Pickleball growing in popularity in Marianna thanks to local enthusiasts
By: Shelia Mader
Pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, is making a big impression in Marianna, thanks in part to the enthusiasm and dedication of local players like attorney Matt Fuqua and his wife, Pam.
In an interview with the Jackson County Times, Fuqua shared how the sport found its footing in Marianna and how it has steadily grown through grassroots efforts and community support.
Pam and Matt Fuqua
“I think it started with Clint Cox and Bryan Craven,” Fuqua recalled. “They chalked out a pickleball court on the old tennis courts at Wynn Street Park and brought in a portable net.” While the exact date escapes him, Fuqua said he began playing about three years ago and was immediately drawn to the game.
“We played for about a year at Chipola on the tennis courts, where they had painted pickleball lines and adjusted the nets,” he said. “Then we got in touch with Grady Snell at Gilmore Academy, and that’s where the Marianna Pickleball Association really came together.”
The association now hosts regular play at Gilmore Academy, Monday mornings at 8:00 a.m. and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. “Those times can change, but we always welcome new players,” Fuqua said. “We usually have one court for beginners, one for intermediate players, and one for advanced.”
Attendance can vary, with the group drawing anywhere from 12 to 30 players on a good day. “Wednesday nights bring in folks from Calhoun County, Hosford, and sometimes even Dothan,” he added.
Interest in pickleball is not limited to current play areas. Fuqua mentioned future plans for expanding the sport locally. “There are rumors to be indoor courts in the new resiliency center when it gets built,” he said. “And there are plans for outdoor pickleball courts at the old Jenings Field, though I’m not sure where they are in the process.”
Fuqua’s own journey into pickleball began with a gentle push from his wife, Pam. “She said, ‘Let’s go play,’ and that was it,” he laughed. A former tennis and racquetball player, Fuqua found pickleball to be the perfect blend of the two. “When the racquetball courts at Chipola Fitness closed, I didn’t do much until I picked up pickleball.”
Their love for the sport has taken them far beyond Jackson County. “We’ve played from Portland, Maine to Seattle,” Fuqua said. “It’s a lot easier to carry a pickleball paddle than a set of golf clubs.”
The couple even had the chance to attend a pro pickleball tournament in Atlanta, where they met top-ranked athletes in the sport, including 17-year-old phenom Anna Leigh Waters, who earned $3 million last year. “We also met Anna Bright, part of the number-one women’s doubles team in the world, and even basketball legend Dominique Wilkins.”
With community support, plans for new facilities, and passionate local players, pickleball is poised to continue growing in Marianna.
General consensus is it's a fun, social, and competitive sport that’s accessible to people of all ages and they’re just getting started.