Pickleballers Stopping In Kalamazoo To Break Guinness World Record

It's going to be a busy week here in Kalamazoo the week of May 15th, between Kalamazoo Roofsit, Foreigner playing the Wings Event Center, and now the news that a couple will be making a stop near Kalamazoo to attempt to break a Guinness World Record.

Dean Matt and Shannon Yeager will attempt a World Record for 'Fastest Time to Play a Game of Pickleball in all 48 Contiguous States,' and will be making the attempt at around Noon at Romona Park in Portage on Thursday, May 18th, as they recently outlined some of the places and people they'll be playing:

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The pair plan to play in private clubs, “eatertainment” establishments (like Chicken N Pickle), public courts, private country clubs, stadiums “where the pros play,” private residences, Five-Star resorts (like The Greenbrier in West Virginia)….even on an airport tarmac.  Along their 26-day journey, they will play local “picklers,” celebrities, pickleball professionals, differently-abled individuals, media figures, mayors, and even a governor or two.  For instance, at the 44^th Stop in Virginia Beach, VA, the duo will play against George Allen, former Virginia Governor, and US Senator, and Bobby Dyer, Mayor of Virginia Beach.

The 28^th stop on their 48-48-48 Pickleball challenge will be in the Kalamazoo area to Portage’s Ramona Park located off Sprinkle Rd. on Thursday, May 18^th, 2023, at 12 p.m. Dean and Shannon will be playing against the husband and wife team of James and Yvonne Hackenberg of Kalamazoo, who are Pickleball Hall of Famers.

As of now, the PHOF isn't a brick-and-mortar ACTUAL hall, but rather an independent not-for-profit corporation. However, with the PHOF Championships in 2024, they hope to have one set up by then for that event.