Betty Case serves during an afternoon pickleball practice at the Francis Wyatt Recreation Center.The Frances B. Wyatt Center in North Chattanooga will be less crowded than normal Wednesday morning.
That’s because many of the 100-plus 50-and-older athletes who usually fill the Colville Street facility on that day each week to play pickleball, badminton and volleyball are competing in those sports at the National Senior Games in Cleveland, Ohio.
“We have 77 area athletes total at the Games,” said Brian Smith of the city’s Department of Youth and Family Development (formerly Parks and Rec).
“Not of all them come to the Wyatt Center, but Tennessee overall has the second largest contingent of athletes at the Games behind Ohio. Two years ago in Texas we also had the second largest contingent behind Texas.”
Alice Tym is one of 13,000 athletes competing in Cleveland this week. She’ll attempt to win gold medals in badminton and table tennis.