Line Judge
Russ Hellein

Line Judge
Ed Saresky

H.L. Senior Pickleball Olympics 2009

Let the games begin!
Today was the start of H.L. Pickleball Olympics. The Men's Doubles were the first group to play on St. Patricks Day. Our Women's Doubles will be played on Thursday.
Please note:
The Pickleball Picnic has been changed from Saturday, March 28th to Friday, March 27th.

Men's Doubles Gold Medalists.
Don Gullakson & Marvin McGinnis.

Men's Doubles Silver Medalists.
Cal Blenis & Walter Tajmajer.

Men's Doubles Bronze Medalists.
Harry Yorgensen & Joel Zimmerman.

Men's Doubles Participants.
Jack Randall & Dick Mell.

Men's Doubles Participants.
Jack Randall, Cal Blenis, Harry Yorgensen, Dick Mell, Don Gullakson, MarvinMcGinnis, Walt Tajmajer and Joel Zimmerman.

Pickleball, Pickleball...

Pickleball, Pickleball, what a funny name!
What do you do for this fast pace game?
We set up nets in the arena each day
Use paddles, whiffleballs and four people to play.
Endurance, quick reaction time are put to the test
Rotate partners, no time to rest
The competition is great, the fun begins
Eleven points are needed in order to win.

Women's, Men's, Mixed and Beginner doubles are played
For our Senior Olympics in four different days.

The dates of our Senior Olympics are:
Tuesday, March 17th - Men's Doubles at 8:30 am.
Thursday, March 19th - Women's Doubles at 8:30 am.
Tuesday, March 24th - Mixed Doubles at 8:30 am.
Thursday, March 26th - Beginner Doubles at 8:30 am.

Senior Olympic Barbecue will be at the picnic area near the Gazebo.
Friday, March 27th at 12:00 noon.

We're glad to see you back, Donzetta!

A Thank You from Ron Eversole

I just wanted to thank you all for allowing me to join the Pickleball group at Highland Lakes last Thursday and Friday. I really enjoyed learning to play and am anxious to get back and try it some more - surely I will improve. You all - and many of the others - were so hospitable and welcoming! I appreciate being included. Thanks again for allowing me to get involved. It just makes me wish I could find a way to retire sooner.
Ron Eversole

Ron and his wife just bought a place on Cash Court and plans to be here at H.L. as much as possible. Ron, were all anxious for your return.

Welcome to our guest Kurt Rhodes from CT.

Get that ball, Kurt.

Hit the ball Kurt, hard and fast.

Look at that serve. Way to go, Diane.

Sue, I can't beleive, we beat the guys.
C'mon Kurt, I'll still give you a hug.

I'll get this one Dena.

Good sportsmanship here. It must have been one heck of a game.

Good turnout of players on our courts today.

Each day that we play Pickleball, we ask ouselves, how many courts do we set up today. Will it be one, two, three or four. Lately, we have had to set up four courts due to the greater number of players. Today, we had four courts set up with 5 to 6 people waiting to play. There were some great games going on. Our players are coming out to have fun and get some practice, especially with the Olympics starting on March 17.

Thank You and your Pickleball players for a fun time.

I received this message from Joe Fuller of Pembroke Fairways and thought I would share it with you.
We had one great time and again Thank You for having the Pembroke Pickleball players over last night. That was my first time playing indoors and for me it was just as much fun as playing outside.
Joe Fuller

Welcome back, Muriel!

A hearty Welcome to Muriel for returning to the Picklball courts after a long absence.

Muriel is hitting that ball so hard, she left the paddle in the dust.

Look at that form.

Welcome back, George!

Joel, we don't kick the ball, we use the paddle.

All eyes are on Muriel's serve.

Full House on our Pickleball Courts

Twelve Pickleball players from Pembroke Fairways were our guest tonight for a fun night of Pickleball. They mingled in with our group and had lots of good games. They all had a good time and will be calling soon for our group to play at Pembroke Fairways. The picture you see is of our Arena when it is set up to play. Guess what guys! With all the excitement going on tonight I forgot to take pictures. I know you don't believe that, but it's true.

Dick points out that the player stepped in the box. Bob Fegers, Marvin McGinnis, Karen Orman, Richard Ekstrand & Dick Mell.

Nice serve Dick.
Dick Mell & Irene Blenis.

The players are Ed Buonopane, Don Gullakson, Judy Marshall, Manny Cardoza & Janet Panchyrz.

Four of our beginners. Kathy Garza, Karen Orman, Penni Ebersman & Donzetta Miller.

Cal enjoying a game of Pickleball with his grandson Dylan.

H.L. Pickleball 2/26/09

What a week for Pickleball! With nearly all of the grandchildren leaving for home, they gave us a workout along with lots of fun. We enjoy having them return each year,
and watching them grow and becoming excellent Pickleball players.
This morning we had 5 guests join us from Legacy, Ken & Alice Mullamphy, Bob Miller, Nancy Custard and Yayoi Shirita.
One of our Pickleball players Don Haro had gallbladder surgery this week. We all wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him return to the courts real soon. One of our beginners Donzetta Miller is on the mend after falling and throwing out her back. She is recovering well although a little sore. We all wish her well and hope to see her back on the courts.

H.L. Pickleball 2/23/09

Cal & Irene's daughter Heidi and three of their grandsons from NH.



Monday night was an excellent night to play Pickleball. We had several grandchildren visiting during school vacation. Dylan Schmertzler, Ryan Cleveland, Jayson Cleveland are grandchildren of Cal & Irene. Cal & Irene's daughter Heidi Cleveland was also visiting. All are from NH. Jared Cardoza from NH, BJ Rhodes from CT are granchildren of Manny & Marie. Bob Feger's son was visiting his parents and he came down to the arena to watch his father play Pickleball.

Brandon (BJ) Rhodes from CT is playing with his Grampy. Can you guess who he is?

Jared Cardoza from NH & Anita Pasiak are out to win this game.

Irene is saying "Bob, the boy on the right is my grandson Dylan from NH".

Don Gullakson our Pickleball coach is teaching a beginner Dean Melvin.

H.L Pickleball 02/20/09

Our Pickleball group keeps growing and growing. We had another beginner join us this morning, his name is Rich Varga. We now have 12 new beginners who are learning to play the game. Present this morning were Kathy Garza, Karen Orman, Penni Ebersman, Rose Schloss, Dyan Zimmerman & Diane Santi. A big Thanks to Sue McGinnis who helped teach our beginners today. We have several guest who are challenging our regular players to a game of Pickleball. Our newest guest is Dylan (Cal & Irene's grandson). These young players are a pleasure to watch, they are so limber and have so much energy. We had 4 courts set up again today and many of our players sitting on the sidelines waiting to play. It was a great turnout.
C U on D courts

H.L. Pickleball 02-19-09

Jared, bend way down to serve. Don Gullakson likes this approach.





We had a very exciting day at Pickleball today. We had 4 courts going with lots of our players coming out to have fun. We also had four guest join us today. Bob Yorgenson from CT, BJ Rhodes from Ellington CT, Jared Cardoza from Hollis NH, and John Eric from Danielson CT. All eyes were on these young players showing their athletic ability.

My name is John Eric and my grandfather taught me how to serve.

Our favorite cheerleader.

Look at that serve. Don will be very proud of you.

Everyone please take note of this serve.

How about a rematch.

I've got to beat my Grampy.

Pickleball Senior Olympics in March 2009

There is no time for relaxing the Senior Olympics will be here before you know it.





Senior Olympics 2009 Events.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - Men's Doubles at 8:30 am.
Thursday, March 19, 2009 - Ladies Doubles at 8:30 am.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - Mixed Doubles at 8:30 am
Thursday, March 26, 2009 - Beginners Doubles at 8:30 am.
Practice, Practice, Practice.

H.L. Pickelball 02/17/09

We had a good turnout at Pickleball today and our beginners are really improving. I'm impressed!
This week happens to be school vacation for lots of kids up North. I'm sure we will be seeing them scurrying down to Pickleball. We Welcome them all. Come on down and give us older folks a challenge.
Bob Yorgensen (Harry's son) from Tolland, CT was putting on a good show against our regular players. Way to go Bob! Sandy O'Neill (Dick Mell's daughter) from Weymouth, Mass cane down to play and work up a good sweat.