By Heather Ruenz
Editor
A recent afternoon of pickleball at Big Foot High School allowed local, adult players of the game to show the younger generation how it’s done, in a friendly competition.
Chuck Thiesenhusen, director of the Big Foot Recreation District, said the intergenerational pickleball event was put together with the cooperation of physical education teachers Alison Krick and Steve Bochat, and the Recreation District. Eleven of the adult players, whose average age was 65, came to the school ready to play.
“Pickleball is the hot new sport that’s taking the country by storm. It’s a cross between tennis and ping-pong using a specially designed wiffle ball and wood paddle, played on a badminton court. As the sport has increased in popularity, communities have been trying to keep up with demand, in some cases converting under-used tennis courts to pickleball courts,” Thiesenhusen said.
It turns out pickleball is not only a favorite sport for older adults but for kids as well, as was proven earlier this month.
On Feb. 2, the Big Foot High School gym class welcomed some of the local Big Foot Pickleballers to join them for an afternoon of friendly competition.
Jerry Levine, 81 years young, was paired with Jackson Enz, 17, for a match.
“With a wink and a smile, Jerry commented, ‘I’m trying to take it easy on these kids.’ Shortly thereafter, Jerry let loose a wicked forehand rocket sending the ball down the line. ‘That’s how you do it,’ he said softly before being congratulated by his partner, who is 64 years younger,” Thiesenhusen shared.
The matches that afternoon at the high school were filled with laughter, hi-fives, shared tips, and the unique paddle-handle bump at the end of a match while congratulating fellow competitors.
“It is weird. The adults are really good. They understand the strategy and drop the ball right in, but we like to smash it,” junior Brandon Hynd said.
“This was fun,” Darla Hermonson, the unofficial leader of the Big Foot Pickleballers said. “We love to play pickleball, and it was a blast to play with the high school students.”
Katie Santeler was heard telling her teachers, “We need to do this again,” while Hynd and fellow classmate Spenser Hass both made it clear they were going to join the Pickleballers for a few matches on a Wednesday night.
The Big Foot Pickleballers have been around since 2014 and play every Wednesday and Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Big Foot High School. All ages and abilities are welcome. Anyone interested in joining this group is asked to contact the Big Foot Recreation District at (262) 275-2117.
