2015 Club Championship Gender Doubles

Men's Doubles and Women's Doubles Tournament

Saturday, February 21, 2015

by David Zapatka

Sun Lakes Pickleball Club at IronOaks, SLPCIO, hosted its second annual Men’s and Women’s doubles club championships February 21. 28 players participated in the four-hour event. All matches were best 2 out of 3 games making for loads of fun pickleball play. As usual, SLPCIO club members outdid themselves bringing plenty of food and beverages to keep the players and spectators well fed and hydrated.

Women’s Champions Jeannine McKinna/Patty True.

Second place Sara Osborn/JoAnn Zapatka

The Women’s Division powerhouse pair of Jeannine McKinna and Patty True was so dominant they lost only 10 points over the course of six games. They went undefeated taking top honors and were all smiles when each received a premium bottle of wine from the SLPCIO winery. Second place went to the upset-minded pair of Sara Osborn and JoAnn Zapatka who lost only to McKinna/True. For their efforts both took home a jar of gourmet pickles from the SLPCIO pickle farm.

Division II Champions Virgil Fisher/Jack Hill.

Second place Bill Wilkinson/Ray Bell

Men’s Division II top honors were awarded to the undefeated team of Virgil Fisher and Jack Hill who competed fearlessly throughout the tournament earning their premium SLPCIO bottles of wine. A 3-way tie for second place was avoided when Ray Bell and Bill Wilkinson came from 10-8 down in the 3rd game to win 12-10 and earn the second-place SLPCIO pickle farm jar of gourmet pickles award.

Division I Men’s Champions Bill Aichele/Todd

Second place Mike Mann/David Novikoff

One of the most exciting matches of the day was the final match of the Men’s Division I pitting the undefeated team of Bill Aichele and Todd Williams against the undefeated team of Mike Mann and David Novikoff. Dozens of spectators feasted on pizza and top-level pickleball while cheering one outstanding point after another. Mann and Novikoff won the first game in a tight battle but Aichele and Williams stepped it up in the second game taking a strong early lead and never looked back. This led to the final winner-take-all 3rd game where the lead changed several times but in the end Aichele and Williams finished strong and took home the SLPCIO premium wine first place prize. Knowing the second place SLPCIO farm pickles were a delicacy to be relished, Novikoff and Mann smiled with pleasure when awarded their second place prize.

Congratulations to everyone participating and special thanks to Greg Mather and Pete Macksam, tournament chairs and all the volunteers who helped in the setup, cleanup and management of the event.