JMU Pickleball Club Release Documentary: The James Madison University (JMU) Pickleball Club has released a new documentary, “For the Love of the Game – The JMU Pickleball Nationals Experience,” highlighting their journey at the 2024 DUPR Collegiate National Championship. Premiering on January 22, 2025, the film captures the team’s challenges, victories, and intense competition.
The Format and JMU’s Approach
Collegiate pickleball follows a unique team format, requiring four players—two men and two women—to compete in doubles and mixed doubles matches. If tied 2-2, the match is decided by a “Dreambreaker,” a singles rotation.
“Even if you have a really, really good player, you need the whole team to be there to really exchange these matches.” – (Ryan Morneau, Team member)
JMU is known for its energetic style, bringing enthusiasm to every match. Their high-energy approach makes them stand out but also draws mixed reactions from opponents.
Nationals Recap: Triumphs and Challenges
JMU started the tournament with a tough loss to Purdue, struggling in doubles and mixed doubles.
“We lost that match, and it was on me,” said Ryan Morneau after a close Dreambreaker defeat, 21-18.
The team bounced back in later rounds, using their deep 20-player roster to build momentum. Their final match against Virginia Tech was intense. After falling behind 20-8, JMU fought back to 20-19 before a missed serve ended their run.
Collegiate Pickleball’s Rapid Growth
The DUPR Collegiate National Championship featured 64 teams, a number expected to double next year. With increasing support from DUPR and the PPA, the sport is growing quickly, raising discussions about scholarships and NIL deals in the future.
News in Brief: JMU Pickleball Club Release Documentary
The JMU Pickleball Club’s documentary, released on January 22, 2025, highlights their journey at Nationals. The team showed tenacity but fell short in key moments. With collegiate pickleball expanding rapidly, more teams are joining, fueling speculation about future scholarships and increased recognition for the sport.
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