Join the Thriving MSJ Pickleball Club Today!

A young player in MSJ volleyball attire is demonstrating a pickleball swing, making contact with a yellow ball while playing on an indoor court. — Carson Spitz is hitting the ball to win the point.

Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. It’s very easy to learn, and anyone can enjoy the sport. It has gotten so popular that Mr. Stromberg decided to start up a pickleball club at MSJ in 2023. His first time playing was during his vacation at Bethany Beach. Ever since then, he’s been hooked on it. “My favorite experience in pickleball has been starting the Mount Saint Joseph Pickleball Program and working toward making it a varsity sport in the MIAA. Watching the program grow and seeing our players develop has been one of the most rewarding parts of my life,” said Coach Stromberg. He has been dedicated to the program ever since starting it, and he’s been a big reason why students at MSJ have also grown to love the game.

Pickleball originated from a dad who combined three sports: tennis, badminton, and table tennis. To create a fun, active game that can be played by all ages. From little kids to young adults and even grandparents. This game, which started in a friend’s backyard, is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. Despite the sport’s significant growth, why hasn’t it been recognized as a major sport like tennis or golf? One of the main reasons why pickleball is so great is that you don’t need to be extremely athletic to play. You don’t have to be fast, or strong, or tall. This allows your family and friends to all play together.

A player hits a pickleball with a paddle while preparing to move across the court during a game. — Bob Lawson ’25 returning a serve.

The courts are small, so whoever’s playing can always have a conversation in between rallies. Most games are played to 11 and typically last anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, making them a relatively low-time-commitment activity. Across the country, parks have already started building courts, and pickleball-specific facilities have been opening. Some places have leagues or clubs, and especially the community events that really bring people together. For adults, this is a great way to get social interaction while doing a physical activity.

Another great reason to play pickleball is that you don’t need much at all. Unlike golf, in which you need clubs, balls, and tees, you only need your athletic shoes and a paddle. Depending on where you’re playing, most facilities have paddles for beginners to borrow. It’s super affordable and easy to carry around with you.

The MSJ Pickleball club is one of the fastest-growing clubs on campus. The team has been very dominant as they have not lost a single match. “Being undefeated is one of those special coaching milestones that makes me proud, but more importantly, it pushes our student-athletes to bring out their very best,” is what coach Stromberg had to say on the current undefeated streak. The club is looking to continue its domination this upcoming season. Coach Stromberg is also looking to make the club a varsity sport. Since its creation over the past few years, it has become more competitive, and people on the team have been able to go across the country for tournaments.

A group of four pickleball players and a coach posing together in front of a colorful backdrop with crab illustrations and text reading 'GOLD', 'SILVER', and 'BRONZE'. — Coach Stromberg and a couple of the players competed in the St Patrick’s Day tournament.

At the end of the day, pickleball is meant to be a fun game that builds relationships with your partner or even your opponents. “Pickleball itself makes it easy to have fun; it’s a quick, progressive game where you can see improvement almost every time you step on the court,” said Stromberg. The MSJ pickleball club has improved immensely since it started in 2023, and everyone is excited to see where it goes.

Nicholas Gardiner and Grant Bodendorf are members of the Multimedia Journalism class.