Eighteen years later, Tyson McGuffin still remembers.
He was 12, and with his family’s athletic talent coursing through his veins, he used to sneak into the tennis courts of Darnell’s Resort in his old hometown of Chelan, and paddle a pickleball around, until the owner or the security staff would boot him out.
The years that followed brought state appearances in wrestling and state titles in tennis, always representing the Chelan Goats.
Now at 30, Tyson is writing another chapter in his sporting logbook, one that has him coming back to his hometown as host of an athletic camp next year, as part of his continued efforts to spread the gospel of his new passion: Pickleball. Where? At Darnell’s.
“The owner still remembers me as a 12-year-old trying to sneak in,” Tyson said.
Tyson, now living in Idaho, travels the nation competing as a professional pickleball player, having achieved extraordinary heights. He’s ranked among the five top pickleball players in the world.
Quite the feat for a guy who once felt way out of his element with a pickleball paddle in his hand.
About five years ago, Tyson was working as a tennis pro in Yakima, and one of his clients blew out his shoulder and took up pickleball instead. Tyson says the man, then in his mid-60s bugged him nonstop to join him.
“I was pretty consistent with my answer, ‘There’s no way I’m going to play that rinky-dink, backyard sport.’ Six months later, he relented and tried pickleball at an aging YMCA court with occupants to match.
This story is from the July 2020 edition of The Good Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2020 edition of The Good Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Nita Paine
‘I love that we provide an outlet to people to express themselves, to find out who they are’
Looking at life from a different angle now
Bout with cancer, plus pandemic made couple wonder: Why wait to really live?
Keeping family ties strong
Twelve months of COVID makes for a long year away from kids and grandkids
It's a kick to be a zebra — or a canary
When making the call is your calling
Saved family letters tell of war horrors, peacetime hopes and dreams
Loving letters from long ago
Varied Thrush: Making a bold statement
Globally, the thrush family contains 169 viable species; three other thrush species are now extinct.
Clean shots
For real estate photographer, the art is in the uncluttered details
Visiting the glory years of our parents
Obituaries – They’re really NOT for the dead
Going deep with Dan Feil
Warm crystal clear water, incredible fish, spectacular scenery, why not jump off a boat in the tropics?
Bringing a glow to the night
Who says outside lights are just for Christmas time? Drivers on Maple Street in Wenatchee will now see lights year-round.