Lifestyles + Connections
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Piddle Paddle Pickleball By Fritts Causby
photo by Aris Harding
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R E T I R E M E N T L I V I N G I N C O A S TA L N . C .
teve Dayvault is no stranger to making history with a racket in his hand.
In fact, his name is synonymous with achievements on the racquetball court, as he was inducted into the N.C. Racquetball Hall of Fame in 2005 after a career filled with open singles and doubles titles in the state as well as national wins in his age bracket. The achievements led Dayvault, who took up the sport when the Market Street YMCA opened its doors in 1965, to be inducted into the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. These days, Dayvault’s focus has shifted to the sport of pickleball. He explained that the 2016 closing of the Wilmington Athletic Center, where he often played, was a partial catalyst for the decision. “Racquetball is on the decline,” said Dayvault, “and pickleball is not as hard on the body. Plus, with pickleball, it is usually easy to get a game.” Dayvault said that the average game only lasts about 15 to 30 minutes. Along with the fact that it is played on a relatively small, badmintonsized court and approaching the net is against the rules, this makes it a relatively low-impact activity. The area within 7 feet of each side of the net is called the kitchen, and it is illegal for a player to hit a ball there before it bounces. Pickleball has a legion of devotees across the nation, and the numbers are only expected to increase. In fact, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association recently reported that the popularity of the sport grew in 2021 to include about 4.8 million players nationwide. People love the fast pace, simple rules and social aspect of the game, which is partially why it is the fastest-growing sport in the nation, according to the association. Holly Manning, president of the 500-memberstrong Cape Fear Pickleball Club (CFPB), estimates that there are between 1,600 to 1,800 players in Wilmington and the surrounding area. Many of them can be found on private courts in communities such as Brunswick Forest, Magnolia Greens and St. James Plantation. Those who are interested in finding a public place to play in New Hanover County can consider joining the club, as doing so allows access to the courts at Robert Strange Park, Greenfield Lake Park and Veterans Park. The club G o o d L i f eW i l m i n g t o n . c o m
