In This Week’s Edition:

• NCAA Settlement

• Team Paddletek

• New Clubs

NCAA

NCAA Settlement Opens New Era for Tennis Prize Money Rules

A landmark legal settlement could reshape the pathway from junior tennis to the college game after a federal judge granted preliminary approval to an antitrust agreement requiring the NCAA to eliminate long-standing restrictions on pre-college prize money while establishing a $2 million compensation fund for affected athletes.

The settlement stems from the class-action lawsuit Brantmeier and Joint v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, led by former Reese Brantmeier and professional player Maya Joint. The plaintiffs challenged NCAA eligibility rules that required prospective student-athletes to forfeit much of the prize money earned in professional and non-NCAA tournaments before enrolling in college.

Under the agreement, the NCAA has already eliminated its rule preventing student-athletes in all sports from retaining prize money earned prior to college enrollment. LEARN MORE

BUSINESS

Paddletek Expands Pickleball Portfolio with PIKKL Acquisition, Signs Johnson Family and Hurricane Tyra Black

The Paddletek Group has made one of the biggest moves of the 2026 pickleball season, announcing both the acquisition of innovative paddle manufacturer PIKKL and the signing of four of the sport’s biggest stars—JW Johnson, Jorja Johnson, Julie Johnson and Hurricane Tyra Black—to Team Paddletek. The dual announcement significantly strengthens the company’s position in the increasingly competitive performance paddle market.

The acquisition adds PIKKL’s performance-focused technology platform to a growing portfolio that already includes Paddletek, ProXR and Yobow. PIKKL founders Mike Strommen and Dan Martinson will remain involved with the business, continuing to drive product innovation under the Paddletek Group umbrella. The move follows the formation of the Paddletek Group in late 2025, creating one of the industry’s largest collections of premium paddle brands.

CLUBS

Quail Creek Country Club’s Jose Pastrello Leads the Adoption of Fastest-growing Racquet Sport in Southwest Florida

Jose Pastrello, director of court sports at Quail Creek Country Club (Quail Creek) and newly inducted president of Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA) Florida Division is spearheading the introduction of padel in Southwest Florida. Under Pastrello’s leadership, Quail Creek in North Naples has commenced construction on a new three-court padel complex set to open this summer, making it the first country club in the region to adopt the global social-sport phenomenon.

Pickleball Kingdom Brings Indoor Pickleball to California’s Tri-Valley

Pickleball Kingdom continues its rapid national expansion with the announcement of a new indoor facility in Livermore, California, bringing the fast-growing franchise’s premium indoor pickleball experience to the San Francisco Bay Area’s Tri-Valley region. The club is expected to open between late 2026 and early 2027. The new location will occupy more than 25,000 square feet in the Arroyo Seco Shopping Center at 4650 Arroyo Vista, transforming a former Joann store into an eight-court, climate-controlled pickleball destination.