Kentucky Teen Is Taking the Pickleball World: Matthew Mullins is carving out a future in pickleball, a sport that’s rapidly capturing America’s attention. What began as a family activity eight years ago has transformed into a full-blown career path for Mullins, who now travels across the country teaching and competing in leagues and tournaments. With each serve and every match, he’s proving that his early passion for the game is more than a hobby—it’s a calling.
Finding a Path in Pickleball
Mullins recalls the turning point that solidified his commitment to the sport. “That’s kind of when I was like, OK, let’s start taking me playing, me teaching and let’s actually have a career in pickleball,” Mullins said. His dedication has led him to refine his skills continually, practicing his serves as though he’s always preparing for the next big match.
“It’s kind of like a free throw; you kind of want to have a routine going when you’re serving,” Mullins shared. “I like to bounce it a couple times, and I just take the ball and hit it against the paddle. That way, you can calm your nerves.”
A Championship Win and University Life
Now a business marketing major at the University of Kentucky, Mullins recently achieved his biggest accomplishment yet, securing the title of junior national champion in doubles at a Houston tournament. Reflecting on the win, Mullins admitted he was caught by surprise.
“We weren’t expecting to win it; we were just like, this is so cool being in the championship,” he said. “And then finally, we win it, and it was awesome.”
Pickleball Growth in Lexington
Mullins isn’t alone in his enthusiasm for pickleball in Lexington. Local facilities like Pickleball Paddock offer lessons and leagues for players of all ages and abilities, answering the surging demand.
Tom Redmon, owner of Pickleball Paddock, noted, “The population of people playing has gotten younger, so the demand for it has dramatically increased.” Redmon, who started playing in 2017, credits the pandemic with accelerating the sport’s growth, especially as a low-cost, accessible activity.
“All you need is a paddle,” Redmon explained. “You can go to Walmart, get a basic paddle, bring a ball, and start playing. You don’t have to have any athletic background.”
A Game for All Ages
For Mullins, pickleball has become a family activity. “You can just bring your paddle; there’s always people to play with, it’s so much fun,” he said. “You go to courts like this and reach out to parks that have pickleball. It’s so easy to fit in.”
News in Brief: Kentucky Teen Is Taking the Pickleball World
Lexington’s Matthew Mullins, 18, is rising in pickleball, America’s fastest-growing sport. Starting at age ten, Mullins now travels nationwide, teaching and competing. A University of Kentucky business marketing major, Mullins recently won the junior national doubles championship in Houston, marking his career’s biggest victory. Lexington’s Pickleball Paddock caters to this growing demand for the sport, offering lessons and league play to all skill levels. Owner Tom Redmon attributes pickleball’s accessibility and low equipment cost to its popularity surge. Mullins continues to spread the sport’s appeal, bringing paddles on family vacations for pickup pickleball games wherever he goes.
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