The 2025 National Pickleball Championship has wrapped up in Winnipeg, and at least one competitor from Portage is returning home with a bronze medal.
This year’s nationals, held August 19–24 at the Taylor Tennis Centre, drew more than 700 athletes from across the country. It took about 250 volunteers to run the week-long tournament, which featured skill and age-specific doubles and singles play in junior, para, men’s, women’s, and mixed divisions.
Sue Davidson, vice-president of Pickleball Manitoba and a member of the Portage Pickleball Club, took part in five events.
“The four events were a mix of mixed doubles, which is a male and a female partner playing together and women's doubles, and then I also participated as a fill-in for the Quebec team for provincial team event because they had some athletes that were stranded with the Air Canada strike and couldn't make it,” noted Davidson.
Among her highlights was winning bronze in 4.0 women’s doubles with her partner Robin Chase from Winnipeg.
"We did really well in that and it was a lot of fun," said Davidson. "It's great camaraderie. Pickleball's a really fun game and good energy in the building.”
She noted that several other athletes from Portage also competed in the event, including Darcy McKean and his partner Randy Lewis, who won a bronze medal in 3.0 Men's doubles 50+.
Other players from Portage competing included:
- Mark Verwey
- Tracey Waldvogel
- Terry Tomalin
- Jim Leslie
- Sherry Legault
- Lynne Love
- Bridgette Heppner
National spotlight on the sport
For the first time, nationals included the Provincial/Territorial Team Competition, which matched squads of 16 players against each other in doubles and singles.
The week also featured a reception at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, where players celebrated together among historic aircraft.
“We have over 2,500 participants in Pickleball Manitoba," mentioned Davidson. "In Canada, the membership in Pickleball Canada is over 80,000 participants. It's really a growing sport."
Growing at home in Portage
The Portage Pickleball Club currently has about 80 members, with numbers climbing steadily.
“We joke a little bit that once you start playing, you won't be able to stop," said Davidson. "I think there are a few reasons behind that. Certainly for older adults, there's not many sports you can pick up in your 50s or your 40s, 30s, and actually gain some decent proficiency at fairly quickly... Most beginners can at least learn how to hit the ball fairly quickly. There's a bit of a setup with the games, too, where you rotate between players, so it's very social as well. I've met so many new people playing pickleball, and there's a great sense of camaraderie and fun that goes along with it.”
The Portage Pickleball Club gathers at the Island Park outdoor courts Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 9 a.m. until around noon. Members also play on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
She notes that one of the most exciting things to see is groups of teenage kids out there with their friends, all playing pickleball.
"The courts are really getting a lot of use," remarks Davidson.
There is a $5 drop-in fee for non-members, and equipment is available to sign out from Stride Place.
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