PACE Aces Support for The Plano Wildcats in Pickleball Classic

Pilipino American Community Endeavor supported the Plano Wildcat Quarterback Club at the inaugural Plano Wildcat Pickleball Classic on Aug. 10.

By André Averion, Communications Manager

Published August 14, 2024. Updated August 18, 2024.

The Pilipino American Community Endeavor picked up the paddle Aug. 10 to support the Plano Wildcat Quarterback Club at the first year of the Plano Wildcat pickleball classic, hosted by Pickleball Kingdom in Plano, TX. 

“Great turn out for what it was. Only two weeks to promote and we had a packed house,” Arthur Manlapaz, social events coordinator of PACE, said. “I spoke to the event coordinator for the Plano High School and she was super excited to have another event in the future.” 

All proceeds went to the Plano Wildcat Quarterback Club, which is a non-profit run by the parents and associates of the students at Plano Senior High School to provide the football team with additional support where the school or district budget cannot provide. This includes providing day meals and drinks for players, the funding of new equipment, and supporting the team on game day. 

According to Pickleball Kingdom, this was the first of its kind event for the Plano Wildcat Quarterback Club. 

The Plano Wildcat Pickleball Classic was a fundraiser event prior to the start of the school year. Players worked in mixed doubles competing for a $500 cash prize divided amongst different divisions of Dynamic Universal Pickleball Ratings (DUPR), which was adjusted or determined by Pickleball Kingdom. PACE leadership attended the event not only as spectators to support the fundraiser, but Manlapaz played alongside other AAPI community members. 

“I truly enjoy playing the game for what it does for me physically and emotionally,” Manlapaz said. “It being the fastest growing sport- it made sense to combine the two”

According to a 2022 report by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball has been one of the fastest growing sports in the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic. The popularity of the sport has even reached Texas, with several of the first pickleball facilities opening up across DFW in 2024, including Pickleball Kingdom. Pickleball Kingdom opened its first Texas location in Austin, TX, in late January of 2024. Six months later, Pickleball Kingdom arrived in Plano, TX, on June 21, and with rapid success it’s expected to open a second location in Keller, TX, by the first quarter of 2025. There are also plans for openings in Dallas, Fort Worth, Galleria, Plugerville and College Station.