By: Ava-Caroline Schmidt
Southern’s first Saturday-night event this month, the Allied Health Club’s third annual pickleball tournament, took place in the Iles Gym. The tournament started at 7:30 p.m., and the final match ended around 1 a.m.
According to Michell Nino, a junior health science major and the Allied Health Club’s vice president, the fundraiser was designed to reflect the organization’s mission.
“We do this fundraiser to promote more events where we can incorporate our aim or motto, which is mind, body and soul, since we are an academic club,” she said.
Unlike the general intramural tournaments held for the past few weeks, this event was sponsored by the Allied Health Club. The official intramural pickleball season, including same-sex, co-ed singles and double matches, will begin next semester under the direction of Troy Walker, director of intramural sports.
Fourteen teams competed in the pickleball tournament on Saturday night, each consisting of two males and two females. The atmosphere was lively, with family members and peers cheering from the stands. Although the crowd was small, enthusiasm was high. During the first half of the tournament, no court was empty for long. When a match ended or a court opened, teams quickly took advantage of the space to warm up or practice for the next match. By around 10 p.m., the games were condensed to the three main courts to minimize the space for the remaining games.
Just for fun, some teams dressed up in themed costumes. Outfits ranged from pajamas and business attire—complete with bow ties—to creative M&M candy designs. The three teams with the best costumes received awards. Third place went to TEAM for their firefighter- house themed outfits, Swampies took the second prize with their Shrek-inspired look and Stranger Dinks won first place for their pickleball-themed costumes.
In the end, team Water won the tournament, defeating TEAM in the final match. Team Water included seniors Preston Waters, a business marketing major; Summer Nash and Raegan Moore, both nursing majors; and Bruno Rondinelli, a business administration major.
“One of the best moments besides winning the tournament was when Raegan got a really amazing cross-court dink,” said Nash, who has been playing pickleball for five years.
Waters highlighted another standout play.
“Bruno had an amazing ATP—around the pole—shot,” he said. “He hit it around the pole then got it in.”
When asked about their winning strategies, Waters said that it came down to smart tactics.
“Our main strategy was to target the weaker player,” he said.
Rondinelli added, “The biggest tactic was the small game—easy shots, completed shots and waiting for me to clutch up.”
The tournament was a success, encouraging fun and fitness, and the Allied Health Club plans to host it again next fall.
