The Catherine McAuley Center (CMC) is set to hold its first-ever pickleball tournament and fundraiser on Thursday, May 23, at the Smithfield Tennis & Pickleball Center located at 3511 18th Ave SW Cedar Rapids. Sponsored by Climate Engineers, the event kicks off at 8:00 a.m. and features teams rotating matches until 5:00 p.m.
“Climate Engineers has been proud to partner with CMC for many years and is excited to sponsor this event. CMC does a fantastic job at helping those in need in our community through educational resources and support services. These resources provide long-term benefits and strengthen the connections between the individuals or families and the local community. The pickleball tournament is a great opportunity to interact with community members and support CMC,” said Ben Watson, project manager at Climate Engineers.
The tournament follows a round-robin pool play format, catering to teams of two across eight divisions: men’s and women’s beginner, intermediate, and advanced, as well as mixed beginner and mixed intermediate/advanced. Trophies will be awarded to the first, second, and third place finishers in each division.
According to a news release, CMC has a track record of organizing events that foster community wellness and unity, such as the longstanding annual series known as Movin’ for McAuley. Over the past three years, pickleball participation in the United States has surged by 158.6%, as reported by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). This tournament provides an enjoyable opportunity for players of all abilities to unite for a day of fun while supporting CMC’s cause.
Registration is open now: https://cmc-cr.org/events/pb24/.
