NITRO, W.Va. — It will be a busy weekend ahead for Kanawha County Metro 911 full of pickles and pickleball.
Metro 911 will be host to the second annual Serving for Safety Pickleball Tournament starting this Thursday, July 11 through Sunday, July 14 at the Nitro Athletic Complex.
The tournament kicks off Thursday with Senior Women’s and Men’s Doubles categories. It continues through the week with Senior Mixed Doubles, and Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles.
Sunday will feature Mixed Doubles and Pro Singles. A tournament organizer, Todd File said Sunday will be an action-packed day with the professionals that you won’t want to miss.
“If you want to see some high-level play, if you really want to see what the next levels like, that would be a great time to come by,” said File.
Sunday opens with Men’s Singles at 8 a.m. followed up with Men’s Doubles at noon.
There’s a $15,000 purse guaranteed for the winning teams.
File said there are five open events for the pros, and each of those has a certain amount of money on the line for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places for them as well.
He was joined by Metro 911 Executive Director John Rutherford on 580 Live with Dave Allen Wednesday talking about the tournament.
Rutherford said the other matches will be worth a watch as well, however.
“I was going to make the point too, we have a lot of pros playing, come watch them, but there are a lot of people like me that aren’t that good who play in between, so come out and support your friends and enjoy the time,” he said.
Last year marked the inaugural pickleball tournament that Metro 911 has put on. It featured over 200 players from multiple states.
In addition to the tournament itself, a community night will be held on Friday, July 12 at the complex from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
It will include free swimming, pickleball court access and lessons, live music from Scott Honaker, food trucks, and the Mt. Olive Pickle Eating Contest starting at 6 p.m. A $100 prize goes to the winner of that contest.
Rutherford said proceeds from the event goes to a good cause in supporting the 911 Employee Association.
“We have hardworking employees everyday, they’re doing CPR on the phone until the ambulance arrives, they’re taking care of citizens while other emergency personnel are in route, and what we do, we use this money, when someone does CPR and is able to save a life or just does a real good job, we give them a gift card for $25 bucks to go out and have dinner or whatever, just a way to award them,” said Rutherford.
You can find out more about the tournament or sign up to participate in the pickle eating contest by visiting Kanawha County Metro 911 on their Facebook page.