The Kingswood Oxford Intramural Pickleball Program is bringing a new level of competition to its courts with the upcoming first annual Matthew Kocay Invitational Tournament, created by varsity boys basketball Head Coach and pickleball Manager Brad Seaman. Set to begin soon, the tournament will give students the opportunity to take their skills to the next level, while still enjoying the social atmosphere that has made the program so popular.
The intramural pickleball program has given many students of all grades the opportunity to play a sport to fulfill their needs, while being able to attend without the commitment of a traditional school team. Students can compete with their friends and classmates while spending time with people they may not have met otherwise.
For Junior Noah Sadowsky, that balance between competition and limited time commitment was one of the main reasons he joined. “I signed up because my friend and I have been playing together for a while and it’s a super fun sport,” Sadowsky said. “It’s not a big commitment for the fall season, which is part of what makes it so enjoyable.
Sadowsky already has had lots of playing experience outside of the program. He plays with his family and cousins and has even won a double tournament at HTC, establishing himself as one of the top players in this year’s program.
Sadowsky also mentions how he has developed many new relationships with underclassmen from pickleball, which he says may not have been made if he did not sign up for this sport. “I enjoy spending time with existing friends while also making new ones,” he said.
Along with Sadowsky, senior Henry Jacobs has also enjoyed playing against classmates. For him, knowing the students on the other side of the court makes the matches even more competitive. “I like that I know the other students, so playing against them adds more competition,” he said. The competition has been a major part of Jacobs’ experience, unlike other intramural sports in which students might constantly play the same people. “So far, I’ve played a new team everyday,” he said.
Though it is an intramural sport, the players still have a very team-like environment, with bonding, competitiveness, and so much more. But one of the things that players tend to like about the sport as well is that there is no coaching. Even so, there are always things you learn just from experience. “One thing I’ve learned about pickleball is that even though it is an intramural sport, there is always room for improvement,” Sadowsky said. “The more you play, you begin to notice small strategies and techniques that make you a better player.”
Even though there is a wide range of skill, from learning how to hold the paddle to playing in the final of the Matthew Kocay Invitational, everyone still makes amazing memories. “The most memorable moment so far has been winning a tight match after coming back from behind,” Sadowsky said. “It brought out a lot of energy and felt very accomplished to win.”
Now, with the Matthew Kocay First Annual Invitational approaching, students will have another opportunity to compete. The tournament, created by Coach Seaman, will add a more formal competitive element to the program. The invitation also gives students a chance to test out and use what they have learned from the first month of school.
For some students, the tournament could also provide an opportunity to push themselves individually rather than just with a partner. Jacobs suggests that adding a singles tournament to the program as well might be a good idea, since it allows players to really test their own skills without having to rely on a partner, while still having lots of fun, competition, and great memories. Sadowsky also sees room for change, saying that they should make the program even more social than it already is. “Currently, there are steep divides in skill level between teams, which make it less fun for those who are constantly losing,” he said.
Despite these suggestions, the program has already accomplished a lot. “Participation is up slightly this year and we now have 41 students in the Upper School program,” Seaman said. “The program started last year under Coach Todd Millen, and it was a great success. Pickleball has become so popular, and it’s been exciting to give our students a chance to be part of that.”
As the Kocay Invitational approaches, the casual matches of the fall season are about to pick up in competitiveness, skill, excitement, and much more. With paddle in hand and students ready to rally, KO’s pickleball players will soon have a new tournament, and potentially a new tradition, to look forward to.
