Babcock Ranch community honors child killed in 2018 crash with pickleball tournament

Reporter: Zach Oliveri Writer: Drew Hill
Published: Updated:
pickleball tournament
pickleball tournament

A community in Southwest Florida is honoring the life of a five-year-old who was killed in a crash in 2018.

So, to keep Connor Green’s legacy going, the community in Babcock Ranch came together for the fourth annual Connor Lee Green Memorial Tournament. This friendly pickleball competition helps raise money for Connor’s school and other nearby schools.

Connor loved the game of pickleball and loved his school. So it’s only fitting that his two loves are how his family and the community are remembering him.

The pickleball court is home to many memories for Nathan Green, beginning with his 5-year-old son Connor. He loved the little intricate things about this game, including chasing after errant balls.

“He would run three, four courts away to grab the balls and bring them back to the players that needed them. And he was always very proud of himself on how quickly he would go and retrieve them,” said Green.

Friday, pickleball players came together in Connor’s name and memory. Connor died in a car crash in 2018.

“He was an extremely outgoing boy. And no matter where he was or who he was with he always wanted to make sure everyone was having a good time and enjoying themselves,” Green said.

As is a yearly tradition, the money raised in this year’s tournament goes to Connor’s school, Babcock Neighborhood School. Tiffany Cleland plays in the tournament every year. “Keeping it light-hearted. Keeping it light-spirited, that’s you know as a child that’s all they want to do,” said Cleland.

The friendly competition and camaraderie of the tournament put a smile on the face of those playing like Cyndi Pride. “I compare it to eating potato chips. You can’t eat just one. Pickleball games are short. They’re quick and over with. And it’s like, oh let’s play one more,” said Pride.

“Everyone knows why we’re here and celebrating just what a wonderful little boy he was. You know it makes… it makes the days go easier,” said Green.

The money raised at Friday’s tournament helps fund the project-based learning curriculum at Babcockm Community School. This year they expect to raise more than $7,000. The tournament continues through the weekend.

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