Following a pilot program at 11 high schools, including nearby B-CC, pickleball is arriving to WJ. The sport will be introduced this fall, and will be available to all students as a varsity sport. Pickleball is a corollary sport, and is meant to encourage participation in sports by those of varying abilities, with a particular emphasis on including students with disabilities.

Pickleball has experienced a rapid growth in popularity over the past few years, and is currently the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., increasing participation by an average of 223.5% in each of the last three years. According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals, there are an estimated 48.3 million pickleball players in the U.S. (as of 2023). While pickleball has similarities to tennis and table tennis, it has its own distinct rules and equipment. The sport is played in both singles and doubles, although the MCPS version appears to be mainly doubles.

Lawrence Bublick, an ESOL teacher, is going to be WJ’s pickleball coach. Bublick currently coaches boys’ volleyball at B-CC.

“I coached volleyball at other schools, and prior to the pandemic I ran a bunch of sports at WJ for kids who were not playing full time sports,” Bublick said. “We had a lot of kids participating in sports and having fun, but it wasn’t like you had to grow up having played volleyball forever and ever.”

Similarly to his pre-pandemic efforts, Bublick intends for pickleball to include students who wouldn’t typically participate in school sports. In addition to publicizing the sport for students, Bublick has offered free lessons to interested WJ staff, with the hope of increasing community awareness of the new team.

“I just envision this as being a sport where lots of kids can play at all different levels. The best thing about pickleball is it’s super social. You can play and have a good time if you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced player, and so I’m hoping to really attract and build community at WJ,” Bublick said.

Kimberly Perikles, one of the teachers in WJ’s LFI (Learning for Independence) program, has worked closely with the varsity bocce team in past years. Bocce is WJ’s only other corollary sport, and it has provided a setting for students with a variety of different abilities to come together and participate in a varsity sport. While competition is part of the sport, a main draw for many participants is the fun that players have.

“It wasn’t all about winning. It was about having the chance to participate, and going out and seeing different friends [from other schools],” Perikles said.

Corollary sports have provided a unique opportunity for students with different ranges of abilities to come together with a shared goal: play their sport and have fun.

“The LFI students enjoyed interaction with the non-LFI students that were on the team. They [treated] my LFI students like they were anybody else. That’s all anybody wants at the end of the day, is just to feel included and seen for what they can do, not what they can’t do,” Perikles said.