Unforgettable Inaugural Year
The 2025 season marked the inaugural year of Tobacco Road Pickleball—a year that exceeded every expectation and established TRP as one of the fastest-growing pickleball communities in the Triangle. What began as a simple idea to bring structured, competitive, community-centered pickleball to Durham and Chapel Hill quickly grew into a thriving multi-season league supported by hundreds of dedicated players and captains.
We launched with our Summer Kickoff Season, and from the very first match, it was clear that TRP was going to become something special.
Summer Season: The Kickoff
Our journey began with a strong, enthusiastic debut season:
4 competitive divisions
202 players
20 teams
Designed as an experiment to gauge interest, the Summer Season filled quickly and instantly created momentum. Players of all experience levels—from developing 3.0 athletes to strong 4.0+ competitors—found teams, match play, and community. The foundation for TRP’s identity was built right here.
Fall Season: The Largest Season in TRP History
Following the success of summer, the Fall Season exploded in size and became the biggest session we’ve ever run:
528 players
50 teams
68 incredible captains guiding teams, organizing lineups, and building culture
The Fall Season showcased the depth of talent across the Triangle and the power of the team-based format. With divisions centered around the 3.0–4.5 range, competition was balanced, fun, and fiercely engaging from start to finish.
A Community Built on Competition, Inclusion, and Growth
Throughout our inaugural year, players found more than just matches—they found community.
Tobacco Road Pickleball in 2025 delivered:
Meaningful playing opportunities for athletes of all levels
A clear pathway for competitive progression
A supportive environment for new players entering league play
A passionate captain group that helped define leadership and culture
By the end of the year, TRP had already become a staple of local pickleball life.
Looking Ahead to 2026
With Polar Pickle launching in January 2026 and continued expansion across all divisions, next year is poised to build on everything we started:
More teams
More divisions
More opportunities to play
More ways to stay engaged year-round
2025 was our inaugural year.
2026 will be our evolution.
2025 National Champions
It all begins with an idea.
Congratulations to Farm to Paddle, based out of The Farm in Chapel Hill, on winning the 2025 Triple Team Pickleball League National Championships in the 4.0 combo 18+ division! Over the October 11 - 13, 2025 weekend, the eight player team battled it out with opponents from Georgie, Virginia, and New Jersey.
In order for the Farm to Paddle team to qualify for Championship Sunday, they had to place in the top four teams out of seven. With the toughest draw in the tournament, the team lost to VA - Weiss by only three points and NJ - Ibrahim by one point on the first Friday of competition. Friday’s matches were outdoors and the conditions were challenging with high temperatures and extreme humidity. With rain in the forecast, the Saturday and Sunday matches were moved into the Performance Pickleball facility for the remainder of the tournament.
The Farm to Paddle team dominated their matches on Saturday and cruised into fourth place with 69 total points. This set up a much anticipated rematch with VA - Weiss in the semifinals. With a new lineup and indoor conditions, the team was confident they could pull out the W. The games were intense and filled with epic points. In the end, the Farm team took a one point win, 16 - 15, over the number one seed! On to the finals!
Sticking with the same lineup as in the semi-finals, Farm to Paddle battled again in close matches and tough points but prevailed with a 21 - 10 point victory over NJ - Ibrahim in the championship final. The title was secured before the final match was finished! Congratulations to the whole team on an epic weekend!!
Team members
Colee Schroeder, captain
Lauren Rice, co-captain
Jay Bircher
Doug Burleson
Kevin Donahue
Holly Madariaga
Eric Madariaga
David Margolis
Stacey Posten