NORWICH – A crew of 11 local athletes recently won a combined 44 medals – 25 in “pickleball” – at the 2007 Empire State Senior Games in Cortland.

Several of the top performances in the games were rung up by retired Norwich High School and Middle School teachers.

With eight of the eleven earning first-place finishes in pickleball – described, with some variations, as a miniature version of tennis – the group’s impressive showing against statewide competition is a result of playing the game together at the Norwich YMCA several times a week for almost two years, they say.

“We have a great group of talented players who are all very competitive and we have helped one another to be better players,” said Barbara LoPiccolo, a retired physical education teacher from Norwich High School, who left the games with five gold, two silver and one bronze medal. “Most of us have a tennis background which has helped a lot.”