For one team, pickleball has reached new heights.

Whakatāne Pickleball has been active since late 2023 and has quickly grown to more than 190 members.

Riding this wave of popularity, the club sent two teams to Rotorua for the Rotorua Doubles Tournament. One side competed in the over-50s section, while the open team – made up of Ryan Schwass, Tracy Whitley, Jullian Hohepa, and Simon Tyler, and known as the HK Rebels – took on teams from all over the country.

To win the tournament, players had to collect points across men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles matches. Against the odds, that’s exactly what the Rebels did. With three players having only a year’s experience and one with just four months in the sport, the team knew they were long shots for the podium.

For Simon Tyler, the result was especially unexpected.

“I’ve only been playing for four months, so being such a young team, the result came as a huge surprise,” he said.

“We went in as underdogs,” added Ryan Schwass.

Jullian Hohepa agreed: “We had no expectations. We just wanted to keep the ball out of the net and stay on the court. It was all about the experience and having some fun, so when we came out with the gold medal, we were gobsmacked.”

Schwass, the youngest member of the team, gave his all throughout the tournament.

“In the final, Ryan saved a few points by throwing himself across the court more than once,” Tylersaid.

With big smiles, high fives, and hugs, the team celebrated the victory – one that also delivered the first medals in the Whakatāne club’s short history. The achievement didn’t come easily, with eight teams in their division and 13 matches played across the competition.

The over-50s Whakatāne team didn’t find the same success but enjoyed the day regardless.

Now that the club has had a taste of victory, the drive to compete has only grown stronger.

“The win has made us want to be more competitive. Two of us are competing in the Auckland Open,” Hohepa said.

The Rotorua tournament was a DUPR-rated event, meaning players are placed within an international ranking framework – a system now used by over 8000 clubs in 160 countries.

Whakatāne Pickleball originally ran out of the War Memorial Hall but moved to the Whakatāne Tennis Club four months ago. The relocation was made possible through support from NZ Community Trust, Trust Horizon, Lion Foundation, Grassroots, and Crossroads Construction. With a growing membership and eight courts now in use, the club is considering further expansion.

Pickleball sessions are open to anyone interested: Tuesdays 7pm-9pm, Saturday mornings for beginners, and Saturdays 11am-1pm for members.

The club prides itself on offering a welcoming environment, strong support, and a sport that’s easy on the body but great for the mind.