A candlelight vigil was held on May 9 to honor five members of an Amarillo pickleball team who died in a plane crash near Wimberly, Texas, on April 30. Approximately 100 people attended the ceremony at the Netplex Athletic Center to pay their respects.
Key points
Candlelight vigil held on May 9 in Amarillo.
Five members of a pickleball team died in a plane crash.
Crash occurred near Wimberly, Texas, on April 30.
Around 100 people attended the vigil at Netplex Athletic Center.
Victims included pilot Justin Appling and four others.
On May 9, a quiet, still Saturday evening, people began to trickle into the parking lot in front of the Netplex Athletic Center on 58th in Amarillo to pay their respects and honor the five team members of an Amarillo pickleball team, who were tragically killed in a plane crash near Wimberly, Texas, around 11 p.m. April 30.
The crowd grew, and grew and then grew some more until around 100 people stood quietly and respectfully in the parking lot in front of Netplex. They were handed candles for the candlelight ceremony, following some memories shared from pickleball enthusiast and Amarillo City Councilmember Don Tipps.
Those who lost their lives were Justin Appling, pilot and member of the team; Hayden Dillard; Brooke Skypala; Stacy Hedrick and Seren Wilson.
With heads bowed, friends and family of the Amarillo pickleball team who died in a plane crash remember their friends, companions and team members Saturday evening, May 9 at a candilelight vigil held at the Amarillo Netplex.
With heads bowed, friends and family of the Amarillo pickleball team who died in a plane crash remember their friends, companions and team members Saturday evening, May 9 at a candilelight vigil held at the Amarillo Netplex.
The plane had departed from Amarillo and was heading toward New Braunfels National Airport when the airplane’s track became erratic before disappearing in a woody area, where it crashed and no one survived.
Tipps gave a eulogy, along with several ministers from different churches, as the somber crowd watched, prayed and shed a few tears during the ceremony.
Meaghan Collier also delivered some tearful memories of her friends before turning it over to Tipps.
Q&A
What happened to the Amarillo pickleball team?
The Amarillo pickleball team was tragically killed in a plane crash near Wimberly, Texas, on April 30.
Who were the victims of the plane crash?
The victims included Justin Appling, Hayden Dillard, Brooke Skypala, Stacy Hedrick, and Seren Wilson.
When was the candlelight vigil for the pickleball team?
The candlelight vigil was held on May 9 at the Netplex Athletic Center in Amarillo.
How many people attended the vigil for the Amarillo pickleball team?
Approximately 100 people attended the vigil to honor the team members.
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Friends and family gathered at Amarillo Netflex multi-sport complex on Saturday evening, May 9 to honor the lives of those who died in a tragic plane crash on April 30 near New Braunfels, where a pickleball team from Amarillo was traveling to compete in a tournament.
Friends and family gathered at Amarillo Netflex multi-sport complex on Saturday evening, May 9 to honor the lives of those who died in a tragic plane crash on April 30 near New Braunfels, where a pickleball team from Amarillo was traveling to compete in a tournament.
“The biggest thing we need to remember is the impact that they made, not just on our pickleball community, but overall in our entire community,” Tipps said. “Amarillo is strong. People are strong and come together and surround those in mourning."
“But the biggest thing is the impact that they’ve had on our community,” Tipps reiterated.
He remarked on the national support they have received, along with the entire pickleball community.
Don Tipps, a pickleball enthusiast and Amarillo City Council member, delivered a eulogy for members of the Amarillo pickleball team who died in a tragic plane crash April 30 near New Braunfels, where they were traveling to play in a tournament. The community vigil was held May 9 at the Amarillo Netplex.
Don Tipps, a pickleball enthusiast and Amarillo City Council member, delivered a eulogy for members of the Amarillo pickleball team who died in a tragic plane crash April 30 near New Braunfels, where they were traveling to play in a tournament. The community vigil was held May 9 at the Amarillo Netplex.
“They’ve all stepped up from meal trains, donations, emotional support and just reaching out to the families,” he said. “We’ve hugged each other’s necks; we’ve all shed a tear. We’ve done all these things.”
Tipps remarked that they had been contacted by pickleball communities across the country.
“It’s just unifying,” he said. “You know, it’s definitely a community. When this tragedy happened, everybody felt it.”
The mood was somber at a community vigil on Saturday evening, May 9, a week from the date when a plane carrying an Amarillo pickleball team crashed in a wooded area near New Braunfels, where they were traveling to compete in a tournament.
The mood was somber at a community vigil on Saturday evening, May 9, a week from the date when a plane carrying an Amarillo pickleball team crashed in a wooded area near New Braunfels, where they were traveling to compete in a tournament.
Tipps said that the impact of their lives that they had throughout the community, whether it was in business, ministry in their churches of wherever, it has been huge.
“But the one thing that drew us together was pickleball,” Tipps said. “Pickleball is a great equalizer.”
Tipps remarked that no matter how old you are or what kind of shape you’re in, they all shared a common interest and became family.
Many people showed up Saturday evening, May 9 for a candlelight vigil held at the Amarillo Netplex sports center to honor the Amarillo pickleball team members who were killed in a plane crash while on the way to a tournament.
Many people showed up Saturday evening, May 9 for a candlelight vigil held at the Amarillo Netplex sports center to honor the Amarillo pickleball team members who were killed in a plane crash while on the way to a tournament.
“I want the families of the victims to see how much their relatives were loved and witness the impact they’ve had,” he said. “People took time off work to go to their services.”
Many people flew in from other areas to come to the ceremony and services.
Tipps urged people to see the importance of taking advantage of every single day we have, because theirs was cut so short.
Kristi Bennett Tipps, the wife of Don Tipps, a city councilman and pickleball enthusiast, helps light the flames of those who came to remember the five Amarillo pickleball team members who died in a plane crash April 30 near New Braunfels.
Kristi Bennett Tipps, the wife of Don Tipps, a city councilman and pickleball enthusiast, helps light the flames of those who came to remember the five Amarillo pickleball team members who died in a plane crash April 30 near New Braunfels.
“We’re not promised tomorrow,” he said to the crowd. “Tell the ones you care about that you love them and hug them. Live your life today like it’s your last.”
He also urged people to forgive as it says in James 4:14. “Our life is but a vapor here,” Tipps quoted. “So love, love big.”
The event they had scheduled for the end of May has been rescheduled for a memorial tournament at the end of August, according to Tipps.
Those who are interested in lending a helping hand to the memorial can donate through Amarillo National Bank, where a fund has been set up, or go to the Amarillo Pickleball Club Facebook page.