Pickleball: Bringing Fast-Paced Action to the Courts of Wilkesboro

Pickleball: Bringing Fast-Paced Action to the Courts of Wilkesboro

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America, and Wilkesboro is on the cutting edge of that trend. In June Cub Creek Park opened up 6 new courts dedicated solely to pickleball, adding on to the existing two courts within the tennis facility. With all this space outdoors, the pickleball community is primed to host tournaments, beginner clinics, and daily matches.

The pickleball craze has all come about rather suddenly in Wilkesboro. About 5-6 years ago, David Wiles and his wife saw people playing while traveling on vacation. “It looked like fun, so we came home and taught ourselves and a few friends how to play,” Wiles says. They started out with a court marked off in the fellowship hall of First United Methodist Church in North Wilkesboro. As more people learned how to play and joined in the regular group, it was soon apparent more courts were needed. Wilkes Family YMCA marked off a few indoor courts, and Cub Creek Park painted two pickleball courts on one of the existing tennis courts.

“It was about four years ago that we got those first two courts at Cub Creek, thanks in large part to my late sister-in-law, Lilly Brewer,” Wiles says. “She was always very involved with Cub Creek Park, even serving on their board. After we introduced her to pickleball at our church, she helped get them set up at the park as well.” It was thanks in large part to Lilly’s work that Wilkesboro can brag about having outdoor courts before Raleigh.

New Courts at Cub Creek

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck and indoor activities were discouraged, all of the pickleball activity in Wilkesboro moved outdoors to the two courts at Cub Creek Park. “We’d have 18-20 people lined up waiting to play, and it became apparent very quickly that we needed more courts to meet the demand,” Wiles says.  

Rather than lining more pickleball courts on existing tennis courts and making tennis players and pickleball players vie for space, the park was able to build six courts dedicated solely to pickleball in the space that used to be t-ball fields. The new courts opened in June, and they’ve been full of activity ever since.

Opportunities to Play

Wilkesboro has a dedicated group of pickleball enthusiasts, with people of all skill levels hitting the courts almost every day of the week. David Wiles is one of the many who show up to play each morning, and he also runs a free clinic to teach pickleball skills to beginners on Wednesday mornings from 8-10 a.m.

Beckie Mathis, owner of Northern Foothills Tennis Club, is also a strong supporter of pickleball in the community. She can be found teaching lessons and organizing pickleball tournaments when she’s not playing herself. “Once I was introduced to pickleball, I fell in love with the sport,” Mathis says. “I love that it’s a sport that’s accessible to everyone, no matter what your athletic abilities. It’s a simple game but it’s a lot of fun, and it gets you moving, which is great for all of us.”

Upcoming Pickleball Schedule:

October 9: Doubles Tournament at Cub Creek Park

November 6: Doubles Tournament at Cub Creek Park

Wednesdays, 8-10 a.m.: Free clinics for beginners at Cub Creek Park

Daily except Sunday, 8 a.m. Group play at Cub Creek Park