Valley Paddle Battle: Pickleball is coming to Pauls Valley on Saturday, April 12, with a new event called the Valley Paddle Battle taking place at Wacker Park. Hosted by the Pauls Valley Tennis and Racquet Association, the tournament will support school tennis teams and help fund court renovations.
The event begins at 8:30 a.m. on four recently updated tennis courts on the east side of Wacker Park, plus additional space on the west side. A pickle-eating contest for kids 12 and under is set for noon. The tournament features doubles play only, and players can register online through the association’s website.
Growing Interest in Paddle Sports
The Pauls Valley Tennis and Racquet Association has already hosted tournaments in tennis, touchtennis, and table tennis. The April pickleball event is its first foray into this fast-growing sport.
Matt Hamilton of the local racquet group shared optimism about the event’s turnout.
“I think we will have a good response,” Hamilton said.
Regional Support Grows
The group connected with other pickleball clubs in towns nearby and beyond. One such connection helped them promote the event to a wider audience.
“We reached out to pickleball clubs in a lot of towns,” Hamilton said. “Some of them have a big pickleball community. A pickleball club in Paris, Texas contacted us and invited us to post our event on their Facebook page.”
Although the Pauls Valley group is still learning the sport, they’ve received support from outside players.
“We’re comprised mostly of tennis players,” Hamilton said about the local association.
“This is our first venture in pickleball. A couple of local players, others from Edmond and Paris, Texas have helped us out.”
Clubs from Dallas, Oklahoma City, Lawton, and Tulsa have also shown interest in attending.
Supporting Youth and Courts
Proceeds from the tournament will benefit school tennis programs and future facility upgrades. The group already donated $1,800 this year for tennis equipment and launched a scholarship for Pauls Valley seniors.
They also offer indoor pickleball rentals at the Reynolds Recreation Center, helping introduce more players to the game.
The goal is to host events every few months to keep momentum going and raise funds for continued improvements to local courts.
News in Brief: Valley Paddle Battle
The Valley Paddle Battle pickleball event is set for April 12 at Wacker Park in Pauls Valley. Organized by the local tennis and racquet group, the doubles-only tournament starts at 8:30 a.m. Proceeds support school tennis teams and court upgrades. A pickle-eating contest for kids is also planned at noon.
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