Tournament to highlight sport

The first-ever tournament at the new pickleball courts in Albert Lea will be on Saturday with divisions for women, men and couples.

The tournament will begin at 1 p.m. at the courts next to the city pool.

The tournament comes just a few months after the city and a group of players started fundraising to renovate the courts. Since the upgrades were completed, the courts have gained popularity and on most nights are full with people checking out the sport.

Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong and encourages physical, recreational and social opportunities, she said.

The sport was invented in the mid-1960s on Bainbridge Island, Wash. The original purpose was to have a game where the entire family could play.

Pickles was the family dog that would chase the balls and hide in the bushes. The family would call to Pickles for the ball.

Pickleball now is played by people of all ages and levels.

“The thing I really like about it is it’s welcoming to everyone,” said Gail Levorson, one player.

At the end of July, players ranged in age from late teens to early 70s.

“It seemed interesting and something new and fun to do,” said Todd Eyler, 25.

Eyler started taking Community Education classes on pickleball last fall and got hooked on the sport.

“It’s fun because you can play with all ages — at any skill level,” he said. “Once you learn the fundamentals, the hardest part is keeping score.”

He said he comes once or twice a week to play.

The sport took off in Albert Lea when makeshift courts were set up at Academy Park. In 2012, about five people played the sport at the park, and in 2013 there were about 40 ranging in age from 12 to 74. They played six times a week. Temporary courts were set up at the Albert Lea Family Y as players fundraised money for new courts.

The city kicked in $15,000 to renovate the Frank Hall Park courts, and the players, through donations from community, brought in money for the nets, poles and other equipment, Levorson said. Some of the big donors were Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Mrs. Gerry’s.

John Bauernfeind said he bought a house in the area about five years ago that he and his wife live in during the summer months, and said the sport has helped him get to know new people.

“What has come out of this for me is I have all these new friends,” Bauernfeind said. “Exercise and new friendships.”

He said to his knowledge there is not another place like it in Minnesota.

“This was a great opportunity because this was an unused asset,” he said.

Larry Knutson said he hopes to get rid of his diabetic medication through his participation in the sport.

Already since he has started playing he has dropped his A1C levels, a blood test used to diagnose type 1 and 2 diabetes. He is now only borderline diabetic instead of full-fledged diabetic.

Bauernfeind said it is the group’s goal to get so many people playing regularly that they can extend the courts into the last two tennis courts there. That would make an additional two to four courts.

In the meantime, the group plays at 8 a.m. Monday through Saturdays, along with 5 p.m. Mondays for women and couples, 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays for women and 5 p.m. Tuesdays for open play.

Levorson said there are paddles and balls for people to borrow who don’t own their own, and people will take the time out to give lessons to new players.

Next summer, the group hopes to have a regionally sanctioned tournament there.