THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Pickleball Club will get to experience one of the biggest competitions in the United States this week.
Sixteen members of the club are heading to Lakeville, Minn., for the Pickleball Central Indoor USA Championships, which starts Wednesday and concludes Sunday.
“It’s the best of the best at this event,” said TBPC head pro Jason Horychuk. “You got Canadians, you got Americans and you got some Europeans coming . . . it’s a big deal.
“For two-thirds of our team, they would be our regular competitive players, but the other third of the team is new to this experience.”
Horychuk, who is also the reigning club singles champion, is among those going to the event.
Other notables from the club that will be attending are the ladies’ doubles tandem of Florina Nisioiu and Krista Lamb, along with junior competitors Alek Horychuk, Audrey Jaun and Kya Parker.
TBPC president Tudor Nisioiu said the chance to compete at the Indoor USA Championships holds immense potential for the club and offers numerous benefits.
“It spotlights our club and athletes on a national stage, which potentially attracts sponsorships and elevates our visibility,” Nisioiu said. “The nationals draw top-tier athletes from across the country, which provides invaluable opportunities for our players to challenge themselves and set ambitious goals for improvement.
“Competing in such a prestigious tournament can serve as a powerful motivator, inspiring our members to pursue excellence and continue pushing the boundaries of their abilities.”
The chance to compete in the United States isn’t uncharted waters for the club. They recently participated in a tournament in Grand Marais over the Family Day long weekend and are slated to go to Duluth for a competition in May.
The Indoor USA Championships is a completely different animal, however, with almost 1,000 players taking part.
For Horychuk, this event will play a big role in helping the club’s players improve, especially as the outdoor season draws near.
“We’re looking at levelling up the players and everyone’s been getting by training every single week,” Horychuk said.
“It doesn’t matter if you are a junior or an adult player -- going to these tournaments, getting to see the best of the best and playing against the best of the best is your only chance to know exactly where you stand.”
Matches from the championships are being streamed and can be found on the event’s website.
More information on the TBPC can be found on their website.
