An event hosted by the Pickleball club in February to let students bring their partners to learn how to play pickleball while singing to the music in the background. Even if you didn’t have a partner and were not interested in finding one, you could still go and join them if you wanted to. 

Event Summary:  

On Feb 10, 2026, the event began with the pickleball club, and some SAC members welcomed everyone to the pickleball date night. They instructed us to wear a colored arm band indicating whether you are single, taken, or just here to play pickleball. I chose the that indicated I was single, hoping to meet someone, but I was the odd one out; everyone else chose the others. After putting on the bands, we were split into teams and given instructions on the rules of pickleball and the prizes available for playing.  

When I saw I had a chance to win prizes, I knew I would put my all into every game I played. Everyone around me was playing for vibes, but I was playing to win because I wanted to get all the prizes. I then went on to win every single game I played that night, absolutely obliterating the competition. Upon winning every game, it was time to announce the prizes for the pickleball date night. But in a shocking twist of events, the pickleball club announced that these awards were, in fact, awarded based on vibes and not performance.  

When I heard this, I was in shock and in disbelief that all my blood, sweat, and tears I put into winning my games went to waste. They announced the winners, and I didn’t get a single prize from the prize pool. Despite being hurt by not getting a prize, it was a lesson learned that not everything should be taken seriously, and you should just have fun. After the prize ceremony, I congratulated the winners and decided to lighten up and have lots of fun with my friends for the rest of the event.