In their first year competing in the Oregon Team Pickleball League (OTPL), Illahe’s pickleball teams reached an unexpected milestone. Both the women’s and men’s teams won state championships and advanced to national competition, held November 7–9 in Surprise, Arizona, where teams from five states participated.

The women’s team, known as the Illahe Day Dinkers, competed in the 3.5-level adult division. Captained by Tiffera Tarbox and co-captain Kim Boman, the team included Tiffera Tarbox, Tirzah Tarbox, Kim Boman, Connie Peters, Kristin Dodd, Jill Walker, Anne Bauer, Robyn Morley, Susi Armstrong, and Kendra Barkes.

OTPL follows a structured team format designed to balance strategy and depth. Each team fields three doubles partnerships per match, with each partnership playing six games in a round-robin format. Matches are scored to 11 points, with team standings determined by total game points accumulated across match days.

During league play, six teams competed in the Willamette Valley region. Each team played the others twice for a total of ten matches. When one team withdrew midseason—creating uneven match totals—a playoff was introduced to fairly determine advancement. The top four teams entered the playoff, where the Illahe Day Dinkers secured first place, earning their spot at the State Championships.

State competition was held at Widgi Creek in Central Oregon and included the top two teams from the Willamette Valley and the top two teams from Central Oregon. Illahe’s women went on to win the state title, qualifying them for Nationals.

Because the team did not anticipate advancing to national competition, only six of the ten women were able to attend. With no substitutions available, those six players competed in every match over three days of outdoor play—an adjustment after a season played primarily indoors.

Despite the challenges, the experience proved meaningful. The Illahe Day Dinkers placed fourth out of five teams at Nationals, with many matches decided by narrow margins. Teammates Tiffera Tarbox and Tirzah Tarbox played 24 matches together, winning 20, losing two, and tying two. Throughout the weekend, partners relied on shared encouragement—calling out phrases like “Vamos!” or reminding each other to “get to six”—to stay focused and positive under pressure.

Beyond results, players described Nationals as both demanding and rewarding. For several team members, it was their first experience competing at that level. Others emphasized the value of playing alongside women of different ages and backgrounds, including the opportunity for mothers and daughters to compete together.

The men’s Illahe team also qualified for Nationals, led by captain Eric Boman, making the event a shared milestone for the club.

League organization in the Willamette Valley was overseen by Connie Peters, who has played a key role in the league’s expansion. Originally launched in Central Oregon in 2022, OTPL became a statewide league in 2025 as the Willamette Valley region was added. Nationals—officially known as the American Team Pickleball League—marked the league’s first national championship event.

According to Will Gardner, Illahe’s head pickleball professional and instructor, the season represented a strong foundation for the program. Many players were navigating structured team competition for the first time, and the results reflected steady development rather than long-established systems.

As OTPL continues to grow across Oregon and beyond, Illahe’s first-year success stands as an early indicator of what’s possible when opportunity, preparation, and community come together.