Sioux Falls Pickleball Tournament Growth: A big pickleball tournament started on June 27 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, bringing together over 230 players who love the fast-growing sport. The Annual Pickleball Tournament is hosted by the Sioux Falls Area Pickleball Club and runs through Sunday with singles, doubles, and mixed doubles matches.
A Growing Sport and Club
Noah Stude, age 21, has been playing for years. “My uncle started playing it, and then we started playing it, and then we just haven’t stopped playing it since they started,” Noah Stude said.
Kay Faber, Tournament Director with the Sioux Falls Area Pickleball Club, shared details about the weekend. “We have Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We have singles, skinny singles. We have, today we also have a 55-plus doubles, men’s and women’s doubles. And then Saturday, we have just regular men’s and women’s doubles all day. Sunday is our mixed day, so we’ll have four groups of mixed doubles on Sunday,” Kay Faber said.
Club membership has nearly quadrupled over the years. “Pickleball in general, nationwide, has grown exponentially every year. And so for Sioux Falls, it’s no different. We have grown from originally, I believe the club had maybe 200 members, and now we have almost close to 800 members in Sioux Falls,” Kay Faber said.
Building Community and Fun
Linda Erickson helped build the courts with Avera and is happy to see the community enjoy them. “It’s very gratifying to see that these courts have made a difference in the community. And, there are so many people out here now playing, and this is the first of three tournaments that we’ll have here this summer,” Linda Erickson said.
Players like Noah Stude say pickleball is a sport anyone can enjoy. “It’s super fun. You can be as competitive and non-competitive. Anybody can play, whether you– I can run a lot, but some people don’t and you can still keep up and it’s just a sport that anybody can play no matter where you’re at,” Noah Stude said.
Kay Faber invited everyone to come watch. “I hope that people will come out and watch the tournament and see how much fun it is to get into a tournament,” Kay Faber said.
Impact and What’s Next
The tournament shows how popular pickleball has become in Sioux Falls. With more people joining the club and more events planned this summer, the sport is likely to keep growing in the community. While registration is closed, visitors are encouraged to watch the games and learn about pickleball.
News in Brief: Sioux Falls Pickleball Tournament Growth
A pickleball tournament in Sioux Falls started June 27, drawing over 230 players. Events include singles, doubles, and mixed doubles matches through Sunday. Leaders say the sport’s popularity is soaring, with club membership rising to nearly 800 people. Spectators are welcome to watch the action.
ALSO READ: Serve Up Hope: La Casa’s Pickleball Tournament Rallies Community for Domestic Violence Survivors