Pickle-ball players in the middle of a match. (Camilo Fredes/Cortland Voice).
The Empire State senior games were taking full effect this morning, with Pickle-ball being one of their most popular events.
Pickle-ball started at the Lusk Field House in SUNY Cortland at around 9am this morning. People however, were already checking in by 8 a.m. to get an early start.
Pickle-ball brought in around a total of 450 people of different age groups to participate this year; and it will last a total of three days. From today June 11th until Thursday June 13th.
"Pickle-ball is such a growing sport that is so much fun," said Florida man, Nate Laskiewicz. "The senior games are one of the top events in New York. So it picked my interest to come out here and play."
"I started playing pickle-ball two years ago and I really wanted to play competitively," said former SUNY Cortland graduate, Leesa Latuliee, from Sodus New York. "It is part of my daily routine now."
The majority of the athletes at the senior games usually play more than one sport. As many of the sporting events and tournaments take place on different days of the week.
"The Empire State games are the best thing going for New York State," said Jody Belcher from Rochester, NY. "I have been coming to the senior games for the past three years now. I play Pickle-ball, Golf and tennis."
