OKEECHOBEE — A different type of March Madness brought some high energy to Okeechobee on a beautiful Spring day. Around the Lake Pickleball Classic was a huge hit and drew a nice crowd from teams representing parks from Silver Palms, Heritage Village, Oasis Village… even players coming from as far as Tampa!

Starlite RV Park hosted the inaugural tournament and worked closely with experts in the area to make sure the endeavor was up to specifications and also fun. More than 50 upper-level pickleball players descended onto the beautiful courts at Starlite for what is hoped to become a pinnacle event of the amateur pickleball calendar each year.

This tournament was one for a worthy cause raising more than $2,000 to support the mission of Voices for Children, our local Guardian Ad Litem program. Sponsors that made the event possible were Family Dentistry of Okeechobee, Big Lake Bike Rental, ProGraphics, Sublime Juice Garden, and Starlite RV Park. Special thanks to the volunteers at Starlite for their time and cooking efforts in hosting all the participants! Much appreciation goes to our Canadian friends for their support and participation in this tournament for a worthwhile cause. It is very appreciated! This support will make a big difference in the lives of many children.