1) Congratulations to Jason and Jill Finch on winning the mixed intermediate group ‘A” bracket. (Photo by Morgan Golliver), 2) Commerce Chenango’s inaugural pickleball tournament was quoted as being “The Gus Macker of Pickleball” and was fun to be had by all, including this mixed doubles group. (Photo by Morgan Golliver), 3) Congratulations to Lekkie Larsen and Mikę Layman on winning the Advanced Mixed doubles. They are pictured with Commerce Chenango President and CEO Sal Testani. Medals were sponsored by the Trophy Guy. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

NORWICH – The Inaugural Commerce Chenango Showdown Pickleball tournament was held on Saturday, June 1 in downtown Norwich. Barriers helped block East Main Street and 10 courts were filled with beloved pickleball players from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

There were two food trucks; All the Perks Coffee and Joe’s Food Shack and also a DJ service and a bounce house provided by Live Event NY to keep the party going. There was fun to be had for all in the game that is known as the fastest growing sport.

Sal Testani, the President and CEO of Commerce Chenango, said the idea of this tournament came as a way to figure out ways to bring the community together and said that Gus Macker already does a great job of doing just that. Sal, an active pickleball player himself, appreciated other chambers who are throwing pickleball tournaments as well and seeing the success of them.

Commerce Chenango was also raising a fundraiser to fund the pickleball courts at Weiler Park, which Testani said there will be courts set up at the skate rink all summer. He thanks the sponsors for helping defray the costs of running the tournament; Excellus, Impact Marketing Concepts, Pennysaver, NBT Bank, Preferred Mutual, SFCU, Kerry, Unison, the Norwich YMCA, Mindy and Tracy Chawgo, and many others. The entry fees, which there were 40 teams and the cost was $25 per person or $20 per player entering two events, totaling $1500, will benefit setting up the courts at Weiler.

There were a range of players among the women’s, men’s and mixed doubles with three different levels from beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Sue Heiss, who actively plays pickleball and has been playing around 10 years, played in both the women’s and men’s doubles.

“This is a great thing for downtown and great for pickleball,” she said. “It’s like the Gus Macker of Pickleball, where there’s all different ages and different ability level. I hope it’ll be an annual event.”

Jill Finch, an Oxford Academy alum and former tennis player, played with her dad, Jason in the mixed doubles, where they won their bracket among seven intermediate teams. She had played pickleball before. In fact, she and others would draw lines on the tennis court and play that way. She signed up for this event because she thought it would be fun. Her friends came to watch in support and thought it was fun too and that they might want to sign up next year. Jill likes both tennis and pickleball, where she said it is an easy transition between the two sports, even though they can be very different in terms of rules, but said it’s not too bad.

John Mooney, who played with his brother Nick in the men’s doubles, is a casual pickleball player at the Norwich Family YMCA like many others who competed in the downtown tournament. He has been playing for roughly four years and also said it was nice to be apart of the Gus Macker of Pickleball and said that it only shows how fast growing the sport is by getting so many people out for the tournament. He also appreciated being able to contribute to the fundraiser for the courts and like others, is looking forward to playing on them.

For more information on Commerce Chenango, please email info@chenangony.org or call 607-334-1400. For interested pickleball players, the Norwich Family YMCA has morning play for all levels Monday through Friday as well as open play on Tuesday evenings. Please leave your name and number at the YMCA’s front desk to sign up for a lesson or for more information.