- February 7, 2025
-
-
Loading
Loading
The pickleball courts were full on Saturday, Dec. 2, as players volleyed back and forth as part of a Toys for Tots pickleball tournament.
The inaugural tournament, set up through the Port Orange Pickleball Group, was held to donate toys for the Volusia County Toys for Tots organization. To enter the tournament, players had to bring in a toy to later be donated as their entry fee.
A total of 36 people entered into the round-robin tournament, which was also sponsored by Toys for Tots.
The tournament had been planned for about six months in advance, according to Harold Wheeler, the group's organizer and the USA Pickleball ambassador for Port Orange.
The tournament was broken up into two tiers of players: a group of 18 people 70 years old and up and a group of 18 people 69 years and below. A gold and silver medal was presented to the winners of each division
Wheeler added that he hopes to expand the event next year.
As for the group itself, Wheeler started it about a year ago and has gained popularity within the Port Orange community.
"If you've ever played pickleball, you rapidly become addicted," Wheeler said. "It's a great sport and it's been sweeping the country for a few years now."
