University of Findlay to host second annual Oil Can Classic pickleball tournament
The Oil Can Classic is back at Findlay’s campus courts, with public doubles play, age-18-plus brackets, and a June 12 registration deadline.
The second annual Oil Can Classic is set to turn the University of Findlay’s pickleball courts into a two-day community draw on June 25 and 26, with open doubles play at 201 College Street in front of the Watterson Center. The tournament is open to the public, so this is not just a campus event for students and alumni. It is built for alumni, friends, area residents, and anyone who wants a bracket and a paddle in hand.
The format is straightforward and competitive. Teams of two will play in beginner, intermediate, and advanced divisions, with round robin and bracket stages. Thursday, June 25 is reserved for beginner play. Friday, June 26 starts with advanced division matches in the morning and follows with intermediate play later in the day. Match play goes to 11, win by 2, with a 20-minute maximum and rally scoring after time expires.
Registration closes Friday, June 12, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., and spots are limited on a first come, first served basis. The entry fee is 50 dollars per team, and every player will receive a swag bag that includes a T-shirt. The event is limited to players 18 and older, with no individual sign-ups allowed. First-place teams will receive customized trophies, while second and third place will take home medals. There are no refunds after June 12 unless the tournament is canceled.
UF has also built the right kind of infrastructure to make this more than a one-off. The courts opened last year through a gift from Eric and Julie Anderson of AR Marketing in Findlay, and an adjacent pavilion with shaded seating was funded through a grant from the Findlay Hancock County Community Foundation. If a university wants a recurring pickleball event to stick, permanent courts and a place to sit between matches matter.
The rain site is the YMCA East Branch at 1400 Manor Hill Rd. in Findlay. The tournament is sponsored by AR Marketing and Visit Findlay, and Lee Ann Ireland, director of the Wolfe Center for Alumni, Parents, and Friends, is helping position it as part of UF’s wider alumni and community calendar. That is the real story here: Findlay is not treating pickleball like a novelty. It is building a place where the second annual Oil Can Classic can become the kind of date players mark on their summer schedules.
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