The Student Council Association (SCA) organized an intense pickleball tournament at the school tennis courts on May 2. Twenty doubles teams came out to the event to be the last duo standing, but only one team, composed of two students from Freedom High School, was able rise to the top.
SCA members all had the goal of raising money to help fund school activities in the future. Members, like the association’s Secretary, Reese Keller, thought a pickleball tournament was a good way not only to raise money but to bring the community together.
“I really like playing pickleball with my friends, and I had people ask me about hosting a pickleball tournament,” Keller said. “So I decided to put it together to try and get people together.”
Keller, a member of the girls tennis team and passionate pickleball player, planned and organized this tournament. While planning, Keller had to work around spring sports schedules, weather, and AP testing in order to have a successful tournament.
“At first it seemed kind of overwhelming,” Keller said. “But once I started, everything seemed to come together pretty well.”
Pickleball, as an activity, is a very popular game in Ashburn among teenagers, and it is really easy to pick up, meaning anyone could join.
“I decided to join because it was new to me,” junior Eyoel Getachew said. “I’ve never seen an SCA pickleball tournament. I enjoy playing pickleball and tennis with my friends, so we were just like, we got to join and try to win.”
About 40 people participated in the tournament games and even more volunteers and spectators attended the event. With games going on throughout the whole afternoon, everyone was focused on who would win but also on having a good time.
“There were a few good teams that we had to compete against,” Freedom High School senior and victor of the tournament Yash Nanda said. ”The game in the final was definitely the most challenging, with the score being tied for a portion of the game. Overall though, we signed up more for fun, and we definitely had a great time.”
The final game was between team “Nutter Butter” and “Luke + Ryan,” with “Nutter Butter,” composed of Nanda and Andrew Fernandes, taking the championship in a tight game. Luke Hafer, member of the “Luke + Ryan,” was a star player in this tournament, but his team ultimately fell short against the “Nutter Butter” duo.
“We lost in the championship game,” Hafer said. “I was a little bitter. I thought we were gonna win but I sold.”
“My favorite part of the tournament was just getting to hit around with my friends and just having fun on the weekend, not taking anything too seriously,” Hafer said.
SCA’s tournament was nothing short of a success. The community event proved to be more than just a competition–it brought people together and created lasting memories for everyone involved. With such a positive turnout and a strong sense of community, many are looking forward to the next tournament that SCA will host.
