College Pickleball Heats Up in Cape Coral with 32-Team March Madness Showdown

While the NCAA’s basketball tournament hits the national stage, another kind of March Madness is unfolding in Cape Coral—and it’s all about pickleball. This weekend, the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) is hosting its second U.S. Collegiate Championships at the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center. With 32 college teams, 32 courts, and scholarship cash on the line, it’s a full-court press of youthful energy, fierce competition, and growing legitimacy for the collegiate side of the sport.

Last year’s event crowned Utah Tech as the inaugural team champion, and their players racked up hardware across singles, doubles, and mixed events. The level of play? Surprisingly high. These aren’t just enthusiastic club players tossing the ball around—these athletes are training, strategizing, and showcasing real shot-making skills. Names like Jack Foster (Florida) and Averee Beck (Utah Tech) are already gaining traction as collegiate standouts with serious game.

The expansion of this event in just its second year is a strong signal: pickleball is becoming a viable college sport. From Utah Valley to Florida, schools are not only sending teams but building programs with real aspirations. And with 32 teams set to battle it out over three days, Cape Coral becomes the epicenter of collegiate pickleball—complete with brackets, upsets, and Cinderella stories of its own.