Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is pleased to announce the expansion of pickleball as a varsity sport during the fall 2024 season. Last fall, MCPS became the first school district in the country to offer pickleball as a varsity sport, as part of the corollary sports program that provides increased access and participation opportunities for students with disabilities. 

Last year, the sport was piloted as a fall corollary sport at 11 schools. Pickleball will now expand to all 25 high schools through a partnership with the D.C. Pickleball Team, D.C.’s premier level Major League Pickleball team, and JOOLA, the largest pickleball equipment company in the world, headquartered in Rockville, Md. 

“We are excited to expand our groundbreaking pickleball program to all 25 MCPS high schools, as we strive to provide additional participation opportunities for our student-athletes,” said Dr. Jeff Sullivan, MCPS’ director of athletics. “Interest in pickleball continues to explode at all age levels across the world, and we look forward to partnering with the D.C. Pickleball Team and JOOLA to bring this excitement to our student-athletes. Pickleball is an inclusive sport that fits perfectly with our corollary sports program, which provides additional opportunities for students with and without disabilities. This initiative is directly aligned with our R.A.I.S.E. core values of equity, access and spirited competition, and will provide a foundation of success for pickleball across our county.”

Members of the media are invited to a news conference at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 25 to learn more about this exciting expansion and speak with student-athletes, coaches and pickleball professionals at Winston Churchill High School. 

Pickleball will become the fall varsity interscholastic corollary sport at MCPS. The goal of corollary sports is to increase interscholastic athletics participation opportunities for all students, in particular, students with disabilities.

WHAT: Learn more about MCPS pickleball expansion as a varsity sport. Members of the media are welcome to interview athletic guests and JOOLA representatives and capture video and photos.

WHEN: Thursday, July 25 at 1 p.m. 

WHERE: Winston Churchill High School, 11300 Gainsborough Road, Potomac, MD 20854

WHO: 

• Adam Behnke, D.C. Pickleball Team. Adam is the Chief Operating Officer of the D.C. Pickleball Team. He has launched multiple sports teams, including professional soccer club Loudoun United FC in Leesburg, Va., and held senior roles with the New York Yankees and D.C. United.

• Vivian Glozman, D.C. Pickleball Team. Vivian attended the University of California before transferring to the University of Virginia, where she played tennis. After graduation, she was introduced to pickleball and has quickly ascended the ranks in the pro game. She is one of six players in Major League Pickleball who made the jump from the Challenger to Premier Level, home to the top 48 most in-demand team players in pro pickleball.

• Richard Lee, JOOLA. Richard is the Chief Executive Officer and Owner of JOOLA, a global brand specializing in pickleball and table tennis. Richard is a graduate from Winston Churchill High School and earned his degree from Johns Hopkins University.

• Dr. Jeffrey Sullivan. Jeff is the director of systemwide athletics for MCPS and has led multiple program enhancements and initiatives, most recently the addition of pickleball and girls’ flag football, and has also launched an innovative sports medicine program for MCPS Athletics.

Questions and requests for information and/or interviews should be directed to Liliana Lopez at Liliana_L_Lopez@mcpsmd.org or 240-740-2142.