UConn Pickleball Club: The University of Connecticut’s pickleball club is making waves, securing a spot at the DUPR Nationals. As pickleball rapidly expands worldwide, UConn students are embracing the sport, growing their club, and competing nationally—all while hoping for official recognition by the NCAA.
Pickleball’s Growth at UConn
Pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports globally, has attracted millions of players, including students at the University of Connecticut.
According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals, over 36 million players participate in the sport across the United States. UConn’s pickleball club, which students revived, has seen a rapid increase in membership and enthusiasm on campus.
“My grandma got me into it. She was playing and she took me down to my local courts, and just the social aspect that comes with playing, and being able to play and compete and socialize is mainly the thing that draws me to it.” – (Brian Oppeheim)
National Competition and Collegiate Expansion
Over the last four years, the club has grown from a small group of friends to a competitive team on the national stage.
“Four years ago when we started the club, it was just me and a couple of friends, and there was nowhere to compete against other schools or on a national level. Since then, now there’s like a national level collegiate league called DUPR, and there’s like, I’m pretty sure there’s tens of thousands of members and there’s tournaments happening probably every weekend around the country.” – (David Hatch)
With collegiate pickleball gaining traction, UConn players believe it is only a matter of time before the sport becomes officially recognized by the NCAA.
“In a few years it will definitely be an NCAA sport, and I’ll probably be left in the dust, because the players will be a lot better than I am.” – (Sam Powell)
Struggles with Court Space
Despite the club’s success, one major challenge remains—finding a dedicated court on campus. Without official pickleball courts, members must travel off-campus to practice and compete.
“We really struggle to find court space to practice at and to compete at. We have to organize carpools to drive people to local places to play, to pay to play, and that’s a big barrier for a lot of people who really want to get involved.” – (David Hatch)
A Transformative Experience
Competing in national tournaments has given UConn players the opportunity to travel to locations like Florida, Chicago, and Las Vegas.
“Right now we’re ranked 13th in colleges. But to be honest, for us that’s not our main reason why we’re competing. We’re competing just to have an extra laugh on the court, to be able to make those bonds for the future, and just have a good time.” – (Heather Kim, club president)
Now, with a ticket to the DUPR Nationals, the UConn pickleball club is ready to showcase their passion and skills on a national stage.
News in Brief: UConn Pickleball Club
The University of Connecticut pickleball club has secured a spot at the DUPR Nationals as the sport continues to grow. Despite lacking official courts, the club has expanded rapidly, competing nationally. Players believe pickleball will soon become an NCAA sport, making their success even more significant.
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