By Spencer Tracy, Staff Writer

The second annual Crosstown Dink-Off took place on Monday night between the University of Cincinnati (UC) and Xavier pickleball clubs in a competitive yet exhilarating environment. No club membership, payment or skill set was required as the 12 Xavier pairs matched up with 13 Bearcat pairs in a single-elimination tournament.  

After falling in love with pickleball during the pandemic, senior communications major Michael Daley felt the lack of pickleball presence on campus, despite its rapid growth at other universities. In the fall of his junior year, Daley founded the Xavier Pickleball Club with a specific goal in mind. 

“I wanted a place for people to pick up a paddle and play, to learn the strategy, grow with each other, be competitive with friends and have a good time,” Daley said.  

Daley started this club because of his love for the young game and for the future he believes it holds. 

The idea of the Crosstown Dink-Off first emerged from pickleball club’s typical host site, Aces Pickleball Bar + Grill. The venue offers memberships to local Cincinnatians and rents out their five indoor and six outdoor courts to other parties such as the Xavier Pickleball Club. Aces noticed both clubs were regularly renting out their facilities and pitched the idea of an event with both schools’ clubs. Daley reached out to UC’s pickleball club president, and the Crosstown Dink-Off was born.  

One game to 15 points decided the winner and the loser. Last year, four Xavier pairs reached the final four, however this year was a different story with three of the four final teams including the champions being Bearcats.  

Once four pickleball players took the court with a mix of experience and competitiveness, the passion of the crosstown rivalry crawled back into the players’ DNA. The games become more meaningful as clutch points cause animated celebrations and stamina becomes pivotal. Who would have ever thought a 20 x 44-foot long asphalt floor could give you a serious workout. 

The variety of skill sets paired with the combination of a competitive and fun experience is what brings newcomers to the club. First-year business undecided major Chris Gibel already has plans to attend future events after making his pickleball club debut Monday night. 

“I’m a competitive guy, so it’s just another way to compete in a sport that’s fun and accessible to anybody of any athletic ability or size,” Gibel said. “The teamwork is fun, I feel like it’s a good community here with a lot of people sharing the same interest.” 

A few of the pairs in the tournament had played numerous games together developing an important chemistry.

“I don’t have to show up with anyone, I just start playing with people who are here,” second year pickleball player and senior nursing major Mary Sweetman said about the pickleball community.

“I learned a lot from other people. I feel like every time I played people better than me, I got a little better and it’s fun to see yourself get better,” Sweetman said.