In recent years, pickleball has been one of the better known recreational sports across the nation. People don’t have to look far to find the game played at a park or a local gym. Little Falls is no exception.
At the Little Falls Tennis Courts, north of the Lincoln Elementary School, over a dozen people from Morrison County and surrounding areas take part in the popular game. Pauline Kastner has played the sport for 10 years. What started out to be a casual activity for her turned into a weekly hobby, playing with many other locals.
“It started around here about eight years ago in this community,” Kastner said. “Pickleball has been big in other communities.”
Pickleball is a smaller version of tennis, played on a court with shorter dimensions. Players hit a yellow wiffle ball with a square-like paddle over the net, towards the opposing team. The game is easy to play for beginners and quickly becomes competitive.
Another regular player, Darrell Richgels said the tennis courts weren’t utilized as much as they used to be many years ago. The courts were seen empty, not being used for its intended purpose. However, when the community started using them for pickleball, both courts have usually been filled on a weekly basis.
“Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning you’ve got 12, 16 people and Monday and Wednesday evening we have 20 people and more coming,” said Richgels
Kastner said the community has invested into the game, turning the area of two tennis courts into four make shift pickleball courts. This involved taping out the boundaries the line used for tennis and donating money to buy regulation size pickleball nets. Most players who come out don’t participate in a league. They’re people from all walks of life, coming over for a good time and a little exercise.
Brian Middendorf played tennis for 30 years, competing in a mens’ doubles league. He explained how the participation of players decreased, making it harder to play. and everyone he knew switched to pickleball.
“So four years ago I started playing and what I found out is I love it,” Middendorf said. “It’s just great exercise. People that play are so friendly. Everyone is so welcoming, It (makes) you feel like you’re a family.”
Middendorf further explained how the game’s been enjoyed by people of various ages, such grandparents playing with their grandkids. What Middendorf doesn’t like is the lack of indoor and outdoor courts in the area.
“There’s no dedicated courts anywhere in Morrison County. You have to either travel to Baxter or Waite Park,” Middendorf said.
Kastner shared how the original intent of adding the pickleball equipment to the tennis courts several years ago was to allow people the option to play both. However, with pickleball becoming a trend in both the old and younger generations, it doesn’t seem to be the case.
“I kind of see it as an evolution and now they’re not teaching tennis anymore per se in schools, but they’re all teaching pickleball,” Kastner said.
Pickleball was founded in 1965, by Washington State congressman Joel Pritchard. He based the game off of badminton, with the purpose of creating a sport enjoyable for the whole family.
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