The South County Recreation Center is hosting its second annual Pickleball Madness tournament from March 21-22, offering two days of intense matchups and community fun. Located near Bixby and Glenpool at 13800 S Peoria Ave, the tournament has attracted over 20 teams eager to compete in various skill and age-based brackets.
Tournament Brings Players and Fans Together
Pickleball Madness has quickly become a favorite event at the rec center. Scott Bartel, Activities Coordinator, emphasized the sport’s surging popularity and social appeal.
“It is addicting to play. Once you start usually you do not ever want to stop, so that is why you see so many people playing. The competitiveness is there for the tournaments, but it is also more people come cheer on their friends, or for the social aspect, and sometimes just to be active.” – (Bartel)
Spectators are encouraged to attend, and admission is only $1.
Bracket Play Offers Competitive Action
The pickleball tournament follows a pool play format, allowing teams to compete within their respective brackets. There are five divisions, including:
Youth bracket
55+ bracket
70+ bracket
3.0 skill level bracket
3.5 skill level bracket
The top three teams in each bracket will receive medals, with additional prizes awarded to the winners. One of the competitors, Carlos Gomez, has been playing pickleball at South County Rec since 2021 and appreciates the sport’s inclusivity.
“A lot of us are in our 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, and beyond and at that age group, I know we play slower, but we still have the same competitive fire.” – (Carlos Gomez)
Open Play Available Year-Round
Although tournament registration has closed, South County Rec Center offers year-round pickleball on its three indoor courts. Open play is free from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, with additional evening sessions.
For those looking to improve their skills, the center also hosts:
Beginners’ and advanced player sessions.
A one-hour skills and drills clinic every Thursday at 11:45 a.m.
To play, there is a $1 fee per session, or players can purchase a punch card for $24, which covers 30 visits. Gomez highlighted the community aspect of the sport.
“Pickleball is a very social sport that a lot of folks do not realize until they get into it. I learned very quickly that the South County community has a lot of really nice folks my age and some younger.” – (Gomez)
News in Brief: Pickleball Madness Tournament
The South County Rec Center is hosting its Pickleball Madness tournament from March 21-22 with five skill and age-based brackets. Over 20 teams are competing for medals and prizes. Spectators are welcome for a $1 admission fee. Year-round pickleball is available at the center, including open play and skill sessions.
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