On Feb. 10, the Village of Palmetto Bay’s Youth Involvement Task Force hosted a teen pickleball tournament for teenagers of all skill levels. The tournament took place from 3-10 p.m. at the newly painted and restriped Palmetto Bay Park outdoor courts. Announced on Jan. 16, tickets for the tournament began selling at $5 per person on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

After one of the group’s first meetings, the pickleball tournament was proposed and decided on. Following brainstorming with the group and gaining inspiration from the Pinecrest Youth Advisory Council, the tournament was born.

“In the beginning of the year, this was one of our first meetings … We had to separate in groups and come up with projects … Immediately, [Vice Chair Sophie Davis] had this idea to do a pickleball tournament; we were all like, ‘Oh my God, that’s such a great idea,’” Vice Secretary and Social Media Chair of YCITF Natalie Rodriguez said.

Miami Palmetto Senior High students and YCITF board members Rodriguez and Davis were able to put the event together and work with the sponsors to make it successful.

“So, me and Sophie Davis were the ones that came up with the idea for the event. She was the leader of the event,” Rodriguez said. “We both know how popular pickleball is, especially at Palmetto. So, we just wanted to bring it into the youth community, and since it is a team pickleball tournament, we thought that we would get a big turnout because of the age group.”

Teams consisted of two players of teens from 14 to 18 years old. 15 players participated on Saturday. Some of the players included were Lucas Alvarez, Dominic Espinosa, Mitchell Matos, Lauren Almodovar and Emily Rubin; the winners were: Oliver Presnall in first place, Colby Woodall in second and Haiden Clarin in third place.

“I think it was either 13 or like 15 [teams]. Around that number. We were hoping for more but it was the first time we did this, but we’re planning on doing this more this year and in the upcoming years so we’re hoping to grow a bigger following,” Davis said.

The game was sponsored by Crown Pickleball, a company that sells and manufactures pickleballs and gear, founded by Kevin Perkins, who also provided the gifts awarded to the winners. First place won an Amazon gift card, second place and third place won visors and wristbands from Crown Pickleball.

The money raised from the event went toward the event and supplying prizes for the winners.

The YCITF is a local government organization made up of a board of engaged teens who work to create an active youth community to improve and enrich the community within Palmetto Bay. Their goal is to continue to keep Palmetto Bay teens involved in their community by bringing them together.

“The goal and the impact that it had is that it brought the community together. There’s always a lot of events that pertain to adults and the older crowd, but getting teens together specifically, I feel like it’s something that the community doesn’t touch on as much. So I thought that was our goal and we were able to do that and we hope to continue to be able to do that,” Davis said.

Other initiatives the organization has worked hard to put on include the holiday toy drive in partnership with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and Atala Butterfly, working to save the endangered species.

Overall, the event demonstrates student leaders’ ability to capitalize on the interests and pulse of local teens to engage citizens and build camaraderie.

“Just seeing everyone playing, everyone was so happy and it was just great; It turned out great. Everyone was really happy and it was good to see what we’ve been planning turn out so well,” Davis said.