Windward Wins the Cup!

The newest Atlanta paddle venue, Windward Lake Club in Alpharetta, only open for 3 months, takes the 8th Annual Peachtree Paddle - League Championship on Saturday Feb 23rd, besting 10 other teams from around greater Atlanta.  Dave Power, Didi & Rob Chapdelaine and John Moneypenny are the leaders and driving force behind what has been the quickest start to a paddle program we've ever seen.  With 17 players in the PPL, Windward folks are playing, and loving the great game of Platform Tennis.

Robert Shuford, Tournament Chair and Cherokee Member was over heard saying "as hard as we worked to get a first victory for Cherokee, the WLC folks were unstopable!"

Many thanks to the 66 players who competed, the clubs that hosted the event (Lifetime Fitness, Windard and Cherokee Town Club) and do Robert and his team of organizers (Didi, Carolyn Shiverick, Erik Becker, Robert Watkins, Bob Stratton, Christy Rushing and Frank Thompson).

8th Peachtree Invitational - Biggest & Best Yet!!!

8th Annual Peachtree Paddle Invitational 2013


This was by far our biggest and best event yet. We had a diverse field of 116 players from 12 states, including 4 past national champions who have won an astounding 15 national titles.

After a couple of years of fighting the elements of nature (including a 7 hour thunderstorm last year), Mr. Weatherman co-operated and the first day was cool (Atlantans are learning that cold is real paddle weather) and then the sun came out for the men. It makes for many happy spectators and players!! The Women’s tournament was played in 2 venues, one of which was at the Windward Lake Club, our brand new venue in Alpharetta, a great addition to our ever growing paddle community.16 teams from 8 states battled it out with incredible play and great matches. The finals were unbelievably exciting with 4 tennis coaches battling it out. Our local team, Lisa Teer and Agata Cioroch triumphed over Katya Hand and Katerina Yergina, both from Ohio. (6-3, 6-2). The Consolation Round was won by Joanna Bowen and Susan Thomas, from Charlottesville, against the Pittsburg girls, Lisa Diemert and Julia Sanders (6-3, 6-2)

The Men’s event was sold out weeks before so, with careful planning, our tournament chair and biggest cheerleader, Peter Lauer, expanded the draw to 40 teams with 16 teams playing a feed -in round the week before to start on the Saturday with a 32 team Main Draw and it worked like clockwork!! The matches were super competitive and had two local teams in the finals of the Consolation Round .Tim Kalbas and John Moneypenny defeated Brian Bortnick and Robert Watkins (6-4, 6-0). In the finals, the number 1 seed prevailed . Jeronie Barnes, from Chicago, and his partner, Rick Witsken, from Indiana defeated Dan Mott, from Cincinnati and his partner, Fritz Odenbach, from Rochester (6-4, 6-0)

The camaraderie and overall participation in every aspect of the weekend was so apparent! Sitting by the fire-pit, sipping beer, cheering everyone on, amazed at how good everyone had become, was totally overshadowed by an amazing Saturday night tournament gala at the beautiful home of Freddy and Gregg Goldenberg, where 165 guests wined and dined. I think everyone will think of it as an event NEVER to be missed! Atlanta loves Paddle!!