2025 APP U.S. Collegiate Championships Pickleball: The University of Florida (UF) claimed the team championship at the 2025 APP U.S. Collegiate Championships in Cape Coral, Florida. The Gators defeated the University of Texas in a thrilling final featuring men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
A Diverse Field of Competitors
The tournament, presented by PB5star, brought together 32 top college pickleball teams from across the nation. Four regional qualifiers in 2024 determined the participating teams, including schools from coast to coast such as Stanford, Virginia, Indiana, Maine, Wisconsin, Florida State, Florida Atlantic, and the University of Central Florida. With $50,000 in prize money at stake, the competition was fierce.
UF Team Triumph
UF students Jake Bower, Christian Franke, Zoe Routson, and Martine Sundsten led their team to victory. In the final match, Texas initially took a 2-0 lead after winning mixed doubles, with Texas’ Erin Johnsen and Jack Munro defeating Florida’s Routson and Franke.
However, Bower’s upset victory over multi-time APP Tour champion Munro in men’s singles shifted momentum, giving UF their first point. Sundsten then tied the score in women’s singles, defeating Johnsen, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
Texas regained the lead in men’s doubles, as Munro and Eli Trumeter squeezed past Florida’s Bower and Franke, leaving the final women’s doubles match as a decisive showdown. The Gator duo of Routson and Sundsten secured the championship with a narrow victory over Texas’ Natalie Liu and Johnsen, giving Florida the edge in overall points despite a tied line score.
Celebrating Team Spirit
“I was super happy to come out with the win. It means everything. The Gators have been around the college pickleball scene [a while], and they’ve come very close to winning a national championship but never quite did it. So, to bring a national title back to Gainesville is pretty cool.” – (Bower)
Routson expressed her gratitude for the support from her team and community.
“It truly means a lot because I didn’t start playing collegiate [pickleball] until last year, and I didn’t know that there was this level of team spirit and a community at UF that was there to support us. I manifested every day that we would take home a collegiate win, and we finally did. It means more than the world.” – (Routson)
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) finished in third place, defeating Florida (Orange). FAU’s team, consisting of Zack Card, Ava Cavataio, Zachary Marceau, and Bella Nelson, performed strongly to secure their bronze medal.
The success of this tournament showcases the surging popularity of pickleball in college athletics. With increased support from sponsors like PB5star, college teams can compete at a higher level, encouraging more students to engage in the sport. As interest in collegiate pickleball rises, future tournaments are likely to attract even more teams and fans.
News in Brief: 2025 APP U.S. Collegiate Championships Pickleball
The University of Florida won the 2025 APP U.S. Collegiate Championships in Cape Coral, Florida, defeating the University of Texas. UF students Jake Bower, Christian Franke, Zoe Routson, and Martine Sundsten contributed to the team’s victory, marking a historic moment for the Gators in collegiate pickleball. Other participating teams included Stanford, Virginia, Indiana, Maine, Wisconsin, Florida State, Florida Atlantic, and the University of Central Florida.
ALSO READ: Collegiate Pickleball Championships Growth: How the Sport is Taking Over Universities