by MaryAnne Block
Most people – it’s safe to say – do not enjoy tedious, boring exercise, and that is a big reason why Pickleball has become so popular. It’s good for any age, a great way to meet new people and ideal for family bonding – all while getting exercise that is fun.
That was obvious on the evening of Oct. 30 when Pickleball players moved indoors to the Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph. The outdoor Waite Park courts had closed for the winter in late October.
St. Joseph started to offer Pickleball in the fall of 2022, said St. Joseph Recreation Director Rhonda Juell.
“We offered just one day a week then, but the popularity has grown,” Juell said. “We now offer time four days a week during the winter. And this coming summer, three new outdoor courts will be added to Millstream Park. The new concrete pads will replace the horseshoe pits. We can expand if the interest is there.”
And obviously the interest is there. And growing. In October, the Newsleaders interviewed pickleball players at Kennedy school, and they were having a blast.
At the Oct. 30 play session, Ruben Zayas of Sartell said he started playing Pickleball, at first, just to please his wife.
“She wanted me to try this with her when we were in Arizona visiting,” he said. “I just went along to humor her because I thought it would be so boring. I have been playing now a year and a half, and we both really enjoy it. Sometimes we go separately, other times we play together. I play several times a week.”
Pickleball enthusiasts meet at Kennedy from 6-8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays evenings. Players enjoy the healthy challenges of competing, with lots of laughter, in teams or as singles or doubles.
Locals play open-court year-round. Just show up, no membership required. Outdoor courts are available in Waite Park during the summer. When the nets are taken down for the winter, the play continues indoors at Kennedy every Monday and Wednesday evening, as noted above. The six courts are also open from 8 a.m.-noon on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The cost is $2 per person each time that person plays. Players bring their own equipment.
Nearly 60 years old, the low-impact game was created by three dads in 1965 in the state of Washington as a summer game for their bored children to play outside. Pickleball is a combined blend of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. The 20-foot by 44-foot court is divided with a 34-inch high net.
Most of the St. Joseph area players are in the 30- to 50-year age range, but anyone is welcome, younger or older. The game is a good way to encourage family bonding.
Players at Kennedy school Oct. 30 commented on the game and why they like it.
“I’ve enjoyed the fun, exercise and meeting different people for about three years,” said Marcelo Soriano of Waite Park.
Don Weihrach of Sartell, formerly of St. Joseph, said he likes the sport because of its lively, competitive nature.
It was toward the end of the Covid pandemic that convinced Kelly Simondet of St. Joseph to try Pickleball.
“I started playing at the end of Covid so I could socialize in a healthy outdoor environment,” he said.
Jeff Ramler of Sartell recalled he first saw people playing Pickleball at the YMCA in St. Cloud, but there were only two courts there. Now, he comes to Kennedy Community School where there are six courts each time the gym is open.
Because it is low-impact exercise, Pickleball attracts people across generational lines around the world. St. Cloud School District 742, describing Pickleball as the fastest growing sport, offers basic lessons. The game is easy enough that one can play even if one has not taken classes.
One can check the website for court schedules by going to cityofstjosephmn.com website. Check the Recreation Department Events tab.
Mark Aaberg of St. Cloud sees the orange pickleball coming right at him and prepares to return it with a forward swing. Teammate Sally Atkinson, also of St. Cloud, keeps her eye on the ball Oct. 30 at Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph.
It was time for Lynn Dykhuizen of Sartell and John Atkinson of St. Cloud to congratulate each other after a hard-won game.
One player, in hopes of winning a doubles game, proudly displays a favorite Pickleball T-shirt.
With paddles slightly larger than ping-pong paddles, Molly Fiedler of Sartell and a fellow player take a quick breather before the ball comes flying at them.
