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Picklepalooza 2022

Posted on October 3, 2022 by Ching under Community, Pickleball.

Pictures from this year’s Picklepalooza event at Chicken N Pickle.

This is the second year for Picklepalooza. We played in it last year and had such a great time that I was excited to participate in it again this year. This event is so much fun. Besides being a ridiculously fun event, it also benefits a great cause – Senior Services of Wichita. This year they partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association so the event benefited two great causes. I highly recommend it for everyone. I hope y’all can join us next year.

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Weekend with Pickleball Pals

Posted on September 16, 2022 by Ching under Community, Pickleball.

My friend Karen Fox arranged a women’s ladder group at Chicken N Pickle with local and out of town ladies last month. It was so much fun! She’s working on putting another group like this together next weekend since several people will be in town for the ICT Fall-out Pickleball Tournament.

I’m not very good at women’s doubles so I appreciate opportunities to play with other women. I especially like formats like these where I can play with different partners because then I can test out my on-court chemistry with different people. I had the opportunity to play in Lacy Waugh’s round robin last weekend and I was surprised by the chemistry I had with a couple of people. Brandi Richardson and I did really well together. Krista Crawford was equally a great partner for me. Most of the time we are playing against each other so it was refreshing to be on her side of the net for a change. Also, I did the best with Lacy obviously but as Jen Tiano points out, “Lacy is everyone’s best partner.” She is amazing!

That same weekend we got to celebrate Cindy Witte’s 60th birthday.

It was a surprise party planned by her amazing husband, Joe. He literally is the best husband, second only to Brian. They are such a lovely couple who we got to spend quite a bit of time with while we were in Naples, FL earlier this year.

Pickleball friends are the best ever. Until next time, GNG.

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Chicken N Pickle Sponsored Athlete Sip ‘n Play

Posted on August 29, 2022 by Ching under Community, Pickleball.

Once a month, Chicken N Pickle hosts a “Sip ‘n Play” event for sponsored athletes. They give us a couple of courts for two hours so we can play, practice, and socialize with one another. It’s very generous of them and I am grateful for it. These are the highlights from the one we had this month.

These events are usually on the first Tuesday of the month but this month the first Tuesday coincides with Chicken N Pickle’s “Our Hearts are Local” employee volunteer day. Chicken N Pickle closes for the entire day so that employees can participate in a volunteer activity together. So our next sponsored athlete play day is on Wednesday, September 7, instead.

Other upcoming events at Chicken N Pickle include:

September 13 – Newbie Night
September 13-15 – Picklepalooza 2022
September 20-22 – Chicken N Pickle Signature Camp

Are you signed up for any of these fun events? If so, see you there!

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Another Dream Team Doubles in the Books

Posted on August 20, 2022 by Ching under Community, Pickleball.

These are some highlights from the last Dream Team Doubles event at Riverside Tennis Center last month. Many amazing players from both genders came to participate but there was only one team champ. Congratulations to Jen Tiano, Jenny Cole, Antwome Topps, and Nathan Peters!

This is a fun format that the players seem to really enjoy. I can’t wait for us do this again and to be able to play next time. Until then, GNG.

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Ramon in Wichita

Posted on August 4, 2022 by Ching under Community, Food and Drink, Pickleball.

My friend Ramon Lozano came to Wichita on the last weekend of June so we could play some games together before the Newport Beach tournament. We decided to play in the Y’s Men charity tournament benefiting the Greater Wichita YMCA so that we could kill two birds with one stone – we’re helping the community raise money for a great cause and we are getting to practice.

We didn’t fare as well as I’d hoped in the tournament but it’s always a good time playing with Ramon. There’s a reason “Everybody Loves Ramon” – LOL. That was our team name for the tournament.

Ramon drove into town early on Friday to get some games in with Kyle (Starkel, aka “Soapdish” also “Pornstache”) and a couple of other guys. Brian and I needed stamps for our Wicked Brew passports (something that we do every summer) and so we were game when Kyle suggested we meet up at Norton’s.

Here are some pics of our delicious food… BTW, you cannot go to Norton’s and not get bacon crack. It is a must!

Here are some pictures from the charity tournament at Chicken N Pickle the next morning. I had to get a picture with my friend Erica Lopez because we both were playing with Joola paddles that day. Formerly, we both played with Electrum Pro paddles. So we still managed to match somehow.