2nd Annual Pickleball Tournament Deemed a Success

During last year’s inaugural Battle of the Paddles Pickleball Tournament, Commissioner Keli Gambrill’s team squared off against Cobb Public Services Agency Director Dr. Jatunn Gibson to raise money for Meals on Wheels.

This year, Gambrill opened it up to all county government departments as a way for the departments to build relationships with one another.

“We know the directors, we know the managers, but getting to know more of the staff (is important),” Gambrill said.

Friday’s tournament was held at the Jim Miller Park and Event Center where eight makeshift pickleball courts were outlined on the floor with red tape.

Many players agreed that the event was the perfect opportunity to engage with other departments they don’t normally get to see.

“It’s good to see all of our different departments out here, it’s a good morale booster with everybody together,” said Keith Mazonkey of Cobb’s human resources department.

Mazonkey’s teammate Jennifer Christoffersen, a former tennis player, said her strategy was to prepare as much as she could. Before the tournament, she took a few lessons and practiced multiple drills at Custer Park in Marietta.

Most of all, she said she enjoyed getting to meet many of her coworkers in-person for the first time.

“I do a lot of emailing and I think, ‘Oh, that’s who you are,” Christoffersen said. “Everybody is happy to be here and everyone is playing a good game.”

Chris Connard and Lisa Cook from the Cobb Fire Department played together for the first time during the tournament.

“It’s actually fun trying to learn how to play with your partner and how to play against other people,” Cook said. “For me, getting a bunch of departments together (is fun) because we never usually get to do this.”

Battle of the Paddles also serves as a fundraiser for Cobb Senior Services’ Meals on Wheels program. Through the program, Cobb delivers meals to qualifying seniors who are home-bound throughout the county.

“Unfortunately, we have a lot of older adults in Cobb County who need a little bit of support, and so our Meals on Wheels program provides that for them,” said Cobb Senior Services Director Ioana Bovo-Nicolescu. “These are individuals that cannot get out, cook at home independently anymore, and so (Meals on Wheels) is making sure that they have the much-needed food.”

By the end of the tournament, Meals on Wheels received over $5,700 in donations compared to the $3,900 total that was raised during last year’s event. Gambrill said that amount will feed 50 seniors in the county for a month.

Due to the positive feedback, they have even considered expanding sign-ups to county residents, according to Bovo-Nicolescu.

“I think ultimately the biggest winner is our seniors in Cobb County,” Bovo-Nicolescu said.

Gambrill called the tournament a success.

“Usually our staff are told to do stuff, but this is something I think staff wants to do,” Gambrill said.

Although the tournament is over, Bovo-Nicolescu said the online donation portal will remain open until this Friday. Those interested in donating to the Meals on Wheels program can visit the Cobb Senior Services website at cobbegov.org/paymentus/srsvcs/mow.