The Utah Tech University Trailblazers were the defending champions at last year’s Worlds, and this year, they pulled off an epic comeback to defeat one of their top rivals in college pickleball, Florida Atlantic University, and reclaim their title.
Trailblazers tie it up in doubles
The Utah Tech 1 team, consisting of Liam Duffin, Lauren Mercado, Ella Boydston, and Clayton Boydston, had by no means an easy road to the title. They were 0-3 against Florida Atlantic’s 1 team in previous tournaments and started the Worlds final down two matches after losing both gender doubles matchups.
The Trailblazers’ first mixed doubles pairing, Ella and Clayton Boydston, secured a win over Florida Atlantic’s Bella Nelson and Alec Lamacchio, 21-17, to put Utah Tech on the scoreboard. Next, Liam Duffin and Lauren Mercado breezed past Gianna Jarman and Jayden Broderick, 21-6, setting up the deciding Dreambreaker.
A Dreambreaker to Remember
Florida Atlantic quickly established its dominance in the Dreambreaker, building a commanding 20-11 lead and putting itself just one point away from the World Championship title.
Down nine points, Liam Duffin began to turn the tide against FAU’s Alec Lamacchio. At 13-20, Duffin came up with an incredible point, hitting a left-handed volley to keep the game alive before closing it out with a putaway off Lamacchio’s pop-up.
Clayton Boydston then stepped up to the plate against the big-hitting Jayden Broderick, rattling off multiple winners and earning four consecutive points to bring Utah Tech within two at 18-20.
With the score at 18-20, Lauren Mercado stepped in and tied it up for Utah Tech. At 21-20, Mercado played a smart point at the kitchen, securing the final point and earning Utah Tech the World Championship title.
“At the beginning of the Dreambreaker, I told everyone, ‘let’s win this point by point,’” said Duffin. “Being down so much, you can’t think about the current score, but only focus on the current point you’re playing. Having the crowd and team cheering us on gave us the energy we needed.”