Pickleball, a sport that has become popular across the nation, is coming to Henryetta.
The Henryetta Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a pickleball tournament May 20 at the high school gym.
Open to men and women of all ages, the day-long tournament will see some 50 teams competing for medals and bragging rights for this inaugural tournament.
Chamber president Jeremy Roberts said the tournament is the first of a series of events to be held in Henryetta.
“We want everyone to know how great our community is and, by holding events like this as well as the disc golf tournaments, the annual rodeos, Labor Day parade and others, we put our home town in the spotlight.”
The pickleball tournament is open to beginners as well as players who have extended knowledge of the sport. There is a $35 per person entry fee and entry forms are available at the chamber office at 415 West Main, Henryetta, OK as well as download from the chamber website: www.henryetta.org.
All entry forms must be completed and returned to the chamber office no later than May 15.
Pickleball was invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, across the sound from Seattle Washington.
Three fathers created the game after their children were tired of the usual summer activities. Since then it has evolved from handmade equipment to a sport throughout the US and Canada.
A pickleball court is the same size as a doubles badminton court measuring 20x44 feet. Because of its size, four pickleball courts can be set up in the same space as a basketball court or two in the space of a tennis court. Players use a paddle to strike a plastic ball in nearly the same style as tennis.