WSPC Christmas Party 2018

WSPC held its Christmas Party Dec. 14, 2018, at the top floor hospitality suite at Lincoln Park Stocker Stadium. About 100 club members and guests attended and enjoyed a nice potluck and tri-tip beef made by Aiaga and Ed Roffey.

GJ Parade of Lights & Fruita Light Parade — 2018

WSPC entered another fabulous float into the Downtown Parade of Lights (Dec. 1), and then took the float on the road to Fruita the following weekend to participate in their light parade. Club Outreach Director Jeffrey Smith led a team of club members to build a beautiful “Junctionville” float. Thank you to everyone involved.

WSPC October 2018 Halloween Social

WSPC held its Spooky, Scary Halloween Social Event Oct. 21, 2018, at the beautiful house of Jana and Don Donohue. We dined on tender, succulent brisket and an array of side dishes. We played a little pickleball and pranced around in our costumes.

WSPC Fall 2018 Singles Tournament

WSPC held its Fall Singles Tournament Oct. 5, 2018, at Lincoln Park. The weather was chili and sometimes downright cold, but the players stayed warm as they battled through the brackets.

OctoberFest Tournament — Delta, Colo.

Many WSPC members as well as nonmembers from Grand Junction headed to Delta to play in the Sept. 28-29 Octoberfest Pickleball Tourney. Grand Junction players dominated the medal count and took home the “traveling trophy” for having the most winners. 

WSPC Fall 2018 Sweet 16 Tournament

WSPC held its Fall Sweet 16 tournament on Sept. 15, 2018, at Lincoln Park. Play started at 8 a.m. and wrapped up at 5 p.m. It was a scorcher of a day for the players in the 3.5 and 4.0+ brackets. Thank you to George Gerson, Jane McKnight, Jim Goetz, Mike Fortner and Rick Marion for all your help running the tournament. See the winners below. 

3.0: John Knol and Anna Goetz and Barb Vezakis (tied)
3.5: Eric Johnson and Tim Brower (tied) and Jan Rogers
4.0+: Bruce Jensen and Boonmy Sabandit (tied) and Lisa Gan

WSPC Summer 2018 Sweet 16 Tournament

WSPC held its Summer Sweet 16 tournaments on three consecutive Saturdays in July. The event is so popular among club members we are doing it again in the fall. See the winners below. Also check out this cool video or this one made by club member Leslie Kent.

3.0: Mike Smith and Barb Vezakis
3.5: Brian Hart and Jan Kerr
4.0+: Walter Cummings and Karen Wellington

WSPC Summer Social

Our first major social event of the year held July 12 was a huge success with more than 80 club members attending an outdoor summer concert and potluck in Fruita. 

WSPC Teaches Summer Camp Students Pickleball

The Western Slope Pickleball Club, in conjunction with Grand Junction Parks & Recreation, conducted 5 clinics for children in June and July. The clinics were led by Nancy Burford and assisted by several club volunteers including Gayle Gerson, Linda Griffith, Bruce Gregg, Eileen Egloff, George Gerson, Chris Shackle and Sharon Brunner. Some 200 children went through our free clinics. 

WSPC 1st Annual Pickleball/Golf Doubles Dual

The Western Slope Pickleball Club hosted its first-ever Doubles Dual Pickleball/Golf Fundraiser June 16. Board member Aiaga Roffey was in charge of this awesome fundraiser and everyone raved about how great it was. Congrats to all the winners!

Grand Junction Western Slope Regional Tournament 2018 Winners

The City of Grand Junction Parks & Rec. Department hosted the Grand Junction Western Slope Regional Pickleball Tournament May 19-20, 2018, sponsored by Rocky Mountain Health Plans. What a great weekend of pickleball!

3.0 Men: Doug Beyer & Gregg Bilger, gold; Jim Craig & Mike Fortner, silver; Eric Johnson & James Vezakis, bronze
3.0 Women: Tracy Dvorak-Marshall & Sheila Adamson, gold; Lori Harper & Linda Reeves, silver; Anna Goetz & Carrie Atwood, bronze
3.0 Mixed: Gail Mathieson & Jeff Wadley, gold; Matt Dvorak & Tracy Dvorak-Marshall, silver; Eric Johnson & Lori Harper, bronze
3.5 Men: Bill Schapley & Tom Marcotte, gold; Jeffrey Smith & John Chapman, silver; Ted Albright & Joel Bechtel, bronze
3.5 Women: Pat Xayavong & Lisa Gan, gold; Maureen Beyer & Terry Doherty, silver; Patti Embree & Linda Arnold, bronze
3.5 Mixed: Wanda Robinson & Tom Marcotte, gold; William Cooper & Linda Arnold, silver; Yvonne Downs & Michael Downs, bronze
4.0 Men: Alan Laurette & Mike Leatherby, gold; Paul Buxton & Rich Hornbeck, silver; Aaron Clay & Terris McCombs, bronze
4.0 Women: Jana Donohue & May Liang, gold; Maxine Behrman & Cindy Marino, silver; Peg Mewes & Wendy Babbitt, bronze
4.0 Mixed: Mike Leatherby & Karen Wellington, gold; Corey Elliott & Wendy Babbitt, silver; Cindy Marino & Rich Hornbeck, bronze
4.5 Men: Greg Williams & David Brown, gold; Mike Cox & Tanner Vann, silver; Ed Roffey & Boonmy Sabandit, bronze
4.5 Women: Nikki Schmalz & Hack Jensen, gold; Linda Griffith & Brenda Furnace, silver; Christy Maron & Karen Wellington, bronze
4.5 Mixed: Rachel Oxenden & Tanner Vann, gold; Mike Cox & Sydney Hays, silver; Chris Montgomery & Cheri Fritz, bronze

WSPC Singles Tournament 2018 Winners

The club held its first ever Singles Tournament April 22, 2018, and what a blast it was! We had 27 players compete in this inaugural event. We watched awesome play, had lots of laughs and saw tired but smiling players when they were done. As always, a huge thanks to the volunteers and referees including George Gerson, Carol Canning, Beth Klein, Jeannie Maraschin, Jeffrey Smith, Maxine Behrman, Joe Egloff, Brenda Furnace, Linda Griffith, Mike Hill, Barry Peterson, Nikki Schmalz and Tao Thongvanh.

WSPC Club Tournament 2018 Pickleball Winners

The club’s annual members-only tournament was held Saturday, April 7, at Lincoln Park Pickleball complex. So much pickleball bonding and fun were had. And the weather was amazing! A special thank you to our tournament volunteers, without whom we could not have a tournament: Nancy Burdette, Carol Canning, Judy Fairchild, Gayle Gerson, George Gerson, Jeannie Maraschin, Evie McBride and Jeffrey Smith. Also thanks to those who refereed our Gold and Bronze matches: Maxine Behrman, Mike Cox, Eileen Egloff, Rich Garrett, George Gerson, Linda Griffith, Michael King and Rick Marion.

WSPC Pickleball Clinics

Holding clinics is part of our club’s mission to promote and teach the great sport of pickleball to the community.

WSPC and the City of Grand Junction Parks and Rec held two clinics (beginner and intermediate) Saturday, April 14, at Pine Ridge pickleball courts on the Redlands. About 40 eager learners participated. WSPC board member George Gerson was the lead instructor, but he couldn’t do it alone. A big thank you to his volunteer helpers: Maureen Beyer, Terry Douchant, Linda Griffith, and Bruce Gregg.

WSPC and the City of Grand Junction Parks and Rec held a morning beginner’s pickleball clinic and an afternoon intermediate pickleball clinic Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Lincoln Park courts. Both clinics were sold out.