It may not be a new phenomenon, but now more than ever, the sport of pickleball is thriving at Western Washington University.
Pickleball was invented just a few hours from Bellingham on Bainbridge Island, so it’s only fitting that the sport has caught on in its home state. Pickleball has also taken off across the nation in the last three years, with participation skyrocketing 223% in that time frame according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.
Jill MacIntyre Witt, who teaches pickleball along with a bevy of other P.E. classes at Western, said pickleball’s boom can be traced back to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The sport really grew exponentially over COVID,” MacIntyre Witt said. “People were looking for things they could do outside, and I think the word really quickly spread.”
MacIntyre Witt’s classes, available to both students and faculty, have proven to be quite popular among those who take them. Sten Brakstad, who took the class in winter quarter, has been playing pickleball recreationally since elementary school but really got into it during his time at Western.
“In this last quarter, I learned the most about pickleball in my entire pickleball career,” Brakstad said. “Once we got to the playing unit, it was just a blast to get to know the people in your class and play against them.”
David Wallin, a professor of environmental science at Western, is currently in one of MacIntyre Witt’s advanced faculty classes. Wallin had never played pickleball until he took a beginner’s class last year and jokes that MacIntyre Witt has taught him everything he knows.
“It’s a lot of fun, good exercise, and I’ve learned a lot about the game,” Wallin said. Set to retire soon, he hopes to stay active playing pickleball in the future outside of MacIntyre Witt’s classes.
P.E. classes aren’t the only option for Western students hoping to hone their pickleball skills. Campus Rec hosts pickleball open gym from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and will occasionally organize leagues and hold pickleball tournaments.
These tournaments routinely have strong turnout, said Lucy Caples, intramural and youth camps coordinator at the rec.
“We had a big push at the beginning when we first offered the tournament, but after that initial push it has stayed pretty consistent,” Caples said. “People just like to play pickleball.”
At a campus in a location already known for its rich recreational scene, pickleball provides students an opportunity to learn a new sport or improve their abilities. Most importantly, it allows them to stay active.
“For students’ sake, we have a bunch of different P.E. classes that students can take,” MacIntyre Witt said. “It’s a really good thing for students to get physical activity while they’re in college… I can’t recommend enough for people to stay active.”
Jonah Billings (he/him) is a sports and recreation reporter for The Front. He is a second-year Western student and is majoring in journalism and history. In addition, he is a member of Western’s varsity cross-country and track and field teams. He enjoys running, reading and spending time with friends. You can reach him at jonahbillings.thefront@gmail.com.
