If you’re still hung up on summer or have a strong ‘tap’ and ‘dink,’ get excited because this school’s pickleball team is back for their second season.
After eight years of handball as a corollary sport, MCPS decided it was time to make the switch, captivating more students. After being piloted at 11 schools in fall of 2024, MCPS expanded pickleball to 25 schools. “Pickleball is an inclusive sport that embodies our R.A.I.S.E. core values for MCPS Athletics,” Director of Systemwide Athletics at MCPS Dr. Jeffrey K. Sullivan said.

Pickleball, similar to tennis, uses a different method of scoring, compared to sports such as soccer or volleyball. The winner is determined by the number of games, out of five, each school wins. At each game, five doubles teams compete in five games against other schools in their pickleball division. Aside from those 10 players, the rest of both teams compete in matches that will not be a part of the final score. This school has developed a strong team, ending last years’ season with a 3-2 record.

After days of recruitment and tryouts, Coach Steven McMahon Jr. has curated a team with strong singles and doubles duos. “We put everybody through a bunch of drills and we teach them some concepts to see if they’re coachable and can pick things up. Based on that, we select the players we think put us in the best position to be successful,” McMahon said.

The team played their first game against Northwest on Sept. 18. Just as McMahon had envisioned, the team came out strong and took home a 3-2 win. Even with a mix of new and returning players, the competing duos worked hard and earned the win. “It was a learning experience. We got to see our strengths and weaknesses in play,” sophomore pickleball player Michael Chamieh said.

The team held their home opener on Sep. 24 against Clarksburg. The mix of players, practice, and determination has brought the team to their second win, now currently holding the title of undefeated. “I’m really excited for this upcoming season especially since this is my first sports team that I have ever been on,” Chamieh said.

Pickleball’s MCPS debut was such a hit that a documentary was published by the MCPS pickleball delegation over the summer. It highlighted MCPS Pickleball Diplomacy, a program that sent 30 student-athletes from MCPS to Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing. The initiative of the exchange is to bring up to 50,000 U.S. students to China, using pickleball as a tool for cultural connection. “We are excited about the premiere of our documentary ‘Pickleball Diplomacy: From Student-Athletes to Ambassadors’ that showcases the profound impact of our pickleball exchange trip to China,” Sullivan said.
Catch the pickleball team at their next game on Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. at Richard Montgomery.