Hundreds of seniors gathered in Wilson for the pickleball finals of the North Carolina Senior Games, competing across age brackets 50 to 100 years in age through Oct. 27.
Kelly Capp and Ben Schram drew a small crowd of supporters and onlookers for their pickleball match against Jim and K.B. Branon on Friday morning, Oct. 23.
Capp and Schram, who competed in the youngest mixed doubles age bracket at the North Carolina Senior Games State Finals Pickleball Tournament, were aiming to make a run that didn’t end until there was no one left to beat.
“I like competing around my age group,” said Schram, who lives in Raleigh. “North Carolina Senior Games usually puts on a good program, and the facility’s top notch. It’s a great opportunity to come and play with a good friend and compete in our age group.”
The pickleball tournament, hosted by Wilson Parks and Recreation at the J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex pickleball courts, runs through Tuesday, Oct. 27, and features age brackets from 50 years old to 99 plus.
Schram, who’s 54, came away from the first day as a winner but wasn’t satisfied with his silver medal in the men’s doubles. Competing with Capp, he said, was about aiming for the gold.
“I do like to play just for fun to stay active, but pickleball, it brings out the competitiveness in you,” said Capp, who lives in Youngsville. “It’s the most amazing sport. If you haven’t tried it, you have to out here and do it. You’ll fall in love with it immediately. It’s just so much fun to just get that stupid little ball over the net.”
Capp and Schram met playing pickleball in Raleigh.
“I’ve made so many friends through pickleball,” Capp said. “It’s a great community. That’s who I consider my friends most these days, people I met through pickleball. I feel bad for my other friends.”
The pair secured their first win of a the day in a 15-9 match and were all smiles waiting courtside for their next match to begin.
Terry Albright and Donna Carter of Sanford touched paddles with Roger Gore of Cary and Sally Woodbury of Lawndale before facing off for their Friday match.
“I play every year,” Gore said. “I did 20 events in the state senior games, three pickleball. It’s fun to compete. You get to travel, play with friends, meet new friends and play against different teams you normally don’t play with throughout the year.”
Albright, who secured a 15-10 victory with Carter to advance in the tournament, said he’s been playing about four years and that he and Carter met through playing together locally. “This is just a great opportunity for people like ourselves who are up in age just a tad, and we still have those competitive juices.” Albright said.
The event, which was expected to draw hundreds to Wilson, is presented by the Wilson County Tourism Development Authority.
During the Wilson County Tourism Development Authority board’s October meeting, Charlie Bedgood, board chairman, said the tournament is expected to create a seven-figure economic impact on Wilson County. Tourism Director Brandt Harrell said the games have pulled people from all across the country to visit Wilson.
“We’ve seen people from all over in the visitor center this weekend as a result of the tournament,” he said. “We’re happy to host so many people here and have them in the community.”