CARY, NC – History was made at the Fanatics Sportsbook North Carolina Cup on Saturday when Club Pickleball at UNC and Club Pickleball at NC State went head-to-head in the inaugural collegiate showcase on the PPA Tour. 

The squads brought their best men and women, all of whom compete at a 5.0 level, and played men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. 

And folks, these college kids got the full treatment on-site.

Their matches were broadcast live on the PPA Tour's YouTube channel with commentators, including Connor Garnett, who hopped on the mic to discuss the action.

Additionally, the Club Pickleball at UNC arrived in matching jerseys while friends and family cheered them on from the sidelines. The camaraderie and love for the sport was evident on both sides of the court.  

This time, the Tar Heels took home the victory by winning four out of the five events.

Regardless of the final outcome, every match was a battle. There was great communication, beautiful drives, and resilience against challenging weather conditions.

Club Pickleball at UNC has an impressive resume. In 2022, they claimed the DUPR Pickleball Collegiate National Championship with Collin Shick leading the charge.

What really excited me was seeing the future of the sport. These teams are laying the groundwork at the collegiate level - and the sky's the limit.

Club Pickleball at UNC president, Hunter Boyd, shared that pickleball is so popular on campus, they had over 600 people show up to try out.

If any other campus across the country is anything like Chapel Hill, pickleball's popularity will continue to rise among students, both competitively and recreationally.

Congrats to UNC's collegiate pickleballers! I believe we’ll see more of them in the future.