USU’s nationally-ranked pickleball club
Ranked No. 7 in the nation according to the latest Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating, the Utah State University club pickleball team is preparing to bring even more intensity to their upcoming season.
Currently a club of 38 registered members, the team is built on community involvement, inclusivity for all skill levels and a strong competitive edge.
“We’re trying to cater to all levels of pickleball players,” said Olivia Phillips, athlete on the Division I team and officer in the pickleball club leadership. “If you want to be social, hang out and learn the sport, we welcome that. But if you want to compete at a high level, we offer that too.”
To keep the club competitive, they’ve composed a DI team of select players who travel and represent the club in collegiate tournaments across the nation. Among them are two online USU students — one from Tooele and the other residing in Illinois — who train daily and travel to tournaments with the team.
“The pickleball team is a place for students to get involved with the pickleball community,” said Parker Eggli, club president. “Our goal is to have Utah State University represented at collegiate-level tournaments nationwide.”
As pickleball continues its rapid rise, there’s hope it will one day be recognized as a National Collegiate Athletic Association-sanctioned sport. For that to happen, more universities must sanction the sport. While two teams in Utah, Utah Tech University and the University of Utah, have taken that step to be a sanctioned university sport, most collegiate teams, including USU, remain at the club level.
“That’s the goal for the future,” Eggli said. “Right now, like other universities, we’re still considered a club sport. But with pickleball being the fastest-growing sport in the nation, I wouldn’t be surprised if it became NCAA-sanctioned. That’s what we’re pushing for.”
The club finds it can be difficult to recruit even in a state where pickleball is popular. The problem is awareness. Students aren’t aware these opportunities are at USU. Club leadership invites those who wish to participate in the club, foster student relationships, experience competitive play and meet players from different colleges to join, Eggli said.
“There’s a lot of talent out there,” Eggli said. “We’re always looking for recruits who can bring the heat in tournaments.”
Beyond competition, the pickleball community thrives on camaraderie and inclusion.
“You’ll go to courts and see top players welcoming people who have never picked up a paddle before,” Phillips said. “That’s what makes this sport so unique. It’s competitive, but also incredibly inviting.”
The sport is still in its youth, despite being around since 1965, but it saw a rapid surge in 2015 when it became the fastest-growing sport in America. Since then, professional pickleball players have stepped up to claim their stake in the game. According to Phillips, now is the perfect time to get involved, as the sport continues its hot streak of popularity while still being in its early stages.
While many students play for fun, others like Eggli and Phillips are working toward professional careers in the sport.
“We’re actively engaged in the community, competing in tournaments and even pursuing pickleball professionally,” Phillips said.
With pickleball still being a young sport, players see massive opportunities for growth.
“We’re right on the tipping point of a lot of really big things,” Eggli said. “People don’t realize how high-caliber this sport really is. It takes just as much dedication, training and physicality as any other competitive sport.”
As pickleball has evolved, players like Eggli and Phillips have seen the intensity change right before their eyes. With that change, a new wave of players — young players — are claiming the sport.
“When the game first started, it was more slow-paced,” Eggli said. “But now, with so many new players, including former tennis professionals, it’s getting faster and faster. You have to adapt.”
Despite the sport’s fast growth, it hasn’t received the same recognition as other collegiate sports. Clubs like the one at USU are fighting this stigma and working to get more recognition for their athletes.
“A lot of people think of pickleball as an ‘old-person sport,’” Phillips said. “They don’t realize how dynamic and electric the environment is at these collegiate tournaments.”
The sport thrives on its tight-knit community and high energy, even as broader support continues to grow. Thanks to sponsors like No Apologies Nutrition, Stack Athletics and Montis Pickleball, the club can travel to tournaments, compete and support one another along the way.
“It’s incredible to experience what other collegiate athletes go through,” Eggli said. “Having your teammates on the sidelines cheering after you hit a game-winning shot, moving to the next round or defeating a rival team — that energy is unmatched.”
Looking ahead, the club aims to expand its reach and continue growing the sport.
“We plan to host tournaments in the future to get more people involved,” Eggli said. “We’ve also looked at collaborations with Picklr, the ARC and even the USU Tennis Club to build a stronger presence on campus,” Phillips said.
The bigger their presence, the closer they get to their ultimate goal: turning USU into a powerhouse in collegiate pickleball.
“Our goal is to make Utah State a known name in the sport,” Eggli said. “We want to be number one.”