Earlier this year, we reported that a youth movement for pickleball was growing in Maryland. Now, high school students in Massachusetts are raising their hands to get on the courts more.

A pilot program has kicked off at high schools in Western Massachusetts, introducing the region's first-ever high school pickleball league.

The Launch of the League

The Western Mass. High School Pickleball League is a pilot program that brings high schoolers together in a competitive environment. One of the first players to serve in the league, Lia O’Brien, a freshman, discovered the league during her summer break.

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With a month of the school year underway, she is excited about the connections she’s made and the competition she’s experienced.

“It’s really fun having a connection through a new sport and it’s fun to see how other people play and the competition’s fun, too,” O’Brien shared.

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Growing Interest Among Students

Kyle Dulude, athletic coordinator at Westfield Technical Academy, embraced the opportunity to introduce pickleball to his students. Dulude noted that when he mentioned the league to his students, the response was overwhelmingly positive, with many eager to join.

“I talked to some of the kids at school during class, and they’re like, ‘Yeah, I’ll do it. I’ll do it.’ So we had a lot of interest, and the kids really took off with it,” Dulude said.

Indeed, they took off! With 20 kids already on the team, the league now includes participation from three other schools: Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion, South Hadley High School, and Springfield International Charter. The games are played on the 14 courts behind Westfield Tech, eight of which are brand-new and were recently installed in the town.

A Look Ahead: Varsity Aspirations

The league’s coach, Ron Nadeau of Westfield Technical Academy, hopes to make pickleball a varsity sport in the state of Massachusetts. The success of this pilot program is already promising, with his team off to a 2-0 start. Nadeau believes this league has the potential to encourage more young athletes to get involved in a sport that’s growing rapidly.

“I’m very impressed, actually. Getting an opportunity to see other teams and how well they play or don’t play, and I think our team is doing very well. We’re off to a 2-0 record so far, so we’re hoping that we can continue success and impress our community,” Nadeau said.

Future Plans

With games scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the end of October, the hope is that this league will be a stepping stone toward pickleball becoming an MIAA varsity sport in the next one to three years.

Which high school will pickleball end up in next? We're anxious to find out.