Collegiate Pickleball Championships Growth: CAPE CORAL, Fla. – The APP US Collegiate Championships brought top college pickleball teams to the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center, where 32 teams from across the country battled for supremacy in one of the fastest-growing collegiate sports. Players embraced the opportunity to showcase their skills and compete against new opponents.
Players Transitioning From Other Sports Find Passion in Pickleball
Many competitors, like Zoe Routson from the University of Florida, came from different athletic backgrounds before discovering their love for pickleball players.
“I started playing for UF and now I’m addicted,” said Routson, who previously played volleyball before switching to pickleball.
Florida State University’s James Lahey also weighed his options between soccer and pickleball before committing to the sport.
“I’ve been playing for about a year or two before I came to FSU. So I knew it was that or soccer. Pickleball got the vote,” Lahey said.
Universities From Across the U.S. Join the Competition
The championship included teams from Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, Wisconsin, Purdue, Stanford, and Indiana, among others. Players noted the rapid growth of college pickleball, with more universities building competitive programs.
“I did my first college tournament last fall, and looking at that versus what it’s like now is just crazy. How much it’s grown. It’s pretty sweet to see all the talent that’s grown at the universities that are coming out to this,” said Carter Wittendorf from Indiana’s club pickleball team.
For many athletes, the tournament was a welcome challenge, offering them a chance to test their skills against unfamiliar competition.
“In Gainesville, I feel like we get used to playing each other, and it gets a little boring sometimes. No offense to my Gators, but it’s really nice to come out here and play against a bunch of different schools, a bunch of different skill levels, and kind of gauge where we are as a team,” Routson said.
College Spirit Grows Through Pickleball
Beyond the competition, players expressed how pickleball deepened their connection to their universities.
“In the beginning of my college career, I didn’t really bleed orange and blue like a lot of students do. But I feel like with pickleball, I was able to develop that school spirit,” said Routson.
Championship Matches Set for Saturday
The tournament will conclude with the team championships on Saturday at 9 a.m., where the top schools will compete for the coveted collegiate title.
News in Brief: Collegiate Pickleball Championships Growth
The APP US Collegiate Championships in Cape Coral featured 32 college teams competing in a rapidly growing pickleball scene. Players, including former athletes from other sports, showcased their skills while representing their schools. The event highlighted the sport’s growth at the collegiate level, with the team championships scheduled for Saturday at 9 a.m.
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