The Selkirk-sponsored Utah Tech Trailblazers head to Cape Coral for the APP Selkirk US Collegiate Individual and Team Pickleball Championships. This past weekend, the Trailblazers took third place at NCPA Nationals, where they dominated pool play before narrowly losing to the eventual winners, Florida Atlantic University. Starting Friday, the Trailblazers will look to earn individual titles and then top 41 of the best collegiate pickleball teams over the weekend.
Individual Events
Defending Champ Duffin
Last year, Utah Tech’s Liam Duffin teamed up with Jack Munro to win the APP Collegiate Men’s Doubles title. Duffin will look to defend his title as the No. 3 seed, this time alongside teammate Clayton Boydston. Duffin/Boydston are on the same side of the draw as their teammates, Benson Parry and Peyton Weber, and could clash in the quarterfinals.
In singles, Duffin comes in as the No. 3 seed in a stacked draw. Just ahead of him are Alec Lamacchio of Florida Atlantic and the 2025 APP Collegiate Singles champion, Will Lieberman from Grand Canyon University. Duffin won the 2024 DUPR Championship in singles and will look to earn the title on the APP circuit.
Dynamic Duo: Duffin and Monson Team Up
Team Selkirk’s Liam Duffin and Mary Monson earned the No. 4 seed at APP Nationals. They are a fun duo to watch with their quickness and strategies, and will have a couple challenging matches on their way to the title. On their side of the draw is the No. 1 seed Jack Munro and Victoria Falk of the University of Texas.
Ciampini Looks to Bring the Heat
Dylan Ciampini is one to watch in the women’s singles individual bracket. Ciampini is the No. 2 seed for this tournament and holds two individual national titles: 2023 DUPR Women’s Singles Champion and Women’s Doubles National Champion. Also in the single’s draw is Mary Monson at the No. 6 seed, Lauren Mercado at the No. 4 seed, and Brinley Horton at the No. 16 seed.
Trailblazers look to capture team title
On Saturday, pool play kicks off for the team division of APP Nationals, and the Trailblazers bring three teams to the competition. Liam Duffin, Mary Monson, and Clayton and Ella Boydston make up the team that earned Utah Tech the bronze at NCPA Nationals last weekend. The other regular travel team is Lauren Mercado, Benson Parry, Dylan Ciampini, and Payton Weber. The Trailblazers’ biggest team success this season came at Worlds in Dallas, where they earned the title of Collegiate Pickleball World Champions. They will look to repeat that performance at APP Nationals this weekend.
Tune in
Catch all the action from Cape Coral on the APP livestream on YouTube!
