Free class offered from 10 a.m. – noon

By Beth Sergent

For Mason County Extra Edition

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — Want to learn the latest sports craze sweeping the nation, and “the courts” at 27^th Street in Point Pleasant, W.Va.?

A free beginner’s class on the basics of Pickleball is being offered 10 a.m. – noon, this Saturday, July 1, at the county’s Multisport Complex.

The complex consists of two pickleball courts and one tennis and pickleball combination court. The pickleball courts, along with the renovations of the existing basketball courts, were part of a $120,000 upgrade which was financed through a partnership between the Mason County Commission and Claflin Foundation. Since officially opening a few weeks ago, the complex has received a “bounce” in attendance.

The instructors for Saturday’s class are Ed and Diana Cromley, who have been part of the effort to bring pickleball to the area from the project’s beginning. The couple are at the courts most evenings and have been assisting rookie players learn the basics since the complex reopened.

According to the Ed and Diana, one of the appeals of pickleball is, practically anyone of any age can learn and participate. The nation’s top player is Anna Leigh Waters, who is only 16, yet the sport is also incredibly popular among those of retirement age, and of course, those in “the middle” who want to stay active and out of “the kitchen.”

If you’d like to be a part of Saturday’s free class, simply show up.   

© 2023, Mason County Extra Edition, all rights reserved.

Beth Sergent has nearly 20 years of experience in journalism, having worked as both a reporter and editor. She has a BLA in English from Marshall University, and a certificate in Technical Writing from Duke University. She is a lifelong resident of Point Pleasant, in Mason County.

(Editor’s Note on accessibility: Mason County Extra Edition attempts to use accessible fonts and alternative text for photographs, to be inclusive of all readers.)