As you step onto the courts, wiffle balls skid cross court and paddles high five in unison. All the while, the sound of friendships abound through encouraging words and heartfelt conversations.
Pickleball serves more than just a place for playing the sport. Where Coppell plays pickleball, family resides.
Allen Garner, a coach at Wagon Wheel Park, praises his experience of the recent growth in crowds since he started playing with his wife, Stacy Garner.
“Over the last four years, our love of the game has grown because it transcends all generations and all ages,” Garner said. “We have players out here that are everything from young adolescent players, teenagers and all the way up through the whole range.”
Rather than only having adults or teenagers, multiple generations build unique connections by relating to one another. Garner said the community has grown into a place where everyone can embrace others’ challenges together.
“It allows for good conversation,” Garner said. “A lot of times it may just be someone saying, I hear you got a test tomorrow or I hear you got a family member who has a health issue. Hey, I’m praying for you.”
The supportive environment develops the casual conversations into true understanding of the players. Pro Shop and Event Supervisor Jason Brooks attests to the family aspect going beyond the surface level of friendships.
“You just get to know these people,” Brooks said. “They’re not just players that come into play, you get to know their stories, their backgrounds.”
Brooks said the significance of hosting events for a variety of crowds, such as Coppell Chambers of Commerce and Global Harvest Church. No matter who the attendees are, he promotes Wagon Wheel as a place for inclusion.
“Everybody that walks through these doors is part of the family,” Brooks said. “Anybody regardless of age, gender, social standing, whatever it is, you’re welcome here as a part of us.”
Pickleball’s popularity transcended to Coppell High School through the new club co-founded by seniors Aarav Padhiar, Muhammad Ayyan Siddiqui, Pranajeet Arora and sophomores Akshaya Balaji and Dwija Joshi.
Padhiar was introduced to pickleball at a community court this past summer. The small size of the court allowed for building stronger connections.
“The feeling of playing in a community was different from going to a big field where everyone can play,” Padhiar said. “You meet not only the people who make up that community, but their culture, their experiences.”
For Balaji and Joshi, they originally found their passions at Wagon Wheel Park.
“It was different from other sports and I actually enjoyed it for the first time when I was playing. I was really surprised that CHS didn’t have a pickleball club,” Joshi said. “I decided to make it because I love playing, and I know a lot of people that love playing too.”
With the lessons learned and people met, all five co-founders wanted to bring something similar to Coppell High School and draw the students together.
“There was a drive for a club because of how widespread it’s become,” Balaji said. “As high schoolers start playing, we bring everybody together.”
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