Until There’s a Cure, Fight On

October is breast cancer awareness month and the GOPB

celebrates all our breast cancer survivors!

When Brenda Peddycoart and Connie Burnett step on a pickleball court every dink, drop and volley means so much more.

                         

Recently competing together in the Texas Open, winning gold in 4.0 Women’s Doubles is not just another victory on the court for these 2 athletes, but also a victory against the deadly enemy they both faced, breast cancer. 

They agreed to share a little about their stories in order to aid in early detection and treatment of this disease that 1 in 8 women in the US will face.

Connie, 6 year survivor.

In 2014 Connie was diagnosed with stage 3C invasive ductal carcinoma.  A surgeon performed a mastectomy and removed tumors in multiple lymph nodes.  She needed to be treated with several chemotherapy agents, and received multiple rounds of proton radiation.  She is extremely grateful for the love and support her friends and family provided during that difficult time.  After additional surgeries for breast reconstruction,  Connie made a conscious choice to shift from fighting the illness to living life.  Having always enjoyed competing in sports, she played basketball at the National Senior Games in Alabama in 2017.  Then she discovered pickleball. 

“Having a serious illness makes me truly appreciate the opportunity to learn a new game, to be challenged and to try to improve.  Participating in pickleball helps me feel like Connie….not Connie with cancer.   I enjoy the exercise and competition, but mostly enjoy the friendships I have made.  I just think if somebody’s going through it right now, maybe in the mix of chemo or radiation, and they’re bald, it’s just a hard time.  To know that if you can just work hard and get past that and things return to normal in some ways, you appreciate things more.”

Brenda, 26 year survivor

In the summer of 1994, Brenda was a 32 year old healthy, active mother of a very busy 2 year old boy when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She remembers thinking it had to be a mistake.   It simply could not be breast cancer!  However, a surgeon removed 3 cancerous lumps with the largest being almost 4 cm.  The cancer was also present in 4 lymph nodes.  She kept asking, “why would this be happening to me?”  After the initial shock, she prayed and decided to turn it over to the Lord.

“The chemotherapy was harder on my body and mind than I ever expected.  However, I was blessed to have a wonderful supporting family and friends who prayed and helped me stay strong.  After the chemo and radiation, I realized the good things that happened to me during treatment far outweighed the bad.  Through God’s grace, I’m now a 26 year survivor!  I’ve learned to be more thankful and enjoy life more and pickleball is a huge part of that!  Practicing and competing keeps me active both physically and mentally.  More importantly, I’ve met some wonderful people and gained so many new friends through the wonderful sport of pickleball!”

If you are lucky enough to find yourself on the pickleball court with either of these two ladies, remember they are survivors and too determined to be defeated! 

written by Denise Brinkworth

Santa Fe Family Life Schedule 

Rocky Arrington – Site Monitor

rockyarrington@hotmail.com

405-420-4791

MONDAY

6:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.           Open Play/Private Play on available courts

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.         2.5/3.0 Shoot Out

10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.         Skill Leveled Round Robin

 

TUESDAY

6:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.         Open Play on available courts

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.         Skill Level Play Courts 1,2, (2.0/2.5)

Court 3 (Challenge Court), Courts 4, 5, 6  (3.0+)

10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.         Women’s 3.0/3.5 Round Robin

                                                Open Play on available courts

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.    1^st Time Beginners Lessons

                                               Register with Rocky @ 405-420-4791

WEDNESDAY

6:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.           Open Play/Private Play on available courts

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.         Mixed Doubles Round Robin

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.      2^nd Time Beginners Lessons

                                           Register with Rocky @ 405-420-4791

10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.         Skill Leveled Play  Courts 1, 2  (2.0/2.5)

                                                Court 3 (Challenge Court), Courts 4, 5, 6 (3.0+)

THURSDAY

6:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.         Open Play/Private Play on available courts

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.         3.0/3.5 Round Robin

10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.         Skill Level Play Courts 1, 2  (2.0/2.5)

Court 3  (Challenge Court), Courts 4, 5, 6  (3.0+)

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.      3^rd Time Beginners Lessons

                                                Register with Rocky @ 405-420-4791

FRIDAY

6:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.         Open Courts/Private Play on available courts

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.         3.5+ Shoot Out

10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.         Leveled Round Robins (2.5 and 3.0) (3.5+)

DEFINITIONS OF PLAY

OPEN COURTS – There are no scheduled activities during this time. GOPB members may come and play as they wish.  You may have small group play on a court, singles on a court, etc.

ROUND ROBIN – On Monday and Friday we offer Round Robins that will run from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30ish.

MONDAY SHOOTOUT – This is for members that are 2.5 and 3.0 rated.

FRIDAY SHOOTOUT - This is for members that are 3.5+ rated.  Members must register on the GOPB website before 3:00 p.m. on Sunday for the Monday Shootout and 3:00 p.m. Thursday for the Friday Shootout  Shootouts are scheduled 8:30 a.m. – 10:30ish a.m. 

PRIVATE PLAY – This is a time period set aside for small groups, including singles, that wish to play together.  (Only one court per group.) Your court must be reserved before 7:00 p.m. on the day prior to desired play. Reserve a court by emailing rockyarrington@hotmail.com.

SKILL LEVEL PLAY – Members will play against like rated/skilled members.  We will have courts assigned to 3.5+, 3.0+, 2.5+, and two courts for 2.0+.  Consideration of numbers per skill level may dictate from time to time an adjustment of courts needed per level.

BEGINNER LESSONS – Those new to the game get an introduction to the game. Beginners get three lessons to give them their pickleball legs. Contact Rocky at 405.420.4791 to sign up. 10:30 start time.

PADDLE PLACEMENT – Paddles are stacked left to right with the paddles at the furthest right being the next in play. (1) For the courts closest to the gym entrance (1, 2, 3) the paddles will be placed on the bench that is located in that area. For the other three courts (4, 5, 6) the paddles will be placed on the water cooler table.

SANTA FE FAMILY LIFE CENTER has agreed to allow GOPB members to play our great game, five days a week, from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  SFFLC allowed us, as a part of our agreement, to use two basketball courts to mark our six PB courts for use during that agreed time period.  While we have five other courts marked for PB play, we are only guaranteed the use of the courts designated in the schedule.  We may use the other courts only as long as SFFLC does not need them for their other members use.  If you wish to play PB beyond the scheduled time you may do so by contacting SFFLC to rent a court.  You may call 405.840.1817

Kickingbird Pickleball Center Schedule

Monday

8:00 am – 11:00 am - OPEN PLAY on available courts

8:30 am – 10:30 am – 2.5-3.0 ROUND ROBIN (RR) (Sign up by 8:15 am!)

8:30 am – 10:30 am – 3.5 + RR (Sign up by 8:15 am!)

Tuesday

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – OPEN PLAY on available courts

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – LEVEL 4.0+ RR (Sign up by 6:15 pm!)

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm - LEVEL 3.5+ RR (Sign up by 6:15 pm!)

Wednesday

8:00 am – 11:00 am – OPEN PLAY

Thursday

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – LEVEL PLAY

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – LEVEL 2.0-2.5 RR (Sign up by 6:15 pm!)

Friday

8:00 am – 11:00 am – OPEN PLAY

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – OPEN PLAY on available courts

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – MIXED DOUBLES Partner RR – ALL LEVELS (Sign up by 6:15 pm!)

Saturday

8:00 am - 11:00 am – OPEN PLAY

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – OPEN PLAY on available courts

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – OPEN RR – ALL LEVELS (Sign up by 6:15 pm!)

Whenever it is too rainy, cold, or windy to play outdoors and we move indoors, the number of available courts goes from 24 to 12. When this occurs available courts are allocated first to the RR, then to OPEN PLAY. When we are playing indoors and demand for the RR is high, we may have very few OPEN PLAY courts available.

DEFINITIONS OF PLAY
OPEN PLAY – There are no scheduled activities during this time. Players stack paddles and play with a variety of other players of various skills levels.
LEVEL PLAY – Players are assigned to play on courts based on their skill level.
4.0 + ROUND ROBIN – You must have a 4.0 or higher rating to participate in this event.
3.5 + ROUND ROBIN – You must have a 3.5 or higher rating to participate in this event.
2.5 – 3.0 ROUND ROBIN – You must have a 2.5 or higher rating to participate in this event.
2.0 – 2.5 ROUND ROBIN – This event is for those currently taking beginner lessons and new players to the game. It is an opportunity to learn the game and meet other players who are just getting started with pickleball.
OPEN ROUND ROBIN – This event is open to all skill levels.
MIXED DOUBLES ROUND ROBIN – Teams consisting of one male player and one female player are formed by the participants before the event. Participants play six games with the same partner, but each game is played against another team. This event is open to all skill levels. Please have your team formed ahead of time.

“The Healing Power of Pickleball”

Check out pages 44 and 45 in the August/Sept edition of the PIckleball Magazine. Great article on GOPB member Jon Harpman.

Pickleball Code of Conduct

Every person involved in pickleball (participant, official, volunteer, or representative of the USAPA & GOPB or spectator) pledges as follows:

1. I will not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct or encourage others to do so.
2. I will not engage in any behavior that would endanger the health, safety or wellbeing of others.
3. I will not engage in the use of profanity.
4. I will treat others with respect.
5. I will exhibit fairness and honesty in my dealings with others.
6. I will not flaunt my position.
7. I will not use USAPA records or materials for personal gain.
8. I will observe the Golden Rule of doing unto others as I would have them do unto me.

The above Code applies in all situations that relate directly or indirectly to pickleball play.