Meet The Team
These are the individuals behind the NCPA. They've been with us since the beginning each orchestrating crucial pieces that propelled this association to where it is today. At the bottom of the page is the NCPA's story...
Noah Suemnick
Chief Executive Officer / Partnerships
Lydia Blaakman
Chief Operational Officer/ Director of NCPA Junior
Tiffany Fenner
Graphic Designer
Riley Olivieri
Production Director
John Rowley
Chief Marketing Officer
Hannah Rhoderick
Social Media Manager / Content Creator
About the NCPA
The National Collegiate Pickleball Association (NCPA) is shaping the future of college and junior pickleball. Each season, hundreds of universities and thousands of student-athletes battle in coast-to-coast Regionals, all leading to the Top 64 Teams at Nationals with $75,000+ on the line.
But Nationals are just the start. The NCPA fuels year-round growth through fundraising tournaments, leagues, and conferences—giving every club, from powerhouse programs to new startups, the chance to compete, connect, and rise.
Through Junior Pickleball, the NCPA also invests in the next generation with coaching, leagues, recruitment camps, and national exposure—building the pipeline to collegiate competition and beyond.
Thousands of players. Coast-to-coast rivalries. Millions watching.
We are the future of pickleball.
Our Growth & Impact
Collegiate Conferences & Competitions
The NCPA Collegiate Tour provides structured competition through regional Conferences leading to National Championships. Teams and individual players compete in Divisions 1, 2, and 3, gaining national rankings, scholarship exposure, and recognition. Our Conferences host regular seasonal matches, giving universities and athletes consistent, high-level play.
NCPA Junior Program
NCPA Junior serves athletes ages 6–17, providing a pathway into collegiate pickleball. Participants benefit from professional coaching, structured local leagues, and national competition on the Next Gen Tour. This program develops skills, builds connections, and exposes players to college recruitment and scholarship opportunities.
Fundraisers & Community Initiatives
Beyond competition, the NCPA runs fundraisers, community outreach events, and partnerships with local venues. Each year, we dedicate a portion of proceeds to meaningful causes, including our ongoing support of the A21 campaign, which fights human trafficking.
Faith & Values
Faith is central to the NCPA's mission. We aim to foster not only athletic excellence but also character, leadership, and community service. Our growth and impact are driven by both perseverance and purpose.
Get Involved
Support the future of collegiate and youth pickleball through:
Noah Suemnick established the NCPA in January 2023, spurred by his founding of the pickleball club at Point Loma Nazarene University in 2021. Recognizing the need for organizational structure in colleges nationwide, what began as a grassroots movement in San Diego burgeoned into a network of over 200 universities participating in NCPA events across the country.
At the NCPA, our primary objective is to further the growth of pickleball within college communities, valuing competition, community, and culture. With the sport experiencing exponential growth in recent years, we believe that the collegiate level is pivotal in elevating pickleball to new heights.
Each year, the NCPA runs a collegiate tour featuring a series of Regional Championships, providing universities with the opportunity to qualify for the prestigious NCPA National Championship, showcasing the finest college talent from across the nation.
Above all, the NCPA holds firm to its commitment to faith, with God at the center of it all. The remarkable expansion this organization has seen since the beginning of 2023 is not just due to grit and perseverance. God has been moving. Furthermore, the NCPA proudly supports the A21 campaign in its efforts to combat human sex trafficking, dedicating 10% of all proceeds to this extraordinary cause.
Looking back at where it all began – NCPA's debut tournament in 2023.
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