Not many states have the luxury of inventing a sport. What comes to mind to most people might be basketball or football, but for the state of Washington that would be pickleball.
Pickleball was invented in 1965 and was widespread throughout the United States, it gained so much popularity that by 2022 it became the official sport of Washington state. What started as a small game near Seattle grew into a sport that all ages enjoy around the world.
“I think it was like invented or something in Seattle. So like it’s kind of like our culture and it all kind of started in Seattle, there are like a million courts there” Ramon Little (’27) said. “It started here so we kind of can link back and be like yeah it’s from Washington we’re better.”
An appealing aspect to pickleball is its simplicity. If you’re starting out, you don’t need the most expensive paddles or balls. For many, it’s just a fun hobby to do without getting too serious.
“It definitely can be [expensive], depending on what gear you buy, but it doesn’t have to be,” Clayton Martinsen (’27) said. “It’s easy, fun. You get to do it with tons of other people, so that makes it even more fun.”
With the new pickleball courts being added at Haller middle school during the early 2025-2026 school season, there’s a surge of excitement around the sport. Many students find themselves heading to these courts to play after school or on the weekends.
“I think it’s starting to become more popular because it’s just genuinely a fun sport and more and more people are seeing it online. So just that connection for the media makes it more popular,” Khang Tran (’27) said. “ I play at Haller Middle School… every weekend with friends when I can and sometimes when I’m bored I’ll just go on the courts by myself.”
Pickleball is a fun sport to get into, it’s a game to play with friends and family that everyone can pick up. The attractiveness comes from how simple it is to play, regardless of skill level. Because the learning curve is gentle, it takes little time for a beginner to learn how to play.
“Don’t worry too much about how it plays. And just like any other sport just kind of like keep your eye on the ball… Go play pickleball, it’s fun,” Little said.
