A field of 24 top players came from Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and as far away as Florida, competed. DENNIS BOX, Reporter

A field of 24 top players came from Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and as far away as Florida, competed. DENNIS BOX, Reporter

Top pickleball players converge at Kent’s indoor facility

  • Wednesday, July 12, 2017 11:23am
  • Sports

Some of the world’s best pickleball players participated in an inaugural Northwest Invitational Pickleball Tournament at the recently opened Pickleball Station in Kent on July 1.

A field of 24 top players came from Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and as far away as Florida, competed. Sixteen men and eight women played in a round-robin tournament that included men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles. For some added fun, a “wacky” category had players using wooden paddles and playing with their non-dominant hands.

Some of the world’s best pickleball players such as Kyle Yates and Ben Johns participated, as did pickleball pros Brian Ashworth of Kent and Irina Terechenko of Bellevue, and Pacific Northwest veterans Glen Peterson and Mark Friedenberg.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

Kentwood pitcher Sarah Wright pitches to Lake Stevens at Auburn Riverside High School. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Launch party: Kentwood hits three HR in win over Lake Stevens

Thomasson, Wright, Ursino go large. Wright punches out 17 in win.

Tacos from the Mariners Food Preview Event. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Mariners unveil new ballpark eats for 2024 season

A couple of our reporters headed to T-Mobile Park to see if the Mariners’ food budget was as tight as their player free agency budget.

t
Kent Reporter Male Athlete of the Week: Caiden Dodd

Dodd filled in as goal when the team needed someone to step up.

t
Kent Reporter Female Athlete of the Week: Anna Shved

Shved is undefeated this year on the court for the Conk tennis team.

Keilor Cacho-Garcia possesses the ball in the first half against the Eagles. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Soccer: Kent-Meridian and Federal Way draw

Johnny Chino-Lopez scores the single goal for the Royals in the game.

Hazen celebrates their walk-off win as Christopher Moore leaves the field. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentlake baseball falls in heartbreaker to Hazen

After overcoming a 4-1 deficit, Kentlake loses on a walk-off.

t
Kent-based T-Birds fail to make WHL playoffs for first time since 2012

Seattle drops Portland on St. Patrick’s Day but playoff streak ends at 11 years

Sarah Wright eyes down the target as she pitches at Liberty High School. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Softball: Kentwood wins thriller in extra innings at Liberty

Sarah Wright dominated in the season opener with 20 strikeouts, no earned runs.

First panel of players sit in front of media members and fans inside the Ron Sandwith Teen Center. Photo Provided by Rodney McCurry.
Kent-based Seattle Majestics have a new leader and new energy

Women’s football team to play home games at French Field, next to Kent-Meridian High School

t
Kent-Reporter Male Athlete of the Week: Andres Zuluaga

Zuluaga works hard and is a great player.

t
Kent-Reporter Female Athlete of the Week: Angie Depano

Depano has a firey spirit and demonstrates tenacity at meets.

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Male Athlete of the Week: Brandon Tagle

Tagle help lead the Conk basketball team to its first district championship since 2017.