Meet Grace | Background Information
Hi everyone, I'm Grace Fernandez. I am the President and the founder of WCU Club Pickleball. I’m a senior from Pensacola, Florida, studying Construction Management and Emergency & Disaster Management. I have been playing for 2.5 years, and pickleball has become one of my favorite parts of college. I’m looking forward to making the most of my senior year, continuing to improve my game, and competing alongside my teammates!
What I enjoy most about pickleball is the fast-growing community and how welcoming everyone is. I especially enjoy playing doubles and helping introduce new players to the game. Being a part of the founding team has allowed me to build something that will have a lasting impact at WCU.
My personal fundraising goal is $800. Any contributions made through my page supports myself and my team in traveling to compete and grow our club this season. Thank you for your support and go catamounts!
This year marks the beginning of a new chapter for pickleball at Western Carolina University. As the founding competitive team, we are working to establish WCU as presence in collegiate pickleball while creating opportunities for students to represent our university beyond campus.
Contributions to our campaign will directly support our team as we travel and compete throughout the 2026-2027 season. Funding will help cover travel, tournament registration and fees, lodging, equipment, and other competition expenses as we compete in regional tournaments, National Collegiate Pickleball Association (NCPA) events, DUPR-sanctioned competition, and local events that support and bring together communities across Western North Carolina.
We are building more than a team; we are building the foundation for future WCU pickleball players. Every contribution helps give our founding roster the opportunity to compete, grow, represent WCU, and establish a program that can continue for years to come.
Thank you for being a part of our first season and helping us take WCU Club Pickleball beyond our campus. Go Cats!!
