The school year starting up marks the beginning of two new sports: pickleball and flag football. Pickleball is a varsity corollary sport, meaning the team consists of students with and without disabilities. Team members said they are excited to share the compete with their peers. “I feel it’s good to spread the sport to more students,” senior Travis Sklar said.
Pickleball tryouts began Sept. 3 players like freshman Opal Victori Bimbra said she is committed to getting better and helping the team win. “It is pretty exciting and I am very excited to be on the team,” Bimbra said.
PE teacher Steven McMahon is the pickleball team’s head coach. He is working with the team during practice to achieve the players’ individual goals, which includes practicing mechanics like dinking, a term for a short and soft shot used to cause the opponent to hit a weak return. “My goal is for everyone to improve and get better and be competitive for a county championship,” McMahon said.
With nearly two weeks of practice under the players’ belts, the team is beginning to notice difficulties in their play, and are working to improve on those skills. Pickleball is a sport that can be played in duos or singles, but one of Bimbra’s goals is to build team chemistry and form better mechanics. “I heard we have to work on a little bit of our serves, especially for me,” Bimbra said.
McMahon and assistant coach Don Marcus said that creating this team has required work such as retaining players and working on strategy. “Getting kids out for the team but being limited to the number of spots I have for kids, I would love to be able to take 40 kids, but that’s not possible,” McMahon said.
For some players on the team, it is their first time playing the sport, but others, such as Sklar, have played it twice before. Sklar is interested in improving his skills. “I have played pickleball like twice before trying out, so it was cool to learn techniques and further understand the game,” Sklar said.
Even though Bimbra has little experience, she is constantly reminded of her importance to the team. “Every time I think I am not meant to be on this team I look at the others around me, [and I know] I deserve to be here just as much as they do,” Bimbra said.
The first game of their season is at home on Sept. 17 at 3:30 p.m. against Bethesda-Chevy Chase.
