Mizzou vs Kansas Pickleball Rivalry: The University of Missouri and the University of Kansas will add pickleball to their Border Showdown rivalry this week. The club teams from both schools will face off Friday night at The Kitchen, 3711 Discovery Parkway in Columbia. The match takes place the evening before the Tigers and Jayhawks football game.
Pickleball’s Growth on Campus
This marks the first time the two schools meet in pickleball. The sport is among the fastest growing in the country, and its popularity has spread to both universities.
MU graduate Dylan Frazier, an Ashland native ranked No. 7 in the world, helped spark the idea for a club team while he was a freshman. “He always wanted to start a pickleball club,” said MU coach Paul Rubenstein.
This fall, the University of Missouri launched its first pickleball club team. Club president Caden Davis explained his motivation: “I played college baseball, and when I transferred to Mizzou, I was like, ‘I really want to continue to fuel that fire.’”
Competitive Spirit
The 2024–25 season marks the first year MU’s club will compete against other universities, including Kansas. “It’s a love-hate relationship,” said Caden Davis. “I love the rivalry, but I hate them. I want to beat them.”
The rivalry will also play out in a personal way. University of Missouri player Aryen Patel will compete against his twin brother, University of Kansas player Ishan Patel. “Twins, siblings, brothers. Growing up, it’s always a cat and mouse game,” said Aryen Patel. “Like, who can one-up each other.”
Personal Rivalries
For Aryen Patel, the matchup is both personal and symbolic. “I have a chance to really represent myself and this school against someone that I’ve grown up with this whole time, who’s representing his school now,” he said.
Still, Aryen Patel described the emotions differently than many fans. “Hate’s a strong word, I’ll say that. I wouldn’t say ‘hate’ but, you’ve heard the chants at the football games and whatnot.”
Caden Davis noted that the team is ready to take on the Jayhawks. “Let’s beat them, put on a show, get the community around it,” he said.
What Comes Next
The pickleball showdown is open to the public, giving fans a chance to watch the rivalry in a new sport. The matchup highlights the rapid growth of pickleball on college campuses and could open the door for more university competitions in the future.
News in Brief: Mizzou vs Kansas Pickleball Rivalry
The University of Missouri and the University of Kansas will extend their Border Showdown rivalry to pickleball on Friday at The Kitchen in Columbia. This will be MU’s first full season of club play. The match features teammates, rivals, and even twin brothers Aryen and Ishan Patel facing off across the net.
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