BUCKHANNON, WEST VIRGINIA, December 8th, 2025.
A first hand institutional announcement issued by WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE confirms the establishment of a varsity pickleball program that will award athletic scholarships beginning in Fall 2026. The college states that the program will become the second varsity scholarship offering pickleball program in the United States and the first within West Virginia, identifying the growth of the sport as a driving force behind the decision.
In its formal release, WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE reports that the former tennis courts beside Ross Field will be renovated to create the program’s home facility. The site is planned to contain 8 dedicated courts with room for future expansion. The college states that this location has already served recreational purposes for students, and that its redevelopment will provide convenient access and strengthen the student athletic environment.
The college identifies Kyle Hoffman, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, as the official providing statements regarding the project. Hoffman explains that the renovation of the former tennis area will breathe new life into the space and create a facility capable of hosting local, regional, and potentially national tournament play. He describes the project as an intentional investment in campus life, student participation, and the broader growth of the sport.
In the same announcement, WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE confirms the appointment of Alec Moran as general manager responsible for building the inaugural varsity roster for Fall 2026. Moran is identified as a long standing racket sport advocate within West Virginia, and he expresses enthusiasm for guiding the state’s first scholarship supported college pickleball team. The college provides his background directly, noting his tenure as an assistant tennis coach at Fairmont State University from 2021 through 2025, during which the programs achieved 7 NCAA tournament appearances and secured a conference championship in 2023.
The college states that scholarship opportunities are now available for incoming students and that active recruitment will proceed as the planned facility undergoes preparation. The announcement emphasizes that the rise of pickleball among younger athletes and within the campus population has influenced the timing and scope of the new program.
No additional first hand documents have yet been issued by the institution beyond the formal announcement, and no athletic schedules or governing body classifications have been released at this time. The information presently available to the public consists entirely of the details provided by the college.
The Appalachian Post is an independent West Virginia news outlet dedicated to clean, verified, first-hand reporting. We do not publish rumors. We do not run speculation. Every fact we present must be supported by original documentation, official statements, or direct evidence. When secondary sources are used, we clearly identify them and never treat them as first-hand confirmation. We avoid loaded language, emotional framing, or accusatory wording, and we do not attack individuals, organizations, or other news outlets. Our role is to report only what can be verified through first-hand sources and allow readers to form their own interpretations. If we cannot confirm a claim using original evidence, we state clearly that we reviewed first-hand sources and could not find documentation confirming it. Our commitment is simple: honest reporting, transparent sourcing, and zero speculation.
Primary First Hand Sources
• WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE official public announcement describing the creation of the varsity pickleball program, the scholarship framework, the Fall 2026 timeline, the Ross Field renovation plan, the 8 court facility, and the roles of Kyle Hoffman and Alec Moran
Secondary Attribution Based Sources
• My Buckhannon
• WV News
Appalachian Post 
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