This weekend students and staff will compete at the highly anticipated Pickleball Tournament. It is set to take place on April 12th and 13th at Clearwater Park in Mt. Prospect. The games will start at roughly 4 p.m. and go till 6 p.m.
It’s expected to be an exciting event for both pros at the sport and just beginners. So it doesn’t matter what level of Pickleball you’re at, everyone’s welcome. If you only want to watch, there will be room for spectators and tables set up with food and refreshments.
The tournament is being organized by ASB and this is their first time doing something with Pickleball.
“We wanted a positive way to get students involved,” said Michelle Fonsino, an ASB advisor. “Positivity a lot of times goes along with being active so it worked out.”
The tournament will only be doubles matches, so if you’re interested come with a friend. After all of the matches are finished on Sunday, the winners will be announced.
The two winners won’t just walk away with braggings rights; each will receive custom made engraved paddles and a free 3 month membership to The Picklr. The Picklr is a place in Mount Prospect with indoor pickleball courts where people can sign up to practice and compete against others. It opened last fall and has been a huge success ever since.
However, not only winners can win prizes, though. During the tournament, a raffle will be set up. One ticket is a dollar and all 13 baskets featured will have around a $25 value. They include gift cards from Salerno’s, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Texas Roadhouse, and others.
So far, around 100 students and staff are expected to be there..
“My partner and I were actually practicing this weekend and we are excited to play and see how everyone does,” freshman Bella Kowal said.
Pickleball is a fast paced sport that is sort of a mix of Tennis, Ping-Pong, and Badminton. It was created in 1965 by a group of friends in Washington looking for something fun for their kids to do. Its name originates from one of the founders’ wives, who thought the game reminded her of a “pickle boat” in rowing.
The game has recently gained lots of popularity in the last decade and has now made its way to Prospect. According to SFIA, 19.8 million people were playing in 2024 which is a 46% increase from 2023.
Beyond the competition, the tournament is focused around positivity, ASB’s theme for the fourth quarter of the school year. Fonsino says it is meant to promote community, fitness, and fun.
