HERMISTON, Ore.-The inaugural Watermelon Slam Pickleball Tournament was June 27 in Hermiston.
Thirty teams from around the region competed in the first major tournament held at the Good Shepherd Pickleball Complex, which opened last June.
The Watermelon Slam featured both women’s and men’s doubles competition across three skill divisions, starting with pool play and culminating in a championship bracket.
“The competition on the courts was fierce, but the best part of the day was seeing players from throughout the region experience everything our Hermiston community has to offer,” said Daniel Wattenburger, President-Elect of the Hermiston Rotary Club.
The tournament was a fundraiser for the Hermiston Rotary and ShelterBox, a global disaster relief organization founded and supported by Rotarians that provides emergency shelter and essential supplies to those displaced by natural disasters or conflict.
Funds raised through the Watermelon Slam will help support ShelterBox’s national and international relief efforts through the annual Cascadia SAFE Training held near Echo in September.
The Hermiston Rotary will also use funds raised through the tournament to support the Club’s community projects, including scholarships, food programs, and Christmas Express.
The team of Debbie Ross and Jasmine Joy DeLong from Walla Walla, Wash, defeated Kim Malcom and Jessica Macias 11-4, 11-7 in the top-tier women’s gold medal match for players ranked under 4.0.
In the men’s division, George Bastian and Sergio Adan of Hermiston defeated Paxton Hall and Teigen Goodeill 11-2, 11-2 for the under 4.0 gold.
Women’s Doubles Champions
- Under 4.0: Debbie Ross and Jasmine Joy DeLong
- Under 3.5: Phyllis Danielson and Janice Gibbs
- Under 3.0: Shannon Ternes and Jaime Marvin
Men’s Doubles Champions
- Gage Bastian and Sergio Adan
- George Blalack and Andrew Cox
- James Whittum and Jason Torres
“This tournament would not have been possible without the incredible support of our participants, volunteers, and more than twenty local sponsors,” said Wattenburger. “Their generosity will make a difference not only for families in the Hermiston area but around the world through ShelterBox.”
The Hermiston Rotary worked with the 541 Pickleball Club and the City of Hermiston on the inaugural Watermelon Slam, and Good Shepherd Health Care System (GSHCS) was the major sponsor of the tournament.
Other Watermelon Slam sponsors included Umatilla Electric Cooperative, Specks Printing, Spectrum, and Rogers Toyota.
