When Fred Sickel heard about the North Carolina Senior Games going virtual due to COVID-19 regulations, he figured he might as well give it a shot. That shot was a bullseye that landed him a pickleball state championship.
Instead of competing against an opponent in live action, Sickel had to complete a series of skill drills in a one-day time period while under the careful scrutiny of a pickleball auditor. Points were then tallied and sent to the NCSG headquarters in late October to be compared to others’ results from the same drills.
Pickleball championships are usually determined through tournament play in Charlotte which builds in drama with each round. Sickel said this year was different, but the championship still had drama. “It was odd waiting on results. Normally you know your opponents’ success or lack thereof immediately. This time, I was in the dark.”
Then one day Sickel was contacted by local organizers who informed him he was the North Carolina state champion in the 80-85 age bracket. “I was kind of in shock at first,” Sickel said. “I thought I did well, but it was exciting news.” He had received the title of champ, but the waiting game continued for the pickleball veteran.
While most check the mail daily expecting bills, notices and junk mail, Sickel visited his box looking for a gold medal. “It’s not everyday you get a state championship gold medal in the mail, but it happened one day for me,” Sickel said with a chuckle.
The newly-crowned champion began playing pickleball in 2012 when Harry Jarrett introduced the sport to the Hayesville area. When asked if he’s now and advocate for this year’s championship format, Sickel laughed and answered, “It was nice to win, but I like face-to-face competition.”