Members of UW-Madison’s pickleball club pose for a photo. Sophia Jaffe
Sophia Jaffe
On the first day of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s club pickleball practice, only one person showed up. Still, Taylor Chemer and his sisters, Cassie and Lola, held numerous practices and tirelessly promoted their club to create a community of Pickleball lovers on campus.
College is a place to explore your passions and find what you love, but what happens when there is no formal space for your passion on your campus? Many students may either settle for another club or choose not to join one at all, as the fear of joining a club, especially as a freshman, can be daunting and overwhelming. Despite the challenges, the Chemers followed a different path, starting their own club: the Pickleball Club.
What began as a fun family activity over the summer, introduced by their grandfather, quickly became one of UW-Madison’s fastest-growing clubs.
“We wanted to play pickleball on campus, but there wasn’t a club or anything,” said Taylor Chemer, now a senior at UW-Madison. “They just had open rec, but that was it. So we’re like, well, you know, we could probably just start it.”
The process of starting Wisconsin’s Pickleball Club came with many unexpected challenges. When the club wasn’t approved in time for the 2022 Fall Student Organization Fair — the key opportunity to broadcast your club to thousands of UW students — they missed out on valuable exposure. Still, the Chemers remained determined. Undeterred by the setback, they personally covered the cost of reserving court time at the campus recreation centers, ensuring the club would continue to have practices and gain recognition.
When the 2023 Fall Student Org. Fair rolled around, the Chemers came prepared. To their surprise, the turnout and response from students were overwhelming. The club’s table became so packed that it caused a foot-traffic jam. “We ended up getting maybe around 2000 emails from people who were interested in joining the club,” Taylor said.
The club’s kickoff meeting that semester drew around 150 people, and practices quickly reached near capacity. What started with just one attendee evolved into a full-fledged organization, with established practices, tryouts and even a run at nationals.
“If you believe in the sport or the program, you just have to put the work in, and you will see results,” Chemer said. “If people are interested in your sport, they’ll find you. So you kind of just have to hunker down, have that passion, and get through all the difficult parts because it’ll definitely pay off in the end.”
While the team has become more competitive, the Pickleball club is currently working on creating a more casual and inclusive environment to welcome players of all skill levels.
At a large university with thousands of students, it’s especially important to have diverse spaces on campus where people can find community and continue to foster their passions. With more students looking to explore niche interests, apps like ClubCrush make it easier than ever to connect with clubs like Pickleball — no booth browsing or missed org fairs required. ClubCrush streamlines the process by matching students with organizations that align with their hobbies, interests, and availability, thereby alleviating the stress of finding the right fit.
“They are really gonna appreciate having that place on campus to play, and I think one of the important things is to provide that space for them,” Taylor said.