LADDER, which begin play November 4th and 7th respectively.  Be aware the “A” and “B” designations are skill divisions, not start time preferences. The Ladder Captains will be placing players within the ladders based on prior ladder results, Club or USAPA ratings and self-ratings. As a general guideline only, 2.5 and lower players will be in the “B” section, 3.5 and above in the “A” section and some of the 3.0s may be in either section depending on the split of participants.  The Captains will have some discretion in player placement, but their main interest will be to keep play fun and interesting for all.
Registration is also open for the two Mixed Ladders, starting on the 1st and 5th, and they will be split the same way if there are enough participants.

Fall Round Up Registration Begins July 15

Sun City Pickleball Club Posted on by

A reminder to Sun City Pickleball Club members that our first major event of the 2019-20 season — the Fall Round Up on Oct. 29-31 at the Marinette Recreation Center — opens for registration on July 15.

Tournament fields fill quickly so please keep in mind the July 15 date. Event information is available at pickleballtournaments.com

Tree Planting In Honor of Ann Reich

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Ann Reich, who was a member of the Sun City Pickleball Club, passed away on February 9, 2019. To honor Ann’s memory, the 2018/2019 Women’s League of the Sun City Pickleball Club, collected donations from league members to honor Ann’s life and friendship with us. It was decided to use the funds and donate to the Sun City PRIDES to plant a tree in Ann’s honor and participate with the PRIDES in their annual Arbor Day Tree Planting Celebration held on March 28th. Ann’s two daughters, Denise and Lisa & a few of their family members, joined us in planting a Red Pistache tree at the PRIDES Celebration at 108th & Peoria Avenue. Both daughters said a few words about their mom and how much Ann loved pickleball and all her friends in Sun City. We very much appreciate the PRIDES in helping us to honor Ann’s memory & her love of Pickleball.

Pickleball Rodeo

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Pickleball Club Members –

Friday, February 8, 10:00 am-1:00 pm. Signup Deadline: Feb. 6

Test your Pickleball skills by competing in the Pickleball Rodeo.

There will be skill stations and you will move around to each station. Some of the skill stations include a Dink Station, Serve Station, Smash Station, and 3rd Shot Drop Station.

You will earn points at each station.

Lunch will be provided at the end of the Rodeo.

Sign up here… and Pay $5 to Lis Smoot or Pat Klepadlo