Deana Mainil Pickleball National Champion: After six days of competition at the Myoflex Canadian National Pickleball Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Weyburn’s Deana Mainil won gold in the Women’s Full Court Singles 55+ category. The tournament, held from August 19–24, brought together more than 720 athletes from across the country.
Fulfilling a Goal Six Years in the Making
The victory marked a personal milestone for Deana Mainil, who set the goal of winning a national gold medal on her 50th birthday. “I finally achieved that goal six years later,” she said.
Mainil remained undefeated in singles play, a discipline she admits is demanding. “I have always done very well with it but is much more grueling than playing doubles as you have the whole court to cover,” she said. “I feel a lot more pressure playing singles than I do doubles because any mistakes are very critical and it’s only me; I have no one covering for me.”
Adding a Bronze Medal
Along with her gold medal, Deana Mainil also earned bronze in Women’s Doubles with partner Brenda Hawryluk of Spruce Grove, Alberta. The pair had to battle through the B-side after an early loss but managed to secure a place on the podium.
“We again had some epic battles but again could only win one of the three games, earning us the bronze medal,” Mainil said. “Overall, it was an unforgettable experience and a very fun week reconnecting with pickleball friends from across the country and playing at a level I have never placed before.”
She also competed in Mixed Doubles with partner Dave Clarke of Regina Beach and represented Team Saskatchewan in the first-ever Provincial Team Competition in Masters Mixed Doubles.
A History of Success
Deana Mainil is no stranger to competing at the highest level. She won three gold medals at the 2019 International Indoor Pickleball Championships in Washington and a silver at the 2019 USA Nationals in California. She also claimed bronze at the 2021 Canadian Nationals in Red Deer and multiple medals at Western Canadian Regionals from 2022–23.
Recalling her silver medal in California, she said, “We beat them in two out of three games but because they had beaten us earlier in the day in the best out of three games, we had to play a Championship Match to 15 points. We lost 15-11. But I am pretty happy with all of my national medals.”
Dedication and Preparation
Preparation has been key to her achievements. “Depending on where my partners are from, I try to get to Regina or Saskatoon as much as possible to practice together with them,” she said. “Doing pickleball drills is my favourite way to warm up and prepare before play. These are all critical to a high-performance game.”
Passion for Pickleball
Deana Mainil discovered pickleball eight years ago and quickly fell in love with the sport. “I am still a pickleball addict,” she said. “For several years, I carried a portable pickleball net everywhere I went, in case we could find a place to play, even drawing lines with chalk on tennis courts during Covid.”
Her passion even inspired her husband to build an indoor court at their family cabin at Kenosee Lake. She has since become a certified coach and now teaches players in Weyburn.
“I absolutely love to share what I have learned through playing in many tournaments locally, provincially, nationally and internationally and through clinics and training I have taken,” she said. “It’s a game where the learning never ends and I feel this experience, win or lose, has made me a much better competitor.”
Roots in Sports
Raised on a farm southeast of Weyburn in a family of 14 children, Deana Mainil grew up playing sports. “When we weren’t working, I always had a bat and a ball or a stick and a ball hitting against the barn or a cement wall when I had no one else to play with,” she said.
Today, she lives on a farm north of Weyburn with her husband, Dale, and their four children, continuing her lifelong passion for sports through pickleball.
News in Brief: Deana Mainil Pickleball National Champion
Weyburn’s Deana Mainil won gold in the Women’s Full Court Singles 55+ at the Canadian National Pickleball Championships in Winnipeg, along with a bronze in Women’s Doubles. A longtime athlete and certified coach, she has won multiple medals nationally and internationally and continues to inspire others through teaching and competition.
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