NSU’s Prather Coliseum was the scene of a fiercely contested tournament this past weekend, July 29-30.  It wasn’t the Demon basketball or volleyball teams, even though Coach Mike McConathy was involved. The Central District of the Louisiana Senior Olympic Games held its Pickleball Tournament at Prather.

A total of 68 athletes came to play in Natchitoches from all over Louisiana as well as Texas and Arkansas. Pickleball was invented in 1965 in Washington State. The sport has its roots in tennis and the rules are very similar, but is played with a paddle and a slightly larger wiffled ball.

This marks the second year that NSU has hosted the popular event. The NSU Men’s Basketball program is this year’s sponsor. NSU Head Basketball Coach and avid pickleballer, Mike McConathy served the participants a barbecue dinner Friday and lunch Saturday.