This January, Marco Island is getting ready for one of the most exciting community events of the year, The Third Annual Pickleball Slammer, hosted by the Marco Island Police Foundation. The three day tournament brings together friendly competition, community involvement, and a great cause, making it an event people look forward to every year. The Pickleball Slammer will take place from Friday January 23rd through Sunday, January 25th, with a full schedule of matches. On Friday, January 23rd the tournament starts with 50+ Men’s Doubles and 50+ Women’s Doubles, proving that pickleball has no age limit. Saturday, January 24th will feature Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles followed by Mixed Doubles on Sunday, January 25th, which always brings fun energy and strong teamwork to end the weekend
This year, members of Interact Club will be involved in helping run the event. Interact Club will be heavily involved in helping run the event. Interact students will volunteer throughout the tournament, helping with setup,organization and making sure everything runs smoothly. Ms. Scott, the leader, shared how meaningful the event is for students, saying “it’s such an amazing event for my kids to help out. They get to see first hand how volunteering can support the community while still being fun.’’She added that events like this help students build leadership skills.
In addition to Interact Members, Marco Island Academy sports team will also be involved, as well as the girls lacrosse team. They will set up a table, sell food and help raise money for their upcoming season. The money earned from food sales will go directly towards supporting their teams, turning this tournament into a win-win situation, which means snacks for everyone.
The PickleBall Slammer is not just about fundraising, it’s about fun. Mr. Swope, who played in last year’s tournament shared,” I played last year and had such a blast. The atmosphere was great, and it felt good knowing it was all for a good cause.’’ He also joked that pickleball might look easy, but after a few games, your legs definitely feel it the next day.
All proceeds from the event go directly to supporting the Marco Island Police Foundation and its mission to strengthen our community. These funds help us strengthen our Police Department. Between pickleball matches,student volunteers, school teams and the community, this event truly brings everyone together.
Overall, the Third Annual Pickleball Slammer is more than just a tournament, it’s a community tradition. With exciting games, student involvement, and plenty of laughs. It’s an event that shows what Marco Island is all about. Whether you’re playing or just there for the food, it’s something you won’t want to miss out on.
