By Ginny Espenshade

Homer Independent Press

From March 27 to March 29, more than 60 pickleball players took part in the second annual Cosmic Hamlet Senior Open Pickleball Tournament. The event, hosted at the SPARC by the Homer Pickleball Club, drew players from Anchorage, Girdwood, Kodiak, Wasilla, Kenai, Soldotna, Clam Gulch, Kasilof and Ninichik as well as players from the Homer area.


After an open practice session Friday night, players then competed in men’s, women’s and mixed doubles matches grouped according to skill level. Each group played round robin games which then decided their seeding for the playoff and medal rounds. 

Rafael de la Uz, left, and Christopher Mullikin, right, won the 4.0 men’s doubles group as well as the unofficial Best Dressed Team. (Photo provided)


The social aspect of pickleball was apparent at the Friday night practice session, with players sharing hugs and laughter as they rekindled friendships from past tournaments. As large as Alaska is geographically, it has a small and close knit pickleball community, as was evidenced by the positive tone of the gathering, even during the closest matches. The Homer Club intentionally spotlights this respect and positivity by awarding a gift certificate each day to the individual showing the best sportsmanship, as voted by their peers and the Tournament Committee. This year the winners were Julie Kilkenny and Homer’s own Judy Mullikin. 

Each group competition culminated in a medal round, where teams played best of three games.


Medalists

3.0 Doubles

Men

Gold:  Matthew Faris and Don DuMond (Soldotna)

Silver: Bob Kawa and Bob Lavrakas (Homer)

Bronze: Bruce Robinson and Patrick Hoolihan (Homer)


Women

Gold: Jodi and Terri Barnett (Anchorage)

Silver: Barbara Williams (Homer) and Katherine McCrea (Anchorage)

Bronze: Linda Reid (Homer) and Kristin Greenly (Anchorage)

3.5 Doubles

Men

Gold:  Dan Bennet and Matt Holmstrom (Wasilla) 

Silver: Curt Shuey (Kenai) and Paul Bartolowits (Clam Gulch)

Bronze: Andy Lindahl and Vito Ungaro (Anchorage)

Women (combined with 4.0 doubles)

Gold: LaRae Bartolowits (Clam Gulch) and Betsy Vanek (Ninilchik)

Silver: Lori Bingham and Marie Vanderbilt (Anchorage)

Bronze: Julie Kilkenny and Robin Lindahl (Anchorage)

4.0 Doubles

Men

Gold: Christopher Mullikin and Rafael de la Uz (Homer)

Silver: Dohnn Wood and Matt Novakovich (Anchorage) 

Bronze: Derrik Magnuson and Michael Martin Sr. (Kodiak) 

3.0 Mixed Doubles

Gold: Kathy Vogl and Paul Allan (Homer) 

Silver: Kristin Greenly (Anchorage) and Teague Vanek (Ninilchik)

Bronze: Heidi Ungaro (Anchorage) and Marty Boag (Girdwood)

3.5 Mixed Doubles

Gold: Robin and Andy Lindahl (Anchorage)

Silver: Julie Kilkenny and Vito Ungaro (Anchorage) 

Bronze: Karen Relyea (Kenai) and Marty Day (Soldotna)

4.0 Mixed Doubles

Gold: Lori Bingham (Anchorage) and Paul Hemry (Anchorage)

Silver: Yanwen Volk (Homer) and Matt Novakovich (Anchorage)

Bronze: Derrick Magnuson (Kodiak) and LaRae Bartolowits (Clam Gulch)


A weekend of good play made Homer the exciting and positive center of Alaskan pickleball. This was made possible by the planning and twelve hour days put in by the volunteer Tournament Committee Members Shan Burson, Janie Leask, Lin Reid, Eric Tutt, Christopher Mullikin and Kathy Vogl; the contributions of other Pickleball Club Board Members Paul Allan, Dean Martin and Anna Williams; the hospitality of  SPARC volunteers; the spontaneous help of numerous floor moppers and delicious food from several donors.