In its 7th year at Buck Park, the Orcas Island Rotary Pickleball Tournament raised $12,000 for the Orcas community.
Tournament Director Linda Hamilton said, “It’s our mission with this tournament to use our pickleball nets to strengthen the social services safety net in our community.”
The profits will be donated to the Orcas Island Community Resource Center, Music Advocacy Group, the Orcas Island Pickleball Club, and the Pea Patch Community Campus. A gallery of photos is available at: https://orcaspickleball.org/photos/tourney24-photos.
Congratz to the following 1st and 2nd place pickleball finishers, who all received a Pickle Jar Trophy (pickles donated by Island Market):
- Group A Mixed Doubles: 1) Jordi Grigsby and Ivan Koveshnikov; 2) Tammy Pollard and Paul Pollard
- Group B Mixed Doubles: 1) Patty Miller and Ron Claus; 2) Suzanne and John Olson
- Group A Women’s Doubles: 1) Jenny Shrum and Carolyn Storey; 2) Eloisa Borbe and Michelle DiLeonardo
- Group B Women’s Doubles: 1) Diana Stepita and Emily Grindeland; 2) Po Powell and Mary Grove
- Group A Men’s Doubles: 1) Michael Harlow and Valerie Alexandrov; 2) Aaron Rock and Ethan Schmidt
- Group B Men’s Doubles: 1) Ethan Brazil and Bob Connell; 2) Avi Alvaro and Fernando Arevalo
The 2-day tournament (Aug 10th-11th) hosted sixty-two players from Orcas, Oahu, Lopez Islands, mainland, and San Juan.
The two-day tournament (August 10-11) hosted 62 players from Orcas, San Juan, Lopez islands, Oahu, and the mainland.
Featured events included mixed doubles, women’s and men’s doubles; a BBQ in the park Saturday afternoon; and a prize raffle to support the Orcas Island Pickleball Club.
Mark your calendars for next year’s tournament scheduled for the weekend of Aug 16 – 27, 2025.
Generous Support of the Following Community Sponsors
Chicory Weath, Island Market, and Island Petroleum; Frank & Barbara Fagan, Gudgell Properties, Linda Hamilton, Bob McPherson, The Naan Stop/Country Corner, Orcas Online, Rays Pharmacy, Sea Island, Star Surveying, and WaFd Bank; American Pacific Mortgage, Island Hardware & Supply, Island Thyme, Rainshadow Solar and Greg Stafford; and generous in-kind donations from Luke Bronn Pottery, Eastsound Sporting Goods, Forest Ceramics, Island Water Taxi, Lewis Chiropractic, Mijitas, Jemuel Morris/Experience Pickleball, Suzanne Olson, Orcas Island Parks & Rec, Orcas Island Pickleball Club, Shearwater Adventures and Wildlife Cycles.
Special thanks to Tom Bridge of Island Water Taxi for donating interisland rides to and from the tournament so that players from the San Juan and Lopez islands could take part without the anxiety of ferry unreliability.
Several players wore black armbands to honor John Kelly, a beloved community member who passed away in July while engaging in his favorite sport, pickleball.
A moment of silence was observed in his memory, followed by a heartfelt musical tribute performed by Michael Harlow.
Orcas Island Rotary backs the values and efforts of Rotary International. As a satellite of the Rotary Club of the San Juan Islands, they embrace the club’s purpose: “Changing our community, our country, and the world through goodwill and service above self.” Orcas Rotary meets by Zoom every 1st Friday at 9 a.m. and every 3rd Friday at 5 p.m.
The Orcas Island Pickleball Club (OIPC) is a group of enthusiastic players dedicated to fostering a welcoming and enjoyable pickleball environment for all. Memberships are available on their website, where you can also stay updated on upcoming events.
The club encourages participation from everyone, with court schedules available on PlaytimeScheduler.com.
Newcomers and drop-ins are welcome, and the club provides equipment for players at the courts, along with orientation sessions for those new to the sport.
