West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) becomes the second U.S. college to establish a varsity scholarship system for pickleball. It will renovate former tennis courts to develop 8 courts and launch it as an official college sport in fall 2026. The announcement was on December 8, 2025.
The first college to introduce a scholarship system was Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, and WVWC follows it. The movement to solidify a foothold as a college sport has advanced one more step.
Renovating former tennis courts into 8 courts
WVWC will renovate a site that was previously a tennis facility to develop 8 pickleball courts. The plan also leaves room for future expansion. It is currently used for recreation by the college and local residents, and its location close to the dormitories is cited as an advantage.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| College name | West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) |
| Location | Buckhannon, West Virginia (population about 7,500) |
| Position | The second U.S. college to introduce a scholarship system |
| Courts | Renovating former tennis courts into 8 courts (future expansion also under consideration) |
| Launch | Fall 2026 |
The first college was Drury University
The first to establish a scholarship system was Drury University in Missouri. With WVWC becoming the second, it showed that the trend of treating pickleball as a formal college sport is not ending as a one-off but spreading to multiple colleges.
The two people running it
Alec Moran takes the role of the program's general manager. Moran stated, "I want to recruit not only excellent athletes but also students who embody Wesleyan's culture and will become future leaders." Kyle Hoffman, VP overseeing athletics, said of the revival of the former tennis facility, "We're breathing new life into a facility that has seen many matches," emphasizing its closeness to the dormitories and ease of use.
A stepping stone to becoming a college sport
The introduction of a scholarship system means that an environment is being put in place where players can continue to play while balancing academics and competition. As multiple colleges establish the system, the foundation for dual meets and league operations is built, and the conditions for recognition as a competitive body become easier to meet as well. It's also expected to have the effect of thickening the competitive population of the student generation.
Implications for Japanese student competition too
The fact that a framework as a college sport has begun to take shape in the U.S. serves as a precedent for countries about to expand the sport. The realistic development method of making effective use of school facilities (repurposing former tennis courts) also looks likely to be a reference for areas troubled by court shortages. Creating a place for the student generation influences the sport's long-term grassroots reach.
Related articles:
andThe Facility Rush Advancing in Japan
andMLP's new season kicks off
and6 New Courts in Sakai
Source:Pickleball.com / WV Wesleyan varsity scholarships / West Virginia Wesleyan College official / WVWC becomes second U.S. college to offer varsity pickleball scholarships
