Jacksonville, AL – The pickleball players from Jacksonville State University are making waves under the leadership of Lori Cochran, a dedicated champion for the game. The JSU Pickleball Club, represented on Instagram by @jsu_pickleball_club, is actively promoting pickleball in the local community, with Cochran at the forefront of this initiative.
Pickleball Ambassadors such as Cochran, are volunteers that have signed the vow to help promote the sport and the USA Pickleball organization within their respective areas. They play a crucial part in working with local clubs, communities and recreation facilities to help guide and create programs for all ages to appreciate. Ambassadors work together within their respective regions and districts in assisting with the development and expansion of the sport of pickleball.
One of the most important requirements for being an Pickleball ambassador is true passion for the sport and an eagerness to spread the sport’s love with others. Lori Cochran, who is not just an ambassador but also a professor in JSU as a member of the Kinesiology Department, exemplifies this enthusiasm for the sport of picking.
In her position at JSU Cochran is a teacher at the Health & Physical Education Teacher Education program. She has devoted 23 years of her life to the school. Cochran has also taken the initiative to create the Beginning Pickleball class, HPE 112 which gives students the opportunity to earn one hour of college credit playing for fun.
Cochran revealed her love for the sport by saying, “I teach in the Kinesiology Dept within the Health & Physical Education Teacher Education program. I’ve been at JSU in this role for the last 23 years. I have also started the Beginning Pickleball class, HPE 112, that is 1 hour of college credit to students who wish to get into the game to play for fun.”
In addition to her work as an educator and ambassador, Cochran was actively involved in promoting pickleball on the college level. She spoke about her involvement in the APP U.S. Collegiate Championships which was a ground-breaking event for players in college. The event was held on January 3-4 2024 at the Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana, the event transformed the indoor soccer arena into a pickleball paradise featuring 24 courts and the Championship Court with seating for fans as well as a bar/restaurant with a view of the action.
The Collegiate Championships included both team and individual contests in which players competed for the sum of $50,000 worth of money for scholarships. The team competition provides $32,500 in scholarships. The individual events offer $17,500. Cochran’s participation in this highly regarded event demonstrates her dedication to the sport of pickleball, and helping to grow it at the college level.
For those interested in joining the JSU Pickleball Club or learning more about the sport, Lori Cochran and the club can be found on Instagram at @jsu_pickleball_club. JSU Pickleball Club JSU Pickleball Club continues to flourish under the guidance of Cochran and support of the wider pickleball community, and instilling enthusiasm for the sport among young people and players alike.
