Inside the Sparta Combine
Selkirk Sport’s third Sparta Combine takes place this week in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and its first graduate is now helping shape the next class
By Brynn Grissom
October 28, 2026 • 4 min read
On two private red-and-gray courts in northern Idaho, groups of athletes spread out, stretching, hitting balls and calming their nerves.
On the sidelines, a camera flashes as athletes get their first professional headshots, and stopwatches click as coaches prepare for the day.
Everyone is preparing for a two-day event designed to find the next pickleball stars.
This week, Selkirk Sport is hosting its third Sparta Combine at its headquarters in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Ten athletes, six men and four women, were invited to the Oct. 28–29 event from a pool of online applicants.
Over two days, they will be tested physically and mentally, all for a shot at a Sparta Pro contract.
Building Athletes, Not Just Sponsoring Them
The Sparta Program is the centerpiece of Selkirk’s player development vision, building the next generation of elite pickleball athletes instead of only signing players who have already reached the pinnacle of the sport.
The Sparta Program is designed to identify emerging players and offer them sponsorship and education.
“There is top talent out there that only needs exposure and experience to break into the elite scene,” said Ron Clough, Sparta Program Director. “Sparta exists to identify those athletes, support them and elevate them. We build players. We don’t just sponsor them.”
Athletes who earn a contract receive a $25,000 sponsorship, performance bonuses, gear and apparel, mentorship, and exposure to sponsors and tour organizations. Sparta Pros also have access to professional mental performance coaching to help them make the transition to full-time athletes as they compete against the sport’s best.
Measured, Not Assumed
How does a pickleball player become a Sparta Pro?
They earn it at the Sparta Combine, a twice-yearly proving ground.
Similar to the NFL Scouting Combine, the Sparta Combine uses objective performance data to evaluate athletes over two days of testing. Participants are selected through a rigorous application process.
Selkirk combines athletic testing and on-court play with tournament results rather than relying solely on rankings or reputation.
Day 1 features a series of physical tests. Athletes rotate through stations measuring:
- Speed and lower-body power
- Agility
- Rotational power
- Reaction and balance
- Endurance
Then the paddles come out. Athletes play gender doubles, mixed doubles and singles, rotating partners and opponents.
Throughout the two days, a selection committee scores each athlete using a rubric that measures results, athleticism and future performance potential. Beyond the data, the committee also considers whether an athlete would be a good fit for Selkirk, both on and off the court.
“Performance on the court comes first,” Clough said. “But a Selkirk athlete is more than a score sheet. We’re looking for players who are still improving, who handle themselves like professionals and who want to represent and grow the sport well when no one’s keeping score.”
Not everyone who attends a combine earns a contract. But every athlete leaves with meaningful data about their game and a clearer understanding of what it takes to reach the elite level.
The Journey Counts
For Selkirk, the path to the podium matters as much as the outcome. Sparta athletes have used their contracts to take bold steps, including leaving traditional jobs, moving across the country and building their own personal brands.
“This program is so much more than a sponsorship,” said Carlota “Charlie” Treviño, a member of Sparta’s inaugural class. “It gives you real-life feedback, structure and accountability. You’re not just being supported –- you’re being evaluated, developed and challenged.”
From the Testing Line to the Elite Team
Thirteen months ago, Selkirk pro Rafa Lenhard was the one being measured.
He earned a Sparta contract at the inaugural combine in September 2025. Over the next year, he climbed from regional qualifiers to the top of the professional tours, winning gold and bronze medals in singles and defeating world No. 1 Ben Johns and singles No. 1 Federico Staksrud.
“It’s been a fun journey going through the Sparta Combine, which was a one-of-a-kind experience,” Lenhard said. “I’ve been continuing to grow my relationship with Selkirk over the past year, and I’m looking forward to more good years as the dream continues.”
On Oct. 1, Selkirk moved Lenhard to its Elite Pro roster, the company’s top sponsorship tier. He is the first Sparta athlete to make that transition.
“Rafa embodies everything the Sparta Program was built to cultivate,” Clough said. “Watching him earn this Elite Pro contract validates our combine model and sets a clear standard for future athletes.”
This week, Lenhard is helping score the combine, providing support and guidance to the competing athletes.
His full story, from tennis to pickleball and from the combine to the Elite Pro roster, is told in “Second Serve: A Renewed Purpose Through Pickleball” on Selkirk TV. Lenhard and Treviño also produce coaching videos featured on STV and regularly participate in product testing, helping shape Selkirk’s next equipment.
Selkirk still sponsors top athletes, such as Jack Sock, but in recent years, company leaders have emphasized a new strategy.
“We know there are players out there with the talent to compete at the highest level who just haven’t had the chance to show it,” said Rob Barnes, Selkirk co-founder and co-CEO. “We built Sparta to find those athletes and make an investment not only in their careers, but in the future of pickleball.”
What Comes Next
By Thursday evening, the final matches will have been played and the scorecards tallied. Some athletes will receive contract offers. All will head home with their performance data.
And somewhere on those red-and-gray courts this week, Selkirk believes, is the sport’s next star.
“We are not always chasing trends that other companies seem to be chasing,” said Mike Barnes, Selkirk co-founder and co-CEO. “Instead, we try to look and predict where pickleball is going and build toward that. We want to invest in the future, and we’re doing that with the Sparta program.” ●
Selkirk Sparta
Selkirk’s Sparta Program is on a mission to discover pickleball’s next breakthrough stars and support their pathway to pickleball’s biggest stages. Learn more at Selkirk.com.
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