Alumnus Combines His Love of Philosophy & The Fastest-Growing Sport — Pickleball — Into A Career

People, pickleball, and philosophy are the central tenets of the life of Derek Sawer '19, who has been at the forefront of the fastest-growing sport in the United States.

As a student, it's no surprise that Sawer displayed an interest in racquet sports as he played on the men's tennis team. He also conducted research with the Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities and attended experiential learning trips to England, Germany, and Poland.

Sawer says that his experience at Allegheny College set him up for success.

I had this really diverse academic experience at Allegheny College that prepared me for an unexpected and exciting trajectory," says Sawer. "The way Allegheny structures the major, minor combinations prepares students to be adaptable and open-minded - with the way that the world is changing so quickly today, you're prepared for jobs and careers that don't exist yet.

After graduating with a major in philosophyand a minor in political science, Sawer joined the Office of Admissions at Allegheny College with plans to pursue his doctoral degree in 2021.

It was during his time as a graduate student that he picked up pickleball recreationally, and realized that his studies weren't fulfilling him like he had expected. Sawer continued to see how special pickleball was in creating healthier, more social communities and pivoted to a career in the sport.

For two years, Sawer served as vice president of pickleball at the startup PickleCity, with the mission of increasing access to pickleball in densely populated areas within New York City. Sawer had the honor of hosting pickleball events for Fortune 500 businesses like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan.

However, he says that what's ultimately rewarding for him is bringing together different generations, pointing out that he's taught pickleball to those as young as three and as old as ninety.

Sawer moved on to become head coach at DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) to sustain the global expansion of pickleball. In his role, Sawer supported coaches by hosting training sessions, developing programs, and organizing events to build a pickleball community, such as clinics or tournaments.

He is now launching his own company, Picklosopher, to establish new clubs across the nation and has been tapped to run camps for professional pickleballer, Tyson McGuffin.

Sawer explains that his training in philosophy uniquely positions him to approach the sport from all different angles, while his minor in political science has continued to help him with decision-making as an entrepreneur.

"Being in any sort of entrepreneurial space is a highly political environment where people have a lot of different interests. The politics behind business are fascinating, and thinking through my background in political theory really applies to looking at the dynamics that different groups and companies are creating," says Sawer.

For current students, Sawer echoes advice that he received at Allegheny College that has stayed with him.

"Some of the best advice I received was to show up and be interested. Let people know you want to learn more; there's no right or wrong way to start things," reflects Sawer. "Remain open and flexible as you explore your interests. It's okay if they don't seem immediately connected, they often come back around in interesting ways."