Physical limitations don’t sti. e shuf. eboard player

SHUFFLEBOARD CLUB

Lynne Haines, a Mutual 6 resident and former avid pickleball player and coach, has shifted gears. She had an unexpectedly difficult year in 2024 and was in a wheelchair until October. Being so active previously, Haines needed something to “get me out of the house and back into the community.” She knew pickleball was out of the question. She observed bocce and felt it was beyond her capabilities. She had a few neighbors who were involved in shuffleboard and loved it, so she came to the courts at the beginning of the year to just watch. “I’m a person who learns better from just watching someone else,” she said, adding she also watched people playing the sport on YouTube.

Haines visit coincided with Rod Osgood’s January clinics to improve skills. Osgood showed her the basics along with some strategies, and she realized her body could cooperate. She began to play and felt pretty good doing it, suddenly sensing, “I can do this.” She went to the Valentine’s Day party and had a good time. Haines was impressed with how friendly, giving and inclusive the members were and realized the game is competitive but it’s also about having fun. She substituted in the winter league that just ended, so when the spring league sign-ups started, she signed up for two leagues, which became three leagues when they needed an extra player. She also volunteered as a co-captain. Her explanation for this involvement was, “Distraction is a great pain muffler.” The club is inspired by her activism and looks forward to seeing her three or four days on the courts, doing something that gives her a little joy.

The Tuesday evening league has kicked off the spring season, with two more leagues playing the first week of the month for a busy court schedule. The general membership meeting will be on April 10 in Clubhouse 1 at 10 a.m. and the traditional spring ham shoot will be held at the courts on Wednesday evening, April 16, at 5:30.

March 21 Friday morning league results: Team Jack overtook Team Patti 8-4. Team Jack’s all-game winners were Sally Fowler, Anita Giroud and Sal LaScala. Team Patti’s all-game winners included Teri James and Kirk Smith. Team Shel handily won over Team Carol 10-2. All-game winners for Team Shel were Micki Aiello, Marilyn Blackman, Lynne Haines and Eileen Kotecki. Team Carol had no all-game winners.

—Barbara Gardner