Clarkston EPIC’s second Pickleball Classic raises funds for youth mission

A $30 entry fee, three doubles divisions and a youth mission gave Clarkston EPIC’s second Pickleball Classic more purpose than a routine spring tournament. Players checked in at 8:45 a.m. at Sunset Park in Lewiston, Idaho, then took the courts at 9 a.m. for a one-day event built around men’s, women’s and mixed doubles.

Presented by Banner Bank, the tournament was organized to keep the format open to a wide range of amateurs. The division structure gave players of different skill levels a place to compete, while raffles and refreshments turned the day into more than a bracket grind. The setup also kept the tournament accessible, with the modest registration fee helping lower the barrier for players who wanted to compete while supporting the cause.

The cause is the heart of Clarkston EPIC’s work. The volunteer-driven coalition was founded in 2012 after Clarkston, Washington, was identified as having an above-average rate of youth substance use in the state. Since then, the group has framed its mission around empowering people with the knowledge to build a more resilient and protective community for youth well-being. Its programming includes youth substance-use prevention and mental-health promotion, along with teen resource booklets and parent lockboxes for medications, cannabis and THC products, and vaping devices.

That larger mission gave the pickleball event a clearer payoff. The classic was not a standalone social outing; it was a fundraiser tied directly to youth support work in Asotin County and the surrounding region. Organizers positioned it as an event for anyone who works with or supports young people, which widened the reach beyond the usual player pool and made the day feel as much like a community benefit as a competition.

The tournament’s return for a second year also mattered. The first annual Clarkston EPIC Pickleball Classic in 2025 drew 48 players, giving this year’s version a baseline and showing that the format had already built a following. In amateur pickleball, that kind of repeat turnout matters: it turns a local event into a dependable fixture, and in this case, it gave one of the sport’s simplest formats a direct line to a cause aimed at helping kids make better choices.