The Happy Hitters of North Atlanta were recently honored by the Georgia State Legislature with House Resolution 700 for their work with pickleball athletes for the Special Olympics.

State Rep. Scott Hilton (Peachtree Corners) presented Karla Blaginin and Arthur Jackson, head coaches, and Kimberly Hallam-Maude, manager of Ace Pickleball Club in Roswell, with the proclamation commending the Happy Hitters organization. 

The team consisted of twelve athletes from the Alpharetta, Roswell and Peachtree Corners areas who trained for three months and competed at the Special Olympics of Georgia Winter Games in February.

“It was amazing to see how much pickleball helped the athletes grow,” said Blaginin. “They improved their skills every week, and more importantly, had fun at weekly practice.”

“There was a big team of athletes, coaches, volunteers and ACE staff who helped make the Happy Hitters successful,” added Coach Jackson.

The parents of the athletes shared that all of the players benefited from pickleball, with increased coordination, athleticism and competition.

One standout of the group was Mimi Ngo, a skilled tennis and pickleball player who, under Coach Karla’s training, has entered regular competition. 

The resolution

The house resolution recognized Happy Hitters for “providing athletes with special needs the opportunity to develop skills, build friendships and compete in pickleball” and the commitment of the players themselves.

It also recognized that, in addition to the athletes and coaches, the team had “the support of six community volunteers, five parent volunteers and generous donors who helped cover game fees, team shirts, and refreshments. ACE Pickleball donated space to the team for two seasons in a row for practice, events and meetings, and the Ace Pickleball Club of Roswell has lent its indoor courts and space.”

You can read the full house resolution here.

About the team

The Happy Hitters of North Atlanta team includes Cici Rose, Colin Cooperider, Dana Lu, Elijah Nunn, Gracie King, Jack Chaplin, Jake Jeffries, Kirtana Bulusu, Luke Harriman, Max Bartholomai, Mimi Ngo and Myles Henderson.

The training center aims to empower local youth and adults to reach their peak athletic performance

D1 Training, a leading fitness enrichment concept utilizing the five core tenets of athletic-based training, is opening a new location in Peachtree Corners on May 17. The group fitness facility will employ a sports-science backed training regimen led by certified trainers to help people of all ages achieve their sport and fitness goals.

To celebrate the new location’s launch, Peachtree Corners neighbors and residents are encouraged to stop by and meet the facility’s team at its grand opening event, which will also feature a live DJ, food truck, a simulated sports combine, raffles for members and non-members and fun games for all ages.

Aligning work with a commitment to fitness

The location’s owners, Roald and Marian Richards join a roster of impressive existing franchisees, including professional athletes such as Kylie Fitts and Jordan Gay. Additional D1 Training franchise partners include notable figures such as Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, Tim Tebow and Michael Oher.

The Richards family has always embraced an active lifestyle. Marian played college basketball, while Roald was a multi-sport athlete in high school, competing in both basketball and track. Their children share that same passion: their oldest daughter competes in varsity basketball and track, and their son also plays varsity basketball. Both have played AAU basketball, along with baseball and soccer. Their youngest daughter is now following in their footsteps as a soccer player.

Roald went on to coach basketball at the local YMCA after college and continued coaching his son through childhood. Marian is equally involved, having coached several of their children’s sports teams over the years.

In addition to coaching, Roald has enjoyed a successful 29-year career in finance. With a strong entrepreneurial spirit, he sought business opportunities after achieving financial security. D1 Training aligned perfectly with his interests and values, allowing him to provide young athletes in the community the chance to reach their fitness goals and become the best versions of themselves both on and off the field.

“Throughout my journey in sports, I’ve come to understand that athletics provide kids with the opportunity to build solid foundations and learn invaluable life lessons,” said Roald. “It’s about much more than just playing a game; through sports, children gain discipline and discover important truths about themselves, which can be crucial for their development.”

“I’m excited to help the youth athletes of Peachtree Corners and the surrounding communities achieve their goals and cultivate the confidence they need to excel in whatever they pursue.”

A variety of programs

D1 Training offers four age-based programs, including Rookie (ages 7-11), Developmental (ages 12-14), Prep (ages 15-18) and D1 Adult. Each fitness program is based on the five athletic-based tenets: dynamic warm-up, performance, strength program, core and conditioning and cool down.

Outside of group workouts, D1 Training also offers group, semi-private and one-on-one training with world-class coaches. The goal is simple: to continue to train athletes who are dedicated to their sport or fitness goals, regardless of age or athletic background.

“The Richards are the ideal candidates to bring the D1 Training experience to Peachtree Corners,” said the brand’s Chief Operating Officer, Dan Murphy. “We’re thrilled to welcome them to the D1 family and are confident in their ability to show the Peachtree Corners area what they’ve been missing out on.”

“D1 is a one-of-a-kind fitness experience that’s built around the individual and meant to help people meet their athletic goals,” Murphy continued. “Our strong network of franchisees embodies our core values to bring the D1 Training vision to life, and we know the Richards will do just that in Peachtree Corners and its surrounding communities.”

Expanding the brand

Strategically expanding across the nation through franchising, D1 Training currently has more than 100 performance centers open with over 100 additional locations in various stages of development.

The brand is currently seeking financially qualified business builders, former athletes and entrepreneurs who share a passion for fitness and youth sports and are ready to make a positive impact on their community.

For more information, visit d1training.com/peachtreecorners or call (855) 783-7650.

D1 Training 5250 Triangle Pkwy NW, Suite 400 • Peachtree Corners, GA 30092

The Charity Run/Walk will be part of Curiosity Lab’s annual Criterium event

Expect a day of thrilling races and family-friendly fun at the inaugural Curiosity Lab Charity 5K Run/Walk followed by the Curiosity Lab Criterium on Sunday, April 27.

The day-long community event will kick off at 8 a.m., when registration opens for the 5K. The race will start at 9 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m., and the Criterium will begin at 11:15 a.m.

In addition to the running and cycling events, there will also be kid’s races, food & beverage vendors, a kids zone, a DJ spinning tunes and more fun throughout the day.

The Charity 5K Run/Walk

Presented by Werfen and Sidel, with additional support provided by Atlas Collaborative and the City of Peachtree Corners, the Charity 5K Run/Walk will benefit the American Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and 100% of the registration fees will be donated. 

While no prizes will be given for the race, bib timing will be used for those who would like to see their times. And each registrant will receive a Curiosity Lab Charity 5K Run/Walk t-shirt for participating.

Registration for the 5K is open now.

Curiosity Lab Criterium

Following the 5K, hang around and experience the Curiosity Lab Criterium, part of U.S. Pro Cycling’s Speed Week.

Speed Week is a premiere week-long event on the U.S. Pro Cycling Circuit that draws cyclists from around the world, including Olympic medalists and world and national champions. In 2024, the professional men’s and women’s events drew cyclists from over 30 states and more than 20 countries.

Join in the excitement and watch as some of the world’s top male and female Criterium Racers tackle the most challenging track on the circuit.

The details

The 2025 Curiosity Lab Criterium & 5K will take place on a course located within the world-famous Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners — a 5G-enabled, 500-acre living laboratory ecosystem designed specifically as a proving ground for IoT, mobility and smart city emerging technologies.

Location: Curiosity Lab at City Hall • 310 Technology Pkwy NW, Peachtree Corners

Date and time: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The 5K starts at 9 a.m and ends at 10:30 a.m. The Criterium begins at 11:15 a.m.

Parking for the event will be located at 400 and 420 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners.

For more information, visit peachtreecornersga.gov.