With pickleball's rising popularity, there's a growing demand for local tournaments catering to amateurs.
The Dink Minor League Pickleball (formerly known as Minor League Pickleball) gives players an exciting way to compete, emphasizing teamwork, strategy, and camaraderie.
Following Major League Pickleball’s innovative format involving teams of four players (two women and two men), teams compete against other teams in four events: women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and two mixed doubles matches. A singles-based tiebreaker format, called a dreambreaker, is used when teams are tied 2-2.
The Dink Minor League Pickleball’s National Pathway allows teams to compete locally to pursue a spot at the national championship. A national leaderboard is utilized to display ranked players, allowing you to easily view their standings.
Its first official season was in 2023, and its director, Caroline Luelf, is tasked with growing the organization.
Luelf's journey with the league began as a participant, along with her husband, in a one-day event in Kansas City. The convenience of these short events appealed to the couple, balancing their passion for pickleball with family commitments.
As Luelf says, “When you have four kids, planning the logistics, getting all the kids to where they need to be and us being gone three or four days for a tournament, that's not easy.”
After participating in several Minor League Pickleball events and experiencing firsthand the thrill of competition and community, Luelf was inspired to bring the experience to her hometown in Oklahoma. Her first event sold out and received rave reviews. Luelf shares, “This one team posted on Facebook that it was their favorite tournament ever. They didn't even win a match!”
People were hungry for more events, and Luelf decided to reach out directly to the league saying, “I love everything about Minor League Pickleball, and I have all these ideas on how to grow it.” A few weeks later, they offered her a job.
What sets the league apart is its emphasis on the team concept.
Unlike traditional tournaments, where players compete individually, The Dink Minor League Pickleball encourages collaboration and support among teammates. With rally scoring and opportunities for coaching between points, players are fully engaged both on and off the court, creating an electrifying atmosphere for participants and spectators alike.
"The Dink Minor League Pickleball is for everyone,” Luelf notes. It’s for any player — from amateurs to non-contracted pros, regardless of age. Events have seen players as young as 12 and as old as 70. The family-friendly nature is obvious, with Caroline herself cherishing the opportunity to play alongside her husband and 18-year-old son and create lasting memories on the court.
Looking ahead, The Dink MiLP's goal is “to be in all 50 states” (they are currently in 29 states) and “continue to expand globally,” according to Luelf. With events planned across the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and beyond, it’s poised to become the premier destination for amateur pickleball enthusiasts worldwide.
Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the game, The Dink Minor League Pickleball welcomes you to find a team, join the fun, forge new friendships, and experience the thrill of pickleball like never before.
Join a team, have fun, and experience the excitement of pickleball! Sign up now!
Written by Alana Jackler
In Cincinnati Ohio, players from 30 different schools competed for $20,000 and championships in each of the five pickleball events: Mixed Doubles, Men's/Women's Singles, & Men's/Women's Doubles. With this being the 2nd annual Collegiate Individual National Championship, there was an increased player pool and spectators from last year. Read more to see how each of the five events played out!
Men's Doubles
Jack Munro and Timmy Manzano (University of Texas) went undefeated in Men's Doubles this weekend, but it wasn't without it's difficulties. In the finals matchup, they saved multiple championship points and had to beat Jack Foster and Django Chassang (University of Florida) 18-21, 27-25, 12-10. These two teams had the highest average DUPRs for the Men's Doubles field, with the University of Florida at 5.671 and UT-Austin at 5.391.
Watch the Men's Doubles Final here!
Mixed Doubles
After dropping games to Benson Parry/Averee Beck -Utah Tech University- (15-21) and Sara Sowinski/Colton Thielman - University of Wisconsin-Whitewater - (18-21) in group play, Mehvish Safdar and Michael Asplund - University of Indiana - barely made the playoffs as the #7 seed. However, that didn't stop them from then grinding out 3 playoff wins to be crowned the 2024 Mixed Doubles champions! In the Finals, IU was down 21-12, 20-12, against University of Virginia's David Bieger and Lauralei Singsank, and then came back to win the second game 26-28 and then the third game 8-11 in stunning fashion.
Watch their epic comeback here!
Women's Singles
As an encore, Mehvish Safdar went on to win Women's Singles immediately after wrapping up Mixed Doubles! Mehv was flawless in Women's Singles the whole tournament, not dropping a single game in group play or the playoffs. She was the only champion from the weekend to do so. Mixed Doubles and Women's Singles mark the first two National Championships for Indiana University pickleball, and their showing this weekend put them on the map as a top club in the nation.
Watch the Women's Final here!
Men's Singles
The highly-anticipated Jack Foster (University of Florida) vs. Jack Munro (University of Texas) singles showdown happened, but not in expected fashion! In group play, Jack Munro failed to clinch a group play game against Michael Asplund from Indiana, and lost 22-20. As a result, Munro entered the playoff bracket as the #7 seed, which put him on a quarterfinals collision course with #2 seed Jack Foster. Munro came out victorious, and then would go on to win all of his Men's Singles match ups in straight games, with 4 out of his 6 game wins in the playoffs being by 2 points. Coming into the finals matchup against Jack, David Bieger had decimated his opponents in group play, winning his games by an average of 13.2 points. Jack Munro's win also means that two #7 seeds in the playoffs were crowned champions - it's anyone's game!
Women's Doubles
Utah Tech repeats as champions in Women's Doubles! At the 2023 Individual Nationals, the Utah Tech Women's Doubles team (Dylan Ciampini and Katelyn Naduald) knocked out Lauralei Singsank and Alexandra McDonald (University of Virginia) in the semifinals. This year, the two teams met in the finals instead, but the result was the same with Utah Tech victorious, with their 2024 Women's Doubles team of Averee Beck and Kamryn Bliss. If there wasn't enough history already, the two schools also met in the 2023 Collegiate National Championship semifinals, with Utah Tech (With Averee and Dylan) winning against the same UVA women's team (Lauralei and Alexandra). However, UVA got the last laugh in that matchup as they beat Utah Tech 3-1, and then proceeded to win the whole tournament.
Hungry for more Collegiate Pickleball? Stay tuned for the upcoming Florida Super Regional on September 21st-22nd!
With pickleball's rising popularity, there's a growing demand for local tournaments catering to amateurs.
The Dink Minor League Pickleball (formerly known as Minor League Pickleball) gives players an exciting way to compete, emphasizing teamwork, strategy, and camaraderie.
Following Major League Pickleball’s innovative format involving teams of four players (two women and two men), teams compete against other teams in four events: women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and two mixed doubles matches. A singles-based tiebreaker format, called a dreambreaker, is used when teams are tied 2-2.
The Dink Minor League Pickleball’s National Pathway allows teams to compete locally to pursue a spot at the national championship. A national leaderboard is utilized to display ranked players, allowing you to easily view their standings.
Its first official season was in 2023, and its director, Caroline Luelf, is tasked with growing the organization.
Luelf's journey with the league began as a participant, along with her husband, in a one-day event in Kansas City. The convenience of these short events appealed to the couple, balancing their passion for pickleball with family commitments.
As Luelf says, “When you have four kids, planning the logistics, getting all the kids to where they need to be and us being gone three or four days for a tournament, that's not easy.”
After participating in several Minor League Pickleball events and experiencing firsthand the thrill of competition and community, Luelf was inspired to bring the experience to her hometown in Oklahoma. Her first event sold out and received rave reviews. Luelf shares, “This one team posted on Facebook that it was their favorite tournament ever. They didn't even win a match!”
People were hungry for more events, and Luelf decided to reach out directly to the league saying, “I love everything about Minor League Pickleball, and I have all these ideas on how to grow it.” A few weeks later, they offered her a job.
What sets the league apart is its emphasis on the team concept.
Unlike traditional tournaments, where players compete individually, The Dink Minor League Pickleball encourages collaboration and support among teammates. With rally scoring and opportunities for coaching between points, players are fully engaged both on and off the court, creating an electrifying atmosphere for participants and spectators alike.
"The Dink Minor League Pickleball is for everyone,” Luelf notes. It’s for any player — from amateurs to non-contracted pros, regardless of age. Events have seen players as young as 12 and as old as 70. The family-friendly nature is obvious, with Caroline herself cherishing the opportunity to play alongside her husband and 18-year-old son and create lasting memories on the court.
Looking ahead, The Dink MiLP's goal is “to be in all 50 states” (they are currently in 29 states) and “continue to expand globally,” according to Luelf. With events planned across the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and beyond, it’s poised to become the premier destination for amateur pickleball enthusiasts worldwide.
Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the game, The Dink Minor League Pickleball welcomes you to find a team, join the fun, forge new friendships, and experience the thrill of pickleball like never before.
Join a team, have fun, and experience the excitement of pickleball! Sign up now!
Written by Alana Jackler
Prepare for an epic showdown as The Dink Minor League Pickleball announces seven thrilling tournaments! With 12 to 16 teams per division, each Regional Showdown promises fierce competition. The stakes are high, and the first-place team of each division takes home a Dream Ticket, automatically qualifying them for the 2024 National Championship!
Discover the 7 Regional Showdown Locations
The Regional Showdowns span the nation, offering aspiring players from all corners of the country an equal opportunity to showcase their skills and play for a chance to secure the coveted Dream Ticket to the National Championship. Learn how you can earn points at Regional Showdowns to climb the National Leaderboard.
Take a look and sign up for a Regional Showdown near you!
Explore Regional Showdown Divisions and Pricing
Offered Divisions: 12*, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22* (*DUPR 12 and 22 are only available in specific locations)
Price: $100-$150
Unleash the Rewards: What Players Can Expect
Northeast Regional Showdown Hosted by All State Pickleball League
Date: July 20th
Venue: Bounce
City, State: Malvern, Pennsylvania
Divisions: 12, 14, 16, 18
Midsouth Regional Showdown Hosted by OPC & Pickleball Kingdom
Date: July 27th & 28th
Venue: Pickleball Kingdom Plano
City, State: Plano, Texas
Divisions: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22
Midwest Regional Showdown Hosted by iPickle Nation and Sponsored by JustPaddles
Date: August 10th
Venue: PickleCon (Kansas City Convention Center)
City, State: Kansas City, Missouri
Divisions: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
West Coast Regional Showdown Hosted by Carmen Sanz Pickleball Club
Date: September 7th
Venue: Willow Pass Community Park in Concord
City, State: Concord, California
Divisions: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
Northwest Regional Hosted BY ZZ2 Pickleball
Date: September 7th & 8th
Venue: Caverlero MidHigh School
City, State: Lake Stevens, Washington
Divisions: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22
Southwest Regional Showdown Hosted by iPickle Nation and Sponsored by JustPaddles
Date: October 5th & 6th, 2024
Venue: Picklemall ~ Tempe
City, State: Tempe, Arizona
Divisions: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22
Southeast Regional Showdown Hosted by All Florida Pickleball
Date: November 9th & 10th
Venue: Lone Palm Country Club
City, State: Lakeland, Florida
Divisions: 14, 16, 18, 20
To learn more about The Dink Minor League Pickleball, visit the website. Visit our blog for more information on the 2024 National Championship. Sign up for a The Dink Minor League Pickleball event now to get on the National Leaderboard and start your journey toward Nationals!