According to Sports Business Journal, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States. Teams, clubs and competitive leagues are popping up nationwide, including in the Pacific Northwest. 

We even have a pickleball club at Lincoln. Over 180 students have signed up on the email list with a regular attendance of around 16 people showing up to regular practices. 

Senior Adele Betik is the co-leader of the pickleball club. 

“[Pickleball] is an easy sport to get into,” said Betik. 

Betik said the school club has also built community outside of school.

“If there is a recurring member, the member tends to bring their friends,” said Betik.

In addition to the social appeal of pickleball, it’s also a relatively easy sport to play and practice according to Betik. 

Another major factor in the popularity of pickleball is the convenience. There are many pickleball courts around Portland including Columbia Park, Pier Park, and Sellwood Park. 

You can show up to the LHS pickleball club and start playing immediately; the LHS pickleball club uses Ida B. Wells’ pickleball courts between 12 and 2 almost every Sunday. 

According to USA Pickleball, pickleball was first played in Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1965 when Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell, a congressman and a businessman, were bored and wanted to play a game of badminton, but there weren’t enough rackets. They used ping pong paddles and a plastic ball. They then lowered the net and the first game of pickleball was played

Pickleball Club at Lincoln was established last year and has been thriving ever since. This is because of the warm and accepting community that is the top priority of the club leaders. 

“ [Pickleball] is for everyone,” said Pickleball Club co-leader and sophomore Peter James. “The main goal of the club is to make people feel more comfortable, confident and welcomed.”

If you have a free Sunday, and you want to have fun, head over to Ida B. Wells and play a few games of pickleball.