Highland Lakes Pickleball featured on Website in July

Hi Everyone,
An article is being featured on Highland Lakes Pickleball along with pictures, this will go out on the USAPA Atlantic South Website. This website features pickleball news from areas throughout the Atlantic South Region (ASR), which includes Al, GA, North and South Carolina and Florida. So our group will be getting publicity across those states. The article will be posted to the website somewhere between the 10th and 15th of July. There is a link at the bottom of the blog that points to this website: www.south.usapa.org

The ASR (Atlantic Southern Region) Monthly Newsletter is published on the 15th of each month. Our club will be mentioned in the July newsletter, with an abbreviated version of the story and will include a link to the website. I was sent a copy of the June newsletter this month, and I would like to share it with our group. There is a link at the bottom of the blog that points to this website: www.asre-newsletter.blogspot.Com

The person responsible for all articles to these sites is Donna Donald. She is the USAPA Ambassador, New Tampa, Fl.
You are encouraged to view these sites on a monthly basis to keep up with the latest Pickleball news from different areas.

This is an email I received from Donna and was asked to share with all of you.

My official title is USAPA Ambassador, New Tampa, Fl. My husband and I both love the game of pickleball, and love teaching and promoting the game. Without the USAPA, pickleball would not be the sport that it is today.....there would be no official rules, there would be no place for us to share our great ideas and successes that keep pickleball both competitive and fun. It is a great organization and the only one that supports the game we all love. My husband and I are both members of USAPA. I voluntarily manage the USAPA Atlantic South Website, and I also write and publish the monthly newsletter. I hope as Chairpersons of your club that you will pass this along to your players and encourage membership. Every membership to USAPA helps to promote and teach and support the game. Yearly membership is only $20 and that incudes a USAPA member T-Shirt.

Second week of Inter-Community play at Highland Lakes

This was our second week of Inter-Community play at Highland Lakes. Tonight the number of people was less than last week but we still had a great time playing Pickleball. Highland Lakes had 5 players and Legacy showed up with 6 players. Its always nice to see other communities come to play Pickleball and enjoy playing in our Arena. We love having them and encourage all players from Pennbrooke, Hawthorne, Legacy to come on over and have some fun.
Cal Blenis had knee surgery this morning and we all wish him a speedy recovery.

USAPA Ambassador, New Tampa, Fl

I received this email from Donna Donald who is the USAPA Ambassador. She is interested in featuring our Pickleball Group on the USAPA website. I thought I would share this information with you and will inform you when this information is available as well as point you to the Website. (M&M)

I've been trying to feature a pickleball club/league each month with a snipet in our newsletter and then the full article on the USAPA Atlantic South website. The newsletter goes out to all USAPA Ambassadors on the 15th of each month who in turn forward it to their local clubs/leagues or groups. Many of them post it to their local websites or blogs. I'll make sure you are on copy.

Another thing that caught my attention, and that is such a great idea is how you've partnered up with some of the other local communities and rotate some weekly pickleball play with them. I am going to make mention of that in our newsletter this month.

I'm finishing up the June newsletter now, and then I will get back to you. I'll send along some questions for you to respond to. With that, a few pictures of the group/facility, and the information that you have on your website, we can showcase Pickleball at Higland Lakes.

Thanks.......
Donna Donald
USAPA Ambassador, New Tampa, Fl

Inter-Community play at Highland Lakes

Tonight was our first night of Inter-Community play at Highland Lakes. Legacy came with a total of 12 players, Hawthorne had a total of 4 players and Highland Lakes had a total of 8 players. It was great to see such a turnout and hope they will all return again next week. Those of you who aren't familiar with the groups, Legacy is in the top photo, Hawthorne is the second photo and Highland Lakes is the third photo. Thank You Legacy, Hawthorne & Highland Lakes for making our Inter-Community play a huge success.

Summer play at Highland Lakes

We had two nets set up for Pickleball play today. Highland Lakes had 6 players & Legacy had 4 players attending.

Jim is playing with Harry.

Bob is enjoying playing Pickleball indoors.

Sue of Legacy is determined to win.

Nancy of Legacy is enjoying a game of Pickleball with Marvin.

A reminder to all Pickleball players to take advantage of the Pickleball Inter-Community Summer Play

Pickleball Inter-Community Summer Play

Hawthorne has invited all Pickleball Players from Highland Lakes, Pembroke & Legacy to join them on Wednesday nights at 6:00 pm at their outdoor Pickleball Courts starting on May 6th. They have 3 separate Pickleball courts. All you need to do is tell the person at the gate that you are joining Hawthorne for Pickleball play. You do not need to inform anyone beforehand that you will be playing because Hawthorne will be playing anyway.

Pennbrooke has invited all Pickleball Players from Highland Lakes, Hawthorne & Legacy to join them on Thursday nights at 6:00 pm at their outdoor Pickleball Courts starting on May 7th. They have 4 tennis courts, which are set up to be used as Pickleball courts. All you need to do is tell the person at the gate that you are joining Pennbrooke for Pickleball play. You do not need to inform anyone beforehand that you will be playing because Pembroke will be playing anyway.

Highland Lakes has invited all Pickleball Players from Hawthorne, Pennbrooke & Legacy to join us on Monday nights at 6:30 pm at our indoor Pickleball Courts starting on June 8th. . We are capable of setting up 4 Pickleball Courts for Pickleball play. They do not need to inform us that they will be playing because we will be playing anyway.

Legacy has only 2 outdoor Pickleball Courts. At this time they are trying to come up with some type of schedule that could accommodate Inter-Community Play.

All Communities are looking at this Summer Play as only fun play for everyone.
Whoever wants to play is invited to do so. This is an opportunity to meet new people and have fun playing the game of Pickleball.

The motto is “If you go, you go” and “If you don’t, you don’t”.

Let's play Pickleball,
Manny & Marie

Lots of visitors decided to join us today to play Pickleball.

Lynn Corbett (Greenville, SC), Nancy from Legacy, Gary Leader trying his hand at Pickleball and Kathy Fegers from Tavernier, FL.
Penni Ebersman, Sandy O'Neil (Weymouth, MA), Kathy Fegers (Tavernier, FL), Ken Corbett (Greenville, SC), also Bob Fegers and Cal Blenis.

Bebina Zeis, Kathy Garza, Lynn Corbett (Greenville, SC), Don Gullakson, Richard Ekstrand and Sue from Legacy.
Bob Fegers is at it again. With a helmet and support for his knees, you still don't want to play against him because he has a deadly shot at the net.
We had 3 nets set up today and as you can see there were many players waiting to play. Left to right are: Susan from Legacy, Cal Blenis, Bob Fegers, Ken Corbett, Don Gullakson, Don Haro and Manny Cardoza.

Ken Corbett (Greenville, SC) enjoyed a game of Pickleball with Harry Yorgensen, Don Gullakson and Bob Fegers.

Bob Fegers playing with his daughter Kathy Fegers (Tavernier, Florida that's in Florida Keys).

Dick Mell playing with his daughter Sandy O'Neil from Weymouth, Mass.

Pickleball is for the young as well as the old.

Today we had Mackinly Yorgensen of CT join us to play Pickleball with his Grandfather Harry Yorgensen. Although this was the first time he played Pickleball, he took to it like a Duck takes to water. He played great and really surprised us all. He wants to be part of our Pickleball group and is requesting a shirt just like his Grandfather.

Look at that form.

Grandfather & Grandson.

Marilyn Crowell.

Gerry Crowell

Our Coach Don Gullakson helping our newcomers learn how to play the game of Pickleball.

Pickleball Inter-Community Summer Play

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Lots of fun on our Pickleball Courts

If you woke up this morning and thought you would like to have a workout today, well you should have come to Pickleball. A workout we did get! All of our regular players and our 5 guests were raring to go and Matt Citro waisted no time challenging each & everyone of us. We had a full house with 4 courts going and many sitting and ready to play. Our three guest from Legacy were Susan, Nancy & Alice. We also had the pleasure of playing with Don & Ann Marie Jasienicki (friends of Joel & Dyan Zimmerman).

Matt Citro is from
Long Island, N.Y.

Matt Citro & Nancy from Legacy

Ann Marie Jasieniecki & Nancy
Nancy is a guest from Legacy

Ann Marie Jasieniecki & Matt Citro

Don Jasieniecki
a friend of Joel & Dyan Zimmerman.

Dena Randall & Don Jasienieck.

Don Jasieniecki,
Dena Randall &
Dyan Zimmerman.

Matt Citro is the Grandson of Norman and Nancy Elias

Congratulations to Matt Citro for winning the Championship in Pickleball at his High School in N.Y.

He has some great Pickleball moves.

He certainly can play this game.

Mady & Jake Zeis are Grandchildren of John & Bebina Zeis

Jake Zeis is 9 years old. He plays Pickleball at his school for only two weeks a year.

Look at that form.

Mady Zeis is 12 years old. She plays Pickleball at her school for only two weeks a year.

Great athletic skills.

Drew & Molly McGinnis are Grandchildren of Marvin & Sue McGinnis

Drew McGinnis is 8 years old and he sure can play Pickleball.

Look at that form.

Molly McGinnis is 5 years old. She did not play Pickleball but she kept all of us adults entertained.

Highland Lakes Senior Olympics

Manny's making sure there are enough medals for all the players.
Well, our Olympics have come to an end and today was the Olympic Ceremony where players receive the medals they've won. A Thank You to all our players who took part in the Olympics. The games were lots of fun, very exciting, and challenging.
Everyone played up to their potential and we all loved watching the games.

Pickleball Beginners Doubles receiving their medals.
George Brown
Richard Eckstrand
Donna Leech
Kathy Garza
Ann Parker

Pickleball Ladie's Doubles receiving their medals.
Sue McGinnis,
Dena Randall
Brenda Neafsey

Pickleball Men's Doubles receiving their medals.
Don Gullakson
Marvin Mcginnis