Danes get slice of American life—baseball, shopping…

 

(Here’s an article I wrote that ran in the June 29, 1988 West County Press-Journal. Not only am I including the article and a great photo taken by one of our wonderful photographers, but also a tough-to-read thank you letter mailed to me from Denmark that included a photo of me interviewing a Danish swimmer! It was one of several thank you letters I received while covering soooo many in-person events from March 1983 through February 1999. I had more than 2.500 paid, published articles just in that 16-year time span. I ended that about four months after I decided to change from part- to full-time work at Western Union due to the decrease in newspaper size. But writing for those publications was such a positive because my stories were hardly ever edited much, they always ran two to five days after they were submitted, and there were always lots of events to cover!)

Anheuser-Busch’s introduction of Carlsberg beer to its United States product line hardly represents the only recent Danish import.

That Denmark to St. Louis flavor was also experienced recently when 20 members of the ‘Swimteam Holback Danmark’ participated in the Burger King/Parkway Invitational Summer ‘Sizzler’ June 24-26 at Queeny Park.

After arriving in New York City, the entourage made its way to Memphis, Tennessee before reaching its home base of Fort Smith, Arkansas on June 17. Four days were ultimately spent in St. Louis, and it was pretty much an eye-opening experience for everyone; especially in swimming.

The Danes had a few outstanding individual performances like Christian Ness’ first-place finishes in the 50-, 100-, and 200-meter freestyle for boys 13-14; Jacob Gylling’s second place in the 100 breast stroke; Jasper Fried’s third in the 200 back of the same age group; and a fourth-place showing for Heidi Lemb in the girls’ senior 200 freestyle. Other than that, the Danes finished far off the pace in most events.

“We were looking forward to the trip to the U.S.,” said Danish coach Tommy Christiansen, whose town of Holback is roughly 45 miles west of Copenhagen. “For us in Denmark, the U.S. is the mecca of swimming, and we were told that St. Louis is one of the top places in the area. But we didn’t expect it to be so hot (102 degrees on June 25.)

“We caught a little of the shock right when we got here, and I believe the heat slowed us down. It’s been so bad that nobody’s been in the mood for swimming. In Denmark, when the temperature gets close to 30 Celsius (or 86 degrees Fahrenheit), it’s considered a heat wave. The average high summer temperature is only about 22 (72 Fahrenheit.”

Due to Denmark’s climate, the country is almost entirely devoid of outdoor pools. And the nation only has five 50-meter pools like the one at Queeny Park.

     Yes, that is me on the right interviewing a young Danish swimmer!

Besides the weather, members of the Danish team noticed another obvious area where a world of difference exists between the two cultures. Whether as temporary guests to west county homes or in restaurants, the food here just isn’t the same as in Scandinavia.

“Here in America, they eat junk food a lot,” swimmer Mette Lemb said. “Our coach told us we weren’t going to eat it because he wanted us to swim fast since we’re in hard training. We kept asking for salads, but I love the sweets! We thought we would have to worry about the calories, but with the heat, we probably sweated it off.”

While in St. Louis, the Danish contingent went to a few picnics, saw John Tudor two-hit the Phillies, 2-0 on June 23, and visited what Gersholm referred to as 'Gate of the West’ (the Arch).

Since the U.S. dollar is so weak, shopping was another favorite activity; especially among the females. The team must have heard of the local ‘Meet Me at the Mall’ radio commercials because they spent most of Saturday morning buying up Chesterfield Mall—from t-shirts and Walkman radios to watches and cameras.

                       

Bubba Memorial Cyclocross Series: Coming to a park near you

 (Now that the warmer weather has finally arrived, it's time for you big-time bikers to start training for the autumn events!  This is a story I did for an Oct. 2023 issue of West Newsmagazine.)

A racing event named for a beloved dog that combines the rugged challenge of mountain biking with the sustained endurance of road cycling is coming to a park near you.

This year's Bubba Memorial Cyclocross Series begins and ends at Queeny Park, with the first race of the series taking place on Oct. 8 and the Double Bubba Grand Finale taking place on Dec. 3. Sandwiched between the starting and ending point will be two races in Upper Creve Coeur Park, two races in Faust Park and one in Ballwin's Vlasis Park.

The race in Ballwin is the only event in the series that is not in a county park.

                                     Bubba Memorial Cyclocross 2022 (Source: Big Shark) 

“The Bubba Cyclocross Series has been around for awhile, and we were looking to add another event to The Ballwin Race Series,” Matt Struemph, the city's longtime fitness manager, explained. “When I reached out to Big Sharks Bicycle Company … they were actually looking for a venue. So, I said, ‘Hey! If it fits in our main park, let’s take a look.' And it kind of evolved from there.”

Struemph noted that the race, which takes place on Sunday, Nov. 5, is the first time that a cyclocross race has been included in the Ballwin Race Series. While cyclocross is a competitive sport, complete with specialty bikes, the race is for everyone. In fact, prior to the series opener, from 8:30-10 a.m. on Oct. 8, a free cyclocross clinic is offered for newbies. And, at all races, but especially in Ballwin, ewcomers and spectators are welcome.

“We like to keep our Ballwin events on a recreational level. So, it’s not like a participant would have to go out and buy a special bike,” Struemph said.

However, he did caution that mountain bikes are preferred.

“What won’t work is your standard road bike,” he said.

As with all the races in the Bubba Memorial Cyclocross Series, racers can register in advance at BikeReg.com or at 10 a.m. on the day of the race. Races take place in intervals by category throughout the day with start times from 10:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.; for details visit the events page at bigshark.com.

The race is open to youth and adults, from beginners to advanced.

The course is designed as a “short course” of about 1.5 to 2 miles per loop on a 12-to 15-foot-wide path (marked with tape) that will wind through Vlasis Park on all types of terrain.

From January through October, the Ballwin Race Series offers a variety of running, biking and swimming events including the annual Ballwin Triathlon in January, the Ballwin Days Run in August, the Kids Triathlon in September and the Moonlight Howl 5K Run/Walk at 9 p.m. on Oct. 27.

“We try to create a lot of active events for the community and for people to come into our community to participate,” Struemph said.

A portion of city-managed Race Series events goes toward Ballwin's recreation scholarship program, which can be used by qualifying families for swimming lessons, summer camp fees and other programs.

Blues’ Angel: Shanahan Has Hockey Suitors Singing the Blues

 

(While watching the Jan. 20, 2025 Blues’ 5-4 shootout win at Vegas, this article I had published in the Feb. 18, 1987 West Citizen Journal came up on my cell phone photo memories!)

Maureen Shanahan has no trouble making male friends. She has those smiling Irish eyes, freckles that would make Doris Day envious, a soft-spoken, yet enthusiastic personality…AND hockey tickets!

The St. Joseph’s Academy junior is the daughter of St. Louis Blues owner Michael Shanahan, Evidently, Maureen has shown no signs of disappointment for the added attention she receives.

“It’s been a lot of fun and a whole new experience for me,” she said. “You make a lot of friends; especially males. They’re constantly coming up to me and asking, ‘Can I go to the hockey game?’

“When I go to parties, the guys are telling me to trade him or keep another player. Just because I’m the daughter of the Blues’ owner doesn’t mean I have the power to do any of those things.”

After attending several hockey games during her pre-teen years, Shanahan and her family stayed away from The Arena for a few years due to off-the-ice violence.

Shanahan doesn’t have to worry about that anymore. She is privy to a seat in the owner’s box, although she readily acknowledges she would feel just as comfortable out in the stands. But there is another benefit that outweighs any potential detriment to her viewing pleasure.

“We had all the single hockey players over on Thenksgivng Day,” she said. “My friend (Gretchen Haemueller) was over, and it was like, ‘OK. I’ll serve and do this and that.’

“Now, we’ve gotten everyone interested in them. They’re so rough on the ice, but so different in person. They must have enjoyed their visit with us because one player commented to his wife, ‘If I weren’t married to you, I’d get to go to the Shanahans!’”

While the Town & Country resident has become better known to West St. Louis County’s male population, her popularity as a guard on the basketball court has improved as well.

“She’s not one of the tallest guards you’ll see (5-foot-5), but she makes up for it with anticipation and quickness,” St. Joe coach Michaela Witcher said. “She has very quick hands and does a good job of deflecting passes and making guards alter their passes and shots. She also picks up a lot of steals.”

Defense is indeed the strong suit for Shanahan, and she wasted little time exhibiting it Saturday in the third-place game of the Maryville Tournament.

Shanahan heled the Angels build a 21-13 lead late in the first quarter by breaking up a layup attempt by McCluer North’s 5-11 senior center Alanna Gehner, who led all scorers with 28 points. Shanahan miraculously ran right through the ball, dislodging it from Gehner without committing a foul.

Although Shanahan does a good job helping Shelly Grawer—whose father is the St. Louis University basketball coach—run the offense, she readily concedes she’s lacking in offensive proficiency.

“I’d love to improve my shooting, and people are always telling me, ‘Will you shoot?’ Right now, I get intimidated too easily. But I’m trying to be more like Shelly.” 

Historic locations around St. Louis hold holiday celebration

 (This story appeared a couple weeks ago in West Newsmagazine in celebration of a Dec. 7 holiday event to be held at several St. Louis area venues.)

                              Photo courtesy of the 1860 Gittemeier House in Florissant

The sights and sounds of the holiday season will be on full display from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 as more than 20 historic sites throughout the Greater St. Louis area participate in A Spirited Holiday Past, held annually on the first Saturday of December. 

Buildings built as far back as 1782 will come alive for this volunteer-led program run by Historic Saint Louis, a partnership of many local sites working together to promote the history of the area.

In Millenium Park, Creve Coeur’s Tappmeyer Homestead started decorating for the event in mid-November. Come December, the Italianate townhouse from 1880 will be bedecked with natural garlands, red bows and other holiday decorations both inside and out. 

Tappmeyer Program Director Laura Dierberg Ayers said there will be activities to match the festive atmosphere, like candle-making, which was a crowd-favorite in the past. 

Last year’s Christmas Tree in the Tappmeyer Homestead. (Photo courtesy of Laura Dierberg Ayers)

“Years ago, we had an ensemble from one of the high schools play a violin, bass and other instruments for some live music,” Ayers said. “We don’t have a huge amount of space, but we hope to do that this year. We’ll also probably have cookies and punch, and there may be the smell of cinnamon in the air.”

The Field House in St. Louis is another historically-significant venue participating in A Spirited Holiday Past. Attorney Roswell Field, who worked on the historic Dred Scott v. Sandford case, rented the house located at 634 South Broadway. He was the father of poet and newspaper columnist Eugene Field. According to Executive Director Stephanie Bliss, the house was saved in the 1930s thanks to Eugene and became a National Historic Landmark. It is Federal-style architecture, built in 1845.

“We love holidays and don’t necessarily go by periods at the Field House Museum,” Bliss said. “We like to bring out our toy collection for the holidays, so you’ll see them on display. We’re also going to have an exhibit called ‘The Wonderful World of Collecting.’ It’s Hallmark Disney ornaments. Also, for the day of the event, we’re going to have (historian and storyteller) Kellee Bohannon.” 

A mantle at the field house bedecked with holiday paraphernalia. (Photo courtesy of Field House Museum)

The Sappington House in Crestwood is also Federal-style architecture. Built in 1808 when Thomas Jefferson was President, it is the oldest surviving brick building in St. Louis County. No one knows for sure when it was first decorated for Christmas.

“We do know that Christmas trees were not part of the early celebrations in this area … so, that doesn’t happen at the Sappington House,” Resident Manager Sally Cakouros said. “We do green boughs, ferns and evergreens, green plants and holly.

                       The Sappington House in winter. (Photo courtesy of Roger Ottwell/Sappington House)

This year, Sappington House’s part in the event will feature a violinist, who repaired an antique Sappington family violin. 

“We might also have a guitar player with him, and are hopeful to have a pianist playing Christmas carols that people can sing along to,” Cakouros said. “We’ll also have a gingerbread house display.”

A collection of gingerbread houses and barns on display from a previous year. (Photo courtesy of Sappington House)

Some venues have an admissions fee. For a list of hours, costs and other information, visit historicsaintlouis.org/winter-event. 

A mantle at the field house bedecked with holiday paraphernalia. (Phot

I’m not Yente: Dating coach focuses on clients who are marriage-bound

 (This is the final, published version of an article I turned into the St. Louis Jewish Light two or three months ago.)

Mimi David makes it clear that her role as a dating coach is not akin to Yente the matchmaker in “Fiddler on the Roof.”

A lot of people don’t know the difference” said David, who is director of women’s studies at Aish HaTorah and married to its executive director, Rabbi Yosef David. “A matchmaker is someone who might say, ‘I know this guy and this girl, and it seems like they’d be good for each other,’ and she introduces them.  I don’t do that professionally, although I do that when I can.

“A dating coach normally gets involved when a couple is already dating each other. What I help with is realistic expectations from the dating process; like what productive dating should look like.”

David explained that her overall role is to help couples navigate the relationship that goes from near strangers to best friends if they are right for one another. She does this through a healthy progression that includes maintain expectations and building the relationship in a way that can potentially lead to a deeper connection.

Originally for New York, Mimi, age 49, grew up in an observant family and went to a Jewish grade school and high school. At age 20, she married Yosef David, began having children, and in 2007, moved to the St. Louis area.

“I did not date very much,” she said.  “I only dated men who my parents vetted. Most of the guys were short experiences; just a few dates. It was pretty clear to me that they were not for me. Dating for marriage is extremely targeted and extremely goal-oriented. It becomes pretty clear, very soon, if someone is not the right one for you. 

“I had no real complications in knowing that my husband was the right one soon after meeting him. We only dated for one month, then got engaged, and were married seven weeks later. We’ve been married nearly 29 years now!”

David has been a long-time teacher at Esther Miller Bais Yaakov High School.  During that time, she developed close relationships with her students, who also started viewing her as a dating/life coach.

“They knew I was an objective listener who had their best interests in mind and would not be emotionally involved like their mothers,” she said.  “Eventually, what really started me as a dating coach was my students started calling me with their Mikvah questions after they got married. That wasn’t my expertise, but they felt comfortable with me when dating and after they got married.” 

David said that nowadays, she works with clients of all ages and stages. Men and women. Old and young. Widows, widowers, and those who have been divorced.

“The largest criteria is they have to be dating for marriage,” she said. “If they’re not dating for marriage, I do not coach them. They can just have fun and don’t need my help.”

David generally works with clients over the phone, though occasionally she will Zoom with them.

“I actually prefer not seeing a client because I have no judgment about them on my own.  I think everybody is wonderful and I can tell a lot by what they tell me; not in terms of their looks but by how they are as a person, then I can focus on that as opposed to being distracted by some physical feature, which I think helps me be more objective.”

Every year, David goes to Cincinnati for a singles convention with people in different age groups. She recently did a presentation for a group of 55+ singles in Baltimore on Zoom. She said that’s more of an overview of a productive dating process instead of coaching for a specific scenario.

David also does a local event for the Orthodox community every couple of years as an overview of the dating process for girls who are starting to date for marriage.

“I’ve been a dating coaching professionally about four years, and unprofessionally for about 10 years before that,” she said.  “I did it just for my former students.  I didn’t have a system at that time. I was just their mentor before I went into training. “Now I do it more as a paid business, but if I wanted to get rich, I’d probably be doing something else.”

David explained that everyone she coaches gets a free get-to-know-you session. She hears from her clients about themselves so she can get a better idea about them and what they are looking for in a partner.  In addition, David tells them about her background, her experience, and provides a quick overview of the dating process.

Susan B, a former student of David’s who asked that her real name not be used, said that last year at age 29, a mutual friend from St. Louis introduced her to a man.

“We exchanged information so we could kind of check into each other before, then I handed it to Mimi David to set it up,” Susan said.  “She started on one level then got into a deeper level and I found things I had to work through in order to get married to anybody. She was there for the heavier stuff, too.”

Susan said that it wasn’t love at first sight, but the man was nice and a good conversationalist.  They dated for about two months, were engaged about three months later, and were married this past March.

“I told Mimi it kind of went from A to Z…from zero to marriage,” Susan said.  “She helped work it through from figuring my thoughts out, what was normal for a guy, totally helped me understand what I was noticing and helped me know how to better communicate.  As in all things in life, especially something as big as this, it brings up your own hangups and things I needed to work on.  She was there for me the entire process.  She’s so wise and understood where I was coming from, and was so supportive while also being totally practical.

“I am very grateful I had her for this. I’m so happy I used her! She’s a dependable confidant who cares so much, and pushes you to make an effort. Having that relationship with a teacher for all four years really helped because I was so comfortable with her and she was always so honest and open.”

 

Whispering Oakwood’s golden anniversary celebration was a true gem

 (This is how I submitted one of my favorite recent stories for West Newsmagazine back in mid-September. Photos are a courtesy of MICDS graduate Michael Kerber, whose brother Kevin starred in water polo and other brother Chris does the radio play-by-play of the St. Louis Blues, including back before we won the Stanley Cup on June 12, 2019!)

In marriage, the 50^th anniversary is a golden one. Back in 1974, the cost of that precious metal was well below $200 an ounce. It has since skyrocketed well over the $2,500 mark. That is precisely how a Ballwin neighborhood has grown in memories since that time.

On Sept. 14, Whispering Oakwood, a neighborhood of about 165 houses, hosted its annual WO500 event in honor of 50 years of existence!  

WO stands for Whispering Oakwood. In the event’s tradition, dads of the neighborhood plan and run a soapbox derby. According to the event’s current president, Michael Kerber, the ‘500’ could be in reference to the Daytona 500 or Indy 500.

“That’s what we all believed,” Kerber said. “But this year, as I connected with more people, I started hearing a rumor that if you measure the distance of the race hill from start to finish in some of the years we’ve run it, the distance was 500 feet.  But that is totally unconfirmed.”

Photo Credit:  Scott Blackwell

With a rock ‘n roll theme, a guitar-playing dad performed The National Anthem in the Jimmy Hendrix style to kick off this year’s festivities. As usual, the neighborhood scouts were in their classy outfits hoisting the American flag.

As customary, Metro West brings a fire truck and an ambulance to lead the parade throughout the area. But the proceedings were slightly altered this year.

“Metro West helped start the parade, but about 15 seconds into it, they got an emergency call,” Kerber said. “So, they threw their lights on and bolted out like lightning! But one neighbor joined the parade with an old classic convertible car from the ‘70s. Also, a brother of one of the neighborhood moms is a Shriner. So, they loaded up a couple of their cars on trailers and joined our parade.  That made it extra special as did some of the 1970’s outfits.”

The race was the next big event. There were 31 kids racing this year; all from the WO neighborhood. One group is third graders racing just half the hill in their first year of the event, trying to get used to the ride that Kerber described as ‘being bouncy and noisy in a manually-driven car.’   The remainder are from grades four through eight.

Those grade levels are also how the racers are divided into their two race brackets a la college basketball’s March Madness. But in this case, the two different groups are placed randomly into double elimination tournaments. So, each kid gets to race downhill at least twice.

“We don’t really have anyone who builds cars because we have to keep to our budget,” Kerber said. “So, what we do is refurbish the cars and reuse them every year. The week before, we size up every kid in the car that fits them, and if you take a car home and store it for a year, you get to paint it to look however you want.

“By the time the race is over, the winners have probably raced down the hill seven or eight times. We do trophies for the winners, and for every racer, we have a medal engraved with their name. It’s daunting going down that hill in a car made or wood or plastic with a brake made out of a four-inch square tire and a foot pedal made out of wood.  So, the fact that they went down the hill is pretty valiant. The first, second, and third place winners of the overall race bring home a trophy made up the street at Crown Trophy.”

The dads this year, referred to as ‘The Pit Crew,’ ran the activities during the day after loading bales of hay and setting them on the street the night before the race.

Kerber added that one means of reenacting the mid-1970s look was having wives secretly purchase shorter-than-usual white shorts to wear. It was a secret until the week before, and as Kerber added, ‘that’s when some of the dads realized they were going to expose some of their tan lines.’

The extravaganza also included a big-time block party chock full of a variety of food options. There were some different things this year like the playing of a mariachi band, loved by adults and kids alike.

              This year’s dads (aka: Pit Crew) for the 50th WO 500 dressed in Retro Dad Pit Crew attire.  Photo Credit:  Sue Kerber 

Also, during the previous week, Kerber and his wife Sue started a Where’s Waldo hunt. They created a bunch of Waldo characters plus race-related items like keys, race cars, race flags and bales of hay. About 33 neighbors put colored copies of those images in their windows for families to enjoy while walking around the neighborhood.  The challenge was to find all the characters and all the lost items.

Whispering Oakwood is a unique neighborhood without an official neighborhood association. So, Kerber teamed with a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer to create the event.

“When we all moved to the subdivision and started getting involved with the race day, we all kind of volunteered,” Kerber said. “‘I’ll be the one to set up the race flags,’ or someone else will make sure we have all the plates and food for the family party, ‘I’ll take care of this tennis ball or frisbee throw event.’ As president, I was in charge of scheduling the meetings and putting things together.  When tough decisions have to be made, you’re required to make those decisions and be the president of the day itself.”

There’s one meeting a month for four of five months prior to the event and the group is responsible for the safety of the kids and pulling permits from the City of Ballwin to enable them to close the street down.

Kerber added that it’s a very special neighborhood that’s had mainly a natural amount of turnover where retirement-aged people leave in bunches about very five years. But every year there are about eight to 20 kindergartners who attend Kehrs Mill Elementary, which is right down the street. Also, the moms have a Mah Jong group, a book club, and there are progressive dinners each year in the neighborhood.

Part of the history stays alive with the help of an ‘I Grew Up in Whispering Oakwood’ public Facebook group page. With a scroll through it over the past 5-7 years, you’ll see people photos of people’s childhood in the neighborhood.  Someone in Virginia posted, ‘I grew up there from the time I was five until I was 12, and I’m still friends with all of my neighbors.’ There’s an old photo from the mid-70s showing the top of the race hill with a bunch of dads in blue shirts, white tennis shorts, and painters’ hats. 

Kerber pointed out that one of the dads has a real classic mustache, and the trees in the subdivision were tiny at that time.  One of the moms was wearing a green skirt or dress in 1970s attire. One is a married couple that still lives in the neighborhood, and their son is also in the photo wearing a football helmet in the car. Their daughter enjoyed growing up in the neighborhood so much that she moved back and still lives there.

“That photo was kind of like, that’s the attitude we want to bring back,” Kerber said. “So, a group of us grew beards and shaved them into mustaches this year.”

               Returning Original Homeowners & creators of the first WO500 -                                                        photo credit: Julie Roesler

One of the major features of the event was the emotional responses it created.

As word started to spread that they were putting this on for the 50^th year, there was a group of people on that Facebook page who were eager to ask, ‘Hey!  Can we come? I grew up in the neighborhood.’

“It meant so much for the original homeowners or the previous homeowners I spoke with, who were crying when they were telling me their stories of the family memories they made in the subdivision and in the race. So, I have a photo of five or six original homeowners who came back. One of them flew in from Virginia Beach. We had another who was one of the original dads who started the race.  He was wearing sunglasses with race flags printed on them. There was also a 90-year-old husband and wife came back. Their daughter still lives in the neighborhood.

“The comment they made to us was how warm it made them feel. They had just started it as a reason to have a little barbecue and for dads to do something with their kids. They were surprised that 50 years later, the neighborhood would still be doing it, and we’ve never missed a year. Every year, we vote in someone into our Hall of Fame like a lifetime achievement award for a dad that everyone feels put a lot into creating it and making it fun every year. So, one of the original dads and homeowners, Jerry Disper was voted that this year. Some of them coming back and reliving the lifetime memories was probably the coolest thing for me!”

The Pickleball craze is spreading like wildfire throughout the area

 (Here is my original, highly-detailed pickleball story for West Newsmagazine.  Unbeknownst to me, it was later combined with a writer who added St. Charles County pickleball venues and it appeared meshed together to run in both West and Mid Rivers Newsmagazines.)

Most casual observers would be shocked to learn that pickleball was invented way back in 1965.

That was when Washington State congressman Joel Pritchard returned home from playing golf with businessman buddy Bill Bell. Surprised to find their families sitting around bored, the two gradually and unknowingly converted an old badminton court on the property into the new game. They used ping pong paddles, traded shuttlecocks for whiffle balls, and reduced the net height from 60 inches to just 36.

The following weekend, joined by friend Barney McCallum, they created rules, and the family-friendly game of pickleball was formed.

Per St. Louis Pickleball Hall of Famer John Callahan, the sport was likely named after the pickle boat in rowing.

While it took exactly 25 years for the game to be played in all 50 states, it was roughly 50 years before the real popularity hit St. Louis County around 2015.

Callahan Pickleball Academy instructors and students at the Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex. (Photo courtesy of Callahan Pickleball Academy)

How popular is the sport? The Callahan Pickleball Academy has over 300 clinics in the St. Louis area. John also wrote the #1 seller book, Pickleball: Tips Strategies Lessons and Myths, available at Amazon & Racketman and has a podcast: https://pickleballfire.com/podcast-2/017-the-10-myths-of-pickleball-with-1-best-selling-author-john-callahan/

“It is so popular that we teach pickleball clinics five days a week at Chesterfield Valley Athletic Center. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in U.S. with over 10M (some say 30M) players. And St. Louis is ranked as one of the top ten pickleball cities; not surprising given St. Louis’ history as one of the top tennis cities.”

Callahan also noted that the St. Louis Shock is our Major League Pickleball (MLP) professional team. It’s owned by the Chaifetz family and features four of the best players in the world.

No pun intended, but so many totally relish the sport in 2024 at both the recreational and highly competitive level!

One such player is Manchester resident Martha Roper, soon to turn 76, and primarily a tennis player for 30 years.

“Tennis began to hurt my neck as I did the hard, up-and-over serve. What complicates my pickleball involvement is that my husband (Dr. Peter C. Scales), besides being a psychologist, is a tennis teaching pro and coach at Parkway South High School. I was a teacher there, too, and our lives were all about tennis. Suddenly, I felt like I was sneaking off to do something that wasn’t in line with that when I found out there was pickleball at The Pointe (at Ballwin Commons) just 10 minutes from us.  I didn’t tell him I was going. But I fell in love with it the first week, and he adapted well to me being a pickleball player. It was so joyful and it has an underhanded serve.  So, nothing hurts when I play.”

The Pointe offers daily pickleball activities during the school year. During summer hours, courts are mostly given to kids. New Ballwin Park where she teaches, has three courts. She added that Ballwin just converted the upper tennis court to pickleball at Holloway Park.

“So now, there will be eight pickleball courts there with ample parking, restrooms, water fountains, shade,” Roper said. “Bring your own chair and it’s a party every single morning every day when it’s 50 degrees or above!

Roper’s coach referred her to big name pickleball player Mike Chapin who gave her five years of lessons and mentored her into being a teaching pro. The long-time health teacher is now certified at the highest level in the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association and the Professional Pickleball Registry.

Meanwhile, Ray Slama, former Twin Oaks Mayor and current District 3 rep for the Municipal Park Grant Commission, has been a long-time avid pickleball player and advocate.

Slama first became aware of area pickleball around 2015 after his retirement from coaching lacrosse at Cor Jesu Academy. Being unsure about the welcoming aspect of the pickleball community, Slama didn’t get involved until a neighbor talked him into it in 2019. Covid hit the area in March 2020. So, Slama didn’t return to the sport until the following year. He has no regrets about that decision.

“I was never a fan of tennis.  I played some when I first retired. I find tennis doubles much too slow. I have been a ping pong player from an early age. Pickleball and ping pong are much more closely related. The speed of the game and the eye-hand coordination are very similar. Pickleball is the perfect sport for people who played handball and racquetball. Strategies are very similar. That said, we have found that tennis players who take up pickleball learn extremely quickly the nuances of pickleball and are very competitive very quickly.

“About the same time I took up pickleball, I was advised by my health care provider to lose 30 pounds. With a change of diet, pickleball and bicycle riding, I accomplished my goal in under a year. Pickleball may have also saved my life when my endurance and recovery time decreased dramatically. After reporting this to my primary doctor, and a follow up stress test (failed), the cardiologist said I would probably have died in two years.  Two years later (and bypass surgery) this month, I am still playing three to four times a week.”

Slama added that pickleball is suitable for all ages and playing ability, and its community of experienced players readily accepts beginners to their games. He added that many courts have open play and the cost of equipment and play is nominal.

He currently administers a pickleball program for high school girls at Nerinx Hall, Ursuline Academy, Notre Dame and St. Joseph’s Academy.  The numbers have grown from 30 to 80 players at the latter school with plans to expand into Parkway and Rockwood high schools, and eventually add pickleball for boys. Slama also hopes it will someday be a MSHSAA sport.

Mac McKeever is another West St. Louis County pickleball enthusiast. He was first introduced to the sport in 2015 at the Kirkwood Community Center, and started getting deeply involved the following year.

“I had retired in 2015 and had taken up bike riding for exercise.  I wanted something different for two reasons: Riding takes up your whole day, and I realized I was eventually going to be seriously injured since I liked going fast.  The Chesterfield newsletter mentioned they had pickleball in the valley and I decided to give it a try.  I was sold immediately.  I help run a local arts organization that produces old-time barn dances.  Socially, the two are very similar, so I felt right at home.

“Socially, pickleball is like no other sport. You show up alone; no need to make arrangements with others. Everyone mixes it up, so each game is with different people.  Everyone is supportive and new players are helped getting started.  The social aspect is as important as the physical.  The growth has been unbelievable.  Also, there’s age diversity as more and more younger players are involved.”

McKeever said he’s had very few injuries, and none serious. He added that the biggest cause of serious injuries is back peddling to catch up with balls high over your head.  The benefit to him is that it keeps him moving, using all his muscle groups without being too demanding.

“By the way, we have several players in their 80s that I have a hard time keeping up with.  Again, health wise, the social aspect is just as important as the physical.  It just makes you feel good.  I can lose all my games and still go home feeling like I had a wonderful morning.” 

All three noted the tremendous growth of pickleball, adamantly opposing any inclination that the sport is a mere fad. The proof is in the number of pickleball courts that exist throughout West St. Louis County with more in the offing.

                                            Pickleball (Source: Adobe Stock)

Per Director of Recreation Jason Valvero, Creve Coeur has two dedicated pickleball courts in Conway Park and two shared tennis/pickleball courts in Lake School Park.  The city will also soon be adding lines to Conway’s tennis courts to be shared with pickleball players.

Manchester Director of Parks and Recreation Kat Schien added that her city has four such highly popular courts free and open to the public near the entrance of Schroeder Park. There is no current plan to expand that number.

Director of Parks, Recreation and Arts T.W. Dieckmann noted that Chesterfield currently has two concrete courts in Logan Park and four asphalt ones at the Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex. Despite considerable discussion, no additional courts are planned at this time.

Meanwhile, AnnaBeth Batson, who has served as a Chesterfield Recreational Specialist for more than three years, is amazed at how pickleball has caught on!

“Within these three years, I’ve watched our courts only offer 1-2 days’ worth of clinics to now, offering clinics 4-days a week as well as 4 leagues. Due to the continued growth of the sport, we have goals of bringing more leagues to our courts. I believe the sport is growing so rapidly due to the ability for anyone to participate. Pickleball is a sport that encourages individuals of all skill levels to play and easily groups these skill levels together so you grow with others to become more advanced. The sport has had a steady increase in popularity, and I can see this remaining constant for the next few years to come. For the future, I foresee more younger participants learning the sport, and the game transitioning into schools as a competitive sport instead of a physical education section.

“Based on our clinic and league registrations, we have noticed that more females participate in pickleball than males. In terms of the players ages, a large percentage range from 50-65 years old. No matter the age, pickleball is a great way to keep individuals both socially and physically active. Pickleball is played nationwide, and is a great chance to mingle and meet new people when you are traveling or in your hometown. When you play pickleball, you can decide how active you want to be since you can control the pace of the game.”

Ballwin Recreation/Sports Specialist Jacob Briscuso added that his city currently has three courts at New Ballwin Park, eight at Holloway Park and 3-5 inside The Pointe.

Briscuso has also noticed monumental changes in the number of players and the demographics just in the two years he has served in his city.

“What first started out as a retiree game has evolved into something more. Plenty of high school/college-aged kids play on a regular basis now. Our outdoor courts see all ages, while inside are more retirees. I think Covid had a big impact on the game. It was an easy way for people to get outside and play at a distance from each other, but it is easier than tennis to pick up. Most people have grown up playing it in school gym classes at some point as well. Social media and it becoming a professional sport have added to its popularity.”

In addition to the sport becoming more prevalent in city parks and recreational facilities, a good number of community and senior retirement centers have also added a decent number of indoor pickleball courts.

Naturally, the elevated age range of that latter group has led to health questions. But a couple of top EMS personnel haven’t seen much change in their calls since pickleball has expanded.

                                Pickleball equipment (Source: Adobe Stock)

“What’s important for people to remember is the same thing we talk about when shoveling snow,” said Matt Coppin, Captain of External Affairs and Community Health for the Metro West Fire Protection District. “People need to realize their limitations and work inside of those. But a lot of 70-year-olds have a very diverse sense of athletic ability. We have some who still run marathons while others struggle to get the mail at the end of the driveway. It’s kind of a self-assessment of where your abilities lie, and staying inside of those instead of overly stretching your abilities which can be challenging when you’re talking about competitive sports.”

“For older players or those with pre-existing conditions, it’s best to consult with your physician before engaging in any new or rigorous activity,” added Nick Smith, Deputy Chief of EMS for the Monarch Fire Protection District. “If you do choose to play, choose appropriate footwear and be cognizant of your physical limitations. The game can safely be played by most folks as long as we don't get swept up in the competition and forget we aren't 18 anymore. Depending on the venue, be sure to stay hydrated and know when to take a break to avoid leaving yourself vulnerable for heat-related illnesses or unintended falls.” 

Both EMS experts agreed that warming up is vastly important regardless of age, but especially for seniors.  Smith added that players should try to avoid courts that have uneven surfaces or loose gravel that could lead to trips and falls.

Smith also noted that pickleball injuries are similar to other sudden stop and start sports like tennis and racquetball. These include ankle, knee, and shoulder injuries from racing in one direction, stopping abruptly, then racing in another direction, which puts a strain on joints.

“If you’re able to play and have no health restrictions, the benefits to play, being active and those regular cardio activities, are only going to strengthen your heart and make you healthier and more agile,” said Coppin. “The key for older adults is to maintain your mobility to limit the number of falls around the home. Another benefit of pickleball for seniors is to be able to socially interact with many other people. Those interactions are a lot more important to older adults. It’s the ability to have something to look forward to. That’s important to mental health and leads into physical health as well.

“But when it comes to any kind of sport, the primary thing is to know when you need EMS help. If you’re playing and you have a sprain or a strain, or maybe you fall on the court and hurt your arm…knowing that’s in one category, and if you’re having trouble breathing, experience any kind of chest pain, any of the signs of stroke that we talk about, that’s the time to call 911 immediately. Those are the things for which you don’t want to just go home and see what happens in an hour.”

Smith added that pickleball has a low barrier to entry for most active individuals, making it an ideal sport for beginners looking to stay active and not spend a ton of money…or leaving one in a pickle financially!