Carlmont’s Pickleball Tournament: The vibrant energy of cheering fans and the sounds of pickleball paddles hitting balls echoed through the Carlmont tennis courts on Friday afternoon, as the school hosted its inaugural student versus staff pickleball tournament. The event, organized by Carlmont’s Pickleball Club, showed thrilling matches between students and teachers in two competitive divisions—intermediate and advanced. Although the tournament ended with staff winning in both brackets, the event was a resounding success, leaving everyone eager for more.
Intermediate Division: A Battle of Wits and Agility
The intermediate bracket featured a dynamic showdown between seniors Leonard Jin and Donovan Dooley, and teachers Greer Stone and Connor Fenech. The match, characterized by fast footwork and agile moves, was intense from start to finish. Jin expressed his hopes for a student victory with a humorous edge,
“There was a lot of tension; I was kind of hoping that we’d win so during class, Mr. Stone wouldn’t brag about it.”
Despite the high stakes and playful banter from Stone and Fenech, who kept the crowd entertained with their court jabs, the student duo struggled to keep up. Stone and Fenech’s determination to maintain their undefeated streak paid off as they clinched the win with an 11-8 scoreline. Stone reflected on the match with a touch of humor,
“I think it was a nice reminder to them that we’re about double their age and still running circles around them on the court.”
Advanced Division: Dominance on Display
The advanced division saw an even more one-sided affair. Brothers Nico and Andrew Cruz faced off against math teachers Carlos Flores and Rebecca Pearlman. With Pearlman having honed her pickleball skills since spring 2020, and Flores equally proficient, the students were left overpowered. The match saw Flores and Pearlman losing just one point throughout the tournament, eventually finishing with a commanding 11-0 victory.
Club co-president Brandon Wu acknowledged the dominance of the staff with mixed feelings.
“I knew they would do good. For pickleball, age and athleticism don’t really play much of a role. It’s more control. I definitely anticipated it but I didn’t think it’d be that brutal.” – (Wu)
A Milestone for the Pickleball Club
This tournament marked a significant milestone for Carlmont’s Pickleball Club, which had previously only organized smaller matches.
“It was kind of something we were thinking about when we started the club in sophomore year. This year, we decided it’s our senior year, we might as well try with all of our new teachers and all of our past teachers.” – (club founder Gabriel Rui)
Thanks to the addition of pickleball lines on the tennis courts and new nets purchased for student use, the club was able to execute the tournament on a larger scale. The use of six tennis courts for 12 pickleball courts allowed for a seamless event.
“We had Ms. Pearlman email a form to everyone, and somehow, it was very successful. Then word of mouth spread, and we got 52 people who filled out the form, and then we had to say no, and people still showed up just to watch.” – (wu)
A Strong Turnout and Community Support
The enthusiastic turnout exceeded expectations, with students, teachers, and even the principal attending. Senior and co-president Ambrose Boyle expressed his surprise and delight,
“I honestly wasn’t expecting that we would be able to get this many teachers. The amount of people showed up, students and teachers, and we even got the principal.” – (Boyle)
The support from the school community was noticeable, and the event showed a strong bond between students and faculty. Pearlman, who will be retiring this year, expressed her optimism for the future of the club,
“I think once people who participated talk to other people who didn’t participate, it might get even bigger. I hope that everybody gets out there and has a good experience and that there are opportunities for people new to pickleball.” – (Pearlman)
News in Brief: Carlmont’s Pickleball Tournament
As the tournament concluded, it became clear that Carlmont’s Pickleball Club has set a high standard for future events. The success of this tournament, despite the challenging matches, is a testament to the club’s dedication and the growing popularity of pickleball. With plans for more events on the horizon, the club is optimistic about continuing to foster a love for the sport within the community.
The tournament highlighted the competitive spirit of the participants and strengthened the sense of camaraderie among students and staff. The future looks promising for pickleball at Carlmont, with players and spectators eagerly anticipating what’s next for this exciting and inclusive sport.
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