Pickleball Starts at St. Petersburg High School: St. Petersburg High School has embraced the pickleball craze, becoming one of the first schools in the country to establish an afterschool pickleball club and even build its pickleball courts. The school hopes to inspire more high schools to adopt the sport and eventually make it an official high school competition.
A Student-Led Initiative
Recognizing that unused tennis courts could be repurposed, a group of students and faculty members took on the challenge of building pickleball courts. They have spent 10 to 15 hours after school hand-painting and marking court boundaries.
“We wanted to build a club here at STP High because pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and we wanted to sustain that demand.” – (student)
Pickleball’s Growing Popularity
Students are drawn to the fast-paced, social, and competitive nature of the game. Unlike tennis, which can feel slower and more distanced, pickleball allows players to interact and strategize in close quarters.
“I play tennis, but pickleball feels more exciting. You’re closer to your opponent, so you can talk while you play, and it’s just more fun.” – (student)
Inspiring Other Schools
With pickleball growing rapidly nationwide, the St. Petersburg High School club hopes to pave the way for more schools to introduce organized pickleball programs.
“We’re one of the only high school pickleball clubs in the country. Hopefully, we can inspire others to do the same.” – (student)
What’s Next?
The success of St. Petersburg High School’s pickleball club could serve as a blueprint for other high schools looking to integrate the sport into their athletic programs. With pickleball’s popularity at an all-time high, it may only be a matter of time before it becomes an official high school sport.
News in Brief: Pickleball Starts at St. Petersburg High School
St. Petersburg High School has launched a pickleball club and built new courts, making it one of the first schools in the country to do so. Students are embracing the fast-growing sport, and the school hopes to inspire other schools to follow suit, pushing for pickleball to become an official high school sport.
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