The pop of a plastic ball against paddles echoes through the Human Performance Center on Thursday nights. For some, it’s just another chance to unwind with friends. For others, it’s practice for dominating the fastest-growing sport in America.
Utah Tech University has a pickleball team, even though it is not sanctioned by the university, it is dominating records.
The team
What started as a club to get students together has advanced in national rankings. This team, a part of the DUPR organization, is the official team of Utah Tech but not officially sanctioned by the university.
Last November, Utah Tech University’s pickleball team clinched the Collegiate National Title, defeating teams from across the country. They are aiming for another title this season.
The victory marked a turning point for the team and their reputation nationwide. In just a short time, the team has proven that they have what it takes to win a title.
As the sport has grown, so have the stakes. Teams across the country are actively recruiting players, a sign of how seriously schools are starting to treat pickleball.
Utah Tech has joined the movement, recruiting two new players to strengthen its roster for the season.
With another season underway, the team has its sights set on defending its title. The team will be traveling to Arizona, Idaho, Colorado and more states to compete.
Dylan Ciampini, a junior recreation and sports management major from Ogden, is the only original member of the team when it started in 2022. When the team first started, they were playing 20 teams, which has now grown to over 60.
Even though teams are getting larger and more competitive, this motivates the team to continue to do better and to grab the Collegiate National Title again.
“It is way more competitive, it is insane,” Ciampini said.
Alyssa Perkins, a junior population health major from Hermiston, Oregon, has been on the team for two years. She attributes her love of pickleball to the team.
“The people are just so encouraging and fun, and really, I’ve met my best friends playing pickleball, Perkins said. “You always leave [the court] happy.”
The club
Utah Tech also has a pickleball club. This is open for all students of all skill levels to play. They play every Thursday at the HPC. You do not have to be on the team to be a part of the club.
Pickleball courts are full as players work on their skill level and play with friends. Updated information can be found on their Instagram.
Jack Prince, a sophomore general studies major from St. George, comes to the club to play every week.
“For me, it is just a hobby, the team here is really good… I don’t have much interest to play with the team in a competitive sense,” Prince said.
As the team looks to defend its national title, the club continues to grow each week. Both represent different sides of sport.
Whether through the team’s competitive drive or the club’s weekly hangouts, pickleball continues to bring students together through community and passion.
