The courts were humming and the kitchen was crowded this past week as the Murray Education Foundation (MEF) concluded its second annual pickleball tournament. Spanning two high-energy days, the event brought together families, local businesses, and athletes for a singular cause: supporting the legendary Unified Sports program at Murray High School.

Two Days of Competition and Community

The festivities kicked off Thursday evening with a 16-team Community Tournament. The atmosphere was electric as friends and families faced off in four rounds of round-robin play. Friday followed suit with the Corporate Tournament, where 16 teams representing MEF’s dedicated business partners traded their suits for sneakers to support Murray’s students. Both days culminated in a high-stakes playoff between the top four teams, determined by total wins and point differentials. While the competition was friendly, the talent was undeniable.

Tournament Champions

Congratulations to our top finishers who took home fantastic gift cards and prizes, donated by our sponsors. And a huge shout out to the sponsors for their incredible show of support. This is another fantastic story about Murray’s community with no one hero – together we accomplish great things for our students.

A Premier New Venue

This year’s tournament reached new heights thanks to the incredible support of the Murray Sports Mall. We extend a special thank you to their Pickleball Coordinator for their seamless organization and for hosting us in their state-of-the-art new indoor facility. Having a dedicated space of this caliber allowed our players to enjoy the game at its best, regardless of the winter weather outside.

Grateful for Our Sponsors

An event of this scale is only possible through the generosity of our partners. We would like to recognize our Title Sponsor, Hughes Construction, for their unwavering commitment to MEF.

Additional thanks to our Team Unified Sponsors:

• Naylor Wentworth Lund, America First Credit Union, VCBO Architects, Granite Credit Union, SelectHealth, and Mountain America Credit Union.

We also appreciate our individual and prize donation sponsors who made the winner’s circle so rewarding:

• Associated Business Technologies, Lakeshore Learning, Shark Creative, Calder Richards Structural Engineers, Horace Mann, Zion Canyon Hot Springs, Les Olson Company, Taqueria27, Sky Mountain Resort, Minky Couture, Granite Bakery, and Top Golf.

Serving a Greater Purpose: Unified Sports

The "win" of the weekend wasn't just on the scoreboard; the tournament successfully raised enough to fully fund the program. These funds go directly toward the Unified Sports program, covering the costs for individual athletes to participate in full seasons of basketball and soccer.

Unified Sports is a powerful initiative that joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It’s built on the simple premise that training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.

Murray High School holds a prestigious place in this movement. As one of the first established Unified programs in Utah, Murray High has a rich history of inclusion. Under the visionary leadership of Program Coordinator Jessie Agiriga and Athletic Director Brady Smith, the program has achieved national acclaim, including being named an ESPN Honor Roll School and receiving official endorsement from Special Olympics as a Unified Champion School. "Being a banner school means we've created an environment where all students can be successful, and everyone can contribute to a positive space," says Doug Perry, MEF Executive Director. "Everyone at Murray is valued."

Looking Ahead

As the final balls are packed away, MEF is already looking forward to next year. We hope to make this pickleball tradition a permanent fixture for our Unified Sports athletes. Keep an eye out for announcements on how you or your company can get involved in 2027. Whether you’re a pickleball pro or a first-time player, there is always a place for you on our Unified team.