Oxford, AL – That was the sound frequently heard at Oxford Lake Park during the three-day pickleball tournament – the Oxford Alabama Fall Open, the first-ever held in Calhoun County. Regular pickleball players know what it means: the score called out by the serving team at the beginning of each match.
The tournament opened Friday afternoon with men’s and women’s singles, continued all day Saturday with men’s and women’s doubles, and finished Sunday afternoon with mixed doubles. 118 players from around the state (and at least one player from Tennessee) and many players from our own 256-Pickleball group played. Raj Kosaraja of Life, Liberty and Pickleball, headquartered in Alpharetta, GA, was the tournament referee. 256-Pickleball, Alabama Specialty Products, Inc., Southern States Bank, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce were sponsors, and provided gift certificates, door prizes, goody bags, and food and water during the tournament.
Oxford Mayor Alton Craft and Parks & Recreation Director Don Hudson opened the games on Saturday morning with an encouraging message, and trumpet and tournament player Paul Sparrowhawk played the National Anthem – a nice surprise. Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals were given out in each category during each of the three days. Players were grouped in three skill categories beginning at 2.5 and continuing with 3.0 and 3.5/4.0. Medals were awarded for each category.
For those who have not yet heard of Pickleball, it is a combination of Ping Pong and Tennis played with paddles and a plastic ball on a court smaller than a tennis court. It is usually referred to as “The fastest growing sport in America”, and it is certainly a fast-growing sport in Calhoun County, but we hope it grows faster. 256-Pickleball board member Steve Morey praised the City of Oxford for help in setting up bleachers and getting the courts ready for play. He said: “We are hoping this is a springboard to the future to motivate the city of Oxford to build a 12-court, covered facility at Choccolocco Park or Friendship Community Center. As board member Mike Harris said: “Our objective is to show how popular the sport is, and show that we want to support more tournaments if they build new courts.” The main need is one facility with a minimum of 8 dedicated indoor, or outdoor covered, so that we can host more tournaments throughout the year. And of course, it’s not all about tournaments, we hope everyone in the area can give pickleball a try. There are several indoor and outdoor spots in Anniston and Oxford with a couple pickleball courts, and you can find a place to play every day of the week. Look to the 256-Pickleball website or on Facebook. It is a friendly game and easy to pick up and enjoy from day one – or Zero-Zero-Start.
* If you would like more information on Pickleball in Calhoun County please contact Michael Harris (Pickleball Ambassador for Calhoun County)
256-689-8603 or 238mikes@gmail.com
