Browsing: Pickleball News

The onset of spring has brought an exciting development at the University of Central Florida: the inauguration of the inaugural pickleball courts on the main campus. “Exploded In Every Campus” “It just seems to have exploded in every campus, every community,” remarked Sarah Hunt, associate director of facilities at the Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC), talking about the sport’s growing popularity. “So, I think the four courts are a great start.” Tyler Reik, treasurer for competitive pickleball at UCF and a sophomore business management major, noted that the team finally has an official practice venue. Previously, it had to make…

Doug Dvorak is well known in the realm of pickleball as a premier senior player and instructor. His expertise is widely acknowledged, and he is among the inaugural instructors certified by PCI—Pickleball Coaching International. 4.0-4.5 Level He also holds a lofty position as Head Pickleball Teaching Professional at Tamarack Resort in his hometown of Donnelly, Idaho. However, his achievements extend beyond mere certification. Doug boasts a remarkable track record of triumphs in regional, national, and global tournaments. He competes at a 4.0-4.5 level and has gold medals to his name in prestigious events such as the Idaho State Senior Games…

The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) completed a landmark weekend with one of the largest-ever pickleball tournaments in its history in front of a capacity crowd at the 2024 APP Sacramento Open. Not only that, Jorja Johnson, 17, became the youngest-ever player in APP Tour history to secure a Triple Crown with three gold medals on a thrilling Championship Sunday, broadcast nationally on ESPN2 and ESPN+. Battling For Gold Nearly 1,500 pickleball players of all ages and skill levels competed throughout the week at Johnson Ranch Pickleball Complex in Roseville, California. In addition to Johnson’s historic Triple Crown, pro gold…

Spring is on its way, and that is reflected in the increase in tournaments and other pickleball-related activities popping up across the nation. Here, we look at a conference, open sessions, and fundraisers happening in Texas, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Texas Ranchers Texas Ranchers, one of the eight pioneering Major League Pickleball squads in the U.S., has invited pickleball enthusiasts, festival-goers, and the Austin populace to join them at the Ranchers Roost—the inaugural Pickleball House—during Austin’s spring festival today on March 11.  Engaging Content The Ranchers Roost promises a day brimming with engaging content, uniting top-tier entrepreneurs, athletes, and brands from…

Although most of the attention this weekend will be on the 2024 APP Sacramento Open, there’s also another important pickleball tournament happening in Kentucky. The first River City Pickleball Classic began in Owensboro on Friday and finishes today, Sunday. The tournament started two hours late because of a power outage, but the rain did not stop the fun. Largest Tournament Yet With 425 players registered, officials say this is the largest tournament by the River City Pickleball Club yet. The Merchant Centre Court at Russel Shifley Park is hosting the event. The tournament kicked off with the 50-year-old and up…

We reported last week that the APP (Association of Pickleball Players) had unveiled the lineups for Team USA and Team Europe, which will compete in the inaugural APP Atlantic Cup on March 20, 22, and 24 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Winning Gold With Her Mom! One of the most prominent names on the Team USA roster was the Kentuckian, the ole Louisville slugger herself, Riley Bohnert. With a formidable doubles DUPR of 5.41, The Milwaukee Masher is among the most highly-rated players around. Indeed, she won the 2022 APP Indianapolis Open, one of the first tournaments she played…

We got an interesting insight into the mind of Anna Leigh Waters, the number one female-ranked player in pickleball, recently when she spent some time at Gerald Ford Elementary in Indian Wells, California. Seventeen-year-old Waters and the team from FILA visited the school on Thursday, hosting a Q&A and a pickleball clinic with students. Humble And Grounded She played pickleball with some of the school staff, put students through training exercises, and was on hand to sign autographs and pose for selfies. The athlete turned pro when she was only 12 years old and has enjoyed a meteoric rise to…

In Glendale, veterans injured on the front lines are discovering a new avenue for rehabilitation: the pickleball court. ABC15 reports that Semper Fi & America’s Fund is facilitating a pickleball clinic tailored to assist these warriors in both physical and mental recovery through participation in this increasingly popular sport. Free Pickleball Clinic The nonprofit veterans’ group Semper Fi and America’s Fund hosts a free pickleball clinic every Thursday at the Glendale Chicken N Pickle. This initiative helps injured veterans engage in sports to promote their physical and mental well-being. Navy Veteran Michael Smith, whose left leg was amputated following a…

Lane Community College is poised to become the central pickleballing hub in the Pacific Northwest as it plans to complete a groundbreaking $5 million complex, thanks to the efforts of the Emerald Valley Pickleball Foundation and the support of Travel Lane County, Oregon. Escalating Demand Eric Wold, a board member of the Emerald Valley Pickleball Foundation, highlighted the necessity for such a facility due to the escalating demand for the sport across the region: “Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country, and it has been for the last three years. The growth has been so rapid that communities don’t…

The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) and UTR Sports have announced a groundbreaking new initiative for millions of recreational pickleball players across the nation—the creation of APP UTR Sports Pickleball Leagues. Pickleball players, league coordinators, and facility operators are encouraged to sign up now to receive additional details for the inaugural season at theapp.global. Nearly 50 Million U.S. Adults Playing Pickleball With nearly 50 million adult Americans playing pickleball, APP UTR Sports Pickleball Leagues now offers athletes of all ages and abilities the opportunity to form teams and compete head-to-head in their local communities. It establishes the largest grassroots team…