Macon has yet again become the epicenter for the pickleball universe, at least for a weekend, as the U.S. Senior Indoor Pickleball National Championships brought hundreds of athletes 50 and older to its courts, in a bid for national triumph. According to a report by GPB News, the Rhythm and Rally Sports and Events indoor pickleball facility, boasted as the world’s largest, played host to the championship from today through Sunday.
Karen Parrish, events director for Pickleball USA, told GPB News, “We love being here, it’s a state-of-the-art facility. Everybody loves the building and the atmosphere here.” With no prior qualifying events, registration for the competition just required active Pickleball USA membership. Players took the courts in men's and women's singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles, advancing in a round-robin format that ensures plenty of play even for the most casual competitors.
The Senior Pickleball National Championship, recently established by Pickleball USA, has seen a turnout of over 450 athletes, with players traveling from various states beyond Georgia's borders to compete. Cathy Hicks, a victor from last year's national tournament, arrived from Marshall, North Carolina, partnered with a former Mercer University tennis coach Kerry Bacon who switched to pickleball post-knee surgery. “I’ve got a good partner, so hopefully we’ll do real well,” Bacon optimistically remarked in an interview with GPB News.
While some paired up with longtime partners, others, like Debbie Jacobs from Eatonton, stepped onto the courts with new allies, focused on teamwork over individual glory. “Tennis is about 90% competition, 10% meeting people, while pickleball is the other way around,” Terry Steaple from Tallahassee, Florida, shared his insight with GPB News, highlighting the community-centric nature of pickleball, which has become a magnet for seniors looking for a sport that's easier on the joints yet rich in camaraderie.
The choice of Macon for this illustrious event wasn't just a shot in the dark. Macon's Rhythm and Rally set a new benchmark when it first introduced 32 state-of-the-art indoor pickleball courts earlier this year. This massive facility fortifies Macon's commitment to revitalize the old mall, now inclusive of the Atrium Health Amphitheater. "We wanted to bring an event here because you get a lot of really great players and volunteers. It was a no-brainer, we had to have an event here,” Parrish articulated her organization's rationale for choosing Macon, owing partly to the strong local network of pickleball enthusiasts and volunteers ready to back such an event.
