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Stay Out of the Kitchen pickleball tourney held
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Posted on Apr 27 2023
Marivic Dunlop, left, and mixed doubles partner Roy Pangelinan are seen during the Stay Out of the Kitchen Pickleball tournament last Saturday afternoon at the American Memorial Park Courts. (LEIGH GASES )
The Pickleball Federation of the Northern Mariana Islands held its Stay Out of the Kitchen Pickleball tournament and Chili Cookoff last Friday and Saturday at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.
Friday night lights started off the first events of the tourney which were the men’s singles and women’s doubles.
On Saturday, the men’s doubles and mixed doubles were held with the chili cookoff as the finale.
Guam’s Dereck Alcorn won first place after three sets against Richard Asuncion in the men’s singles open division. The first set was 15-11, with the second set a much closer 16-14, and a blowout third set, 8-0.
Third place was Christopher King and fourth place was Charlie Cheng.
In the women’s doubles 3.0, Melanie Ward and Ying Gao, came out with the first place win against Lori Hill and Rachel Sun. They won a 16-14 first set, then a 15-7 second set.
The women’s doubles 3.5 winners are Johanna Henzon and Marivic Dunlop, with Elizabeth Culp and Tomie Castillo in second place. In a tough match up, the game ended up in five sets. (15-9, 15-6, 15-5, 15-12, 15-5.)
The men’s doubles 3.0 first place went to J.R. Austin and Ray Austin in three sets, 15-13, 15-13, 15-4.
The men’s doubles 3.5 was dominated by Alcorn and Ernie Henzon with Mike Manalang and Roy Pangelinan in second place. They won in four sets 15-3, 15-7, 15-7, 15-8.
The last matchup were the mixed doubles 3.5. Dunlop and Pangelinan bagged first place after three sets, 15-5, 15-7, 11-6. Second place went to Chelsea Henzon and Asuncion.
PFNMI president Dr. Nelson Krum said that the tournament was “a resounding success with over 40 contestants and lots of observers. My heartfelt thanks goes out to all of the volunteers that pulled together to create such a wonderful event. Also, a huge thank you to all of our sponsors! We had wonderful gifts for all the players.”
As the federation nears its third anniversary, it has grown to over 175 members.
Their next event will be a Scott Moore pickleball clinic toward the end of May.
Pickleball is a cross between tennis, ping-pong, and badminton. You can watch to learn more or join their daily night games at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.
