Photo by Daniel Olson Karen Domeier (bottom right) looks to return the ball to the opposing team of Deb Langholtz (top left) and Sue Vogel (top right) as her partner Janet Holm watches. This group attends pickleball when they can from 9-11 a.m. weekday mornings.

NEW ULM– Pickleball has swept the nation as a game perfect for keeping all ages active. A group of seniors have caught this nationwide fever.

At the New Ulm Rec Center, pickleball is available to all ages and skill levels Monday through Friday from 9-11 a.m. and 11 a.m to 2 p.m. Deb Steinberg has become an unofficial leader of the early morning group, which started on a whim.

“We were walking the track,” she said. “We talked about maybe doing pickleball someday and then we decided January 3 2022 [to start playing]. There were four of us that played pickleball [at first]. From people walking by, watching, and word of mouth, that’s how it got going.”

From this word of mouth, over 50 people now come to play pickleball. Some come every day, while others attend periodically when they can. Steinberg has found that the group of friends she’s found with pickleball has expanded into much more.

“We don’t just play pickleball, we do other things,” she said. “We went kayaking, we went to a murder mystery play, and we go out to eat. We’ve formed great friendships through pickleball.”

Steinberg said there are several expected physical benefits to pickleball, like improved reaction time and flexibility. But there are also other benefits that fit their current stage in life.

“Most of us are retired and it gives us a routine,” Steinberg said. “There are some that are very faithful and will come Monday through Friday, 9 until 11, especially in the winter.”

Sue Vogel is one of those steadfast regulars. She was introduced to the game through a friend and found enjoyment right away. As a transplant to New Ulm and a diabetic, she has found her tenure playing pickleball to be a well-rounded positive experience.

“[Initially] I didn’t know a lot of people because I’m not from New Ulm originally,” Vogel said. “I knew faces but I didn’t know names. It’s really helped me have socialization, camaraderie, and laughter, which are things I needed in my life for my mental health. It’s also helped me physically because I am a diabetic on an insulin pump. It helps me control my blood sugar spikes after a meal and how much insulin I use.”

Vogel believes pickleball has become such a widespread phenomena because of the ease people can get into it.

“There’s so many sports out there that you have to be really athletically inclined to go and get the ball,” she said. “[Pickleball’s] not something that you have to necessarily be in great physical shape to do because you got a partner on the court.”

Vogel hopes to continue playing pickleball far into the future. “As long as my knees and my body hold up,” she said. “Whatever the lord gives me.”

Steinberg hopes the pickleball players of New Ulm will have a place of their own in the future. “I’d like to see a facility dedicated strictly for pickleball,” she said. “Many communities have them already. [But] we’re very thankful we have [indoor and outdoor] places to come and play.”