Category: SJPA Sponsored

SJPA 2024 Annual Meeting

Pickleball spooky fun continues after Halloween on Saturday, November 2nd, 2024 with a FUN, Social & Spooky Halloween themed Mixed Up Doubles, Play With A Pro event! There will be two sessions. Be sure to sign up as space is limited. Registration begins October 19, 2024. For more details and to sign up, visit the following links.

• Session 1: 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
• Session 2: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WHITE TEAM!

Over ninety players, divided into four teams, competed in the 3rd Annual Battle of the Paddle event which was held at the Rymer Pickleball Courts on September 28th and 29th. Included in the competition were skill drills, dinking matches, and round robin play. Competition was fierce but friendly!

Captain Joe Waskas led his team to victory!

Second place went to the Blue team, with the Green team and the Silver Team placing third and fourth. 

Following the two days of play, a banquet was held at Members Club. Awards were presented and raffle prizes were awarded. Members Club provided a delicious buffet supper. Music, provided by DJ Rodney Axsom, got the crowd up and dancing for a great end to a truly fun weekend!

Carolyn Gaziano, once again, was on hand to capture many great moments. You can view all of her photos HERE.

Congratulations to everyone who competed and special thanks to the Events and Social committee members who planned and executed a great event. 

The St. James Pickleball Association (SJPA) started teaching pickleball to students at the Southport Elementary School two years ago. The kids were engaged and enthusiastic from the beginning, and now, they get very excited when they see the pickleball nets set up in the gym because they know what the day’s event is going to be. 

Because of this success, the program is being expanded to include the South Brunswick Middle School in Southport. To help start the middle school program, the SJPA donated 20 “gently” used paddles and 20 new pickleballs. SJPA member Holly Ahrens personally donated 15 “gently” used pickleballs.

The elementary school’s paddles needed new grips, having gotten some good use over the last two years. Kim Mihan, St. James’ Pickleball Pro, donated grips, and Rick Norton, SJPA member, re-gripped the paddles.

Courtney Nix, Southport Elementary P.E. teacher, was thrilled to receive these donations.  She loves working with the kids on pickleball and has seen the sport being enjoyed by kids of any athletic ability.  

SJPA members who help teach enjoy working with the kids and love to see them “get it” and have fun! The SJPA is looking forward to the next time we join the kids for some pickleball fun!

APPLY NOW

The SJPA is seeking to fill the following positions which start in 2025:

• Vice President – one year, elected Board position, followed by one year as SJPA president
• Tournaments and Events Director – two year, elected Board position
• Social Director – two year, elected Board position
• Communications Director – two year, elected Board position
• Webmaster – appointed position
• Sunshine Committee Chair – appointed position

If interested, please submit an email to stjamespickleballassociation@gmail.com expressing your interest along with a brief resume no later than October 31st.

If you have any questions or just want to learn more about any of these positions, feel free to contact any current member of the board, send an email to stjamespickleballassociation@gmail.com, or contact SJPA Vice President, Christine Cournoyer, at cccournoyer@gmail.com or 978-761-4468

Position descriptions are available in the SJPA Bylaws.

Tuesday evening was a great night to be on the Beach with the SJPA and SJTA Members.   The rain held off and we all enjoyed a beautiful evening with music provided by DJ Tim Holland. Tug-O-War and getting to mix and mingle with our fellow pickleball and tennis friends were highlights of the evening.   

The Tug-O-War was new this year.  The Pickleball teams pulled it out for the event’s first winners!    Each side had a team of guys and a team of gals.   It was “best of 3” but the Pickleballers did it in 2!!   The Tennis players gave both our teams a hard fight!   Congratulations to ALL!   We look forward to doing it again next year!    Look for the banner to be placed at the Rymer courts in the near future!  

Thank you to all for coming out and making this a fun event!

The SJPA Championships concluded with the mens 7.0 tournament. Thirteen teams vied for the crown. The competition was intense and the play was great. Congratulations to Jeff Watts and Mike Holstein for winning it.

The results are:

• Gold- Jeff Watts and Mike Holstein 
• Silver – John Pugh and Kevin Daly 
• Bronze – Bob LeMay and Don Ammann

 

The Men’s SJPA Tournament kicked off on Saturday with the 7.5 and 6.5 men playing. The men braved the heat to play some really exciting and fun pickleball. The games were very competitive throughout the day in both divisions. Thank you to all the fans who turned out to support the men.  The 7.0 tournament was rained out half way through and will continue on Friday, August 16th.

7.5 Update: Congratulations to Norbert Hobrath and Kevin Daly for winning the 7.5 Tournament. The results were:

• Gold – Norbert Hobrath and Kevin Daly
• Silver – Chris Camplin and Mike Renzaglia
• Bronze – Gary Driscoll and Mike Brown

6.5 Update: In the 6.5 Tournament congratulations to David Biederman and Mike Hoffman for winning the tournament. The results were:

• Gold: David Biederman and Mike Hoffman
• Silver – Tom Probst and Rick Binford 
• Bronze – Tom Cobb and Pete Christian

Battle of the Paddle is THE event of the year! Always fun and competitive, with four teams of 30 players each, male and female, and all player levels. 

There will be skills contests as well as a variety of round robins including mixed, by gender and rating, and even a dink round robin. Prizes will be awarded to the 1st place team.

Laughs will be a abundant, new friendships will be formed, and a few friendly rivalries will add to the fun. 

Early Bird Registration is available through August 23rd

Regular Registration will close on September 14th

For more information and to sign up, check out the Battle of the Paddle event on the SJPA website.

Three nights of play saw some very good competition and a lot of fun as the SJPA ladies competed in the Womens’ Championship Tournament over three consecutive evenings.

Congratulations to the winners and to everyone who participated in the event. Thanks also to everyone who came out to cheer for the ladies! And, special thanks to Carolyn Gaziano and Becky Jones for the great pictures!

Women’s Championship Pictures from Carolyn

Women’s 6.0 – Gold- Cindy Phillips and Katy Nasiff; Silver – Sandy Woods and Aleysa Waskas; Bronze – Tara MacCall and Susan Consoletti 

Women’s 6.5 – Gold – Lynne Albrecht and Janice Ammann; Silver – Katie Raiff and Brenda Gamba; Bronze – Wendy Reeves and Jane Martinez 

Women’s 7.0 – Gold – Alicia Mastropietro and Christine Cournoyer; Silver – Kathy McArthur, Teresa Grant and Kathy Cravinho; Bronze – Lynne Albrecht and Teri Romano

Due to the track that Tropical Storm Debby is expected to take, the SJPA and SJTA have rescheduled the Beach Party.

NEW DATE:  TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, FROM 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm; Rain Date:  Wednesday, August 14, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Find out More

The ladies 7.0+ SJPA Pickleball championship took place Friday night. The play was very competitive and every team gave it their all. Congratulations to Alicia Mastropietro and Christine Cournoyer for winning the tournament. The results:

• Gold – Alicia Mastropietro and Christine Cournoyer
• Silver – Kathy McArthur, Teresa Grant and Kathy Cravinho
• Bronze – Lynne Albrecht and Teri Romano

Thanks to all who played and to the fans that came out to support the ladies all three nights.

It was another fun packed competitive evening with the ladies playing in the 6.5 tournament. Seven teams played some great pickleball. Congratulations to Lynne Albrecht and Janice Amman for finishing in first place. The results were:

• Gold – Lynne Albrecht and Janice Ammann
• Silver – Katie Raiff and Brenda Gamba 
• Bronze – Wendy Reeves and Jane Martinez 

Thanks to everyone for playing and for the support they received from the fans.

Last Night, the SJPA Pickleball Championships got underway. Taking center stage were the ladies in the 6.0 bracket. After a fun filled, action packed evening of competitive play Congratulations goes out to Cindy Phillips and Katy Nasiff for taking first place. All the ladies played great. The results were:

• Gold- Cindy Phillips and Katy Nasiff 
  • Silver – Sandy Woods and Aleysa Waskas
    • Bronze – Tara MacCall and Susan Consoletti 

Thank you all for coming out and supporting the ladies! Play resumes tonight with the ladies in the 6.5 bracket. 

The SJPA Mixed Up Doubles and Play with a Pro event carried on through air temperatures over 80 degrees and a humidity level over 80%.

Forty SJPA members braved the hot, muggy, summer weather; played some fun, social pickleball; and got to play with Pickleball Pro Kim Mihan.

Water and ice were available throughout the event. Games were shortened to nine minutes with extended breaks in between games. Everyone STAYED WELL HYDRATED AND RESTED WHEN NEEDED.

Pickleball Pro Kim Mihan played in many of the round robin games adding to the fun and providing both challenges and instruction.

Event coordinators Robyn Smith, Cherie Nichols, and Lynn Albrecht did a great job of making sure everything went smoothly and safely. Thanks to them for another great event!

All in all it was a good couple of sessions even with the heat. Thanks to everyone who showed up to play and to those who donated to the food bank!