Seventy-eight members of the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) played faced off against 78 SaddleBrooke Ranch Pickleball Association (SRPA) members on the SRPA courts in the Battle For the Saddle Tournament from Friday, November 8, 2024 to Sunday, November 10, 2024. The tournament was for women’s, men’s and mixed doubles teams competing in a round robin format, in which each SPA team played each SPRA team in the same class. The teams were classified by skill level: 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0. Medals were awarded to the top three teams in each skill level: gold (first place), silver (second place) and bronze (third place).
Overall, the SPA teams won 106 games, and the SRPA teams prevailed in 154 games. Based on the total points, SRPA teams scored 2,490 points, and the SPA teams scored 1,978 points.
The women’s teams played on Friday, November 8, 2024, and the SPA members earned medals in the 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 levels. On the 4.0 level, SPA members won all of medal places. Denise Leksell and Diana Giljohann won gold; Cindy McAlbin and Joan Van Matre won silver; and Kristy Jonhson and Jill Ducket won bronze. Carolyn Nickum and Janine Sulivan finished fourth at the 4.0 level. A SPA women’s team also won gold on 3.0 level with Jen Wilkin and Julie Warren.
On Saturday, November 9, 2024, the men’s teams played with SPA members winning medals in the 3.5 and 4.0 levels. At the 4.0 level, Brent Carlson and Mike Seidel earned the gold medal. Joel Ficke and Jack Hoverter won the silver medal in the 3.5 level, and Jay Schweitzer and Dave Connor won the bronze medal in the 3.5 level.
The mixed teams played on Sunday, November 10, 2024, and Lizzie Bayard and Joel Ficke earned the gold medal in the 3.0 level. At the 3.5 level, Michael Hovan and Sue Wood won the silver medal.
Other SPA members participating in the women’s team play in 3.0 were Brenda Browning and Susie Loyd, Suzanne Richards and Katy Lewis, Missy Roberts and Nancy Maglio, Lizzie Bayard and Stacy Olson, Ann Olson and Julie Shelton and Liz Gray and Gretchen Annan. Other 3.5 participants were Nancy Prentiss and Donna Sehn, Susan Schweitzer and Kandi Connor, Catherine Carmody and Dana Goldsmith and Tracey Rathjen and Jessica Ramsey.
SPA members also participating in men’s 3.0 team play were Ken Hallmen and Jeff Bowen, Corey Loyd and David Ellman, Vincenzio Mazzier and John Bidegain, Mordy Rischall and Mark Cates, Bill Gray and Gary Wilkins, Mark Steindoerfer and Art Busby and John Mazujian and Greg Warren. In 4.0, other participants were Peter Canon and Dave Remy, Ron Flanders and John Rathjen and Bill Lucy and Dave Palmeri.
Additional SPA members playing in mixed doubles in 3.0 were Mark Cates and Jen Wilkin, David Ellman and Brenda Browning, Corey Loyd and Susie Loyd, Nancy Maglio and Dwight Jennings, Suzanne Richards and Mordy Rischall and Julie Warren and Greg Warren. Other 3.5 participants were Susan Schweitzer and Jay Schweitzer, Frank Shipton and Donna Sehn, Catherine Carmody and Bill Lucy, Larry (LA) Jones and Robbie Cooke and Anne Romeo and Brian McGeorge. In 4.0, players were Ron Flanders and Denise Leksell, Diana Giljohann and Sam Alkhoury, Dave Remy and Janine Sullivan, Peter Canon and Margie Fey and Mike Seidl and Jessica Ramsey.
SPA participants hope more SPA members will play in next year’s tournament on the home courts at the Ed Robson Pickleball Center and finally bring the saddle trophy home where it belongs.
Puerto Peñasco visitors will soon face tourist permit enforcement
