MILTON — Countless hours of playing pickleball at the Guy Thompson Community Center paid off for four retirees.
They recently earned eight medals during the Emerald Coast Pickleball Championship in Destin, which attracted 91 players from nine states.
Donna Korando, Suzanne Fruge, Steve Nicholson and Mike Hogg said they play the sport, which is similar to tennis, between four and five days a week.
Nicholson, 60, regularly plays with enthusiasts in Milton, Gulf Breeze and Pensacola. The Pensacola resident has been playing the sport for only a year after reading about it in a local newspaper.
“It looked like something I wanted to try out and sure enough I love it,” he said. “I love staying active.”
Nicholson wants to build upon his success alongside his double’s partner Mike Hogg, 61, during a upcoming seniors athletic competition in Pensacola.
The Milton resident, who became an enthusiast two years ago, earned a third-place medal in men’s doubles.
“I saw the way they played last year and I knew me and Steve could give them competition,” Hogg said. “It felt great to finally win something in playing this game.”
As for other benefits?
“It has lowered my blood pressure down (and) I have lost a couple of pounds too,” he said.
Fruge, of Pace, earned two medals at the competition.
“I have only played in one tournament before and it did not turn out that great … but I was pretty sure we would hold our own this time,” she said.
The pickleball players say playing the sport opens social opportunities. On Fridays, many players have lunch together.
“Everybody pitches in and gives each other pointers,” said Korando, of Pace.
During the championship Koronado played through a minor leg injury in the women’s doubles portion and again on the second day.
The injury didn’t keep her down; in fact, she’s making plans for more pickleball.
“Myself, Suzanne and Steve, we are already talking about possibly going to another area or state and play in a tournament,” she said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Pickleball enthusiasts earn medals during tournament (PHOTOS, VIDEO)