Submitted by Stephanie Buffum.

Two San Juan Island residents Graham Black and Rob Peterson won the Humana Seattle Metro Classic Pickleball Tournament in the over 50 men’s division on July 19.

The Seattle Metro tournament is one of the nation’s largest tournaments with 651 players in this year’s competition.

The popularity of the game has grown since its creation in 1965 on Bainbridge Island. It became the official State game in 2021. As one of the fastest-growing games in the United States, “Pickleball brings people together of all walks of life coming together to play, grow, laugh, fail, compete, connect, create, experiment, exercise, learn, and to celebrate the mind, body and spirit connection,” said Jemuel Morris, PPR certified trainer and coach who lives on Orcas. Morris is the founder of The Pickleball Experience.

On Tuesday, Aug. 2, Morris is hosting a Pickleball Experience for new players who want to improve their game.

This event is being coordinated by the San Juan Pickleball Club, an all-volunteer group dedicated to growing our local pickleball community. If you are interested in registering for the Aug. 2 adult clinic at Roche Harbor 9-11:30 a.m. or learning about other pickleball opportunities, please contact Stephanie Buffum at 360-472-0404 or Karen Meenan at 360-622-9799.