Pickleball players from Maine, New England, and beyond will meet at the Maine Sports Arena to raise funds for the Scarborough based nonprofit, the Kids First Center. The event is scheduled to take place over three days, July 21-23. The tournament is sanctioned by USA Pickleball and its rules for round-robin play will govern.

Pickleball players from Maine, New England, and beyond will meet at the Maine Sports Arena to raise funds for the Scarborough based nonprofit, the Kids First Center. The event is scheduled to take place over three days, July 21-23. Maria Skillings photo/Times Record.

Partnering with the Kids First Center is the tournament host, the Maine Sports Arena in Saco.

Steve Haines of MSA and director of Portland Pickleball is looking forward to the event. “This is one of the few sanctioned tournaments in Maine this summer,” he said in a June 8 news release. “We expect some of Maine’s finest pickleball players to compete at this inaugural event.”

USA Pickleball Association Regional Director Rocky Clark is also pleased to see the tournament scheduled for this summer. “Let’s all put Kids First and enjoy a fun pickleball tournament in Saco, Maine,” Clark said.

The Kids First Pickleball Tournament is set to be a celebration of the game while raising awareness of the mission of Kids First. The tournament will feature a variety of brackets, ensuring that players of every level have an opportunity to participate and test their skills against like-minded competitors. The tournament director is Joe Santoro of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Along with running many charity tournaments, Santoro is a past officer of the Board of Directors at USA Pickleball, serves on the Board of Directors of the Pickleball Hall of Fame, and is the USA Pickleball Referee Training Coordinator for the Atlantic Region.

The indoor climate-controlled event will be held at the Maine Sports Arena, 15 Lunt Road, Saco, boasting nine hardwood pickleball courts, ample spectator seating. The tournament will also feature vendor and exhibitor tables, offering an array of merchandise and services related to pickleball equipment, apparel, and more. Parking at the venue is free.

“We are thrilled to launch the first Kids First Pickleball Tournament,” said Timothy Robbins, executive director of the Kids First Center. “Pickleball is a sport that brings people together, promotes healthy competition, and creates lasting friendships. We welcome players and fans from all over to provide an unforgettable experience that showcases Maine’s best of this incredible sport. We were looking for a different kind of event to raise funds and awareness of the programming of the Kids First Center. The positive response to running a pickleball tournament has been overwhelming and gratifying.”

Those interested in volunteering at the event should contact the Kids First Center. Registration for the tournament is open, and players are encouraged to secure their spots early due to limited availability. For more information and to register, visit https://t.ly/R0g-kidsfirstpickleball.

For more information about Kids First Center’s programming or to get involved, visit www.kidsfirstcenter.org or call 207-761-2709.

Husson University announces president’s list

The following students have been named to the spring 2023 president’s list at Husson University:

Kyle E. Jordan of Scarborough is enrolled in Husson’s bachelor of science in educational studies with a concentration in elementary education program.

Sam Peiser of Scarborough is enrolled in Husson’s bachelor of science in audio engineering with a concentration in live sound production and a certificate in advanced music production program.

Husson University announces spring dean’s list

The following student has been named to the spring 2023 dean’s list at Husson University:

Daniel Edward Weed of Scarborough is enrolled in Husson’s bachelor of science in legal studies with a pre-law concentration program.

Residents earn Cedarville University degrees

The following students graduated from Cedarville University in spring 2022 with an undergraduate degree.

MacKenzie Hertel of Scarborough.

Maysen Wilson of Scarborough.

Scarborough student to attend New York Institute of Technology

New York Institute of Technology announced its newest students for the fall 2023 semester, including Sruti Tadikonda from Scarborough. Tadikonda plans to major in life sciences/osteopathic medicine.

Residents named to Alabama dean’s list

The University of Alabama dean’s and president’s lists recognize full-time undergraduate students. The 2022 fall lists include the following students:

Izabel Desjardins of Scarborough was named to the dean’s list.

Emily Lefebvre of Scarborough was named to the dean’s list.

Scarborough Land Trust to host Wildflower Walk

Scarborough Land Trust will host a Wildflower Walk on Wednesday, June 21, at Warren Woods. Becky Warren Seel will  guide attendees on a search for wildflowers. Wildflower field guides are encouraged and are available for purchase
through the Scarborough Land Trust.

Registration is required for the event at no cost. For tickets and more information, visit the events page
at ScarboroughLandTrust.org. Contact Henry Gustavson at hgustavson@scarboroughlandtrust.org with any
questions.

Resident named to James Madison dean’s list

Scarborough resident Sarah Card has been named to the dean’s list at James Madison University for the spring 2023 semester. Card is majoring in earth science.