Our History

Originally there was no plan by GL Homes to have pickleball at Valencia Lakes, but when
the housing market started to decline in 2006, they decided to revisit the development
plan and the amenities. Marisa Lufkin, VP and project manager for Valencia Lakes, credits
Neal Nightingale from Sun City as convincing her that pickleball was the way to go and
two tennis courts were converted to the original four pickleball courts.

He watched over the building of the original four courts and became a regular fixture on
the courts teaching our residents the game….people like Bob and Camille Riggins, Doug
and Maureen Kurowski, Dott and Jim Smith, Dianna Miller, Jimmy Morris, Judy and Mike
Poorman, Claudia and Leon Hinson, Ginny and Werner Stick, and Ed Markowitz.

Soon, our residents were conducting training sessions and mentoring new people. In
January, 2010, a group of 25 residents met and formed the pickleball club. That year there
were 66 members!

2010 – Sue Barreau, President – 66 members by year end

2011 – Jim Smith, Rick Stroescher, Terry Edwards , president

2012 – Byron Freso – instituted Ladder play, worked to get 3 new courts and old courts
resurfaced

2013 – Alex Iswarienko – club grew to 154 members by December; Club logo and shirts
introduced

2014 – Roy Walker – club grew to 230 members by December; Balls provided on the
courts; Social Chairperson/socials; inter-community play; PB 101 and 102, team PB
introduced

2015 – Mike Kates – club grew 61% in a year to 370 members; first year for Recognition
Banquet

2016 – Ramona Pound – Brought Dink for Pink to Valencia Lakes raised over $10,000 for
Moffitt Center for Breast Cancer. 403 members.

2017 – Joel Port – the first Sports Club Charity Dinner Dance raised over $12,000 for
Martha & Mary House Shelter for Women.

2018 - Pete Zachman

2019 - Stu Lipkin – introduced inter-community play & got approval and budget from POA to renovate courts.

2020 – Mark Callan

2021 – Mike DeCurtis

 

2022 -  Joel Port