WHAT began as a normal gym class activity has exploded into a new club at Kearns High: Pickleball. As of September 2025, Kearns High has started a new pickleball club run by art teacher Carlos Miranda. This new club is a popular sport that is growing at Kearns and welcomes students of all grades. The team meets after school at the Kearns High tennis courts. 

HE started this group because his high school experience “sparked an interest” in pickleball. After high school, he continued to play the game with his brother, which inspired them to create an after-school club. He enjoys teaching this sport and sharing his passion with students. 

THIS sport is trending and is growing nationally, but what is pickleball? It was invented in 1965, but it has gained worldwide attention in recent years. Pickleball is played with paddles and a plastic ball on a smaller court. This fun game combines elements of badminton, tennis, and ping pong, and can be played both indoors and outdoors. 

PICKLEBALL is typically played with four people, with two players on each team, but can be played one versus one. One player serves the ball, and only the serving team can score a point. The game continues until a team wins by two points. 

THERE are many different ways to hit the ball to score in pickleball, with some being called a “lob,” “dink,” and “volley.” Miranda stated that when playing pickleball, his favorite shot to hit is the “lob.” This is where the ball is hit to the far end of the court, forcing the opponent to retreat. 

 MIRANDA said that his favorite part about the game is that, “It can be a chill game but also be very intense as well.” He stated he usually plays, two times a week, and enjoys both the calm and competitive sides of the sport. However, he said the most difficult part about learning pickleball is learning the rules and scoring. Despite this, his favorite part about the club is, “teaching the students.”

JOINING this new club is a good way to learn how to play a fun and interesting sport that is actively becoming more popular. This club is also a great way to make new friends with peers and build new relationships. The pickleball club welcomes any Kearns High Students who are interested in pickleball and are always looking for more people to join.