personal interests sports and gaming pickleball pickleball angels
In order to feel alive and healthy to meet the challenges of old age and prostate cancer, pickleball has become a major focus of my physical and mental well being.
Playing at Yachats and Newport and tournaments around the country, I find that I have been lucky enough to acquire several "angels," both male and female, that have taken this old man under their wings.
These new friends, 12 to 55 years younger than me, talk, joke, and play pickleball with me in a way that allows me to temporarily forget how old I am.
There are many angels to thank, however, I give special thanks to
"angels" like John Chappell, Theresa Mayer, Carl Meibergen, my son, Wyatt, and Kortney Kurmins-Hahn who have honored me by playing tournaments with me.
In tournaments, you play in both a skill level and an age grouping. You can play above you skill level, but you can not play above your age level, so I play at my partner's age levels.
(You can read about these players and our tournaments in the "Tournament" section of my pickleball web page.)
Still, there are two special young angels, both very different individuals, that I call my pickleball granddaughters because I love them like family. They light up my life with their smiles, their playing, and their life-afirming hugs.
These two beautiful people, Kortney-Kurmins-Hahn (28) and Haley Kelly (25) continue, week after week, to make this old man feel young and whole again.
unless noted otherwise all images
copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
Me, with my angels, 2026.
KORTNEY-KURMINS-HAHN
Kortney, a current worker at Samaritan House, an assistant softball coach at Newport High, and a psychology student is a fantastic athlete.
She represents everything I could ever want in a granddaughter.
Kortney and her "old fart" partner, 5th Annual Illahe Open Pickleball Tournament, Salem, Oregon, 2026.
One of Kortney's Facebook photos and Kortney on the court, Newport Recreation, Newport, Oregon, 2026.
(Facebook photo by others)
HALEY KELLY
Haley, a current HR and PR rep for a company that supports the Fred Meyer/Kroger market company all around the west coast, is also a very good player.
She, too, represents a different side of a great granddaughter.
Haley and her aging partner, Newport Recreation Center, Newport, Oregon, 2026.
One of Halely's Facebook photo and Haley on the court, Salem, Oregon, 2026.
(Facebook photo by others)
copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc
page last revised april 2026