ST. GEORGE, Utah — Oct. 9, 2025 — Selkirk Sport, the leading pickleball equipment manufacturer and innovator, today announced a historic partnership with Utah Tech University’s Pickleball Club, the No. 1 collegiate pickleball team in the nation.
Utah Tech has quickly risen to the top of collegiate pickleball, building a program that now includes 24 athletes across competitive and developmental teams. The program has consistently placed at the top of national tournaments, including the 2024 Collegiate National Championships, establishing itself as the premier collegiate pickleball team in the country.
Head Coach Chloee Butterfield said the sponsorship provides critical resources and credibility to the growing program.
“Having Selkirk as a partner not only equips our athletes with the best gear, but it also validates what they’re doing,” Butterfield said. “For our players, it means being recognized by the top brand in pickleball. This partnership is a huge step forward, not just for Utah Tech, but for collegiate pickleball as a whole.”
The sponsorship mirrors traditional partnerships between sports apparel companies and collegiate programs in football and basketball. Selkirk Sport sees this move as the natural next step in pickleball’s rapid evolution.
“Selkirk is proud to partner with Utah Tech Pickleball, the most elite program in collegiate pickleball,” said Rob Barnes, Selkirk Sport Co-CEO. “This collaboration is about more than equipment — it’s about investing in the future of the sport. We believe collegiate pickleball will play a vital role in developing the next generation of athletes and leaders, and Utah Tech is setting the standard.”
As pickleball continues to surge in popularity nationwide, collegiate programs are beginning to formalize and attract more athletes, including those who aspire to play professionally. Butterfield predicts the collegiate scene will expand rapidly over the next three to five years, fueled by brand partnerships that add legitimacy and opportunity to the sport.
About Utah Tech University Pickleball Club
The Utah Tech Pickleball Club is one of the top in the nation for intercollegiate pickleball. It is open to students of all skill levels, with a competitive and developmental team. The club was formed to provide a place for students to come together and enjoy the popular sport.
About Selkirk Sport
Selkirk Sport, a premium manufacturer of pickleball paddles and accessories, is a family-owned and operated company. Selkirk Sport is based in Hayden, Idaho, in the shadows of its namesake, the Selkirk mountain range. Founded in 2014, Selkirk Sport was born from a passion for sport and the Western outdoor leisure lifestyle that was afforded to the company’s founders, Rob and Mike Barnes, along with their father Jim. Selkirk Sport is committed to manufacturing products that deliver the highest performance with unmatched quality and service. It has become one of the industry’s fastest-growing companies, with paddles used by many of the game’s premier players, such as Jack Sock, Catherine Parenteau, Rachel Rohrabacher and a host of other premier players and national champions.
Media contact:
Brynn Grissom: [email protected]
