At 79 years of age, Ron Lucas has discovered a sport that allows him to be competitive and have fun too: Pickleball. Lucas was introduced to the game on an Arizona vacation in 2009.
“I knew right away that it was something that I would like to get involved in,” Lucas says. Since then, he has competed in local and national tournaments.
In the 2015 National Senior Olympics, he placed second in mixed doubles with partner Lillian Palmer. He took first place in the Minnesota Senior games in mixed doubles, second place in singles.
Shelly Reilly, Lucas’ daughter, says that when she and her mother watch Lucas play pickleball, they can see how much he loves the game. “Together they are staying young and enjoying retirement to its fullest,” Reilly says.
Beginner pickleball lessons offered at the Maple Grove Community Center.
