Utah Tech Trailblazers’ Historic Victory: The 2024 collegiate pickleball season has officially ended, resulting in a remarkable achievement by the Utah Tech Trailblazers. From 16 campus regionals to 9 super regionals, the season came to a head with the highly anticipated Collegiate National Championship.
In just two years, collegiate pickleball has expanded exponentially—what was once a single event in 2022 has transformed into a thriving competition, with 27 events this season. This growth is a direct result of the teams and players who have embraced the sport and continually pushed collegiate pickleball to new heights.
Journey of Collegiate Pickleball
The numbers speak volumes about the growth of collegiate pickleball, particularly in the past two years:
| Year | Events | Schools | Players |
| 2022 | 1 | 17 | 151 |
| 2023 | 14 | 65 | 1,081 |
| 2024 | 27 | 120 | 2,690 |
With these impressive statistics in mind, the 2025 season promises even greater expansion, with more campus regionals and dual matches designed to foster localized competition.
A significant change is the National Championship’s new scheduling for 2025, which will now take place at the end of the spring semester, specifically from April 11-13, 2025.
Utah Tech Trailblazers Dominate, Defend Title
The standout moment of the 2024 Nationals was the performance of the Utah Tech Trailblazers, who clinched their first national title dominantly. After narrowly missing out on victories in the 2022 and 2023 championships, Utah Tech Trailblazers finally secured the title with a perfect run in the semifinal and final matches.
They won over the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) 3-0 in the semifinals and swept the University of Virginia (UVA) 3-0 in the finals. These victories were especially sweet, as the University of North Carolina and the University of Virginia had ruined Utah Tech Trailblazers’s championship dreams in previous years.
The Power of Fans: A Game-Changing Atmosphere
One of the defining aspects of the 2024 Nationals was the undeniable influence of fans. The University of North Carolina and the University of Virginia brought large, energetic crowds to the event, and their fervent support was noticeable throughout the tournament.
The cheering was particularly intense during key moments, propelling the University of North Carolina to a dramatic quarterfinal win over Utah Valley and the University of Virginia to a hard-fought semifinal victory over Clemson. The impact of these fans was evident, with their energy creating a thrilling atmosphere that fueled the teams’ performances.
2025 Nationals: Early Qualification and Key Teams
The 2025 season is already shaping up, with 24 bids awarded at the 2024 Nationals to fast-track the qualification process. Here’s a look at the teams who earned those bids:
- Champion: Utah Tech Trailblazers
- Runner-Up: University of Virginia
- Semifinalists: University of North Carolina, Clemson
- Quarterfinalists: FAU, Utah Valley, Indiana, NC State
- Round of 16: Texas A&M, Miami (FL), Drury, TCU, Virginia Tech, Purdue, UT Austin, USC
- Round of 32 Bowl Winners: UT Arlington, FSU, Baylor, Samford, Mississippi State, UF, Michigan State, Michigan
The Nationals, featuring 500 players and 64 teams in a single-elimination format, proved to be an exhilarating event. Fans and players were on the edge of their seats, especially during the thrilling quarterfinal matchups, including FAU vs. Clemson and University of North Carolina vs. Utah Valley.
The Rise of Collegiate Pickleball’s Blue Bloods
As the third season of collegiate pickleball comes to a close, a few schools have emerged as dominant forces in the sport. The University of North Carolina, University of Virginia, and Utah Tech Trailblazers have become the “blue bloods” of collegiate pickleball, consistently performing at the highest level and setting the standard for excellence on and off the court.
These teams have reigned supreme, and their success at Nationals speaks for itself. Here’s a breakdown of their impressive records at the tournament.
| Category | Blue Bloods (University of North Carolina, University of Virginia, Utah Tech Trailblazers) | Every Other School |
| Championships | 1 | 14 |
| Runner-Ups | 17 | 65 |
| Semifinals | 15 | 81 |
These three programs have been virtually unstoppable, with no other schools making it to the finals, except for a notable instance of TCU defeating the University of Virginia in 2022’s group play. Will Utah Valley, FAU, Clemson, Indiana, and NC State challenge the blue bloods in 2025, or will the University of North Carolina, University of Virginia, and Utah Tech Trailblazers continue to dominate?
News in Brief: Utah Tech Trailblazers’ Historic Victory
The 2024 DUPR Collegiate Season concluded with a dominant performance from Utah Tech Trailblazers, who claimed their first National Championship title after years of near-misses. The Utah Tech Trailblazers won in a perfect 3-0 sweep over the University of North Carolina and the University of Virginia.
This season saw a remarkable increase in participation, with over 2,600 players representing 120 schools in 27 events. The 2025 season promises even more growth, with the National Championship moving to the spring and 24 teams already securing bids.
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