Lorie Stockton
Growing up in California, Donna Henry was a competitive tennis player. It was also before the effects of Title IX were felt, so Donna played with the “boys” and got her high school letter in tennis playing on the boys athletic team.
Recently re-elected as the president of the Robson Ranch Pickleball Club, Donna loves all aspects of the game. When she moved to Robson in 2015, she expected to play tennis, but she was curious about that pinging sound on the nearby courts and decided to see what all the ruckus was about. She saw people having a great time on and off the court (you know, when your paddle is up and you are waiting your turn). It also fit her schedule, as there were plenty of evening play opportunities and she was still working. So, off to Pickleball Academy she went.
After growing up in Southern California, Donna moved around to places, including the Chicago area, before landing in Texas. As with many of us, her career brought her here. She retired in 2019 after 28 years in education as a teacher and administrator.
Previous racket experience and competitive drive allowed Donna to play up through the ranks quickly. She now has a 4.0 competitive rating and competes in tournaments in the quad states area. I must admit that our interview delved into an alphabet soup of levels, tournament options, and rating systems, so maybe I’ll try to tackle some of that in another article. On the other hand, she suggested that if you wanted to start down a more competitive path, you should check out the U.S. Senior Pickleball Association. They are dedicated to seniors who want to play in tournaments in their age/skill group.
Donna has a passion for teaching pickleball, so before running for president, she was Chair of Player Development and Pickleball Academy. She is a Level 2 IPTPA Teaching Professional.
During her first year as president, she worked to improve the rating process and to make the current facilities safer and more user-friendly.
Goals for her second term include a “deep dive” into the club’s Mission Statement. Written many years ago when the club was much smaller, she wants to ensure that the statement is up to date and that the club’s programs, systems, and finances are aligned with the mission. The board began reviewing this at its first meeting at the end of March.
I asked Donna to make suggestions for new and seasoned players. She wanted to assure new players that anyone can play pickleball—even those with no previous racket or paddle experience—and you can have fun almost immediately. Players take lessons, participate in drill groups, or join some of the various level subgroups for more playing time. Higher level players may want to participate in advanced clinics, play on a league, or start to participate in tournaments. Like Donna, don’t be afraid of a challenge. Step outside the box (but not into the kitchen!) and try new things.
Visit our website robsonranchdentonpickleballclub.wildapricot.org where you can click on “Join” or select a board member to send an email to with your questions/comments.