At John Paul College, our staff all bring individual passions and experiences into the classroom. Aaron Blitz, a teacher and accomplished pickleball player, has a story that exemplifies the power of pursuing one’s interests both on and off the court.
Aaron’s pickleball journey began while he was studying for a Business Degree at Monash University and working part-time as a tennis coach. At the time, he was a high-level tennis player and was introduced to pickleball by an American visitor, Bill Beckwith, who shared the sport during a visit to the tennis club. “I instantly fell in love with the sport and found it so much fun,” Aaron recalls.
In 2018, pickleball was in its infancy in Victoria, with just one net and four paddles at the where Aaron played. Fast forward to today, there are over 50 locations across Victoria where the sport is played, with 2,500 members in the state and around 50,000 players across Australia - a number that continues to double every year.
What started as a hobby evolved into a thriving career. Aaron became the founding Secretary of Pickleball Victoria, served on its board for several years, and began competing at the highest levels. His achievements include:
Aaron’s career accelerated with the rise of professional pickleball tournaments offering significant prize money. In 2023, the PPA Tour/MLP Australia launched with a $1 million prize pool, and Aaron was selected as captain of the Melbourne Mavericks. He also competed in the AO Pickleball Slam this year, the world’s first $100,000 pickleball tournament held in conjunction with the Australian Open Tennis.
Despite his busy schedule, Aaron balances his professional sports career with full-time teaching. He finds that his experiences in pickleball complement his role in the classroom, particularly in problem-solving and adapting to new challenges. “Being on a pickleball court and inside a classroom are similar, with so many moving parts you have to think about and manage,” he explains.
Aaron also values the inclusive and community-driven nature of pickleball, saying, “What I love about pickleball is how inclusive the sport is, the friendships made in the community, and, of course, how fun it is for everyone who plays.”
As Aaron prepares for an exciting 2025 season with 12 professional events and $1.2 million in prize money on offer for the PPA Tour/MLP alone, he continues to inspire students with his story. He shares his message: teachers can have vibrant lives outside the classroom, and those pursuits can bring invaluable lessons back to their students.
We celebrate Aaron’s incredible journey and the positive impact he brings to both John Paul College and the wider sporting community.
Welcome to the spotlight Aaron!