2nd Annual Alumni Pickleball Tournament held on beautiful, sunny Saturday Morning!

The Gerstell Academy Alumni Association hosted its second annual Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Teams made up of alumni, students, parents, and staff gathered on a beautiful—though breezy—morning to compete in a spirited round-robin tournament.

The competition began with two pools of six and seven teams, respectively, each playing in a round-robin format. The top three teams from each pool then advanced to a championship round to determine final standings.

In the third-place match, the team of Drew Sindicic ’24 and Sam Skelly ’24 faced off against Kyle Rudich ’26 and Matthew Glaser ’26. Kyle and Matthew emerged victorious, claiming the third-place prize.

The championship came down to a best-of-three series between Mr. Zach Rhoten (our outstanding athletic trainer) and Ajaya Hobart ’23 versus 2024 champion Blake Bissen ’17 and new partner, sister Faith Bissen ’22. After a hard-fought three-game battle, the Bissen's were crowned champions. 

A special thank you to Ajaya Hobart ’23 for helping organize the event, with additional support from Mr. Rhoten, Drew Sindicic ’24, and Sam Skelly ’24 in setting up the tournament. Connor Eline ’12 designed custom championship paddles and is also creating a perpetual trophy that will soon be displayed in the Alumni House.