GRAND MARAIS – On Saturday, Aug. 17, Grand Marais hosted MiM24, the third annual Meet in the Middle pickleball tournament. This tournament was initiated in 2022 by the Thunder Bay club as an outreach to their U.
S. neighbours “along the north shore” from Grand Portage to Duluth. This year had a record attendance of 77 registered players, more than doubling that of prior years.
Approximately half the players were from Thunder Bay and Longlac, and half from Grand Marais and points as far as St. Paul and Bayfield, Wis. The venue features six outdoor courts in a beautiful setting halfway up the hillside along the Gunflint Trail.
During winter (or rainy/windy days) they play indoors on three nets at the YMCA facility next door. Fortunately, the weather was great, allowing outdoor play beginning with two rounds of “Champions Court” to help players get acquainted and loosen up, with upbeat music keeping the pace. Play then moved on to bracket matches for categories of men, women and mixed, each at advanced, intermediate and novice levels.
The medallists are listed below. Thunder Bay took 15 medals (six gold, four silver, five bronze), and Grand Marais took six (one gold, three silver, two bronze). Of special note are the novice and first-time tournament players bringing home medals, including Brandy Fummerton/Debs Burgsteden, Karen O’Brien/Wendy Jaun, and Jackie Goodwin/Greg Goodwin.
Tournament organizer Peter Bennett from Grand Marais said: “We made a brilliant showing.