On September 4, College Pickleball Pathway reached an important milestone by hosting its first-ever in-person event at Dreamfit Coslada in Madrid. For a project created to connect junior talent with college pickleball opportunities in the United States, this was an opportunity to take CPP beyond player profiles and university connections and bring its growing community together on the court. A total of 16 junior players participated in an evening of competition built around one central idea: the team comes first. The energy around the courts, the constant support between teammates, the camaraderie among the players and, above all, the outstanding fair play shown throughout the competition made CPP’s first event about much more than winning matches.
Four Teams, One Shared Goal
Rather than using a traditional individual tournament format, CPP divided the 16 players into four teams of four. Each team matchup consisted of four doubles matches, making every player and every result important to the overall team score. From the opening matches, the format created a very different atmosphere from a traditional tournament. Players were not simply waiting for their turn to compete. They were watching, encouraging and supporting their teammates from the sidelines. The result was an environment filled with energy. Teammates celebrated together, encouraged each other through difficult moments and remained involved throughout every matchup. Instead of sixteen players competing individually, the courts at Dreamfit Coslada were filled with four teams competing together.
When Four Doubles Matches Weren’t Enough: The Dreambreaker
With four doubles matches deciding each team matchup, there was always the possibility of finishing tied at 2–2. When that happened, the competition moved to one of its most exciting elements: the Dreambreaker. Instead of playing another doubles match, the deciding contest was played individually — but remained entirely about the team. All four players participated, with each player competing for four points before rotating and handing the responsibility to the next teammate. The Dreambreaker created a completely different type of pressure. A player could build momentum for the team, but the next player had to continue it. One difficult rotation could change the direction of the contest, while a strong four-point stretch could bring a team straight back into it. Most importantly, nobody could win the Dreambreaker alone.
The First Champions in CPP Event History
At the end of the competition, one team earned the distinction of becoming the first champions of a College Pickleball Pathway event. The winning team was formed by: Manuel Lorenzo Valeria Calvo Ivan Martínez Daniel Ojalvo Their victory reflected the team-first nature of the event, with all four players contributing throughout the competition.
A Taste of the College Team Experience
The team format also connected directly with the wider mission of College Pickleball Pathway. For many junior pickleball players, competition is normally experienced individually or with one doubles partner. College sports offer something different. When representing a university, an athlete becomes part of a larger group. Your teammates care about your result, you care about theirs, and individual performances contribute to a shared objective. The format used at Dreamfit Coslada introduced CPP players to some of those concepts. Four-player teams. Strategic lineups. Doubles partnerships. Sideline support. Shared results. Dreambreakers.
From Player Profiles to a Community
College Pickleball Pathway was created to connect junior talent with college pickleball, helping young athletes and their families explore opportunities to combine academics and sport at universities in the United States. Creating player profiles and building connections with college programs are central parts of that mission. But CPP wants to build something around those players as well. A community. A community where young players can meet each other. Where they can train and compete. Where they can experience being part of a team. Where they can support one another while pursuing their individual goals. And where competitive ambition exists alongside respect and fair play.
The First of Many
The energy. The support. The camaraderie. The competition. And the fair play. For College Pickleball Pathway, September 4 at Dreamfit Coslada was more than its first event. It was the first glimpse of the junior community CPP hopes to continue building — competitive, supportive, connected and built on respect.