By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
It was a beautiful day for Mesquite pickleball enthusiast to enjoy the very first tournament to be played on the new courts located across the street from the Mesquite Recreation Center.
It seemed fitting that this first tournament on the new facility be put together by local organization Mesquite Senior Games.
It was a busy day! There were 112 players signed up for the tournament. The two-man teams were divided into 5-year age categories from 50 through 90+. Gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded for each category. MSG volunteer John Rosen was the event coordinator for the tournament.
Just as predicted Mesquite’s handsome new facility drew in sports tourists from all over to play pickleball on the new courts. There was a lively group of ten players that signed up from Kanab, Utah.
One member of the group had seen a flyer put out by Mesquite Senior Games and gathered the group to travel to the tournament.
“We admire these new courts and we are envious,” said Carrie Duff, who came with her husband Russ from Kanab to play in the tournament. “We do not have anything like this in Kanab.”
Carrie said that it was easy for the large group to visit Mesquite. “We all got the budget rooms from the casino,” she said. “The organization of the games has been great. John Rosen does a good job.”
The Duffs said that they are planning to come again next year.
“Our first tournament at our gorgeous new City of Mesquite Pickleball Complex was a huge success,” said Rosen. “We had tons of compliments on the condition and attractiveness of the courts. And kudos for the MSG volunteers who helped enhance the experience, from both local and out-of-town competitors.”
Another couple travelled from Midvale, Utah. Ninety-three-year-old Ralph Cravens and his eighty-three-year-old girlfriend, Jene Craigun came to play in the MSG tournament.
Cravens owns a condo in Mesquite and used to come here often to visit. But now that the Virgin River has shut down its dance hall, there is no place to go dancing here anymore, he said. So he doesn’t get here as often.
“I walk, ride my bike, play pickleball and go dancing every week to stay active,” Cravens said. “I have always been active.”
Cravens said he worked as a mining engineer in South America for many years. When he was 88, he walked from Pamploma to Santiago in Spain on a historic pilgrimage.
When asked to what he would attribute his longevity, Cravens smiled and said, “I stay active and I picked my ancestors very carefully!”
Sadly, Cravens pulled a leg muscle while practicing just before his team was to play. He had to withdraw from playing the tournament.
There were many spectators that just came to enjoy the sunshine and support the games.
“All of the competition was exciting,” said Rosen. “But it was particularly rewarding at the end of the final day, to see our newest and least experienced Women’s Doubles Teams, enjoying their first tournament experience, battling it out in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd of fans and well-wishers. Overall, it was a great event for everyone involved.”
