The 5th annual Slam-O-Rama pickleball tournament took place Saturday and Sunday at Marathon Park in Wausau. The event featured men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, drawing players of all ages and skill levels.
Pickleball, first played in 1965, gained widespread popularity in 2020 as people looked for outdoor activities. Now, courts are appearing in cities and towns across the region, and tournaments are growing in popularity.
Tournament Format and Competition
Slam-O-Rama matches are divided by age bracket and skill level, ensuring players compete against opponents of similar ability.
“It’s broken down by age bracket, a lot of that. And then it… you go by division of play on how you rank as far as your skill level,”
said Slam-O-Rama competitor Perry Stargardt.
“So it’s broken down by that. So, most of the games you’re playing here today, you’re playing against equal competition, which is what I love.”
Getting Into Pickleball
For Perry Stargardt and Jo Heiting, pickleball has been a passion since they started five years ago.
“We got into pickleball five years ago,”. “Just from friends that knew the game somewhat, we were playing indoors, then we retired, and then we got into pickleball.”(Perry Stargardt)
The duo noted that retirees and younger players are common, but middle-aged players are less frequent.
“I would say the time constraint for the middle-aged group, they’re raising their families, they’ve got a job, they might have to travel to the courts,” Heiting said.
Social and Fun Aspect
Pickleball is not just about competition—it is also social.
“People come down to the courts all the time, they haven’t played before, and they sit there and watch for a while. Finally, you say, ‘Come on, let’s play.’
It’s such a social—I think that’s kind of what I want to push more than anything, anybody and everybody can play.”(Perry Stargardt)
Even new players can improve quickly.
“First, you’re just gonna ‘Gnip Gnop,’ I’ll be honest with you, you are. After a while, you’ll be smashing it at us, it’s a matter of just playing it more.”(Perry Stargardt)
Stargardt and Heiting added that winning is fun, but playing well matters most.
Looking Ahead
Organizers of Slam-O-Rama plan to return to Wausau next year, continuing to offer a welcoming environment for players of all ages and skill levels.
News in Brief: Slam-O-Rama Pickleball Tournament
Wausau hosted the 5th annual Slam-O-Rama pickleball tournament at Marathon Park. The event featured men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles. Players of all ages competed, emphasizing skill, fun, and social interaction. Retirees, kids, and enthusiasts participated, with plans to return next year for more matches.