Pickleball serves teachers new inviting community

Siena Petrosinelli ’25 Arts Editor

Tick, tock, tick, tock. As seconds sluggishly pass by, sweat trickles down the temples of teachers. Tick. As student laughter and talk blare in the teacher’s ears, they only have one singular thought captivating their mind. Tock. The minute hand strikes 2:45 p.m. as energy surges through their feet like lightning. Tick. Tock. As they peer out into the hallway, they check to see if anyone is watching. With no one in sight, teachers race like cheetahs down the stairs, pass- pass ing the cafeteria without even spotting the trash scattered atop the tables. Tick. They reach their final destination with relief and enter through the blue doors creating one cohesive group. Tock. Chatter erupts, smiles emerge and the community grows.

Every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m, staff members compete in lighthearted games of pickleball. Starting in spring of 2022, Christine Wanner, health and physical education department chair, has organized pickleball games in the fieldhouse for staff members.

“I would love to see more

[staff members] come,” Wanner said. “I certainly want anyone to know whether you’re a first time player, or you’ve been playing for a while, you’re welcome to come.”

With a variety of staff members participating in these cooperative games, it has built an inviting community.

“All staff is invited, so you get to see a lot of different staff members like teachers, nurses, guidance and paras,” Jennifer Cirino, Staples librarian, said. “It’s great to meet people from all over that you normally wouldn’t be able to see.” ing offered to staff, but also to students in the sophomore racquet games course. Pickleball has brought smiles and joy.

“Everybody on the court is the same. It doesn’t matter who you are, or what you are,” Library Paraprofessional Christine Harris said. “It’s a lot of fun. Nobody is out there to win necessarily, it’s all about laughing and getting some exercise.”

The popularity in pickleball has increased to 4.8 million “picklers” in the United States, with it becoming America’s fastest growing sport, according to The New York Times. The Staples community has followed this trend with pickleball not only be- pickle mil Unit commu be