In 2022, Kirk Ingrassi moved from Los Angeles to Boothbay without ever having played pickleball. Now, he plays almost every day. Pickleball originated in Washington State in 1965 and, until recently, was an obscure activity. But that has all changed with the game becoming the fastest growing sport in the U.S. 

In 2015, a Sports & Fitness Industry Association report found almost 2.5 million people played pickleball. In 2023, the Association of Pickleball Professionals reported 48.3 million U.S. players.

The Boothbay region has joined the national trend and embraced the sport. Monday through Saturday, the Boothbay Region YMCA parking lot is packed with players arriving at the local pickleball "Mecca" to compete against either old friends or new foes. 

So why has the sport which combines an odd assortment of equipment, rules and scoring (table tennis paddle, wiffle ball and a court location known as The Kitchen) grabbed the public's fancy?

For Ingrassi, it's the combination of competitiveness and camaraderie. The man who sold Ingrassi his new home introduced him to the game.  "I started playing a couple matches, and was hooked," Ingrassi said. "It's fun, easy to play, good exercise and lots of nice people."

Ingrassi plays six days per week. He doesn't play every day because the Y isn't open Sundays. The other reason is also a practical one for a 67-year-old man with shoulder and knee problems. "You need to rest, too," he said. 

Ingrassi's new passion also provided him with an unexpected bonus. He lost 25 pounds after his first eight months of play.

In 2014, the sport began showing life in the Boothbay region. A group began playing on makeshift courts around Boothbay Harbor. This led to a grassroots lobbying effort in Boothbay Harbor to build a permanent outdoor court. 

In 2019, the group's lobbying paid off with the new pickleball and basketball court. Players also took advantage of the basketball court and erected additional places for pickleball games. As participation grew, so did demand for space at the Y.

In 2022, the fieldhouse's court was resurfaced and a new and improved lighting system added. For pickleballer Merritt Blakeslee, the improvements were literally a night and day difference. "It was like playing in a cave, the lighting was so bad. This really sparked more people to play inside as the quality of play improved a great deal," he said.

Another factor in the pickleball explosion is BRYMCA. Blakeslee was a member of the group who began playing pickleball locally and lobbied Boothbay Harbor for the outdoor court. He credits the Y with making a concerted effort to expand pickleball access.

Blakeslee recalls a time when runners on the overhead track would stop and watch. Pickleballers would ask them to come down and play. But the game's growth locally now has enough players for all levels. "The Y has created programs for the game's development. So now, there are more opportunities for players with similar levels to play against each other which I think has been a good thing," Blakeslee said.

In the past year, the Y has assisted in developing leagues, tournaments and clinics. The first Saturday of each month is dedicated to teaching players basic pickleball rules and skills.Laura Barnard took the beginners' class in December. "I heard it was fun, and it is. I hope to play three times per week," she said. 

Pickleball is also attracting participants from other sports. Sally Barter has played tennis since she was a kid. For her, pickleball is fun and provides her with flexibility other activities don't. "The fact is you can arrive at either 8 (a.m.) or 10 (a.m) and play two hours," she said. "I also like the camaraderie." 

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 also had a big impact on participation. Andy Hollon moved to Southport in 2021 from Austin, Texas. He began playing pickleball prior to moving to Maine. With the pandemic at full throttle, Hollon began searching for new pandemic-approved activities prior to stumbling upon a local pickleball game at Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club. "I was here four to five months before I found the game. I played with some guys who chalked off an outdoor court in their neighborhood," he said.

Hollon has also become a part of the game's local expansion. He serves as the region's "Ambassador" to USA Pickleball. Ambassadors volunteer to promote the sport locally. They are either individuals or couples working with communities, clubs and other recreational facilities to guide and build pickleball programs. 

The Y has made a concerted effort to grow pickleball. In 2022, the Y underwent a major renovation which included the fieldhouse. In May  2023, renovations were completed after upgrading the fieldhouse's overhead lights and tennis court resurfacing."It was important investment for our community to improve the overall facility and field house. As pickleball began to grow, we wanted to become more involved in growing the sport," BRYMCA Director Operations Lisa McIntosh said. "Merritt did a lot in growing the sport, and when it arrived at the Y, we knew we had to manage it, and create more programs for continued growth."

According to McIntosh, the improvements were geared toward making BRYMCA the top pickleball facility in the state. Under the Y's leadership, more programs were introduced to cultivate more players and toward reaching that lofty goal.

"I think the new lights and resurfaced courts really was a big boost in the game," Blakeslee said. "It was like playing in the cave. The improvements really made a difference and created a more enjoyable game."

The Y introduced several programs designed to benefit all levels of play. On the first Saturday of the month, a "Learn to Play" clinic is offered. Others are geared toward advanced players. In the past year, programs included a league which drew over 300 participants, and a doubles tournament. Local top-players now compete in a state-wide league. The Y also offered a two-week  summer pickleball camp.

So now, it's time for the rest of us to pick up a paddle and discover why you need to stay out of the"kitchen," what it means to be "Erned (Ernied)," and what it takes to become a banger.