Three occasions. One weekend. The DUPR and UPA 2026-27 School Pickleball Tour season begins October 3, and the offseason gave us lots to speak about.
This preview covers opening weekend, the important thing fall dates, the transfers reshaping two high packages, and an in-state rivalry that proves competitors and friendship can share a courtroom.
The School Pickleball Tour Begins October third
The season begins with three occasions on the identical weekend:
Hunter Merritt joins Utah Tech
Hunter Merritt is heading west. The 5.2 rated LSU standout senior is becoming a member of Utah Tech in St. George, Utah. Utah Tech is the reigning School World Champion and final season’s runner-up at The Nationals. Head coach Chloe Butterfield recruited Merritt with scholarship funding from the college.
The place Merritt matches within the lineup is the fascinating half. Liam Duffin and Clayton Boydston are nonetheless with the Trailblazers, so for now Merritt seems set for Utah Tech’s second squad. Watch whether or not Duffin decides to alter males’s doubles companions at any level this season.
Both means, a workforce that was already exhausting to beat simply bought more durable.
Switch season hits Gainesville
The College of Florida (UF) has been a high School Pickleball Tour contender from the beginning. The Gators had been one of many first golf equipment to compete again in 2022. Their previous roster even included Jack Foster, APP professional.
Final season ended shut. At The Nationals, Florida reached the quarterfinals earlier than falling to Utah Tech in a 22-20 DreamBreaker. Earlier, on the Georgia Tremendous Regional, a playoff matchup with UGA turned tense, with disputed calls and lots of back-and-forth earlier than UGA pulled out the win.
This season, the Gators are wanting totally different as the switch portal arrived in faculty pickleball.
The switch portal has formed faculty athletics for years, and faculty pickleball is simply beginning to see it. When 5.4-rated Christian Frankie graduated, Florida wanted somebody to fill his spot. They discovered that participant about 150 miles away at cross-state rival Florida State (FSU): 5.0-rated Zack Florendo.
You possibly can count on UF vs. FSU to return up typically this season.
Indiana’s friendliest rivalry
Discuss to anybody who has spent a number of seasons on the tour and you will hear the identical factor. The competitors is actual, and so are the friendships gamers construct throughout faculties. Indiana (IU) is the clearest instance.
IU and Purdue have been rivals for greater than 100 years, particularly in basketball and soccer. In soccer, they play for the Outdated Oaken Bucket. In pickleball, they play for the Outdated Oaken Paddle in a DUPR Twin Match.
IU has gained the Paddle all three years. Earlier than the match begins, they maintain a balanced combined doubles occasion that pairs one participant from every college.
“It is a enjoyable, social occasion that actually exemplifies what’s nice about pickleball,” mentioned Timber Tucker, IU Pickleball’s former coach and present advisor.
The connection goes past one occasion. Purdue graduate Tori Burke is continuous her research at IU and plans to hitch its aggressive workforce. Her associates and boyfriend nonetheless play for the Purdue Boilermakers, and there is not any dangerous blood.
The 2 groups meet for the primary time this semester on October third on the Boiler Bash Regional in West Lafayette. Can Purdue take one again on its residence courts, or will IU hold the streak going?
Comply with the 2026-27 season
Opening weekend is days away, and each match strikes participant rankings and the DUPR faculty energy rankings. Examine the full schedule, comply with your college, and open the DUPR app to trace the gamers you are watching.
CPT Fall Schedule
- Oct. 3: Utah Tremendous Regional 300 @ Premier Pickleball Membership, Herriman, UT
- Oct. 17-18: North Carolina Tremendous Regional 300 @ Metropolis of Wilson Pickleball Facility, Wilson, NC
- Oct. 24-25: Ohio Tremendous Regional 300 @ Match Level Pickleball, Columbus, OH
- Oct. 30-Nov. 1: School World Championship 400 @ Brookhaven Nation Membership, Farmers Department, TX
- Nov. 21-22: Arizona Tremendous Regional 300 @ Heart Courtroom Glendale, Glendale, AZ
