Over the past several years pickleball has garnered massive attention in the media and has quickly become America’s fastest-growing sport. Millions of players have joined the game that combines elements from several other racquet sports like tennis, ping-pong, and badminton. Courts are popping up in cities across the nation, often replacing tennis courts or other structures.
Although pickleball only recently experienced a surge in popularity, the sport has been around for several decades. According to USA Pickleball, it dates back to 1965 when two friends improvised a game using ping pong paddles and a badminton court. The original intent of their game was to create a family-friendly game; and even though pickleball has evolved, it has remained an accessible sport for all ages.
The ease at which someone can pick up the game likely contributes to its widespread popularity. With cheap equipment and thousands of places to play, most people are able to try the sport without much hassle. Another draw towards pickleball is how beginner-friendly it is. The simple rules and concept of the game make it straightforward enough for first-time players to enjoy and quickly get the hang of.
In January of 2024, Mountain Ridge joined the pickleball the trend. Junior Emma Sarver founded Pickleball Club, with the help of Coach Sauffley who is the sponsor. She was inspired to create it after having played and enjoyed it with her friends last summer.
From her experience, pickleball was fun, easy, and had good friendly competition. Emma wanted to share the sport with others at Ridge. She recognized that it was “something to build community… because there’s nothing with that same opportunity at school here.”
It’s easy to get involved in the Pickleball Club. They meet during Thursday Aca-Prep every other week, with all equipment and paddles provided. To join their Remind with more updates about their meeting, just text @pickle24 to 81010.
