Did you know that one of the fastest-growing sports in the country is also one of the most popular sports in Celina? It’s pickleball, a new craze for all ages.
Pickleball is played on a badminton-sized court with a 34-inch-high net. Players use paddles, twice the size of ping-pong paddles, to hit the plastic ball. It can be played inside or out, easy to learn, and is recreational or competitive. According to USA Pickleball, in 2021 there were about 4.8 million players in the United States, a 15% jump from 2020. About 600 of those are Celina residents and includes Katherine Clark-Fredrick, a specialized Health insurance broker and owner of Fredrick Insurance Brokers, who plays pickleball in Celina at least three times a week.
Katherine says she first heard of pickleball on the Celina Pickleball Facebook page. She knew nothing about the sport and decided to attend an Open Play night. Katherine was immediately hooked, joined a league, and is “100% committed". She likes that it’s not too strenuous on a body, gets you moving and “your endorphins going,” part of the reason she loves to play.
If you think pickleball players are mostly an older crowd, you are wrong. A misperception is that “older folks” play, but in Celina the ages range from 25 years old to 80, states Clark-Fredrick. USA Pickleball verifies the average participant’s age is 38 years old. "It doesn’t matter your background or age, when we are on the court, we all have the same goal – to hit that stupid ball,” asserts Katherine laughingly.
Furthermore, Katherine maintains it’s the best-kept secret in Celina. The camaraderie is much more than playing, it’s the socializing also. She could play in any city, but it’s the people and old-fashioned values that draw her here. It’s also bonding at local downtown restaurants before and after games or participating in Celina’s many festivals. “Celina Pickleball is a thriving community. We would love it to grow more,” she says.
Brenda Graves, a Celina Pickleball organizer, agrees. While there are over 600 Celina residents who currently play, there are also another 300 or so playing in Celina from the surrounding cities. The league has about seven current men’s and women’s leagues that play almost every night. Wednesday nights are devoted to Open Play where beginners come and learn how to play. Katherine Clark-Fredrick brags some of Texas' highest-ranked players are from Celina.
Celina Pickleball also hosts numerous tournaments including the Celina Bang Bang Tournament and Midnight Madness Tournament. One event, according to Katherine, was sponsored by the National Professional Pickleball Association with over 200 hundred people in attendance and a media presence as well.
Katherine Clark-Fredrick is a committed fan of Celina Pickleball. When she is not playing pickleball, she devotes her time as a specialized insurance broker with Fredrick Insurance Brokers focusing on private health insurance for individuals, small businesses, the self-employed, teachers and realtors. She states she is "an advocate for my clients; selling the policy is only the first step." Katherine enjoys working with the people of Celina to help find their right policy. She tries to be a resource for her clients in navigating the world of medical care. "It's not just about selling a policy" for her. She says it is gratifying to help people get a better, more affordable health plan and to know how to leverage it. "This isn't something people do every day and they don't really want to learn the industry. We pride ourselves on educating and empowering our clients. Our goal is to improve folks' situations and sometimes we just validate that they are in the best place they can be!"
You can join Katherine, Brenda Graves, and others every Wednesday night for Celina’s Open Play nights. The courts are located at Founders Station Park in downtown Celina. Look for the newly resurfaced courts courtesy of Celina’s Park and Recreation Department too! For Celina Pickleball, visit the Celina Pickleball Facebook page or Celina Parks and Recreation at sports.celina-tx.gov/pickleball
For your insurance needs, learn more about Katherine Clark-Fredrick and how she can help at FredrickInsuranceBrokers.com or call 972.375.0507