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22 Jan 2025
Terror in Highland Park

In this episode, Sarah tackles the unsettling reality of feeling too safe in your bubble—until something shatters that sense of security. From chilling incidents in Highland Park to a terrifying moment where a 911 call went unanswered, Sarah explores what happens when we let our guard down. It’s a wake-up call about the importance of staying vigilant and taking responsibility for protecting ourselves and our loved ones. Later in the episode we head to Pickleball Kingdom Dallas North for some safe, indoor fun that keeps your mind and body engaged! 

0:00
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Host
Liliana
Guest
Bryce Martin
Guest
Jennifer York
Guest
Alisha Moldakhmetova
Guest
Julia Pierce
Guest
Alexa Gooden
Guest
Aaron Tom
Guest

Episode Timeline

All Episodes
00:00
Intro
01:01
Sarah with Alisha, her tennis instructor, recalling the terrifying incident with 6 unwanted men
05:27
Sarah's daughter, Liliana, joins her to talk about the incident at the tennis court
11:22
Sarah's niece, Bryce Martin, joins her to discuss another horrifying incident that led to an unanswered 911 call
26:31
Playing pickleball at Pickleball Kingdom Dallas North
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Join host Sarah Zubiate Bennett on Let’s Talk Local as she uncovers the stories, people, and places shaping Dallas, fostering a stronger and more connected community—let's get to know the real Dallas!

Full Transcript

00:00
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Hi there. Today, we're diving into a topic that hits a little too close to home, our safety here in Dallas. While some parts of the city feel safer than others, the truth is you can never truly let your guard down. I'm Sarah Zubiate Bennett, and this is a hard reality I've had to face, especially after a couple of terrifying experiences right in Highland Park. One of those moments involved my daughter, Liliana, and she's here with me today to share her perspective on what happened. I've also invited my niece, Bryce Martin, to join us to talk about a troubling experience she went through. Together, we'll unpack these stories and reflect on what they've taught us about staying vigilant. Here's a takeaway I hope you'll leave with. Until we have enough police officers to meet the demands of our city, we all have a role in protecting ourselves and our loved ones. Thank you for tuning in to this important conversation. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who might need to hear it.
01:00
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Hi there. I'm Sarah. This is Alicia.
01:03
Alisha Moldakhmetova
Hi.
01:03
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Alicia, where are you from?
01:05
Alisha Moldakhmetova
I'm from Kazakhstan. Central Asia.
01:08
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Central Asia. So she is my and the kids' private tennis coach. And we're here in, a beautiful neighborhood in Highland Park, known for being very safe. But one of the last times we were here, we were playing at a court that is now under construction. Yep. And it was a very unfortunate event, that particular day. It was hot summer, and so we were very happy to be on the court, which is covered with foliage on the northern, eastern, and the southern sides. And as we were there, she she was giving my daughter, Liliana, and myself a private lesson. And at that point, we while playing, spotted a group of how many guys was it? It's like 6. 7.
02:04
Alisha Moldakhmetova
6 or 7. Yeah.
02:05
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Something like that. And they they were not old. They were younger, like, maybe twenties, maybe late teens or twenties. They were not small. They look like they were Latinos.
02:19
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
What caught my eye was that none of them had a tennis racket, and something inside of me just told me to run to Alisha's side of the court where my purse was sitting, and I had a gun in it because they were stringing their hands kind of along the chain link fence that was just like this. Wasn't it, Alisha?
02:36
Alisha Moldakhmetova
Yeah. It was like that. Yeah.
02:37
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
So they were kinda doing that bit along the chain link fence, and I saw them eyeing the 3 of us in there. So I sprinted across the court, which is the same size as this, from that side all the way to that southern side at the other court, and I held up my purse and they knew that within it I had a gun because I guess my stance, and then I asked Alisha and Liliana to stand to the back of me. At that point, right kinda when I was holding the gun, they had the latch to enter from the eastern side of the court opened, but then at that point, they shut it. They closed it and they just went away. Then they walked up the stairs. I did not call, Highland Park Police, which I should have. I think it's because I didn't know if my gut instinct was correct, that they were there to cause harm in some way. I almost was in disbelief. Actually, I was in disbelief because I thought this is a neighborhood where it's renowned for being extremely safe, and, certainly, this didn't just happen here. What were your feelings After that?
04:04
Alisha Moldakhmetova
I was kinda like it was weird. Like, we saw, like, 7 men just walking and, like Big guys. It's very scary. You know? Very. And, I was facing the, like, the entrance with my back, so I didn't really see what they did. Yeah. But I saw, like, you kinda, like, getting how do I say it? Like, aware aware of that.
04:28
Alisha Moldakhmetova
Yeah. And that's when I was, like, okay. Like, something is up. Yeah. And I did tell you, like, sometimes I gotta, like, remind myself that I'm in America. Like Yeah. Anything can happen, so that's kinda, like, scary.
04:41
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
It it's really scary. So the reason we're even talking about this and the reason I'm gonna be in the studio later today with Liliana having her tell this story is because every person needs to understand that no matter where you think you are, you are not excluded or exempt from something possibly happening. And the next day after that happened at the tennis court, Liliana and I were at her dermatologist and she said, mommy, do you have a gun in that purse? And I said, I do. And she said, I'm so happy that you carry that. I think that's the only reason that those men didn't come into the court. And it was just a horrible, thought, feeling, all of it. So thanks for listening.
05:27
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
(To Liliana) Tell me what you remember about that particular day when you were there taking your lesson and I had joined you.
05:32
Liliana
Well, so, you know, I kinda just sort of like, we started warming up, and then we started hits, passing. Then you joined us after, so, 30 minutes. And then there was these guys. And remember they, like Of course. Came down when they they walked, and they I think they were trying to get into the gate.
06:03
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
They did. So they they walked directly on the eastern side of the chain link fence. There was a chain link fence there, and I don't know what caused me to sprint from the northern side of the court over to the southern side. Remember, my purse was over at the bench. Mhmm.
06:25
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
So I sprinted over to it, and then I had you and Alisha stand to the side and behind me. Mhmm. What else do you remember after that?
06:34
Liliana
I remember that...
06:36
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
they How many were there?
06:38
Liliana
There was 6, I think. 6 to 8. There was a lot of them.
06:43
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Yep.
06:43
Liliana
There's, like, a whole group.
06:45
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Do you remember how old they looked?
06:46
Liliana
They looked, like, 25. They looked young. Had, like, baggy clothes on.
06:53
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Really baggy.
06:54
Liliana
Like, dirty and, like, all I was just, like they looked, like, in the hood. I'm sorry.
07:05
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
And so Maybe the yeah. Like, they're from a different part of town for sure.
07:10
Liliana
And I don't think they were aware of the area that we were in.
07:14
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Or maybe they were.
07:15
Liliana
Or maybe they were in there just being not smart in that situation. And I remember they put their hand on the lock.
07:27
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
To Oh, the latch. That's right. That's right.
07:29
Liliana
So they were standing there, and they were all gonna come into the area, but they didn't.
07:36
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
They didn't whenever they saw me
07:38
Liliana
Like, put your hand in your purse.
07:39
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
In my purse, and they they knew I had my gun.
07:44
Liliana
Mhmm. Mhmm. Yes.
07:44
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
And were you scared or not really?
07:48
Liliana
You know, I was a little scared because I was just, like, unaware. Like, I was aware, but, like, not used to that.
07:56
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
I don't think that you or miss Alisha were fully aware of what was happening.
07:59
Liliana
And, like, I was, like, not used to that like, a situation like that, so I was just, like, you know Mhmm. A little, like, awkward. And I was like, and then I felt not as scared because you were there. And I knew you had your gun, so I and I knew you would, like Mhmm. Could defend yourself and us. You know? Mhmm. Because I know you had a gun, and so I wasn't, like, that scared. Mhmm. But, you know, it's just a
08:36
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
An unnerving situation.
08:37
Liliana
Yes.
08:38
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
It was really different. When Miss Alisha described it today, she said it was weird. And remember she said, whenever it was all over, she said, I forget that I'm in America sometimes. And so as a mom, as a parent, as a person, a woman, right, those were 6 guys that were coming into that place where we are playing tennis, do you think that they would have been as likely to come in there if we had a guy with us?
09:06
Liliana
Like, in the gate in the tennis court? No. And if you weren't there if you weren't there, I don't think I think they would have came in the gate. Yeah. And then it would just be me and her. Yes. I do.
09:20
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Yeah. And that's something that makes me sick to think about, you know, how upset I was by it. But because I think about all of my friends, my family, who don't arm themselves and aren't ready to protect themselves. So now I carry a gun, and I also carry pepper spray that I hand to people should I need to so that they have pepper spray so that I'm not the only one who has some form of self defense weapon.
09:54
Liliana
Yeah. So they can protect themselves. You know?
09:57
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
And it's pretty common sense to you, but there's a lot of people out there, I think, who, like me, thought that they were in a safe place. Liliana, I had literally finished writing about a crime related incident that happened to a woman in her home with 4 men, just maybe a mile and a half, 2 miles north of where we were. But because we were in Highland Park, I thought I I guess, well, out of habit, I just take my gun wherever I go, but never in a million years would I have thought that that would have happened in Highland Park. Yeah. So thank you for sharing that.
10:45
Liliana
Yes. And I have one more thing.
10:46
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Uh-huh. And, also, I feel like it was God's plan that, like, when you finished the article, you came in. Because, like, you were, like you you spent, like, 30 minutes on that article, and then you came in. Mhmm. I mean, like, that was specific timing. Because sometimes I'm with my like, my nanny comes to drop me off. And then, like, on like, in that period of time, and I'm so thankful. You know?
11:17
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
I am too, more than you know. I love you.
11:20
Liliana
Love you.
11:22
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Hi, Bryce.
11:23
Bryce Martin
Hello.
11:24
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Thank you for joining me here. I know you've joined me before in a very fun part of the segment. And we had good cocktail's good. Oh my gosh. And we're neither of us are drinking now. I'm like, yes. But thank you for being here.
11:40
Bryce Martin
Of course.
11:41
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
I know, you knew how badly affected I was with the event that happened with Lily. I was furious and irate, and then you called me and told me about something that happened to you. It wasn't even a month after. And so it was a few months ago that this happened.
12:02
Bryce Martin
It's the end of November. And, you know, it's interesting because you mentioned that you had just finished writing an article about a woman.
12:11
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Yep.
12:12
Bryce Martin
I just went to a board meeting about for a charity called Untrafficked.
12:17
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Mhmm.
12:18
Bryce Martin
And it opened my eyes about what was going on. And I started getting involved in civic and political things. And my eyes were opening to kind of the horrors that are happening all around us that no one's really talking about. But I live in a safe- I live 4 minutes from you in Knox District, one of the safest areas in Dallas, supposedly. I've been incredibly lucky that I haven't faced, like, dangerous situations in this way.
12:46
Bryce Martin
I've had friends that have, but I work hard to be able to afford a place that's that's expensive because it's safe. And I think, you know, I've I've been in sketchy situations, but never like this. But I think it's interesting that, you know, our eyes were open to things that we never really face.
13:06
Bryce Martin
And within
13:08
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
weeks weeks of each other.
13:09
Bryce Martin
Yes. And that that has never happened to me In Dallas, Highland Park, you name it. It has not ever happened to me. My time living in this city, that experience that I had with Liliana and then had a week after in Highland Park Village. And then you. So can you tell our viewers and listeners a little bit about what happened?
13:31
Bryce Martin
It was a Saturday night, 11 PM. And I there are some office and retail spots in front of my apartment building, and I was driving up to go to the stop sign in front of my building. And as I was driving up, down the road, these 2 cars come barreling around the corner, hop this flower bed curb And come and park right in front of this office retail spot in front of my apartment building.
14:03
Bryce Martin
They're speeding and driving through. I was like, what is happening? And I stop at the stop sign that's just happened to be directly in front of them, and they get out of their car. Their cars have completely black tinted windows. Both front and back license plates were removed because I tend to look- I've been trained.
14:22
Bryce Martin
We have these discussions. Like, you mentioned with Lily
14:25
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
We're very aware.
14:25
Bryce Martin
We are very aware. People we are trained, and we have these discussions to be safe. So I look for that. They get out of their car. They're in all black Ski masks, like a scene out of a movie. And sorry. I'm like, reliving it. It's it's more difficult than I expected. You know? And I stop, and I look, and I make direct eye contact with one of them. They all have something in their hands. I also am in a panic. You know, you look back at these and go, like, did not handle this the way that I was trained to. At this point, I don't have my gun. I have a knife and my taser. But in that moment, it was abundantly clear that they were about to go hit this office spot that you can it's all windows. You can see in. There's all this really high end technology.
15:17
Bryce Martin
I was like, oh, they're about to rob this place. So I immediately dial 911 on my phone, like, hit the emergency button. And then stupidly, and I feel so shameful after the fact, I went to pull into my safety, which was my apartment, which was next door. So I, like, turn and then go to pull in to the locked garage with security. And I'm on the phone with the operator. I'm like, hey. This block or this block, there's about to be a robbery go down. It's 2 cars.
15:45
Bryce Martin
I give the descriptors of black ski mask, and I'm I'm pulling into my gate. And as I pull in, I'm on the phone with the operator who is pretty much useless to me. She's like, oh, cops are backed up. We'll send them when we can. I said, well, when is it gonna happen? These men look armed.
16:04
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
And this is in Dallas. This is in Dallas. This is in Knox District On the the west side Of 75 Right outside Highland Park, like, core Dallas. And the late it's just so nonchalant, and I'm like, there's probably hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of tech about to be stolen actively, and I could I'm seeing it happen. Yep. I pull into my apartment building. I'm talking to the operator.
16:32
Bryce Martin
I'm like, oh, of course. Here we go. You know? So understaffed. It's not their fault. We know it's not their fault. I talked to so many officers during the Dallas Hero. I've had so many conversations with them, you know, in support of it for a reason.
16:48
Bryce Martin
I pull in, and as I'm going down the hill, I hear brake screeches, and both cars were following in behind me. And they caught the gate as it was closing, and it reopened.
17:00
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Oh my gosh. I don't recall this.
17:06
Bryce Martin
And they followed me in while I was on the phone with the operator. And as I'm talking to her, I'm like, they and I'm freaking out. And I'm like, I feel so stupid because I knew better. And as they're chasing me, I'm like, they just tailgated me, and both of them are behind me. What do I do? What do I do? And I'm Yeah. Panicking. She literally told me to, quote, unquote, get to safety, and she can't advise me. She gave me no advice. And I don't have gotten them. I'm, like, in a panic. So I'm, like, looking at their cars, and I'm laying on the horn. Operator she's like, what's and I'm like, I'm describing the cars, describing it, like, at the front, and I'm giving the descriptors. Like, there's no license plate. This is it. I'm trying to describe the 3 men because I'm, like, in this moment, I'm like, what's about to happen? I'm like, what do I do? What do I do? And in that moment she was useless. And so I I go through in the corner and to try to, like, speed around, and one stayed directly behind me and the other one turned because you can go down and go to the right and left. The other one turned, the Charger, and sped, and then they locked me in front and back.
18:28
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Oh god. And all got out of the car. And so they got out. And now I'm talking to the officers. What's happening? At that point, I'm, like, grabbing my knife, grabbing my you know? Because I'm and I'm like, please send someone. Please send someone. Like, they're getting out of the car. And I think my naive, like, brain is like, oh, they're gonna take my car. Right? You you wanna think that. But and I'm freaking out. Operator's not doing anything, saying anything, not sending anybody. And then by the grace of God, I'm praying. That's all at that point, that's all I had.
19:14
Bryce Martin
Yeah. 2 cars pulled into my parking garage, and I lay on my horn. And they get back in their vehicles, and I move, and I'd, like, go around and speed out, and the operator's still on the phone. And I get out. I'm like, I got out. I got where do I go? Where do I go? Where do I go? What if they follow me? She's like, the officer didn't send anyone. Still at that point had not changed the urgency of the call. And I go, and I, like, just wanted to get to people.
19:45
Bryce Martin
And so there's a gas station in the area that and it was full of cars, so I go and I just go sit in the parking lot, like, please send someone. I'm like, what do I do? Like, where do I go? Again, feels foolish for I know where to go. I know what to do. But in that moment, it was just I mean, I'm shaking thinking about it. It was...
20:04
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
It's awful.
20:05
Bryce Martin
It's and so I sit in the gas station, and I can, like, look at my building because I also was like, you need to send someone right now. They're still in the parking garage. Like, the trucks just pulled in, they it they'd followed me out too because I think they could tell something was going on, but I know there's all these young women that live in the building, and I'm like, you need to send someone right now. Like, they're still in my they're they're in the gate. Like, they are in the gate right now. And it's 11 PM on a Saturday. Like, people are active at this point. And she says nothing. Like, I can't advise you. Just get to safety. I'm like, where? Where? You know? And I'm in a way, and then I see them pull out, and they go and they move, and they I I watch them, like, pull on the highway and just flee. Hung up on 911. She's like, I'm sending officers, and and I'm like, when? She's like, I don't know how long it's gonna be. I'm like, great. Perfect. And I'm just shaking Mhmm. Praying, thanking God, nervous. I'm like, what if they target like, what if they come back?
21:11
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Yeah. They know your car.
21:13
Bryce Martin
They know my car.
21:14
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
They know where you live...or drove in... or probably would assume that you live there. .
21:21
Bryce Martin
Yeah. And so it was 11:02 when I called 911. I was on the phone with them for 7 minutes. Yeah. What's the average call supposed to be?
21:29
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
I don't know.
21:30
Bryce Martin
Less than 7 minutes.
21:32
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Yeah. Of course. Yeah.
21:35
Bryce Martin
And and so I get off the phone with 911. I I just I get I I at this point, I just wanna lock myself in my bed like, in my apartment, in my bedroom, and just that was, like, the one thing I just wanted in that moment.
21:51
Bryce Martin
So they were gone. I waited and waited and waited. Eventually, I had driven home, got to my apartment, just a mess, cops call me, the officers, 32 minutes later. And I tell them what happened, And they tell me that they're on their way, and they'll be there in 10 minutes. And I wait and I wait and I wait. 2 hours later, it's an unknown number. You can't call them back. I'm not gonna it took a while for anyone to answer. I'm not gonna flood that. At that point, I knew they're not coming. Yeah. So I waited till, like, 2 in the morning.
22:31
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
What did the officers say?
22:32
Bryce Martin
They told me nothing. They just said, well, we need you to be there to, like, we're coming to check to make sure they're gone. Do a, you know, check on the floors to get your statement. I was like, well, how long am I supposed to wait? Because they wouldn't initially tell me, like, we're 10 minutes away, and then obviously they got called somewhere else or back, you know, a million other things or they lied to appease me.
22:52
Bryce Martin
I don't know. I don't blame for sure. They never showed up, and I'd never got a callback from them either. And I talked to my leasing center. There was no investigation.
23:04
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
If you had a redo, what would you do differently?
23:09
Bryce Martin
I wouldn't have stopped at the stop sign, and I would have just driven off. And not pulled in. I feel so stupid. You know?
23:20
Bryce Martin
Like, that's
23:21
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
I didn't call the Highland Park Police.
23:23
Bryce Martin
Yeah.
23:24
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
So do you know how stupid that is? I mean, I reiterate that fact so often because I get so mad at myself because had they come because their response time in Highland Park is fast, and that's why we live there, and I didn't call them, And they could have detained 6 guys who were up to no good. God knows what they were gonna do. Why were they gonna go in there with 3 women? We're dealing with hardened criminals that have no fear.
23:59
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Okay. So here's what I wanted to say, and this is really, really important. I was going to interview someone from Venezuela to talk about what these people are like. This gentleman wanted to be behind a wall, did not want his name to be known. He told me that he never once thought about getting a gun while in America until he realized the type of people that were coming here from his home country. He's from Venezuela, and he has a lot of insight as to how they operate. And he said, these people aren't here for robbery. They're here to kill. They kill. Maybe it's more lucrative for them to traffic people. I don't know. I can't speak to it. I'm not from Venezuela, but we're surrounded now by people who are not afraid of guns. They are not afraid to cause harm. They're not afraid of perceived safe areas. People that are living in bubbles like us, they're not bubbles.
25:21
Bryce Martin
They're not.
25:21
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
They're not. No. They're not bubbles. And, I mean, after that point, I have not gone anywhere. Normally, I might even be a little bit lax, and I'd be I'd say, okay. I'm going here. I'm not gonna carry inside of here, or I carry everywhere I go, everywhere I go, and now I take pepper spray to hand out to additional people after that event so that I can give it to people who are with me. Thank you for being with us. Bryce, thank you for being here. Liliana, thank you for coming on and talking with us. Love you.
25:58
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
After covering these very difficult conversations and topics, I just wanted to end on a lighter, more upbeat tone. On days when the weather is bad or if it's a little too cold or if tennis just isn't your thing, I thought it'd be fun to round up some of my friends and go play some pickleball. We went to the brand new Pickleball Kingdom, Dallas North. It's right off the Dallas North Tollway, just south of Spring Valley. And let me tell you, if pickleball has been on your radar, this place is absolutely amazing, and I promise you're gonna love every minute of it. Be sure to tell Lucky, the general manager, that you saw this beautiful place on Let's Talk Local. Thanks so much for being here.
26:32
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
So we are at Pickleball Kingdom. I'm here with some of my really good friends.
26:35
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
We wanted to just try something different. None of us are pickleball players, so to speak. We're we're all kinda novice.
26:45
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
I played maybe once or twice in my life. I dabble in tennis as of late. I never grew up playing it. And also following that really heavy, commentary that just happened, I thought, okay. This is indoors.
26:59
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
It's like 40 degrees outside, so we're here. Some are more fashionable than others. But but it's it's a new place that just opened off the toll road. And let me introduce you to these amazing women. This is Jen.
27:12
Jen York
Hi. I'm Jen.
27:14
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Have you played?
27:15
Jen York
I've never played before.
27:16
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Okay. You've never played.
27:17
Jen York
I've never played, but I wanna learn. So I'm glad to be here.
27:22
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Yes. And then I told you my stuff. This is Julia.
27:25
Julia Catherine
I'm Julia. Yeah. And I've played a few times. I did read that last year pickleball was the number one injury in the country.
27:33
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
So I think it's because a lot of older people. Maybe seniors,
27:36
Julia Catherine
yeah, playing. I played. I'm pretty competitive.
27:36
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
We'll see how it goes.
27:42
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
And then Alexa?
27:44
Alexa Gooden
Hi. I'm Alexa. And I need I only played pickleball with my son. That's about it. But, we hit the ball, but I'm a tennis player. So I think it kinda comes to me.
27:55
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
She's the one tennis player. So they're an alcohol free environment. So people are here to play and to sweat. So that's why we're gonna strip a little bit and see what it's like. They offer, pickleball 101 for pickleball curious people. I'm not sure if Lucky, the manager or the GM, is gonna be able to talk to y'all about it, but I am excited to play. I'm gonna be YouTubing some tips and tricks on the rules because that's how novice we are. And Yeah.
28:40
Julia Catherine
And then it goes to 14 points.
28:43
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
I didn't even know that.
28:45
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
But we will come up to to speed very quickly. Okay. I love to be back. I love you do look like you're ready. The skirts? Team skirts, team pants? I like those skirts. Oh, hi, Aaron!
28:57
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Hi. You're able to help us? Okay. So is there any way you could just instruct us on what we're doing? Because right now, we're just hitting.
29:05
Aaron Tom
Sure. So you drop the ball into Okay. Yeah. So every time that you play a point out, it's basically a rally. Right? And the only way that you can score a point is when the serving team wins their rally.
29:20
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
That makes sense.
29:20
Players
Yes. That might make sense.
29:21
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Clear. That tracks.
29:22
Aaron Tom
Right? You basically have your two sides of the court And you get to switch sides when you are the serving team every single time that you score a point.
29:33
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Oh. Oh. Only when you score.
29:35
Players
Only when you score, and you can only score when you are serving.
29:40
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Serving.
29:41
Aaron Tom
Okay? So if you stop the serving team from scoring, it's called the side out. So kinda like volleyball, if you ever played volleyball. Yeah. So side out. It takes 2 side outs in order for the other team to get their chance to start serving. Okay? You only get one chance to get your serve in.
30:01
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
With doubles. Right?
30:02
Aaron Tom
Yeah. Well, same thing as singles. Oh. You get one chance to get your server in. So Okay.
30:08
Players
What if it's like this and it lands in here?
30:11
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
In the kitchen. On your server.
30:13
Aaron Tom
Lands in the the kitchen Mhmm. It's a fault. Okay. So it it would go to either the next server Ah. Or it would go to the opposite side depending on what side out you were on.
30:22
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Got it. Okay. You don't have, like, a let.
30:24
Aaron Tom
There's so if you're playing in a Pro division You would play a let.
30:29
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Oh, god.
30:33
Aaron Tom
They're thinking about implementing the let for all divisions.
30:40
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
This is cool. Oh, yes. I can totally get on board with this. Yes. I can play tennis, but is there a way that we could just, like, pretend that we're playing a game?
30:51
Aaron Tom
Absolutely.
30:57
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
So can people get memberships here?
30:59
Aaron Tom
Absolutely.
31:00
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
How much are the memberships?
31:01
Players
That's hard for me to know because it's really my first day on-site.
31:06
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Oh, gotcha. Congratulations.
31:08
Jen York
Yeah. Oh, that's a grand opening. Right?
31:09
Aaron Tom
No. The grand opening was the 11th. All the pricing stuff is up there. Cool. Yeah. Basically, what it gets you is, unlimited free open play because if not, you normally have to pay for those. There's 3 open plays a day, 7 days a week. So there's a 7 to 10, 11 to 2 5 to 8.
31:31
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Gotcha.
31:33
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Shanon says it was packed whenever she came here last week.
31:36
Aaron Tom
Yeah. And then, like, so we also have free 101 pickleball classes for, like, beginners. That was great. Because they're all included in your in your membership.
31:50
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Okay. Cool.
31:51
Aaron Tom
If you wanted, like, additional lessons, so, like, if it was with me or another coach Then there's different rates that are associated with that. It also gives you access to, like, booking and reserving courts during non open play times.
32:06
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Neat. Yeah.
32:06
Aaron Tom
And, you know, certain discounts on, like, tournaments that we host or different social events that are also hosted.
32:14
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Amazing. Mhmm. Cool. Okay. Thank you.
32:16
Players
Try and Yeah.
32:17
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
We'll try. Yeah. Let's do it. We'll try and do our you guys start do our deal.
32:22
Players
Oh. Oh. So that would be a fault? A fault. As all things started, they're gonna get the service.
32:29
Players
Yes. So the score is 0.
32:32
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
But I need to be ready to move back. Right?
32:38
Players
Nice. Excellent bounce. Right? Oh. Oh, yeah.
32:44
Players
Here she goes. Here she goes. Nice. Oh.
32:52
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
So it's point.
32:55
Players
Sweet. Okay. Switch. There you go. And so it's 1-0?
33:00
Players
1 stroke. Let's go. Nice.
33:32
Player
Woo hoo. But they that's 4. Oh. Oh. Oh my god.
33:39
Jen York
Oh my god. Oh my god. I admire your dedication. Alexa, that was perfect. Oh, man.
33:57
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
She can take it.
34:07
Team Pants
Nice. Oh, okay. We won. We won. Oh.
34:28
All Talking
Cool. I like it. Yeah. That's fun. It's really cool.
34:32
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Yeah. That was like that was my first pickleball game. Yeah. I've just taken the lessons.
34:37
Aaron Tom
Congratulations. Yeah. I know it gets better.
34:41
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Cool. And honestly, I have to say, I didn't think that there was much of a workout, before playing this because I was always like, I'd rather learn how to play tennis and, like, really, like, run across the court. But this I can see how you can, like Yeah. Get some movement. Yeah. You could absolutely do this, especially since it's more social than just being at the gym. Right. A 100%. And then I get really tired of just, like I love those workouts, but just to kind of vary it, and then since tennis, it's too cold right now.
35:10
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
I know. Thank you guys so much.
35:12
Players
Oh my god.
35:16
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
Thank you, guys.
35:17
Players
I know!
35:17
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
it was super last minute.
35:18
Players
That was great.
35:19
Sarah Zubiate Bennett
And and just kind of looking for something that's in the theme of being indoors and safer. I was like, that's a good location. Seriously, thank you guys so much!
featuring our host.
SARAH ZUBIATE BENNETT
Venture Philanthropist, Host and Executive Producer of Let’s Talk Local, bold leader driving growth in private and social sectors.