On Saturday, Sept. 21, dozens of pickleball enthusiasts converged to play in a tournament to support the PUSD Wellness Center. The new “Positively Pickled” tournament proved so popular that organizers had to create a waitlist to accommodate would-be entrants.
Those remarkable participation levels along with generous family and corporate donations led to over $65,000 raised for the PUSD Wellness Center, which provides counseling and mental health services to Piedmont High School, Middle School, and Millennium High School students. During the 2023/2024 school year, the Wellness Center provided over 2,000 therapy sessions to Piedmont students.
The inaugural Wellness Center tournament included beginner, intermediate and competitive divisions. 28 intermediate and 12 competitive division teams participated. Father-son duo Reed and Aaron Bennett won the intermediate division, followed by runners-up Cindy and Kris Lynds. Ray Ramillosa and Stefan Schulze won the competitive division, with Beth Barrett and Virginia Davis a close second. For many players, it was their first time participating in a pickleball tournament.
Before beginning play, new players received a group lesson from professional pickleball player Carolyn Wei, and coaches advised beginners on scoring and rules. Montclair Sports Tennis & Pickleball gifted 10 pickleball rackets to the first five teams registered for the beginners division. “There was a lot of learning and joy on the court,” says tournament chair Blair Paige of the first-time players. “It really showcased how people of all ages can play pickleball together and have fun.”
The winners of the intermediate and competitive divisions received $100 Mulberry’s Market gift certificates, and runners-up were awarded $50 gift certificates for Yellow Door. Giant jars of pickles served as both trophies and fun photo opportunities.
Major corporate donors included Elfster and TPG. In-kind donors included Montclair Sports Tennis & Pickleball, Mulberry’s Market, Yellow Door, and Bay Padel. The Piedmont Unified School District donated use of the facilities and janitorial services.
The Wellness Center Support Committee anticipates a successful fundraising season thanks in part to the tournament’s success. “It’s so representative of our amazing Piedmont community that people don’t just give for academics but also to support our student’s mental wellness,” says Wellness Center Support Committee chair Neha Gupta. “Student mental health should be prioritized just as much as the library, the arts, and sports. The Wellness Center is such a critical resource for our middle and high schoolers.”
To support the Wellness Center or to donate, please visit www.piedmontwellness.org.