Mike Wickham – More Than A Game

Mike Wickham didn’t come to the YMCA looking for something new. He came because it was familiar. A lifelong “gym rat,” Mike was used to working out on his own. Even as a truck driver, traveling from place to place, he always enjoyed people but never quite had the opportunity to truly connect.

Then one day, thanks to an unexpected invitation, things changed. Mike was invited to play pickleball at the Y by a member. Mike had never picked up a paddle before and with no experience or expectations he decided to give it a try.

Today, two years later, pickleball has become more than just a game for Mike, it’s become a community. “Pickleball pushes you, grows you and teaches you how to win and lose with a positive and friendly spirit,” shared Mike.

The biggest transformation happened to Mike himself. Having moved to South Carolina from Colorado, he didn’t know many people in the area. Like so many others, he could have stayed to himself. Instead, pickleball and the community at the Y, pulled him out of his shell. “I MET MORE PEOPLE HERE AT THE Y, PLAYING PICKLEBALL, THAN I HAD MY ENTIRE LIFE,” he shares. “That’s a huge benefit.”

At the YMCA, that’s what happens every day. Strangers become teammates. Teammates become friends. And before you know it, you belong. Like Mike, you too can belong. Get plugged in at the YMCA. There is something for everyone.