The city of Peoria is hitting high marks on the Valley-wide pickleball stage.
Last month, the Peoria Pythons played the Gilbert Gladiators for the Arizona Pickleball League championship in Scottsdale. The game pitted the top seeded teams in the league at a new venue.
Unfortunately, the home team lost to the Gladiators, but it was the Python’s second trip in a row to the top game and signals a bright future for the sport in Peoria.
Peoria Mayor Jason Beck, who attended the match, said the city is proud to be represented by the Pythons, and looks forward to cheering them on in future Arizona Pickleball League championships.
“As mayor, I am always thrilled to engage with Peoria’s passionate community of pickleball players,” he said. “Pickleball has not only become one of the fastest-growing sports in the country but has also created a spirit of community and excitement, while promoting an active lifestyle across our city. The dedication of our pickleball community exemplifies Peoria’s commitment to fostering an active and connected city.”
This marks the second season the Arizona Pickleball League has existed, created by Jigsaw Health, a Scottsdale-based company that produces health supplements ranging from magnesium to zinc.
Its home is The Orchard, 9035 E. Pima Center Pkwy., Suite #16, Scottsdale, which is touted as the premier venue for indoor pickleball events.
The Orchard General Manager Amy Ricciardi said the league is one of the few in Arizona sanctioned by USA Pickleball, the national governing body for the sport that provides official rules, among other details.
Ricciardi said the 100-seat venue is broadcast ready with a state-of-the-art sound system, a full bar and catered dinners during games.
She added the league features some of the top professional pickleball players in the country.
Sitting court-side at The Orchard is the experience of a true professional sporting event, she said.
“Pickleball has grown immensely, especially with the onset of COVID, when there was nothing else for people to do. That is when the growth really came on,” she said.
“The sport really brings people together. Not only that, but it’s a lot of fun.”
Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman. We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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