It wasn’t just the pros and big-name pickleball bodies that were in action this weekend. We also saw dozens of tournaments springing up across the U.S. Here, we feature three of the last two days’ smaller tournaments that took place in Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Illinois.

Gleason Family YMCA, Massachusetts

Sixteen top-notch pickleball players from the South Coast area of Massachusetts convened at the Gleason Family YMCA for a competitive St. Patrick’s Day pickleball tournament.

Situated in southeastern Massachusetts, the South Coast encompasses southern Bristol and Plymouth counties along the shores of Buzzards Bay. It features cities like Fall River, New Bedford, a slice of East Taunton, and other neighboring towns.

While the contenders gave their all in pursuit of victory, the sport’s social aspect meant there was a convivial atmosphere in the venue during the tournament. 

“You are going to meet 85 new friends you didn’t know you needed,” remarked Erin McHugh, an author whose book Pickleball Is Life we reviewed in January. Reflecting on the inclusive nature of pickleball, McHugh added, “Pickleball’s very welcoming; everybody’s very kind.”

Chuck Rossiter described the tournament as “pretty casual.” However, he mentioned a few elements that influenced his gameplay. He found adjusting to the format of playing to seven points challenging. Moreover, he viewed the tournament as an opportunity to enhance his skills and avoid “doing stupid shots.”

As a former racquetball player, Rossiter acknowledged the sport’s sociability and accessibility. “It’s very social,” he told Wareham Week.

Ray LeComte of Wareham clinched the gold medal over silver medalist Wistar Wood from Marion. Meanwhile, Katie Frink of Onset proudly claimed the bronze.

Organizer Dan Butler noted that the tournament not only provided thrilling competition but also raised over $400 for the YMCA’s pickleball program.

Johnson City, Tennessee

The Quillen College of Medicine hosted its first-ever Pickleball Palooza this weekend to raise money for a local hospital. About 150 people from the Tri-City area came to Johnson City, Tennessee, to play pickleball for a good cause. 

The Tri-Cities is the region comprising the cities of Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol and the surrounding smaller towns and communities in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

This two-day event featured players of varying skill levels and ages. All the proceeds from the tournament will be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

First-year medical student Bo Cotten organized the event and told News WCYS5, “Everybody here has been so awesome, and you know this is just proof that Johnson City really cares about its community.

“They care about helping people, and they care about pickleball too, so we’ve really appreciated working with them. It’s been great to get the medical school engaged with the community and all my friends getting to get introduced to people and our next-door neighbors.”

East Tennessee State University pre-med student Jacob Snipp added, “It was an easy decision to go with St. Jude, but the real question was, ‘What are we going to do, and how are we going to fundraise for these kids?’ The answer was pickleball because it is exploding right now, and this is our way to make a difference here.’

Bloomington, Illinois

Nearly 325 players participated in the Evergreen Racquet Club’s seventh annual pickleball tournament at the indoor court facility at 3203 E. Washington Street in Bloomington, Illinois.

The 2024 B-Town Throwdown tournament started on Friday and continued through Sunday. It featured 22 divisions and 323 players, with 795 individual matches on 18 pickleball courts.

Event brackets showed players ranging in age from 11 to at least one person in their 70s. Players came from Missouri, Wisconsin, Texas and Kentucky, and 19 Iowans represented the largest contingent of out-of-state contestants.

Colleen Curran, general manager of the Bloomington racquet club, told The Pantagraph, “Even younger people are getting more involved in this,” adding that area high schools now offer pickleball as part of their physical education programs.

Curran said the club membership of 350 pickleball-only players is another sign of how popular the sport has become. She also wanted to thank the 55 volunteers who helped organize the tournament.

Father and daughter Marcin and Natalia Simson took part in the 4.5 skill level bracket, which is only one tier below the 5.0+ pro level.

In conversation with the Pantagraph, Natalia, 11, said, “The coolest part of the sport is the competition and the people, and she and her dad agree it’s a great family activity.”

Casey Sincavage, who competed at the tournament alongside his wife Raechel, said, “[Pickleball] will provide you with a community.” It’s the best way to exercise. Chasing a plastic ball around and swinging a paddle at it: it’s a lot of fun!”