This school year, two new varsity sports were offered at all public schools in the county: pickleball and girls’ flag football.
Pickleball is now a varsity sport at all 25 high schools. It is offered through the corollary sports program, which includes students with and without disabilities.
“What’s wonderful about pickleball, a lot of it is cross generational,” said Robert Campbell, head varsity coach at Sherwood High School. “When I started playing pickleball a couple of years ago, the average starting age was about 60, so it’s nice to actually see a younger demographic within pickleball.”
According to MCPS, the school system was the first in the nation to have pickleball as a varsity sport.
Pickleball “brings people together in ways we’ve never seen before,” said Adam Behnke, D.C. Pickleball Team’s chief operating officer. Unlike football and soccer, parents can play pickleball with their children, he said.
And, MCPS introduced girls’ flag football as a varsity sport at all high schools this fall as a pilot program. The school system is doing the pilot in partnership with the Baltimore Ravens and Under Armour.
“They’re making history today, they’re trailblazers,” said MCPS Systemwide Athletics Director Dr. Jeffrey Sullivan.
Article thumbnail photo taken by Matthew Watson
