The fastest-growing sport in the U.S., pickleball, is continuously sweeping the nation and its youth. While it’s difficult to go pro in any sport, especially at a young age, sophomore Kaleb Perez is well on his way as he climbs through the pickleball ranks.
The sport piqued Perez’s interest in eighth grade after first playing with friends. He began to frequent local courts to play several times a week, sometimes even eight hours a day. The sport stuck after he discovered and joined EPIC Pickleball Club.
“My first tournament, I ranked 4th,” Perez said. “[It] really impressed me because there were 35 people in my division and 800 participants total.”
Playing in tournaments six months after he began playing showed Perez had a natural talent.
Now playing for around three years, Perez scored a 4.0 on the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR). Since the DUPR scale rates professional players a 5.0 or higher, Perez is already considered a semi-professional.
But his impressive feat is overlooked due to pickleball’s stereotype as an old person sport, sometimes being disregarded as a sport entirely. But he doesn’t mind facing backlash for loving such a categorized sport.
“[Kaleb’s] someone who isn’t afraid to be called weird for playing a sport that isn’t too mainstream,” said Perez’s friend Oliver Ngyuen, a sophomore on the CU Boulder pickleball team.
Perez embraces the adversity off and on the court.
“When he started, he’d be playing with folks in their 60s, but he didn’t care,” Perez’s dad, Ken Perez said. “Even if he’s playing against people that are much better than him, he doesn’t care.”
After hopping around several different clubs, Perez began to get sponsored. After his first sponsor, Komodo Pickleball, opened up future opportunities with other sponsors, his career took off. He’s currently sponsored by Holy Performance, UDRIPPIN, I1won, Game Set Match, and EPIC Pickleball Club.
“I’ve played a lot of sports, but because pickleball is fresh, it feels more like a community rather than [a clique],” Perez said.
He cares enough to leave a lasting impact, striving to make changes for others.
“When he was a freshman, he was set on making pickleball more available for high school kids,” Ken Perez said. “He cares about the sport a lot.”
Finding a connection in pickleball, Perez’s unique and sociable identity has created new environments and chances for players, no matter their level.
Perez’s in-game performance demonstrates the talent he has for pickleball that some athletes aren’t dedicated enough to learn.
“At some point, you have to realize that talent beats skill,” Ken Perez said. “Kaleb has that talent.”
“I think he has all the [assets] necessary to [go] pro,” Nguyen said.
The other key aspect in Perez’s performance and reputation lies in himself.
“A lot of what his success is his confidence,” Ken Perez said. “He takes [it] into everything he does.” Perez’s hopes for a future in pickleball stretch throughout college. “If it’s in the cards, I’d definitely consider [going pro],” he said. “[Pickleball’s] something I love doing, and [it] would make me a lot of money.”
Those who hope for Perez’s skill to blossom want what’s best for him and his possible future audience.
“He’s a great kid,” Nguyen said. “It’s important for the world to know it’s people like [Kaleb] that make the difference.”
