Pickleball Under The Stars

On the Saturday evening of October 12, 60 teams and more than 100 students gathered on Albany Road for a pickleball tournament under the starry night sky, on courts illuminated by flood lights. The event was the vision of Finn Knight ’25, who said he “wanted to do something crazy” during his last fall term, and Tai Feng ’26. Knight admitted that this tournament “was a totally random idea which [he] did not expect to happen at all,” he said. But with the support of Chief Financial Officer Matthew Sheehy, campus security, and local police, his vision took off.

Although Knight manages DA Tourneys, a club that organizes tournaments, he emphasized that this tournament was organized by Deerfield Racket Club, which he and Feng are leaders of. Knight, who organized last year’s spring paddle tournament and winter ping-pong competition, saw the pickleball tournament as a fitting addition to the Racket Club’s legacy saying that he “always wanted to do a tournament in the fall.” He chose pickleball because he said it’s “super easy to set up and accessible for everyone,” from casual players to serious competitors, such as the winners Tommy McMahon ’25 and Drew Keiver ’25.

Knight and Feng received extensive help from people who envisioned students creating long-lasting memories on Albany Road. Mr. McDougall, campus security, and the Deerfield police handled the road closure, facilities painted the court lines with a robotic painter, and Mr. Sheehy provided brand new pickleball nets and paddles. Deerfield’s Meat Club provided grilled food for spectators.

Although Knight’s and Feng’s initially pitched the idea as a joke to Mr. Sheehy, the concept actually came to fruition. “If you have an idea, just do it,” Knight advised.