Copake’s PICKLEMANIA tournament scores 2nd year

COPAKE — After a day of heavy rain that forced the cancellation of the second annual Copake PICKLEMANIA pickleball tournament, the games were back on Sunday, June 1, at Copake Memorial Park.

Division 1 (rated Recreational) winners: From left to right, Silver Winners Maureen Krejci of Southfield, Mass. and Wendy Chivian, Canaan, New York ; Gold Winners Deb Reed of Forest Hills, New York, and Colin Goundry; Bronze Winners Anne and Doug Kleeschulte of Kingston, New York.Photo by B. Doctor

Starting a 7:15 a.m. volunteers armed with four leaf blowers began moving the water off the courts, and then followed up with squeegees to get the courts dry for the 64 pickleball players — comprising 32 teams — who would compete in two divisions throughout daylong games.

Last year the regional tournament drew players from Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, and it was the same this year. Competitors from Ulster County, DutchessCounty, Columbia County and Connecticut and western Massachusetts — and Queens — traveled to compete at the town-sponsored event.

Tournament director Bill Boris-Schacter instructs players as the second round gets underway. Photo by John Coston

The tournament was organized by a steeringcommittee of the Copake Economic Development Advisory Committee (CEDAC).Steering committee members include: Bill Boris-Schacter, head of the committee, Vicki Sander, Signe Adam, Madeline Silverman,Rob Lazarus and Jayne McLaughlin, ambassador for USA Pickleball, which is the national governing body of the sport.

Boris-Schacter, a member of the Economic Development Advisory Committee,served as tournament director.

Town Supervisor Richard Wolf was on hand, and met up with Hillsdale’s Supervisor Mike Dvorchak and its newly appointed Deputy Supervisor Bart Ziegler, all of whom observed the play while chatting with townspeople.

Pickleball has been around for decades, starting with ping pong paddles and a perforated plastic ball in the 1960s, and by the 1990s was being played in all 50 states, according to USA Pickleball. Copake’s event is not a USA Pickleball sanctioned event.

From left, steering committee members Madeline Silverman, Vicki Sander and Signe Adam.Photo by John Coston

Winners announced in two divisions of play were:

Division 1

Recreational rated

Bronze Winner: Anne and Doug Kleeschulte of Kingston

Silver Winner: Wendy Chivian of Canaan, and Maureen Krejci of Southfield, Massachusetts

Gold Winner: Deb Reed of Forests Hills, New York, and Colin Goundry

Division 2

Competitive rated

Bronze Winner: Daniel Berghold of Rhinebeck, and Brad Quick of Staatsburg

Silver Winner: Mike Rose of Chatham, and Mike Rose Jr. of Colonie, New York

Gold Winner: Kirk Mitchell of New Lebanon, and Michelle Johnson