It’s a good day to be a trailblazer. The No. 1 seeded in the southern conference Utah Tech takes home the victory against the 2023 champions, University of Virginia. 

Utah Tech endured a massive battle up the bracket. Defeating George Mason, Penn State, UT Austin, No. 2 seeded Indiana, 2022 DUPR Collegiate National Champions, UNC, and finally UVA. 

Beginning at 11:00am, the stands were overflowing with pickleball players, parents, teammates and spectators from every other school. Tension was high as UVA began chanting and cheering so loud that it could certainly be heard across Brookhaven Country Club. 

UVA arrived with confidence, ready to defend their title. But Utah Tech had vengeance on their mind after losing in the semis against UVA last year. It was a rematch – one each team was desperate to win. 

In women’s doubles Averee Beck and Kamryn Bliss took the first game in a tense 22-20 battle. 

In men’s doubles, Liam Duffin and Benson Parry maintained their lead with a final score of 21-15. This is when the energy really began to shift. Suddenly, UVA, who had the rowdiest fan base all weekend, started to go a little quiet. And the Utah Tech supporters were only getting louder and larger in numbers. Everyone loves to root for the underdog, right?

This led to a pivotal third match where Utah Tech had nothing but momentum. Utah Tech sent out Bliss and Duffin, who won in a climactic 21-19.

Though there were some moments where it looked like UVA could propel them into game four, Utah Tech remained strong with strategically long rallies that was truly a textbook game of good pickleball. 

Utah Tech earned their championship win in a swift three games. However, it was a nail biter battle throughout.  

“I feel like it really came down to who could play the most disciplined. Who could stick with the patterns that we came in prepared to do – and who could execute. We came in with a plan and they stuck with it in the clutch moments and that was the difference,” said Utah Tech coach, Chloee Butterfield.

Players Bliss, Duffin, Beck, and Parry were elated, accepting their championship trophy and $15,000 check. 

“I’m feeling on top of the world right now,” said Beck, a sophomore in business management.  

“We’ve worked so hard to get here and I’m just so proud of my team. We’ve been super focused all year. I’m feeling so happy, super grateful, and a little bit emotional,” said Bliss, a junior radiology major at Tech. 

“I am unbelievably proud of them. I’m proud of the grind and the mental toughness that these guys have shown. It’s unbelievable. And I love each of them as individuals and it’s so awesome to see them succeed and have that confidence,” said Coach Butterfield.