By GUY WINDHOLZ
For Hays Post
2020 is coming in with some lively bounce as Great Bend extends an open invitation to our area players of pickleball to join them for a tournament on Sunday, Feb. 9, in Great Bend.
Nine players from the Great Bend area came to the first tournament hosted by the Hays Recreation Center on March 30. Hays, in return, fielded a dozen who traveled to Great Bend on Nov. 2. The competition was stiff with Hays taking a slight edge for take-home medals that included players from Hutchinson.
That outcome was videoed with sound and seen here. Play-by-play action in the finals of the men’s bracket shows the super skill level that Hays can be proud of from their players. Hays has more than exceeded the century mark on those that have taken up the thrill of pickleball.
On a side note, Shailesh and Chetna Shukla from India were brought out to the Hays Recreation Commission this week by their daughter Jasma Sevak of Hays to sample the action play of this ever-growing popular sport activity in Hays. It didn’t take long for her father, at age 66, to grab on to the rules of the game also experienced in playing badminton and ping pong, which is popular in their country. Aside from our pickleball sport not played in their country, Shailesh was encouraged, by a little humor, to become the father of pickleball in India.
Interested persons for the Great Bend event can call the Great Bend Rec Commission at 620-793-3755
Contact number for the Phillipsburg March 7 “Open Mixed Play” tournament can be made to Sherry Robinson 785-302-0030
Hays Rec will follow those dates hosting our tournament on Saturday, March 28, and the number to call for them is 785-623-2650 for details upcoming.
