09/03/2026
🏓🏅 WHAT. A. WEEKEND. 🏅🏓
THANK YOU, PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY! ❤️
We are still smiling as we look back on an absolutely INCREDIBLE Ohio Senior Olympics Pickleball weekend in Canton!
🌟 511 ATHLETES
🌟 10 STATES REPRESENTED
🌟 100+ AMAZING VOLUNTEERS
🌟 One unforgettable weekend of pickleball, friendship & community!
Athletes traveled to Canton from across Ohio and beyond with one goal in mind — competing for the opportunity to qualify for Nationals! The level of competition was fantastic, but what made the weekend truly special was the sportsmanship, camaraderie, laughter, and incredible sense of community we saw everywhere we looked. ❤️
🏆 A VERY SPECIAL CELEBRATION
One of the highlights of our weekend was the induction of Robert Keith and Bob Bird into the Ohio Senior Olympics Hall of Fame! 👏🎉
We were so proud to celebrate these two deserving individuals and their contributions to senior athletics and our pickleball community.
🙌 IT TOOK A VILLAGE!
An event of this size simply does not happen without an extraordinary team behind it.
To our 100+ volunteers who gave us their time, energy, and enthusiasm — THANK YOU! From early mornings to long days, you greeted players with smiles, solved problems, kept matches moving, helped at our venues, and stepped in wherever you were needed. You were the heartbeat of this event. ❤️
And behind the scenes, we had an incredible group of Chairpeople who spent months planning and preparing to make this weekend possible. Their attention to detail, dedication, and willingness to do whatever it took made all the difference.
🏅 Kathy Ferry • Tournament Director
💙 OUR 2026 OHIO SENIOR OLYMPICS PICKLEBALL CHAIRS:
✨ Adam Inzetta
✨ Ann Wacker
✨ Amy Liberator
✨ Barb Whitehouse
✨ Cary Jeansonne
✨ Chris Lombardi
✨ Doug Serban
✨ Elaine Vega
✨ Jacqueline McGrew
✨ Jeff Hoffman
✨ Jim Townsend
✨ Kathy Beany
✨ Katie Needham
✨ Lida Wiencek
✨ Lisa Crislip
✨ Lori Jensen
✨ Peggy C**n
✨ Ray Jensen
✨ Robert Keith
✨ Rochelle Kaiser
✨ Ron Vega
✨ Roxane Binkley
✨ Sally Fracasso
✨ Sara Brown
✨ Sherrie Burkhart
✨ Steve Kagarise
✨ Susan Rice
✨ Troy Richardson
❤️ THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
We are incredibly grateful to the businesses and organizations that supported the 2026 Ohio Senior Olympics Pickleball Tournament.
📸 Take a look at our sponsor banner below and PLEASE help us thank and support the businesses that support our pickleball community!
Their generosity helped us provide an experience that went far beyond simply playing matches — and we could not have done it without them. 👏
And finally, THANK YOU TO OUR 511 ATHLETES! 🏓
You trusted us with your Senior Olympics experience. You brought the competition, the sportsmanship, the friendships, and the FUN — and you made Canton a pretty amazing place to be for four days!
Eight months of planning.
Hundreds of volunteers and supporters.
511 athletes.
10 states.
Countless matches.
And SO MANY memories. ❤️
Canton showed up. Our pickleball community showed up. And together, we created something pretty special.
From the bottom of our hearts…
THANK YOU for making the 2026 Ohio Senior Olympics Pickleball Tournament one we will never forget! 🏓🏅❤️
We hope to see you all back in Canton again! 🎉
