2015 Club Championships Mixed Doubles and Singles

SLPCIO 2nd Annual

Mixed Doubles Championships

and

Singles Championships

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Sue Niesz, Matt Niesz, David Zapatka, Dianne Zimmerman, Virgil Fisher and Terry Finley

Sun Lakes Pickleball Club at IronOaks held its annual Mixed Doubles Championships and there was plenty of action on the courts in a long day of fun and competition.

Sue and Matt Niesz, longtime club members Sun Lakes pickleball players, brought their experience to the championships and were not to be denied winning Division 3.

Fun-loving, heavy-hitting, chest-bumping, celebrating and laughing Terry Finley and Virgil Fisher once again brought their special brand of pickleball to the Mixed Doubles Championships. That winning combination of enthusiasm was too much for the rest of the field as the Finley/Fisher duo won Division 2.

Dianne Zimmerman, sporting her recently-achieved 4.5 USAPA rating, paired with David Zapatka bringing their USAPA Mixed Doubles tournament experience to our club. Just as on the USAPA tournament circuit, Zimmerman’s intensity and consistency were the winning ingredients necessary to keep the far less disciplined Zapatka in the match and winning Division 1.

Many thanks to tournament director Greg Mather, hospitality chair Bev Krueger and all the volunteers who made this tournament such an attractive event.

David Novikoff, Mike Mann and David Zapatka

Sun Lakes Pickleball Club at IronOaks held its annual Singles Championships following the Mixed Doubles Championships. Since the singles competitors had just finished competing in the Mixed Doubles Championships all morning, this event was only for the hearty. Stamina and endurance were like a third opponent on the court for these brave men.

Newcomer Mike Mann made his presence known playing artfully covering the court with his youth and speed like no one else. Lefty David Novikoff, known for his spins, net balls and superbly disguised shots, put everyone to the test leaving it all on the court. Tournament-hardened David Zapatka brought his years of experience and strategy to the tournament hoping it would be enough to prevail against youth and guile.

Youth prevailed over guile in the bronze medal match as Mike Mann got the upper hand in a hard-fought match over David Novikoff. But in the gold medal match, David Zapatka’s experience was the deciding factor in eking out a narrow victory over Mike Mann.

All the Singles Championship participants agreed it was an excellent day on the courts and playing singles is competitive, fun and outstanding exercise. A well-deserved rest was earned by all.