This year, LFHS students participated in their first pickleball event. Four players from the pickleball team were invited to the Illinois state pickleball tournament. Junior Sylvie Young, junior Malia Donnez, senior Bo Bertola, and freshman Beckett Aikins were thrilled to try something new.
On April 26, these four were able to play this championship at Shureshot Pickleball in Naperville. Having teams from all over Illinois, they put up a great fight.
Young and Donnez got second place right under Stevenson, while Aikins and Bertola received 8th place overall.
Each duo gave it their all, and were ecstatic to be the first included in this event for LFHS.
All players have started pickleball more recently, except for Young, who has been with the sport for over a year. She teaches pickleball at GLASA (Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association), a program for athletes in wheelchairs, giving them a chance to enjoy this sport.
“I love pickleball, I feel like it is a fun and low-stress sport,” said Young.
Young aims to play weekly with her friends, attending games and tournaments together to strengthen her skill set. The sport provides a way to make connections with others and build friendships.
When pickleball coach Tom Soprych learned that Young teaches pickleball, he immediately asked her to join the team for the State Tournament. Thinking it would be an interesting opportunity, Young said yes without hesitation.
Young has known Donnez for a while, so when she learned they were going to be partners, she was eager to begin. Little did she know they would place 2nd overall.
Bertola was picked by Soprych and partnered with freshman Aikins. As a pickleball regular, Bertola knew how to play in a strategic manner. Playing for almost five years and being semi-competitive, he was ready to take on the next step. His parents, who have also been playing pickleball for some time, play tournaments every weekend.
“With my pickleball background being very familiar, I entered into the tournament for fun and hoped to compete,” said Bertola.
This new experience was a great opportunity to showcase their skills to the community.
