USA Pickleball Clarksburg Tournament Debut: Clarksburg hosted its first-ever USA Pickleball sanctioned tournament this past weekend at Veteran’s Memorial Park, marking a milestone for the sport in Harrison County. The TLC Sports King and Queen of the Court doubles tournament crowned Jake Zakariasen and Lauren Nesshoever as champions in the men’s and women’s divisions.
The tournament attracted local pickleball enthusiasts and highlighted the growing popularity of the sport in the community. Tammy Calef, owner of TLC Sports and organizer of the event, said the turnout showed strong community support.
“If you come out on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday morning you’ll see the courts full. If you come out on a Tuesday, Thursday evening,
you’ll see the courts full, so the community has embraced it, they love it, they appreciate it and we’re just very thankful.”(Tammy Calef)
Unique Tournament Format
This tournament had a distinctive twist: players registered individually and were assigned a new partner for each game. Points were scored within pods, and the top four players advanced to the championship.
“They compete singularly, but you play doubles on the court, so it’s 16-players, each player goes to their court with four players, they play round robin, you get standing points, I know that this’ll be very confusing for people but only one person wins through standing points,” (Tammy Calef).
Community and Future Plans
The event not only celebrated local talent but also emphasized the sense of community among players. Tammy Calef hopes this tournament will be the first of many, fostering further growth of pickleball in Clarksburg.
The success of this inaugural event suggests the sport will continue to expand, with more tournaments and increased participation expected in the future.
News in Brief: USA Pickleball Clarksburg Tournament Debut
Clarksburg held its first USA Pickleball sanctioned tournament at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Jake Zakariasen and Lauren Nesshoever won the men’s and women’s doubles titles. Organized by Tammy Calef of TLC Sports, the event featured a unique individual-to-doubles format, highlighting the community’s growing love for pickleball.