Pickleball Club serves up campus camaraderie at Fox Chapel Area High School

If you thought pickleball was only for the older set, guess again.

Young whippersnappers have taken up the sport and are loving it, too.

Just ask Fox Chapel Area senior Peter Mascilli, 17.

The O’Hara resident started an on-campus pickleball club at the high school to deflect boredom and promote a happy experience for his schoolmates.

“I wanted to create a club where the students could just have fun and play a game that they love,” said Mascilli, who serves as club president. “Everyone can play it, it’s simple and it’s free.”

The club was approved by the high school’s activities department and launched in 2022.

Students who sign up for pickleball are added to the district’s Schoology app/website, which serves as the central online location of the club, Mascilli said.

Enrollment has swelled to almost 200 members in grades 9-12.

Its popularity caught Mascilli off guard.

“I just wanted to create a club for my friends and other students to play pickleball,” he said. “I’m still surprised to see it continue to grow.”

The high school has more than 70 clubs at the high school.

Jill Leonard, community engagement specialist for the district, said the addition of pickleball has been a hit with students.

“It’s a niche interest. The clubs are student driven so like-minded students can gather and do that together so they find a lot of camaraderie and friendship in that,” she said.

Pickleball Club is in full swing Wednesday morning at Fox Chapel Area High School. @FCASD @FoxChapelHerald @VNDNews @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/7St9UzGIq0

— Reporter Joyce Hanz (@hanz_joyce) October 2, 2024

Anyone can join and club recruitment is ongoing.

Club officers arrive early to set up the portable nets and distribute paddles and balls.

The club occasionally hosts on-campus tournaments to raise money for Fox Families Cares, a nonprofit dedicated to providing additional resources to youths and families in the district.

“The club is relaxed and fun, and we play the entire school year,” Mascilli said. “My greatest feeling is when I see kids come in here and they’re having fun, and then they go to class in an elevated mood and they’re physically and mentally well. I want these kids to have a good day and to go to class in a positive mood.”

The club’s Instagram handle is @fcpickleball.

Club officer and organizer Gella Hample of O’Hara noted playing pickleball on campus can fulfill a gym class makeup requirement.

The physical education department has approved pickleball participation as an accepted makeup activity for gym.

“It’s what the school needed. Pickleball is the largest club in the school,” Hample said.

Hample began playing pickleball with her parents and is happy to have the trendy sport on campus.

The club meets during quality resource time before school starts, and playing time ranges from 30 minutes to an hour.

There is no set schedule.

“We let students know about a week in advance that we’re playing and if it’s a regular meeting. The time frame differs though. Depending on if we’re planning a big event like a tournament or fundraiser, we’ll let people know multiple weeks in advance,” Mascilli said.

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