Federal Way seniors say they’ve found a way to stay fit and have a community.
At the Federal Way Community Center, seniors can pay $3 for a drop-in session from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. As members of the FWCC, they can play all the pickleball they desire, with rackets and balls included. The center has offered pickleball since the early 2000s, but in the last five years, pickleball has taken off in popularity.
Paul Brooks, 68, said he moved to Federal Way last summer from Arkansas and started playing pickleball at the FWCC in January. Brooks said while he’s playing pickleball, it feels like he’s friends with all the other players, and he sees many health benefits.
Although it’s competitive, he recommends people start off slow and just have fun.
“It’s good for my heart, it’s good for my muscles, keeping in shape. It’s good mentally, gives you a challenge everyday, to try and win and play your best,” Brooks said.
Annette Petrovich, 87, said she used to walk around on the track at the FWCC, and one day, she looked down at the pickleball players and said to herself, “Geez, they look like they’re having fun.” Petrovich said she used to play tennis, but not as much anymore. She said pickleball is a lot easier on her body, with the court being smaller and the racket less heavy. Apart from the health benefits, Petrovitch said the community of other seniors is another positive.
Petrovich is also a Sweet Pickles women’s team member.
“That’s a fun thing. It’s just women in the afternoon on Friday, and then we usually go somewhere afterward for lunch,” Petrovich said. “It’s very good for the women. It’s a community thing. When you get together with people and have a lot of interaction, it’s healthy.”
The founder of the Sweet Pickles team, Sue Jones, who is in her 70s, said she spearheaded the women’s team after seeing another lady in Auburn who had a pickleball league called Pickle Girls. Following that, she said she spoke to the management at the FWCC, and now there are around 40 women who play in the women’s league. Jones said men are stronger players and at times slam the balls, so playing with only other women keeps the games more gentle.
Jones said she started playing pickleball about three years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said they had an open lot in their yard, so she made a makeshift pickleball court and started playing with eight other friends. Jones said she thinks pickleball is popular among seniors because it keeps them social and active.
Charles Langfit (left) and Paul Brooks getting ready to return a serve. Photo by Joshua Solorzano/The Mirror
The Sweet Pickles team posing for a photo at the Federal Way Community Center. Photo Courtesy of Sue Jones
