- Twelve members of the Hall of Fame City Pickleball Club competed at the 2023 National Senior Games.
- The games took place July 7-18 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
CANTON – For many members of the Hall of Fame City Pickleball Club, pickleball is more than a sport — it is a lifestyle.
On any given morning, players can be found on the pickleball court in Stadium Park bright and early, fiercely swinging paddles, bouncing pickleballs and chatting with fellow players.
“You make a lot of nice friends,” 66-year-old Roxane Binkley said. “We’re kind of like a family.”
Earlier this month, 12 members who were 50 years old or older had the opportunity to show off their pickleball skills at a competitive and highly regarded tournament — the 2023 National Senior Games in Pittsburgh.
Those players included Binkley of Canton, 69-year-old Mary Moriarty and her husband, 70-year-old Bill Moriarty of North Canton.
The 2023 National Senior Games: ‘There was fierce competition.’
Over 10,000 senior athletes from across the country flocked to Pittsburgh between July 7 and 18 to compete in more than 20 different sporting events in the 2023 National Senior Games.
Each sport is broken down into different competitive categories. For pickleball, players were divided by skill and age.
“The benefit of that is that you get to play with people your own age,” Mary Moriarty said. “It kind of levels the playing field a little bit.”
Pickleball was further categorized by events, including doubles (women, men or mixed) and singles (partner or solo games).
Mary Moriarty competed in women’s doubles and singles, while Bill Moriarty took part in men’s doubles and mixed doubles. Binkley competed in mixed doubles and singles.
This year marked Binkley and Mary Moriarty’s second time competing at the national level. It was Bill Moriarty’s very first time at the competition.
The three players were excited to have the opportunity to compete alongside some of the best senior pickleball players in the country.
“There was fierce competition,” Binkley said. “But there was camaraderie in watching each other.”
Even though the senior games are a competitive space, the three players bonded with other athletes who shared their love of pickleball.
“One of the big things that happens is you expand your social boundaries,” Bill Moriarty said. “All these different people you meet share pickleball as a common experience.”
Qualifying to the National Senior Games
To qualify to the national tournament, players must place first through fourth at a state tournament.
Last summer, Bill Moriarty qualified in his two categories in Ohio.
Mary Moriarty qualified at a Kentucky tournament and Binkley earned her qualification in West Virginia.
The three players spent months training for the games by practicing pickleball and taking advantage of their SilverSneakers membership. SilverSneakers is a wellness program offered to seniors 65 and over through eligible Medicare plans.
Bill Moriarty said that a benefit of the program is free entrance into fitness centers and pickleball courts, allowing him to prepare himself physically and mentally for the senior games. The program also offers online workouts, nutritional advice and mental wellness tips.
A continued love for pickleball: The Hall of Fame City Pickleball Club
Binkley first discovered her love for pickleball 6 years ago.
She was at a public library in Florida, when she heard a noise coming from another room.
“Ping … Ping … Ping!”
She went to the other room and discovered the source of the noise: a group of men playing pickleball.
“I said ‘Do you mind if I try it?’” Binkley said. “So, I tried it and I loved it.”
Once Binkley returned to Ohio, she helped form the Hall of Fame City Pickleball Club alongside a handful of other players. She has been a board member of the club since it was founded just five years ago.
According to Binkley, there are now over 600 pickleball-playing club members and 10 courts where they can play. Some are skilled, while others are beginners.
“I’m always happy to promote pickleball,” Binkley said.
With experience playing tennis and a will to stay active, Mary Moriarty gave pickleball a try about six years ago. It turns out, she loved the sport and so did her husband.
Mary Moriarty, also a board member, and her husband of 37 years joined the club not long after it was founded.
Since then, it has become an important part of their lives.
Much like Binkley, the pair is always excited to share their sport with others.
“It’s easy to learn and you could start at any level,” Mary Moriarty said. “Everybody can play.”
Contact Abreanna Blose by email at ablose@gannett.com or by phone at 330-580-8513.
