Pickleball is proving a huge hit at NC State University. The university has an incredibly lively pickleball community that caters for casual matches or national championship games.
The introduction of pickleball at NC State can be traced back to Robert Valdillez, a Ph.D. student in nuclear physics, who founded the club in 2019.
Valdillez proudly stated that the club was the first of its kind in the United States and became the inaugural official collegiate member of USA Pickleball. It garnered recognition in USA Pickleball’s magazine and served as a model for similar clubs nationwide.
Over 100 Active Participants
In its inaugural semester, the club boasted about five regular members. Following a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, membership swelled to around 50, and it now boasts over 100 active participants. Valdillez attributed pickleball’s popularity to its accessibility.
Valdillez noted, “The barrier of entry is so much lower than tennis. You can pick up a pickleball paddle without ever having played a racquet sport, and within 10 or 15 minutes on the court, you’re able to rally around with friends and be in some actual play.”
He emphasized the inclusivity of the sport, highlighting its ability to bring together individuals of various ages, stating, “It’s one of the only sports I know that you could be on the court with a 12-year-old and an 80-year-old playing the same sport together.”
A Competitive Edge
Lauren Hutchinson, a third-year student in business and a dedicated tennis player, observed that while pickleball can be enjoyed casually, it also possesses a competitive edge and is more nuanced than commonly believed.
“The court is a lot smaller [than in tennis], so your shots have to be more calculated and less power, more angle,” Hutchinson explained. “[It’s more] fast-paced; tennis is a lot more spread out because everybody’s closer together.”
Valdillez highlighted that the club organizes and participates in national tournaments, including hosting the largest national collegiate pickleball tournament last year.
He underscored the club’s exceptional fundraising capabilities, allowing them to bring significantly more players to tournaments compared to other colleges.
Competitive Presence
Valdillez also mentioned that the club utilizes the tennis courts at Carmichael Gym for their matches. He noted that the sport’s surge in popularity led to the installation of enough pickleball lines to accommodate 24 simultaneous games.
Despite NC State’s substantial competitive presence, Valdillez clarified that there are no tryouts for the competitive team. Interested players must attend mandatory practices, and the club hosts an internal tournament to select its top players for national competitions.
Dynamic Nature
Grant Johnson, a second-year student in biological engineering and the vice president of NC State Club Pickleball, expressed his enthusiasm for the evolving nature of pickleball as it gains popularity, emphasizing its dynamic nature.
He noted, “New players are coming on the scene constantly, and it’s just rapidly growing as well as rapidly changing, and that’s what I love about it – it’s a very dynamic sport.
“It’s just incredible how quickly it’s changed, like strategy even from last year to this year, as well as how technology has changed so much recently that has created such a big shift in how it’s played.”
Refer to the club’s website and Instagram account for updates and practice details.
All practices take place at the Carmichael outdoor tennis courts, and equipment is provided.
