Martinsburg Rotary Club pickleball tournament raises funds for community causes

INWOOD, W.Va. (DC News Now) — Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America and it’s making its way into the Martinsburg area.

The Martinsburg Rotary Club is turning that popularity into doing good for the community.

The sport has taken off like wildfire for everyone of all age groups.

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“When you’re here on the courts,” enthusiast Mark Smolarsky said. “[You’re] running around and having fun, not realizing that it is helping your body as much as it is.”

But along with the fun, Smolarsky said they’re also raising money for scholarships and the Men’s Mission along with purchasing equipment for high schools.

“We build pavilions out at the parks and the women’s shelter and the rescue mission,” Tournament director Rob Lowe said. “There are many nonprofit organizations that we support with funds raised from this tournament.”

Players have already signed up for the tournament from Texas, Georgia, Connecticut, Delaware and, of course, West Virginia, Virginia and the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area.

“Anybody who is curious about pickleball,” Emmons said. “This would be a great time to just come up and watch a little bit and see if it is something for them to get into.”

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Michelle Sadat, president of the Martinsburg Rotary, said every dollar from the proceeds will go right back into the community.

“We are so grateful for all the support,” Sadat said.

The tournament is the weekend of March 9 at the W. Randy Smith Recreation Center in Inwood.

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