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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | NOVEMBER 2025 61 November is here and fall weather means cooler temperatures, which means start time will be switching to 9 am sometime this month. I'll inform everyone when that will be. We had our Bocce Ball Senior Olympics Sept. 12 with a good turnout. The tournament was played with four teams competing to score the most points playing three rounds. We had fun with the team of Kirk Baacke, Becky Gustafsen, Jacquleyn White, and John Morgen winning the Gold Medal. Thanks to all the players. Bocce Ball is played at The Summit on Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 am. We continue to have fun getting together, socializing, and enjoying the game of Bocce Ball. If you are interested in learning the game, you are more than welcome to join us. Any questions, please call or text me at (840) 234-6494 or email me at hanknegrete16@yahoo. com. ~ Hank Negrete Bocce Ball When Tony Greicius (at left) moved to Four Seasons in July of 2023, he'd never played pickleball. After looking over the various activities offered here, he came to the pickleball courts to see what it was all about. That morning, he was offered a paddle and invited to join in to play. Nearly every paddle placed in the holders to "paddle up" has a name on it, helping to identify who is up to play next. The paddle loaned to Tony had "Demo" written on it. In a short time, "Demo Tony" became a force to be reckoned with! Now, Tony, Robert Mahan, and Jimmy Connor run a drill session on Tuesdays from 5 to 6 pm for players who want to level up their pickleball skills. Here's a brief interview with Tony: How long have you been playing pickleball? I've been playing pickleball for a little over two years. I used to play softball in leagues and tournaments, but now I focus solely on pickleball. How oen do you play? I play whenever I can — sometimes five or six days a week at several different locations. What do you enjoy about playing at Four Seasons? I especially enjoy playing at Four Seasons because the people here are so friendly and encouraging. When I first started learning, everyone was so welcoming. Southern California is known for high-quality pickleball; do you play at other locations? Yes, I currently play in a league at Soboba and have competed in several local tournaments. Last year, I played in Fallbrook and San Diego, where I qualified for Nationals. How important is selecting the correct paddle? The paddle is a crucial part of the game. Using a high-quality paddle can really improve your performance. I was recently selected to be a representative for the Honolulu Paddle Company and truly enjoy using their products. What advice would you give to our Breeze readers new to pickleball? If you're just starting out, I recommend playing as often as you can. Take a few lessons and practice drills whenever possible. It's such a fun sport, and the people who play make it even better. While not everyone can become good at pickleball as quickly as Tony did, if you're interested in learning the game, come out to the courts, talk with the players, and take an introductory lesson with Nancy Hessin on a Saturday at 8:30 am. For the 20th Anniversary parade, we made a f loat complete with a mini-net, pickleball tunes playing, players dressed in white, balloons, and even a pickleball mascot! Many thanks to Bob Mendenhall for providing the 18-foot f latbed trailer and driving the f loat, and to his very creative wife, Rebecca, for her expertise in design and putting it all together. The f loat received many compliments (which we greatly appreciate), and our mascot was a definite hit! ~ KR, gmew@ hotmail.com Pickleball Pickleball Club oat in the 20th Anniversary Parade Maggie Domico with her dog Gigi, our mascot, who made many new friends Gold Medal Team Winners: John Morgen, Becky Gustafsen, Kirk Baacke, and Jacquleyn White

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