The Baylor Pickleball Club, which was founded just over a year ago by Paul Underwood, is preparing for an exciting challenge at the DUPR National Collegiate Tournament later this week. What began as a small group of fans has transformed into an official club sport on campus. With ten dedicated Baylor pickleball players set to compete against 500 of the nation’s top players from 64 colleges and universities, the stakes are high.
“It has been a whirlwind.” Paul Underwood remarked, reflecting on the rapid growth of the club.
“Just going from nothing last year to now we’re an official club sport on campus, and we’re headed to nationals in Dallas.” – (Paul Underwood)
Talented Roster Ready to Compete
The Baylor team features standout players like Landry Laywell, a law student, along with sophomores Peyton Pogach and Gabe Gomez, who are recognized as one of the top male doubles pairs in the country. Freshman Laura Soto shared her enthusiasm about the upcoming competition, stating,
“Most people here probably play every day. We’re putting in hours a week. Just to get the bid for nationals is so fun. Definitely getting there and seeing all of the other teams will be a surreal moment, and I’m just happy to be there.” – (Laura Soto)
Confidence Amidst Tough Competition
Despite the formidable opponents they will face, the Baylor pickleballers are confident in their skills. Peyton Pogach expressed this belief succinctly, stating,
“We feel like we’re at the same level as them. If we play the best game that we know we can play, we can definitely come out on top.” – (Peyton Pogach)
Aiming for Future Growth
Paul Underwood views the national tournament as a significant opportunity to elevate the Baylor pickleball brand and establish the club as a leading program for prospective players.
“We don’t have any students coming to Baylor because of pickleball, but I can see that happening in the future. We need to position ourselves as a top program and as an option for some of the very finest pickleball players.” – (Paul Underwood)
The DUPR Collegiate National Championship is set to take place from Nov. 1-3 at the Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas, promising an exhilarating show of collegiate pickleball talent.
News in Brief: Baylor Pickleball Club
The Baylor Pickleball Club is preparing for the DUPR National Collegiate Tournament, which will take place from Nov. 1-3 in Dallas. Founded just over a year ago by Paul Underwood, the pickleball club has quickly evolved into an official sport at Baylor, with ten players ready to compete against top collegiate talent.
Notable players include Landry Laywell and top doubles pair Peyton Pogach and Gabe Gomez. Paul Underwood sees this tournament as a pivotal moment for the club’s future growth.
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