USA Pickleball Midwest College Tournament: Pickleball is growing fast across the Midwest, with many new courts and events popping up in the region. One example is the St. Louis Regional Collegiate Pickleball Tournament, held on April 5, 2025, at Arch Pickleball and Badminton Club in Bridgeton, Missouri. The tournament was led by Jose Obando, a USA Pickleball Ambassador based in Missouri, and featured over 100 players and 20 college teams from across the Midwest.
A Growing Sport on Campus
Jose Obando, who works in public safety at Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Missouri, became involved with the school’s pickleball club after seeing their booth at a student fair. He introduced himself as a fan of the sport and offered his help.
“I’m always looking for opportunities to grow the sport.” – (Obando)
Obando soon began working with students at Lindenwood University and Washington University in St. Louis to set up a college-level tournament. That idea turned into a large event this spring.
A Successful First Tournament
The pickleball tournament brought together 71 student-athletes from eight Midwestern schools, including big names like the University of Illinois, the University of Kansas, and Oklahoma State University. In total, 179 matches were played.
The event had strong school spirit. College students came from nearby cities and states to support their teams.
“The best memory I had is the owners of the facility coming up to me and saying, ‘Jose, thank you so much for bringing this here. We’ve never had so much school spirit and cheering here. It really livens the place up.’ It was really fun to be there and see that happen.” – (Obando)
Obando said the tournament went smoothly.
“Everything went well. There were no hiccups. I was talking to some folks at the event and they asked, ‘Are you going to do this again?’ I said, ‘Absolutely.’” – (Obando)
He is already thinking about holding an indoor version this fall.
More Courts, More Players
The Midwest has seen a sharp rise in pickleball activity. In places like St. Louis, Missouri, more indoor courts and parks are being built to meet the need.
“It’s very consistent with it exploding elsewhere. Here in St. Louis, there are more courts opening up, more indoor facilities. About six years ago, there was one indoor facility. Now that one has opened up two additional facilities. And a new one that opened up probably three years ago is opening up two more indoor facilities. A lot of the country clubs and parks have dedicated pickleball courts, too. They didn’t have that five or six years ago.” – (Obando)
“Still, though, there are more players than courts. In the center of St. Louis, there are still players who wish we could build more courts, and that is why they’re getting built all the time — to match enthusiasm and need for them.” – (Obando)
A Sport for All Ages
Pickleball has often been seen as a sport for older adults. But today, many young people are joining in. Jose Obando sees this shift clearly. “It’s very popular and it’s still growing,” said Jose Obando, who also wants to help promote the sport at the high school level.
“I see it as continuing to grow, especially with all these indoor facilities popping up. It’s not even close to being saturated. I think it will continue to grow here in the St. Louis area, and, from what I saw from kids in Illinois, Oklahoma, Kansas and here in Missouri, they don’t have enough facilities where they’re from.” – (Obando)
He also hopes the growth in youth tournaments can change people’s views of the sport.
“Some people think it’s maybe a sport for folks in their middle to upper ages, but if you look at (some of) the top pros, they’re teenagers. If you look at Major League Pickleball, we have the St. Louis Shock, and if you look at the roster, some of the top players are under 20. It’s growing so fast. The neighborhood I live in has 15 courts. Every beginner’s class is always sold out. It’s hitting a lot of different age groups, especially younger age groups. It’s just exploding right now.” – (Obando)
What’s Next
The rise of pickleball in the Midwest, especially around St. Louis, is part of a national trend. The sport continues to attract new players, young and old, with its fun and friendly style. Leaders like Jose Obando are working hard to bring more events and courts to the region, ensuring that the sport keeps growing.
News in Brief: USA Pickleball Midwest College Tournament
Pickleball is booming in the Midwest, with new courts and events like the April 2025 St. Louis Regional Collegiate Pickleball Tournament led by Jose Obando. Over 100 players from eight colleges competed. With growing interest and limited courts, expansion is expected across Missouri and surrounding states.
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