SLPCIO Medal Winners
May 6, 2015
Sun Lakers Win $$$ at LeMaster–Davison Classic Pickleball Championships
Steve Smitham and Sheila Parkinson
bronze medal winners awarded $50
Prize money in pickleball? Are you kidding me? It’s happened. Gigi LeMaster and Dee Davison awarded $6,600 in prize money at their inaugural LeMaster-Davison Classic Pickleball Championships. Every division, regardless of skill level was awarded $400 with the gold medal, $100 with the silver medal and $50 with the bronze medal.
Sun Lakes superstar Sheila Parkinson has now won more money playing pickleball than anyone in our community. The top prize and gold medal went to Sheila Parkinson and Mary Park playing in the 3.5 Women’s Doubles division. Sheila and Mary went undefeated through the winners’ bracket only to lose to the losers’ bracket winner 11-3, 11-3. With both teams having lost one match, the sudden death final match was a thriller with Sheila and Mary prevailing 15-11. The smiles on Sheila’s and Mary’s faces were priceless when they received their $400 first place prize.
But Sheila wasn’t done. With her mixed doubles partner, Steve Smitham, she continued her winning ways plowing through the winners’ bracket losing a nail biter 11-6, 9-11, 11-9 throwing them into the bronze medal match. Unfortunately, in another tightly contested contest, the powerful duo of Parkinson/Smitham came up just short losing 11-7, 11-9. $50 was awarded along with the bronze medal to a Steve and Sheila capping a tournament filled with excitement. Congratulations Sheila, Mary and Steve!
April 3, 2015
Sun Lakes Pickleball Club Members Continue Their Successes in Tournaments Across the Valley
4.0 Gold Medal winners Dianne Zimmerman/Sheila Parkinson
3.5 Silver Medal winners Steve Smitham and Sheila Parkinson
4.5 Silver Medal winners Dianne Zimmerman and David Zapatka
Robson Ranch, Eloy – In the 3.5 Men’s Doubles division the formidable Hank Bryce/Steve Smitham pair fought valiantly in a large bracket to their first medal together, bronze. Sun Lakes top point winner of the season, Jeannine McKinna, took gold in the 3.5 Women’s Doubles with Jan Ardis, a feat they have shared many times this season. The 3.5 Mixed Doubles division saw two Sun Lakes pairs scoring big. Jeannine and Kelly McKinna lost a very tough gold medal match claiming silver but only after escaping with an exciting 12-10, 11-7 win against Sun Lakes pair Sheila Parkinson/Barry Schultz.
The biggest Sun Lakes moment was the gold medal win by Dianne Zimmerman and Sheila Parkinson in the 4.0 Women’s Doubles, Parkinson’s first entry in a 4.0 tournament. Zimmerman and Parkinson were undefeated losing only one game and dominating the final match 11-1, 11-2. Winning in such dominant fashion wowed the awestruck crowd on hand. These women are good! Taking her skills to the 4.5 Mixed division, Dianne Zimmerman paired with David Zapatka to win bronze under the lights in the second-to-last match of a very long day.
Spring Slam, Sun City – Sun City invested $4,000,000 in their new Marinette Pickleball facility unveiling it one week before the tournament. Eight of the 20 outdoor courts are under roof with enough viewing area between courts for a command center and hundreds of spectators. With temperatures in the 90’s, the players and the spectators alike appreciated the shade.
The 3.5 Women’s Doubles division saw Sheila Parkinson and Jeannine McKinna losing a heart-braking 11-9 in the third match awarding them the bronze medal. But Parkinson returned for the 3.5 Mixed Doubles division for another shot with Steve Smitham; this time making it to the finals and losing an even closer match 12-10, 11-13, 11-9, 15-5 winning the silver medal.
In the very tough 4.5 divisions David Zapatka teamed with his regular partners Don Simmons in the Men’s and Dianne Zimmerman in the Mixed. David and Don were on top of their game losing only one game in route to their gold medal victory. Dianne and David navigated eight matches throughout another long day winding up in the gold medal match against a pair they have battled with on numerous occasions. The final pairing of the day took 1’ 55” in a tense and strategic dinking and hitting duel of wits that resulted in a match that saw the Zimmerman/Zapatka team win 10-12, 11-3, 11-8 only to lose the final and most important game 15-9. The road to gold was not to be this day but that precious silver medal was very rewarding.
Congratulations Sun Lakes pickleball players on all the medals you brought home to Sun Lakes this season. It’s been a season to remember!
March 19, 2015
SLPCIO Members Perform Well in Various Tournaments in March
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December 16, 2014
Winning Medals at the USAPA Southwest Regional Pickleball Tournament
David Zapatka and Dianne Zimmerman David Zapatka and Don Simmons
The United States, Canada and Mexico are divided into various regions for the purposes of regional pickleball competition. The USAPA Southwest region encompasses Mexico, New Mexico and Arizona. Although this is the inaugural year for this USAPA regional tournament, attendance was strong and pushed host Pueblo El Mirage’s 16-court capacity to the limit for four full days. Hundreds of competitors flooded the campus competing in a wide variety of age-specific singles and doubles. The youngest competitors enthusiastically competed in the 10-13 age division, the oldest competitors battled it out in the 80+ age division and everyone in between found their levels of play based on the youngest person in their doubles partnerships. Since this is an age-grouped competition, players of all ratings from 3.0 through 5.0 compete against each other in their respective age groups.
Sun Lakes’ players Dianne Zimmerman and David Zapatka represented Sun Lakes very well. Playing with his younger partner in the 50-54 age group, Zapatka paired with Zimmerman in the Mixed Doubles competition defeating pairs rated as high as 5.0 to win the gold medal. Playing with his younger partner in the 60-64 age group, Simmons paired with Zapatka in the Men’s Doubles competition defeating pairs rated as high as 5.0 to win the silver medal.
With players from all over the Southwest region in attendance, the question, “where are you from?” was commonly asked as players associated with each other and made new friends. “Sun Lakes!” Zimmerman and Zapatka proudly responded (Simmons resides in Trilogy) repeatedly giving our community positive exposure throughout the world of pickleball. Congratulations lady and gentlemen on your outstanding achievement!
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Sun Lakes Pickleball Club Members Win Gold at the 3rd Annual Mesa Regal Pickleball Championships
Atop the podium are gold medal winners Pete Macksam and Barry Schultz.
Sun Lakes Pickleball Clubs at Cottonwood and IronOaks are excited about club members Pete Macksam and Barry Schultz who were standing atop the winners’ podium with gold medals in the Mesa Regal Pickleball Championships 3.5 Men’s Doubles. In a field of 24 pairs Pete and Barry played so well they gave up only two games in route to their gold medal win. Congratulations men! You make our clubs very proud!
Atop the podium are gold medal winners Jeannine and Kelly McKinna
Sun Lakes Pickleball Clubs at IronOaks is very proud to announce club members Jeannine and Kelly McKinna won gold at the Mesa Regal Pickleball Championships 3.0 Mixed Doubles. In a field of 17 pairs the McKinnas were so dominant they did not lose a game winning the final match in very interesting and challenging fashion, 11-0, 12-10. Well done Jeannine and Kelly! Your presence in our club enriches all of us.
Atop the podium are gold medal winners Dianne Zimmerman and David Zapatka
Sun Lakes Pickleball Clubs at Cottonwood and IronOaks members, Dianne Zimmerman and David Zapatka, the “Z” team, put on a very entertaining finals match going undefeated through the 4.0 Mixed Doubles. The last match of the night under the lights drew a crowd of brave souls who stayed to the bitter end of a long day. The final match did not disappoint as the “Z” team came from behind down 8-3 in the first game to win 11-9 and down 10-1 in the second game to win in nail-biting fashion 12-10. Congratulations Dianne and Dave; exciting pickleball at its best!
Atop the podium are gold medal winners Sheila Parkinson and Jeannine McKinna
Sun Lakes Pickleball Clubs at Cottonwood and IronOaks are very proud of club members Sheila Parkinson and Jeanine McKinna who were standing atop the winners’ podium with gold medals in the Mesa Regal Pickleball Championships 3.0 Women’s Doubles. Sheila and Jeannine not only went undefeated through the entire bracket, they didn’t even lose a game. Now that’s domination! Congratulations ladies on your outstanding performance in a major tournament.
Honorable Mentions also go to Rocky Myers and Pete Iovin for Silver in the 3.0 Men's Doubles, and to Dave Zapatka and his partner Don Simmons for Bronze in the 4.5 Men's Doubles.
November 22, 2014
SLPCIO members Strike Gold and Silver at the 4th Annual East Valley Pickleball Championships
Atop the podium are gold medal winners Sheila Parkinson and Jeannine McKinna.
On the left claiming the silver medal are Lorri Hibbert and Jeanne Hunt.
SLPCIO is very proud to announce club members Sheila Parkinson and Jeannine McKinna were standing atop the winners’ podium with gold medals in the East Valley Pickleball Championships 3.0 Women’s Doubles. This powerhouse duo gave up no more than three points in any game, a feat hard to believe. And who did they have to beat in the final match? None other than SLPCIO club members Lorri Hibbert and Jeanne Hunt, winners of the silver medals who gave up no more than four points in any of their games (excepting of course when they played the gold medal winners). Congratulations! We are very proud of your outstanding achievement.
Atop the podium are gold medal winners Don Simmons and SLPCIO member David Zapatka
SLPCIO is also very proud to announce club member David Zapatka and his first-time partner Don Simmons were standing atop the winners’ podium with gold medals in the East Valley Pickleball Championships 4.5 Men’s Doubles, the top bracket. After losing their second match, they came roaring back through the losers’ bracket with a fury not losing another game and beating the winners of the winners’ bracket three straight games 11-4, 11-8, 15-6 to claim the gold medals in front of a raucous Venture Out crowd pulling for their local favorites. Congratulations gentlemen!
November 12, 2014
Sun Lakes Pickleball Players Win Medals
Sun Lakes Pickleball Club at IronOaks members David Novikoff and David Zapatka competed in the annual Arizona Senior Olympic Pickleball games held in Surprise October 24. Competing in a tough singles field that included players from the 50-54, 55-59 and 60-64 age divisions, Novikoff and Zapatka prevailed. For the third time at these Olympic Games, Zapatka brought home the gold medal winning all five matches in his round robin of six players. Although having lost a very competitive match to Zapatka, Novikoff brought home the silver medal with the second-best record in the singles group.
David Novikoff, silver David Zapatka, gold
Sun Lakes Pickleball Club members Todd Williams and Tom Kasper were outstanding in this tournament. Competing in the very tough 55-59 doubles division, the Williams/Kasper duo beat some extremely tough teams from all across the state and brought home the silver medal. Congratulations men!
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Pickleball divas Bev Krueger and Bev Schalin made Sun Lakes proud bringing home the silver medal in the 75 – 79 women’s doubles. This silver medal is one in a long string of national medals won by our Bevs. They are truly an astounding combination of enthusiasm, skill and poise.
Bev Krueger also won gold with her mixed doubles partner Yim Lee from the state of Washington. Bev tells her entertaining story of finding Mr. Lee at the online pairing site for the nationals as her foray into online dating. Add Bev’s sense of humor to the character traits above and you have the entire package of a Sun Laker living her life to the fullest.
Congratulations to Bev Krueger and Bev Schalin for their outstanding accomplishments!
Bev Krueger and Bev Schalin
Bev Krueger and Yim Lee