Arizona Super Regional Recap: An Emotional Farewell to a Collegiate Legend

The final Collegiate Pickleball Super Regional of the fall did not disappoint. Despite the rain forcing all matches indoors, the Arizona Super Regional delivered some of the most competitive, high-pressure college pickleball we’ve seen all semester with dreambreakers, upsets, breakout performances, and a proper sendoff to one of the sport’s collegiate greats.

Utah Tech Keeps the Arizona Crown … Again

Utah Tech just keeps proving it; they’re one of the deepest, most dominant collegiate pickleball programs in the country.

Both Utah Tech 1 and Utah Tech 2 powered their way into the finals, making this the third time Utah Tech has taken the Arizona Super Regional title. And here’s the wild part: They didn’t even need to chase a Nationals bid; they already secured it after winning the Utah Super Regional earlier this fall (right before becoming Collegiate World Champions). But Utah Tech doesn’t show up halfway. They show up to win.

The Utah Tech players we spotlighted last week absolutely delivered.Lauren Mercado, Liam Duffin, and Benson Parry lit up the courts all weekend, racking up highlight after highlight, with multiple moments where the crowd literally couldn’t stop clapping. 

GCU Pushes Utah Tech to Dreambreakers

Grand Canyon University wasn’t going down quietly.

Both Utah Tech teams had to survive dreambreakers against GCU in the playoffs, showing just how dangerous, disciplined, and resilient GCU continues to be on the collegiate stage.

GCU’s level is rising fast, and they remain one of the toughest matchups for Utah Tech anywhere in the country.

Three Programs Punch Their Ticket to Nationals

Three West-Coast schools claimed their bids to the 2025 Collegiate National Championship:

• UCLA
• UC San Diego
• Fresno State

All three had standout performances, but UCLA in particular turned heads: both UCLA teams outperformed their DUPR expectations in group play. UC San Diego continued their steady climb this season, anchoring strong wins when it mattered most. Fresno State showed grit in every match, securing their spot with determination and depth.

Rain? No Problem. The Competition Stayed Indoors, but Intense

Mother Nature tried to interfere, but the tournament pressed on indoors.
The change of venue didn’t slow players down. If anything, the tighter environment made the energy louder, the points faster, and the pressure even higher.

A Farewell to a Collegiate Pioneer: Artur Fonseca

One of the most emotional moments of the weekend came with the final collegiate appearance of Artur Fonseca, a true legend of the college pickleball world.

Artur has:

• Played in all four Arizona Super Regionals
• Competed in all four Collegiate National Championships for GCU
• Been a major figure and trailblazer in the early years of the collegiate game

His impact on GCU, and the collegiate pickleball as a whole, is impossible to measure.
The sport is better because he played it.

A Perfect End to the Fall Season

The Arizona Super Regional wrapped up the final stop of the fall 2025 collegiate calendar, ending the semester with drama, talent, emotion, and the kind of moments that make college pickleball special.

If this weekend is any preview, the National Championship is going to be insane.To stay up to date on collegiate pickleball news, join our newsletter channel on Instagram.