The room is filled with sounds of a ball hitting against pickleball paddles as the opponent announces the score. The ball is served across the net, bounces on the court, and the racket connects, spinning the ball as it flies over the net. Pickleball Club combines an enjoyable sport and a social atmosphere for South students, Jeff Paek, Pickleball Club sponsor said.
Founded in 2023, Pickleball Club meets at Pickleball 4 All in Glenview on the first and third Wednesday of every month, Paek said. The first meeting this year consisted of eleven students, playing matches and socializing with each other between games, Paek said.
“It’s a great club where kids who either play competitively or just want to have fun can come and get to know each other during a couple hours of playing pickleball,” Paek said.
The club fundraises to help pay for court times and also charitable causes, such as breast cancer awareness, junior JP Plopper, Pickleball Club Communications Board Member, said. Plopper communicates with the partners at Pickleball 4 All and manages social media.
“One of my favorite parts of the club is just being able to connect with the Glenview community,” Plopper said. “When we threw a fundraiser, about a 100 people came out for it. The club brings people together, that’s why I really enjoy it.”
The club attracts students from a variety of sports, including football, golf, and tennis, senior Shaan Harjani, Pickleball Board Member, said. Students who play racket sports, like tennis, attend club meetings not only to enhance their tennis skills for their season, but also for the socializing, Harjani said.
“My freshman year was the first year ever of the pickleball club,” Harjani said. “It’s cool to see how the club has changed and grown over these four years. It’s just a really fun and inclusive environment where you can play pickleball, and it’s a great way to improve.”
