O’AHU: “Pickleball for Life” Tournament (August 5-6) Results
Medals awarded at the Pickleball for Life Tournament. All photos courtesy of Charles Wassman
MILILANI—The Pickleball for Life Tournament was held on August 5-6 at the Mililani Town Association’s Rec Center 3. The tournament was the brainchild of co-Directors Charles Wassman and Dr. Malcolm Haruno, who both competed in the tournament!
It started with a casual comment by Malcom to Charles that they should coordinate a tournament. The last tournament in Mililani was in 2019 because the 2020 tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic. Charles said that the tournament’s goal was to “move forward from Covid and enhance our pickleball ohana.”
The round robin tournament awarded medals to gold, silver, and bronze medalists, but in Charles’ words, “making new friendships was the real medal.”
The tournament focused on novice to intermediate/advanced players (2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 3.5+) and maxed out at 150 participants. Initially, registration for the tournament was slow. The reasons for the slow registration? They got feedback that players weren’t comfortable playing in tournaments or that they didn’t have a partner.
To overcome those barriers, Charles and Malcolm held a 6-week (2-hours per week) drill session for some of the senior ladies, began a 3.0 Women’s Doubles league with a “Tip” session before league play, and 3.5 Mixed Doubles league. They also reached out to players directly to register them, and helped match players with partners.
WOW!
Without further ado, here are the results of the Tournament:
Women’s Doubles:
2.5:
Gold: Jordyn Watanabe and Taryn Watanabe
Silver: Millie Nashiro and Julie Ko-Lee
Bronze: Erika Cravalho-Meyer and Mikaila Cravalho-Meyers
3.0:
Gold: Jan Tamamoto and Gail Izumi
Silver: Kira Tobita and Lynda Tobita
Bronze: Alison Akiu and Veronica Carriero
3.5:
Gold: Amalie Monlux and Cory Hironaga
Silver: Priscilla Maddox and Erin Hoe
Bronze: Tina Muh and Sheena Tanigawa
3.5+:
Gold: Renee Arita and Ann Wert
Silver: Emy Ogasawara and June Awai
Bronze: Hannah Ocampo and Paige Tominaga
Men’s Doubles:
2.5:
Gold: Sean Curnan and Jason Nakamoto
SIlver: Dylan Flanders and Caeden Akina
Bronze: Durand Laride and Barney Wong
3.0:
Gold: Steven Nakaoka and Les Asaumi
Silver: Ty Yamasaki and Kurt Yamasaki
Bronze: Calvin Oshita and Steven Nakasone
3.5:
Gold: Ernest Muh and Kevin Chow
Silver: Lloyd Kishi and Mark Nakahira
Bronze: Robert Shinsato and Leroy Chincio
3.5+:
Gold: Jensen Kim and JT Kim
Silver: Jacob Wong and Brendan Kumasaka
Bronze: Kamaha’o Arita and Ryan Wert
Mixed Doubles:
2.5:
Gold: Kelli Matsuda and Sean Curnan
Silver: Rowena Quevedo and Jason Ching
Bronze: Jordyn Watanabe and Cody Rilling
3.0:
Gold: Sierra Revilla and Ryan Revilla
Silver: Jan Tamamoto and Stan Tada
Bronze: Emily Poirier and Dick Poirier
3.5:
Gold: Cory Hironaga and Frank Ho
Silver: Emy Ogasawara and Malcom Haruno
Bronze: June Awai and Jon Kurashige
3.5+:
Gold: Sarah Ikioka and Jensen Kim
Silver: Kylie Hull and Jason Agsalda
Bronze: Priscilla Maddox and Hana Akau
Note: It truly does take a village. The tournament was supported by a core group; Jan and Owen Tamamoto, Dennis and Leila Sanders, Janet Wassman, Stan Tada, Gail Sato, Ann Wert, and Barbara Grey. In addition, these generous donors supported the tournament: Dave O’Neal (MTA), Reed Kano, Jason Agsalda (On Point), Chris Boling (Green Tea), Andrea Chen, Gayla Shiroma, Jean Itamoto, Peter Kam, Faye Maeshiro, and a $500 anonymous donation.
