Twenty members of the Northern Neck Family YMCA traveled to Richmond May 5 for Pickleball competition in the 33rd Annual Virginia Senior Games. Pickleball was one of more than 20 events offered in the statewide tournament organized by the Virginia Recreation and Park Society.
Sixty-seven competitors from around the state participated in singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles Pickleball matches at the Confederate Hills Recreation Center in Henrico County. Prizes were awarded to first, second, and third place finishers in each of several age brackets.
Participating in doubles matches, the Northern Neck group had a first place winner, Steph Jewell and Jim Panzetta in mixed, and Joe Baker and Mike Conroy placed third in men's. In spite of a spirited cheering section of about a dozen other Y members who made the trip but did not compete, the rest of our local Pickleballers enjoyed less success against a level of experienced competition some had not seen before. But as one of our participants observed, at least there was ample opportunity to demonstrate the art of losing graciously.
In addition to the first and third place winners, other Northern Neck competitors included Anita Baker, Isabelle Bunch, Buz Cox, Connie Edwards, Jim Edwards, Floyd Griffith, Jean Hess, Jerry Horner, Kathy Kerst, Ken Kerst, Pat Kopcsak, Bill Kopcsak, Alice Pope, Pat Rosinski, Jan Schuler, and C.J. Seamster.
In the past year Pickleball has rapidly become a popular sport among an enthusiastic group of Northern Neck Y members. Open play is scheduled in the YMCA gym all morning every weekday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 to 8:00. New players are welcome and basic instruction is happily provided.
Earn free months of membership for telling your friends about the YMCA. Pick up a guest pass at the Welcome Center, fill in your name and phone number and distribute the passes to your friends and family. 
Children get more out of shopping for school clothes than just outfits - they also receive Confidence, Courage, Pride, Happiness.
It may seem a bit early to have visions of sugar plums dancing in your head, but our committee chair Sarah Pittman is eager to start planning and has vowed to make this year's Festival the best one yet.