Kelsey Sensenig and Bill Craven Pickleball Journey: Two neighbors from Arapahoe, North Carolina, are turning their shared love of pickleball into a chance to compete at the national level. Kelsey Sensenig and Bill Craven have earned a spot at a major tournament in Washington, D.C., where they will compete as doubles partners.
From Neighbors to Partners
Kelsey Sensenig moved to Arapahoe a few years ago and soon met her neighbor, Bill Craven, who had retired in the area. The pair first connected over fitness goals.
“I moved to Arapahoe a couple years ago. My neighbor Bill had retired here a few years before that. We just met as neighbors, and we were talking about goals and what we wanted to do in life. We started first with running. We did a couch to 5K ran the Turkey Trot here in New Bern. Then we decided we really don’t like running, but now we feel like we can do anything, so that’s when we started playing pickleball,” said Kelsey Sensenig.
Health and Lifestyle Benefits
For Bill Craven, pickleball has been life-changing.
“Nothing really got me out of bed excited. Pickleball does now, I lost a lot of weight, I stopped taking one of my medications I have been taking for years because of the athletics pickleball has brought me,” Bill said.
The two started with lessons at the YMCA, moved on to local tournaments, and are now preparing for the challenge of playing on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The Spirit of the Game
Like many players, Bill Craven believes pickleball is about more than winning.
“I guarantee you some time during that game, people get so excited we have such a great volley, you stop somebody, wins the point, and you go, what’s the score? You are just so in the moment, you lose all of your fears, inhibitions, cares it’s just pure euphoria,” he said.
Looking Ahead
Their journey shows how pickleball continues to create community and inspire players of all ages. For Kelsey Sensenig and Bill Craven, the sport has brought both friendship and opportunity, and now the chance to compete on a national stage.
News in Brief: Kelsey Sensenig and Bill Craven Pickleball Journey
Neighbors Kelsey Sensenig and Bill Craven of Arapahoe, North Carolina, will compete in a national pickleball tournament in Washington, D.C. Their journey began with local lessons and tournaments, growing into a strong partnership. For them, pickleball is about health, joy, and community as much as competition.
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