“It’s America’s fastest growing sport,” junior Matteo Galui said.

  Pickleball season has hit the Utica community with full force, captivating students and faculty alike. Players of all skill levels gather on local courts to engage in friendly competition and enjoy the thrill of the game. For those who are new to the game, pickleball is a paddle sport that is a variant of tennis.
The sport uses a pickleball, which resembles a whiffle ball. It is made of plastic material
with multiple small holes on its surface. In recent years, pickleball has gained recognition as a competitive sport at various levels, including regional, state, and even national competitions. The sport has attracted a growing number of athletes who train rigorously to excel in this sport. Utica High School has seen its fair share of talented pickleball players, including junior Matteo Galui, who plays competitively on a league at Lifetime Fitness. “I’ve been playing for about two years, I first started playing with my friends casually. Then I joined the league at my local lifetime.”

  Pickelball is known for its fast pace, quick reflexes, and strategic shot place-
ment. Making it a challenging and engaging sport for players of all ages and skill levels. The sport’s competitive ranking is ranked 1 through 5, with 5 being the
best and 1 being the start. Galui is currently ranked 4, just under a pro.

PICKLEBALL TIPS

Junior Matteo Galui
hits a forehand lob
over the net off of a
bounce. “ A good tip for this move is
to plant your feet and follow
through with the ball to get a
more consistent shot.”

Galui hits
an overhead
spike.
“Make sure
your hitting a
consistent shot
to the
opponent’s box
at their feet.”

Galui hits a fore-
hand and adds

spin to throw the
opponent off.

“A good tip for this
is to make good shot
selection and to think
of a good place your
opponent can’t get to.”

TOOLS OF
THE TRADE
Pickleball equipment consists of
a solid-faced paddle, similar to a
smaller tennis racket, and a plastic
ball with multiple small holes
called a wiffle ball. The ball’s

holes reduces its speed and pro-
vide a controlled flight pattern.

ORIGINS OF THE GAME
Pickleball was invented in 1965 in
Bainbridge, Washington, by Joel
Pritchard. He made the sport by
combining elements of badminton
and tennis, using a wiffle ball and
homemade paddles. The game was
named after his dog, Pickles, who
would chase after the ball and run
off with it. Pickleball quickly gained
popularity in the community and
eventually spread to other parts of
the U.S.

MATTEO GALUI
• League pickleball player at
Lifetime Fitness
• Won a tournament in
August with his doubles
partner, Nathan Cardiff
• Helped to raise $5,000 for
breast cancer research in a
Lifetime tournament
• Ranks in the top ten of
every tournament
• Ranked 3 in singles
• Ranked 4 in doubles
“I play every Sunday for
about two hours,” Galui said,
“to get ready for my future
league matches.”