Houston High Pickleball Leaders Help Grow the Game Across GMSD

A sport that has grown at Houston High School is now making its way to younger students
across GMSD, with a little help from the students who already know how much fun it can be.

Houston High School Pickleball Club leaders Greta Newhouse and Watson Purcell recently
stepped onto the court to help introduce younger students to pickleball during PE classes. For the student leaders, the goal was simple: share the game, get students moving and help prepare them for GMSD’s upcoming pickleball intramural opportunities.

“We’re here just to teach some kids,” Newhouse said. “It’s a fun sport, pickleball is, and some of them may or may not know how to play. It’s a good way to get them moving during PE class.”

Purcell agreed, saying pickleball offers students another way to be active while learning
something new.

“It’s a great way to get active and, you know, moving around,” Purcell said.

Their involvement comes as GMSD prepares to launch pickleball as its first district intramural
offering. The initiative will include clinics designed to introduce students and families to the
game before an intramural event that brings families together on the court.

For Newhouse and Purcell, that gives the Houston High Pickleball Club an opportunity to extend its impact beyond their own school.

“It’ll be fun to see the families getting involved,” Purcell said. “Houston High School helping
out with the school district for pickleball club and pickleball intramural. I’m excited to see, you
know, for the future what happens.”

Newhouse sees the same potential.

“I think it’ll be a great way to get people moving through pickleball,” she said. “It’ll be really
positive toward GMSD, and it’ll be really cool.”

For Newhouse, helping grow the sport also carries a personal connection. Her brother helped
start the Houston High Pickleball Club about three years ago. Now, she has moved into a
leadership role of her own and is helping carry forward something he helped begin.

“I think it’s really great to go off of what he’s done,” Newhouse said. “I know he really was into it, so I’m excited to keep it going.”

From one student-led club to younger students and their families across the district, pickleball is giving GMSD students another opportunity to lead, move and build community together.