06/08/2026
🏓Athlete of the Month: The Mayor of Dublin Pickleball!
Seemingly out of nowhere, pickleball has taken the recreational sports world by storm.
Art Siegesmund is one of those fanatics. He first saw pickleball played at the Arnold Sports Classic and picked up a paddle in 2018 at the youthful age of 57. “Pickleball was a good fit for my skill sets from racquetball, table tennis, badminton, softball, etc.,” he says. “It is a great way to keep in shape,” he adds. “Plus, it helps keep my mind sharp with all of the hand-eye coordination and quick decisions.”
Since 2021, he has led the Muirfield Village HOA pickleball events. Siegesmund also serves on the Dublin Pickleball Steering Committee. Online, he is the administrator of Dublin Coffman’s GroupMe pickleball chat group and the Dublin Pickleball page. Nice to meet you, Mr. Mayor!
Since Siegesmund got hooked, he has become an evangelist for the sport. “I loved playing so much that I started coaching,” he says. He became a Professional Pickleball Registry Certified coach in 2021. He has been teaching pickleball at the Dublin Rec Center since 2022. In 2025, Siegesmund became the junior pickleball coach at The Country Club at Muirfield Village.
In case you were wondering, yes, Siegesmund can hold his own on the court. His DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) score is over 4.0, putting him in the ‘advanced’ category of players. He has won tournament medals against similar competition, highlighted by taking silver in the men’s 55+ doubles at the 2024 Arnold Sports Classic.
In a nutshell—pickle jar?—that statement sums up Siegesmund’s passion for pickleball. “I think the best benefit is meeting new people,” he says. “The sport first attracted older players, but now younger players from all demographics are playing. It’s great!”
🖊Sean Becker, Staff Writer
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