The University of Wisconsin’s Pickleball Club is working to secure a spot in the 2025 DUPR Collegiate National Championship. Founded in 2022 by student Taylor Chemer, the club has grown into a competitive program that now ranks 32nd among all DUPR collegiate teams.
“Our club is the home of competitive pickleball on campus.” – (Taylor Chemer)
Competitive Tryouts and Training
The Wisconsin Pickleball Club runs each semester with tryouts at the start of the season. The team, capped at 40 members, held tryouts in late January, adding nine new players. Practices take place twice weekly at the Bakke Recreation and Wellbeing Center, where players refine skills through drills and scrimmages.
“Occasionally we have professional pickleball players come in to teach clinics where our players can learn new skills.” – (Taylor Chemer)
The club is sponsored by JOOLA, a pickleball and table tennis company. Players receive a custom-branded uniform and JOOLA paddle each year as part of the sponsorship.
Competing at the Collegiate Level
The club competes in community and collegiate events. They frequently travel to Lake Geneva for Minor League Pickleball tournaments and participate in DUPR regional competitions. Their next major event, the Midwest Invitational, is scheduled for March 8-9 in Lake Geneva.
Last fall, the team secured a wildcard bid to the DUPR Collegiate National Championship in Dallas, Texas. This semester, they hosted a regional tournament and placed second and third but did not win a bid for nationals.
“This semester we are hitting the ground running trying to earn a bid to the 2025 DUPR National Championship.” – (Taylor Chemer)
Following their home tournament, Wisconsin sent teams to Columbus, Ohio, for another DUPR regional event. The club plans to compete in additional DUPR tournaments in Iowa and Lake Geneva.
Expanding Beyond DUPR
The club also competes in Association of Pickleball Players (APP) events. Last fall, they qualified for the APP U.S. Collegiate Championship in Cape Coral, Florida, by performing well in regional qualifiers in St. Charles, Missouri.
With the spring season underway, the team aims to improve their DUPR ranking and earn a national championship bid.
Growth and Impact
Chemer reflected on the club’s unexpected success, saying,
“[The club] has surpassed all of our expectations and become something we never imagined it would.” – (Taylor Chemer)
Beyond competition, the club has provided opportunities for leadership and skill development.
“I have learned a lot about leadership, organizational development and even contract negotiation through my time with the club, which will be incredibly useful after I graduate.” – (Taylor Chemer)
Operating the club has been a learning experience for Chemer and his teammates.
“Overall, this club has grown to become a huge part of my life here on campus, [and] it has been one of the greatest decisions that I have made during my time here at UW-Madison.” – (Taylor Chemer)
News in Brief: University of Wisconsin’s Pickleball Club
The University of Wisconsin’s Pickleball Club is striving for a bid to the 2025 DUPR Collegiate National Championship. The team, ranked 32nd nationally, competes in DUPR and APP tournaments. They continue to train and travel, hoping to secure a spot at nationals while fostering leadership and development among members.
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