Camp’s First Pickleball Tournament: It’s a Really Big “Dill”
By Jennifer Tyler
The fastest-growing sport in America is coming to the Camp Ondessonk Community. Camp Ondessonk will host its inaugural Ondessonk Smash! Pickleball Tournament fundraiser Saturday, November 8, 2025, at St. Clair Tennis in O’Fallon, Ill. Join us for fun, food, and community to support Camp O’s mission “to provide exceptional outdoor and spiritual adventures empowering kids of all ages.” Food and drinks will be available to purchase.
Saturday, November 8, 2025
4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
St. Clair Tennis
733 Hartman Lane
O’Fallon Ill. 62269
Registration
Early bird: $80/team until October 15
Regular price: $100/team until November 5
Registration closes November 5
Please register as a team. Partners can be same or mixed gender, and teams will self-select their level (Advanced: 4.0 or above; Intermediate/Beginner: 3.5 or below). Teams will be organized into divisions, and each division will take part in a round-robin format with a minimum of three games guaranteed for each team. Registration closes on November 5.
The History of Pickleball
According to USA Pickleball, the game of Pickleball was created in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Wash., by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. Six decades later, this fun and social game has swept the nation with its fast pace and simple rules. The three friends did not just create an activity to entertain their bored children – they also revolutionized an entire sports industry.
The story of how the game got its name has gone down in pickleball lore. Joan Pritchard, the wife of creator Joel Pritchard, is reportedly responsible for the clever and catchy moniker. Because pickleball adopts elements and equipment from other sports including tennis, badminton, and table tennis, Mrs. Pritchard likened it to the pickle boat in crew where oarsmen are chosen from the leftovers of other boats, according to USA Pickleball. The name contributes to the playful culture of the sport and often inspires creative tournament and team names.
Join Us November 8th
Pickleball is a social sport that has grown 311% in the United States in the last three years, as reported by Pickleheads.com. It can be played indoors or outdoors, on established courts, or you can create your own court. Ready to pick it up but don’t know where to start? Websites such as Pickleheads.com can help you find coaches, players, courts, and games. Pickleball courts are popping up at gyms, parks, and dedicated Pickleball facilities all over.
Camp Ondessonk is thrilled to join the Pickleball community with our first tournament this fall. To learn more about our event and to register, please visit https://onecau.se/campopickleball.
