Jeannette Williams brings Pickleball to Canyon Lake

Jeannette Williams is 71 years old, has had two shoulder surgeries, wears a knee brace and has plans for knee replacement surgery on her other knee. But do any of those things stop her from being a champion golfer and pickleball player? No way!

Jeannette not only represents a generation of Canyon Lakers who love to be active and take advantage of all the amenities the community has to offer, she’s bringing the sport of pickleball to the forefront of activities that can be enjoyed by all ages.

With two newly marked courts on court 3 at the Tennis Center, Jeannette started free instructional classes this week, which she will continue for the next two weeks, weather permitting. All she asks is that people RSVP if they want to attend so she can arrange to have enough instructors and paddles.

Jeannette calls pickleball a game for the whole family that is easy to play and easy to learn. Players use paddles to bounce a small wiffle-type ball back and forth over a low net. Children are welcome at the classes but must be accompanied by an adult. To register for a free class, contact Jeannette at 714-330–0272 or clpickleball951@gmail.com.

Next week’s free instructional sessions:

  • January 11 – Session 1, 9 to 10 a.m.; or Session 2, 10 to 11 a.m.
  • January 14 – Session 1, 4 to 5 p.m.; or Session 2, 5 to 6 p.m.
  • January 15 – Session 1, 9 to 10 a.m.; or Session 2, 10 to 11 a.m.
  • January 16 – Session 1, 10 to 11 a.m.; or Session 2, 11 to noon

It’s taken Jeannette about five years to fulfill her dream of having pickleball courts in Canyon Lake. Last year, POA Board members and staff investigated the possibility of building designated pickleball courts, along with a new tennis building. When those projects were denied after bids came in over budget, the next best thing was to re-stripe one of the current tennis courts and put in temporary nets that can be removed when the Tennis Club needs the court for tournaments.

Attendance on the first day of classes Monday was even better than Jeannette expected. She knows the sport is going to be very popular in Canyon Lake – not only as a physical activity but eventually as a club that provides social interaction.

Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong. It is played with a paddle and a baseball size wiffleball. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s 2015 Participant Report, pickleball participation was at 2.46 million last year (www.usapa.org).

Jeannette started playing about seven years ago in Tuscany Hills. Her partner is Cathy Buell, a retired professor from Cal State San Jose who also serves as an instructor for the new Canyon Lake classes.

Jeannette enjoys playing recreationally but she’s also competitive, playing in tournaments throughout the area and winning a silver medal in pickleball at the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah. Previously at the Senior Games, which attracts close to 10,000 senior athletes from all over the world, Jeannette had medaled in golf, racquetball and indoor rock climbing.

Jeannette has been an athlete all her life. Raised in Westminster, her career in physical education/kinesiology has given her the opportunity to teach and coach in schools and colleges from Westminster to Arizona. Her first coaching position was in Sanders, Arizona, where she taught health and PE, and coached girls’ volleyball, basketball and track, primarily to Navajo students.

While in Sanders, she also served as a volunteer firefighter/EMT and ambulance driver, as well as school bus driver – and she learned to speak some Navajo.

From there she moved into teaching and coaching at the community college level, taking a position at Eastern Arizona College. There she taught PE and health classes, and coached tennis, racquetball and golf. After Title IX passed, she specialized in coaching softball and eventually became the assistant athletic director.

She was at EAC nine years before getting homesick and deciding to move home. After coming back to Southern California, Jeannette began coaching softball part-time at Rio Hondo Junior College in Whittier. She ended up going full-time as head softball coach after one year and was there 22 years. She retired in 2007.

By that time she had found Canyon Lake. One of the other coaches at Rio Hondo had invited her out for a visit in 1991. Being an avid water skier, Jeannette immediately fell in love with the lake life. She purchased a home in 1992 and rented it out for the next seven years. In the meantime, her parents moved here and Jeannette came out regularly on weekends, finally moving here after her retirement in 2007.

She is a a very active member of the Women’s Golf Club and the Woman’s Club, serving on their boards. She’s also in the Yacht Club and recently joined Senior Chair Volleyball. With her background as an emergency responder, Jeannette decided to join the Canyon Lake Emergency Preparedness Committee last year and plans to get more involved this year. This weekend, she’s attending the CERT training course. She’s also a member of the POA Recreation Committee.

Finally, in addition to being a very athletic and sociable member of the Canyon Lake community, Jeannette has a funny bone. She is much beloved among some of the clubs for her comedic performances as “Maxine” of Hallmark fame.




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