This year, Maine Adaptive is thrilled to step into new territory—we’re picking up paddles and hitting the court for our very first adaptive pickleball program collaboration! In an exciting collaboration with students from the University of New England (UNE), we’re bringing the energy and accessibility of this fast-growing sport to our community in a big way.
We officially launched the program on April 19th at Wicked Pickle in South Portland—a vibrant, inclusive venue that’s perfectly suited for players of all experience levels. From the moment we entered onto the courts, the excitement was contagious.
We had an incredible turnout, with more than 25 participants including Maine Adaptive students, UNE students, and dedicated volunteers. A special shoutout goes to John Pelletier and Keara Lynch, longtime court sports students and volunteers with Maine Adaptive, who led the charge in training our UNE student volunteers and students. John’s clinic was nothing short of amazing—we all left the court having learned a ton and feeling more confident in our skills. Keara had our newer athletes achieving improved skills and having a blast! We can’t do what we do without our talented and knowledgeable volunteers.
Three courts were buzzing with action all afternoon, offering play opportunities for everyone—from first-timers to seasoned athletes. It was a true community effort, full of teamwork, encouragement, and laughter. The atmosphere was electric, and the spirit of adaptive recreation was alive and well.
We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the owners and staff at Wicked Pickle for their attentiveness, accessibility support, and for creating such a welcoming space. We’re looking forward to a strong, ongoing partnership as we grow this program and bring the joy of pickleball to even more adaptive athletes.
This new program will be available most Fridays from 9 am to 1 pm. To sign up visit https://maineadaptive.org/participate/!