When discussing pickleball hotbeds across the United States, you might think first of the Southeast and Southwest, thanks to their warm climates and communities of retirees and active adults. Or maybe it’s the Pacific Northwest, where the sport was invented and continues to thrive due to a strong grassroots effort.
Yet, another notable pickleball explosion in the U.S. is currently taking place across the Midwest. Local universities, parks and community centers are making significant investments in pickleball, fueled by passionate advocates like Jose Obando.
"I’m always looking for opportunities to grow the sport,” said Obando, an ambassador with USA Pickleball who works in the public safety office at Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Missouri.
In all, 179 matches were played during the event, which took place at Arch Pickleball and Badminton Club in Bridgeton, Missouri. The tournament featured fierce competition and an electric atmosphere thanks to hundreds of college students who traveled across city and state lines to cheer on their favorite school.
Source: https://usapickleball.org/news/pickleballs-rapid-growth-reaches-new-heights-in-the-midwest/