Pickleball’s Rise in Occidental College: Occidental College’s Pickleball Club has quickly gained traction, offering students of varying interests and skill levels the opportunity to engage in the sport. This success story traces back to its origins when Club Treasurer Joseph Langley and Club President Sara Masaki, both seniors, first conceived the idea during their freshman year.
“She made a group chat with just our friends, and kept mentioning that we play to people. We kept adding to that group chat and eventually it got too large, so we made a Gmail chat because it’s really easy to add people to that.” – (Langley)
Surge in Membership and Social Media Influence
With its official launch this year, the Pickleball Club has seen a surge in membership. New member Keya Mammen, a sophomore, noted the club’s expansion this fall, with the group chat now hosting around 70 students.
“It was like this huge craze, everyone was playing on social media. The group chat came to be so we could get as many Oxy students as possible.” – (Mammen)
Community Building Through Group Chats
Sebastian Accetta, Chief Operating Officer of Electrum Pickleball at Purdue University, shared insights into the impact of group chats on club participation.
“At Purdue, the club first started off as a group. People would just text when they wanted to play and meetup. If someone new was found they would be added to the group chat.” – (Sebastian Accetta)
Both Occidental and Purdue’s clubs have found group chats crucial for fostering community and generating interest. Accetta highlighted the positive social dynamics, saying,
“Due to the naturally social aspect of the club, pickleball has specifically drawn young adults to the sport. A lot of my closest friends have come from Pickleball Club, and whenever we host open plays or events, I always see new people chatting and smiling.” – (Sebastian Accetta)
Challenges and Advocacy for Better Facilities
Despite its success, the Occidental Pickleball Club faces challenges with administrative support. Langley reported difficulties in accessing athletic facilities and equipment, noting,
“There are rules around reserving the tennis courts — you can only do that twice a semester. We’ve been looking into trying to go to other places such as public parks or tournaments with other schools.” – (Langley)
Langley also mentioned ongoing efforts to persuade the sports department for more accessible court hours.
“It’s kind of silly that you have open hours for the pool and all the other sports facilities, but according to the rules, unless you’re on the tennis team, you’re not allowed to be on the tennis courts ever. We’re trying to convince them to create open hours or have more times available to reserve.” – (Langley)
The Joy of Pickleball: A Collaborative Experience
Langley emphasized the game’s collaborative and supportive nature, saying,
“The mechanics of pickleball are not what make it so awesome to me. At the end of the day it’s fun to hear someone hyping you up when you do well, and that’s what Pickleball Club is.” – (Langley)
News in Brief: Pickleball’s Rise in Occidental College
The Occidental Pickleball Club, driven by a group chat initiated by founders Joseph Langley and Sara Masaki, has surged in popularity this fall, now hosting around 70 members. The club’s success is mirrored by similar trends at Purdue University, where group chats have played a key role in community building.
Despite challenges in accessing athletic facilities, Langley and the club continue to advocate for better access and hours. The supportive and collaborative nature of pickleball remains a core element of the club’s appeal.
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