TOPEKA — Jingle, jangle.
That’s the sound of 16 medals hanging around the necks of seven Iola area pickleball players. The players — all members of the local Pure Prairie League pickleball group — earned the hardware at last weekend’s 2012 Sunflower State Games.
The annual statewide athletic competition held its second of three weekends of events in Topeka. In the Sunflower State Games, there were singles, doubles and mixed doubles in pickleball competition for varying age groups.
Iola swept the men’s singles (41-60-year old division) led by gold medalist Lyle Kern. Mike Britt took the silver and Larry Wilson was the bronze medalist.
Steve Garver placed third in the men’s singles for 61-and-older.
Reina Wilson won gold in the women’s open singles with Cameron Kern taking the bronze medal. R. Wilson and C. Kern combined to claim bronze in the female doubles open division.
Britt and L. Wilson won the men’s doubles (41-50) and took the bronze in the men’s doubles (51-60).
L. Wilson and R. Wilson were the gold medalists for the mixed doubles (41-50).
Garrett Catron competed but did not place in the medals.
The Pure Prairie League group plays every night, around 7 o’clock, at Iola’s Meadowbrook Park courts. Lyle Kern encourages people to come out and learn to play the sport.
“We usually bring extra paddles and balls for the beginners to give it a try. We are more than happy to teach the rules and some of the finer points of the game to those who are interested,” Lyle Kern said. “It’s a sport suited for ages 10 to 90.”
