April is a time of transition for pickleball players across Wisconsin when they can take the sport outside after spending the winter inside. The Door County Pickleball Club, the Door County YMCA, and USA Pickleball held two successful tournaments. The first Pickleball tournament was held at the Sturgeon Bay YMCA on Thursday, April 10th, with Guy Fortin taking 1st Place, Rob Pollman 2nd Place, and Jon Walker 3rd Place. The second tournament was held at the Jackie and Steve Kane Program Center in Fish Creek on Wednesday, April 16th. The results were Gerry Kadow in 1st Place, DeAnn Walkner in 2nd Place, and Aaron Phillips in 3rd Place. Twenty-four players participated in the tournaments, while several other players came to watch the great play and cheer for their favorite players. Renstrom says you can expect to see even more players with two to three times more outdoor courts available locally than indoor courts.
Pickleball popularity continues to grow
The sounds you hear from local pickleball courts will get louder as the sport’s popularity grows. According to the 2025 SFIA Topline Participation Report, there were an estimated 19.8 million pickleball players in the United States in 2024, an increase of over 45 percent since 2023 and 311 percent over the last three years. Door County Pickleball President Jay Renstrom has seen his club’s membership grow about 20 to 30 percent each year, now standing at more than 550 members. USA Pickleball has also taken notice, donating three brand-new indoor Pickleball nets to the Door County YMCA and bringing additional tournaments and clinics to the area. Renstrom admits he does not know when the growth of pickleball will slow down, but he believes the inclusive nature of the sport makes it an attractive sport for all people to pick up a paddle and play.
April is a time of transition for pickleball players across Wisconsin when they can take the sport outside after spending the winter inside. The Door County Pickleball Club, the Door County YMCA, and USA Pickleball held two successful tournaments. The first Pickleball tournament was held at the Sturgeon Bay YMCA on Thursday, April 10th, with Guy Fortin taking 1st Place, Rob Pollman 2nd Place, and Jon Walker 3rd Place. The second tournament was held at the Jackie and Steve Kane Program Center in Fish Creek on Wednesday, April 16th. The results were Gerry Kadow in 1st Place, DeAnn Walkner in 2nd Place, and Aaron Phillips in 3rd Place. Twenty-four players participated in the tournaments, while several other players came to watch the great play and cheer for their favorite players. Renstrom says you can expect to see even more players with two to three times more outdoor courts available locally than indoor courts.
April is a time of transition for pickleball players across Wisconsin when they can take the sport outside after spending the winter inside. The Door County Pickleball Club, the Door County YMCA, and USA Pickleball held two successful tournaments. The first Pickleball tournament was held at the Sturgeon Bay YMCA on Thursday, April 10th, with Guy Fortin taking 1st Place, Rob Pollman 2nd Place, and Jon Walker 3rd Place. The second tournament was held at the Jackie and Steve Kane Program Center in Fish Creek on Wednesday, April 16th. The results were Gerry Kadow in 1st Place, DeAnn Walkner in 2nd Place, and Aaron Phillips in 3rd Place. Twenty-four players participated in the tournaments, while several other players came to watch the great play and cheer for their favorite players. Renstrom says you can expect to see even more players with two to three times more outdoor courts available locally than indoor courts.
