Popular Sport Takes On A Social Atmosphere For The Wellington Picklettes

Story And Photos By Fiona Slusarev

A new pickleball group turned social club is taking Wellington by storm. The Wellington Picklettes now number 40 members, despite only being founded last spring.

Pickleball has become hugely popular with people of all ages over the last few years. Unlike similar sports tennis and padel, pickleball is played with a paddle, not a racket. Pickleball courts are smaller than both tennis and padel courts, with tennis courts being the largest and padel courts requiring glass walls. The final difference is the ball: pickleballs are made of perforated plastic.

This all-ladies league (plus one man) can be found on the Greenbriar Park courts every day of the week at sunrise. However, this dedicated group of pickleball enthusiasts didn’t start out with any grand goals in mind. It began with Wellington’s free pickleball clinics at Greenbriar Park and a group chat.

Alana Chia was one of the clinic attendees and later became the creator of the group chat and Picklette organizer. Like many of the other women who were trying pickleball for the first time, Chia found herself on the courts practicing with other newbies on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She created the group chat for a few initial regulars, and it has since transformed into a social network.

“This has been a complete surprise,” Chia said. “It just blossomed into something I could have never seen happening.”

Originally only playing a few times a week, the Picklettes now have members that play anywhere from two to seven days a week. Sharrie Zywczyk, one of the original Picklette members, tried out pickleball at the behest of her sister and daughter, and now plays every day of the week. Chia used to play volleyball, but enjoys the exercise and friendly competition of pickleball, with a more limited threat of serious injury.

“I play in the mornings,” Zywczyk explained. “It’s the first thing I do, and then the rest of my day just seems so positive and happy. I just love it.”

Both Zywczyk and Chia agree that pickleball seems to have an addictive quality. It’s a physical challenge that is accessible to individuals with old injuries or people who want to prevent incurring new ones. It’s also a workout for the mind with different gameplay strategies. Each game is quick, so at the end of a match, players find themselves wanting another.

“Pickleball is very addicting. There’s something about it that [makes] you just want to keep going,” Zywczyk said.

Chia has found herself spending up to four hours on the pickleball court without noticing the time pass.

“We just laugh a lot, and I think the addiction comes from each game going by so quick, and you’re like, ‘I’ve got to play another one!’” Chia explained.

Since the group’s inception, women from all different times in their lives have come together. Members of the Picklettes range in age from their 20s to their 70s. Some have jobs and some are retired; some are married and some are single. Meeting all these varied individuals and coming to call them friends is a highlight for the members.

“I have like 30 friends that I didn’t have a year ago, and I know 90 percent of them would probably have my back in any type of situation. It’s a close-knit group,” Zywczyk said.

Chia has noticed that many of the Picklettes, like herself, are 50-plus single ladies. It can be hard to meet new people and form friendships as an adult, as people become stuck in their routine or don’t venture out of their comfort zone. Through the Picklettes, these women have become more social and integrated into the Wellington community.

“From what I’ve learned, some of them were just so grateful to have a new set of friends. They were not that active [in the community], and they just loved interacting and making new friends,” Chia noted.

This friendly, welcoming atmosphere is what keeps attracting new members. Other players see the Picklettes laughing and enjoying their time on the court, and then newcomers want to join in. The ladies even come together to have special themed pickleball days. Occasions like holidays and birthdays are celebrated on (or next to) the courts. Everyone brings food and drinks to the picnic tables at Greenbriar Park while they rotate pickleball matches.

“With this group, we’re here to have fun. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, [but] you’re always laughing and playing music,” Chia said.

The Picklettes have even expanded outside the realm of pickleball to host a variety of outings. Some of the women are involved in the equestrian world. The group has taken excursions to polo matches and horse shows to support their fellow pickleball players in their other sports.

The ladies also frequent happy hours at local Wellington businesses. When they first began, three people would attend, now 25 turn out. They go to community events like the Thursday night concerts at the Wellington Food Truck & Music Series. Their latest group foray was line dancing.

“Once you meet on the court and you socialize off the court, it’s just fun. It’s fun getting to know people of all different personalities and ages. [Pickleball] is something that brings us together,” Zywczyk explained.

It is impossible to spend any amount of time on the court with these ladies without having a little bit of their infectious energy rub off on you. Whether it’s playing a match, joking around on the bench, or sampling a new recipe someone is trying out, the Picklettes have truly created a community.

“All of these ladies are so nice,” Chia reflected. “They have such good hearts… I’m so grateful for this group. It has been a gift.”

To learn more about pickleball programs in the Village of Wellington, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/pickleball.