This is an independent play Pickleball program for high level Intermediate and advanced players only at skill level 3.5 or above. Formal instruction is not included in Independent Play, but individualized attention is available from the instructor to players on an as-needed basis. Due to the popularity of our pickleball classes, all refunds are subject to a $10 administrative fee.
Chris has been working as a teacher and coach in District 214 since 1991. He has also been the coach for badminton for Buffalo Grove High School since 1999. Prior to that, Chris was the head coach at Wheeling High School. Chris received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and Masters degree from National Louis University.
In addition to badminton, he has coached football, basketball, baseball, track and cross country at the varsity level. When he started at BGHS, the only position open was coaching badminton. Although his knowledge and experience was in other sports, Chris’s wife had played badminton in college and many of her friends were ranked players in the midwest. He believed he could learn a great deal from them and pass that on to his players. His wife and daughters were all state finalists in badminton and all three of his daughters coach badminton for various high schools in the northwest suburbs.
Chris had a passion and love of sports, specifically badminton, which has guided him through many years and many players in badminton. Badminton has a culture and a following very different from most sports. I love the interaction between high school aged students and the adult students from our community.
It combines and enhances many different athletic abilities and the range of people who join our Community Education are some who have never played alongside those that are ranked players in the United States. A great family is created in the process.
No Class Apr 9 & Apr 23
Online registration is over
Chris Van Grondelle , Mike Mleko
No Class Apr 14 & Apr 28
