Kansas City Pickleball Con: This past weekend, Pickleball Con at the Kansas City Convention Center brought together veterans, athletes, and enthusiasts for a celebration of a sport that has become much more than just a game. Gabriel George, a retired Navy veteran and passionate pickleball player, said: “Pickleball is a social sport. It’s about the social. It’s bigger than just a sport. This is therapy for me, and it’s more therapy for me when I get to give back and share it with others.” George is part of the military adaptive sports pickleball team, one of many teams that competed at the event.
Accessibility for All
The event highlighted the inclusive nature of pickleball, particularly for veterans and disabled personnel. Steven Harper from Military Adaptive Sports emphasized this point: “It’s such an easy sport to get into for veterans or disabled personnel to enjoy themselves.” The accessibility of pickleball makes it an ideal activity for a diverse range of participants, allowing everyone to engage and enjoy the sport.
Showcasing National Talent
Pickleball Con featured over 60 courts in play, with teams from across the country showing their skills. Alyssa Morrison, the event’s pickleball director, noted the level of talent present: “There’s some really good pickleball players here. The national pickleball league has pros and senior pros, so there’ll be some really good ones, and yeah, you can see some pretty good pickleball here.” The event drew more than 1,500 players, showing its significance within the pickleball community.
Former NFL Star Embraces Pickleball
Among the participants was former NFL player Marcellus Wiley, who has embraced pickleball as part of his fitness routine. Wiley highlighted the sport’s broad appeal: “Eight-year-olds can play with 80-year-olds and everything in between.” Reflecting his competitive spirit, Wiley jokingly challenged some Kansas City Chiefs players: “Nobody on the Chiefs wants to see me retired or active. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Willie Roaf—I’ll destroy Willie Roaf right now, come on,” he said, capturing the fun and inclusive nature that defines pickleball.
News in Brief: Kansas City Pickleball Con
Pickleball Con at the Kansas City Convention Center brought together veterans, athletes, and pickleball enthusiasts for a weekend of competition and camaraderie. The event featured over 1,500 players, including former NFL star Marcellus Wiley, competing on more than 60 courts.
Gabriel George, a retired Navy veteran, emphasized the therapeutic and social benefits of the sport, particularly for veterans. The event showed talent from across the country, with national pros and senior pros taking part. Wiley highlighted the sport’s inclusivity, noting that eight-year-olds can play with 80-year-olds and everything in between.
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