PORT Stephens Pickleball Club will unveil five new debutants at this weekend’s NSW Championships at Blacktown Leisure Centre in Stanhope Gardens.
Fingal Bay’s Nicole Goggin and Lachlan Gardiner are primed for their maiden state championship along with Corlette duo Emily Wilson and Joel Ingram.
All four will compete in the Over 19 years division in the tournament, which runs from Friday 17 April to Sunday 19 April.
They will be joined by legendary sports administrator Bruce Scott, who will make his debut in the Over 70 years division.
Scott is the long serving president of Tomaree Sports Council and a talented pickleball player in his own right.
For hard working Nicole, who happens to be the Port Stephens club’s 200th member, the state championship shapes as a huge challenge.
Port Stephens Pickleball Club president John Grace told News Of The Area that a strong contingent of 20 players will represent the region at the NSW titles.
“All our players have been honing their skills at local tournaments and during training sessions and are keen to test their skills at an elite level,” he said.
The NSW Pickleball Championships is the largest pickleball event in NSW with over 900 players registered to compete.
It is a Tier 3 sanctioned tournament where players of all age and skill levels can gain Australian ranking points.
By Chris KARAS
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