{"id":427,"date":"2025-02-19T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/?p=427"},"modified":"2025-02-18T14:45:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T19:45:17","slug":"pellissippi-pickleball-club-takes-the-court-by-storm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/2025\/02\/19\/pellissippi-pickleball-club-takes-the-court-by-storm\/","title":{"rendered":"Pellissippi Pickleball Club Takes the Court by Storm in 3 x 3 Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
By Alex Gillenwalters, Sports Editor<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Much like the sport of pickleball, Pellissippi State\u2019s newest recreational Pickleball Club was formed using the ingenuity of its creator along with some trial and error. Braxton Sims, a Pellissippi State student, formed the club during the fall semester.\u00a0This week, Pellissippi State is hosting its first tournament on Friday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pellissippi State’s Hardin Valley campus features a pickleball court for student use. | Kaleb Guzman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sims says that the road to the creation of the pickleball club was a long, but productive one. Although it may be a relatively unknown sport, pickleball\u2019s popularity is growing. According to the website Picklehead, pickleball has experienced a 223.5 percent growth over the last three years, with an astounding 36.5 million players in the United States. In Tennessee, the sport is growing in popularity as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The sport of pickleball takes inspiration from tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Enthusiasts of the game say it captivates players of all ages and creates a fantastic opportunity for those looking to stay active and competitive in a fun, safe environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The game is played with a paddle, a hard plastic ball, and a hip-height net. Many players prefer it to tennis because it requires more strategy and less running. Enthusiasts argue that the game is more socially focused and allows for a better sense of camaraderie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy love for pickleball started over this past summer, when I played multiple games with my peers,\u201d says Sims, the organizer of Pellissippi State\u2019s Pickleball Club. \u201cI instantly fell in love with the game, but, as I improved and wanted to play a little more competitively, I had trouble finding out where to start.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sims says that he tried looking for a club at Pellissippi, but learned that the school did not yet have one, even though there were both indoor and outdoor pickleball courts on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cMy friends and I spent a couple weeks playing constantly, hoping to improve to a point that we could seriously compete,\u201d Sims recalls. \u201cAs we played, I invited whoever was interested in playing; steadily, our player count rose, creating more competition, which inspired me to finally take action in creating a club at the school.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

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3 x 3
Pickleball Tournament<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Friday, February 21, 2025, 10 AM \u2013 12 PM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even is FREE and open to all PSCC students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n