by Joe Stuckey
Contributor
IRVINGTON — Located in the tennis courts of Ellenberger Park you will find a smaller court with a lower net where Irvington residents chase, lob, hit and dink a hardened whiffle ball from side-to-side. These residents are playing America’s fastest growing sport, Pickleball. And last week, The Gentlemen Pickleballers of Irvington, held court for the Inaugural King’s Cup to crown the Pickleball King of Irvington.
After a grueling tournament, the pickleball fans of Irvington were treated with a fine championship match played by Irvington residents Jon Bennett and Joe Stuckey. Bennett was crowned Pickleball King of Irvington winning by a 3 to 1 game margin (6-11, 11-8, 11-9, 12-10). The competitors were exhausted and the crowd rowdy as both players played some of the finest pickleball the Eastside has ever witnessed.
“This is the easily the 14th best day of my life, I cannot wait to tell mother that I am the Pickleball King of Irvington,” Bennett said. “I’ve trained for this everyday for the past four months and want to thank my wife, who has tolerated me sleeping with my Pickleball bat (paddle) underneath my pillow.” Stuckey would not comment on the championship.
The Gentlemen Pickleballer’s of Irvington is an informal inclusive club with the only rule being they only play pickleball singles. If there are any women pickleballer’s on the Eastside, they are willing to switch the name. The club would like to thank all the volunteers that made the event a success. Thank you to Chilly Water Brewing Company for the sponsorship. Come find us at Ellenerger Park, just ask for The King.
