Walter Knestrick (Bowring Park) and his partner Rex Lawler of Terre Haut, IN, both 87
years old, recently participated in the HUNTSMAN Senior World Games in St George,
Utah, and each took home TWO Gold Medals in Pickleball. Their medals were for their
performance in the Men’s Doubles over 85, where they played 5 other teams, and
Men’s Doubles 4.0 Skill Level over 85, where they were pitted against 13 other teams.
The Huntsman Senior World Games have been played for 37 years in St. George, with
competitions in a number of sports. This year the tournament was held October 7-19
and hosted more than 11,000 players from 31 countries, including 1,066 senior
pickleball players.
Knestrick and Lawler have taken medals in several national senior tournaments over
the years, but Knestrick said going gold in this tournament was a thrill of a lifetime – and
will probably mark the end of his national and international tournament play. “On top is
a good place to stop,” Knestrick said, “although I will continue playing with friends here
in Nashville and in Florida as long as I can! I am just proud that Nashville can say that
our city has a “World Champion senior pickleball player!”
