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PLAYER PROFILE

Collin Shick

UNC medical student · PPA singles finalist · 2026 comeback

Collin Shick is an American professional pickleball player and UNC medical student whose qualifier-to-final run at the 2023 Florida Open launched one of the sport’s most unusual two-track careers.

October 2, 2026Evidence-backed revision
USA · UNC MEDICAL STUDENT27–0
Not displayedCurrent PPA rankingOmitted October 2, 2026 · limited recent schedule

2023 collegiate nationals · three-title sweep

Chemical engineering · medicine · professional pickleball

A two-track career built around competition and medical school

Shick completed five seasons of men’s tennis at NC State while studying chemical engineering. His college résumé included five ITA Scholar-Athlete honors, a 2022 All-ACC Academic Team selection and a 38–41 career doubles record.

He began playing pickleball regularly in August 2022, around the start of medical school at UNC. Six months later, the No. 31 seed advanced from qualifying to the men’s singles final in his first PPA Tour event, defeating established professionals before facing Ben Johns on Championship Sunday.

BREAKTHROUGH STORY

How did Collin Shick reach a PPA final in his tour debut?

The No. 31 seed advanced through qualifying at the 2023 Florida Open, then defeated established tour players including Wyatt Stone and Dylan Frazier before facing Ben Johns in the singles final.

Career timeline

From NC State tennis to a PPA final, medical school and a 2026 return

Five seasons of NC State tennis

Shick earned five ITA Scholar-Athlete honors, made the 2022 All-ACC Academic Team and completed a chemical engineering education while competing for the Wolfpack.

Began playing pickleball regularly

After finishing college tennis and beginning medical school, he worked pickleball into his schedule like a daily college practice.

Qualifier to PPA singles finalist

In his first PPA Tour event, Shick moved through qualifying and the main draw to reach the Florida Open final against Ben Johns.

DUPR Collegiate Triple Crown

Shick went 27–0 while winning men’s singles, men’s doubles with Hunter Boyd and mixed doubles with Sarah Carpenter at the Collegiate Individual National Championship.

Entered Major League Pickleball

He played for the Florida Smash in 2023 and the Bay Area Breakers in 2024.

Paused medical school for a full pro season

Shick moved to Charlotte and trained with Jack Sock, Brooke Buckner and Eric Roddy while competing in men’s doubles with Sock and mixed doubles with Buckner.

Returned to professional competition

After refocusing on medical school, Shick returned at the national championships and defeated Dylan Frazier and Chris Crouch in men’s singles.

Charlotte Challenger silver

Shick and Eric Roddy finished second in the men’s doubles main draw.

Defining competitive results

Milestones that explain Shick’s professional story

These are durable career markers rather than a week-to-week results feed.

2023 Florida Open
Men’s singles finalist
2023 collegiate nationals
27–0 · singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles champion
2026 national championships
Singles wins over Dylan Frazier and Chris Crouch
2026 Charlotte Challenger
Men’s doubles silver · Eric Roddy
Medical school and professional competition

A planned pro season followed by a measured return

FULL-TIME PRO SEASON2024CHARLOTTE · TEAM SELKIRK

Shick took a year away from medical school, relocated to Charlotte and trained with Jack Sock, Brooke Buckner and Eric Roddy. He later refocused on medicine before returning to tournament play in September 2026.

Dated equipment observation

What paddle was Collin Shick documented using?

SELKIRK

VANGUARD POWER AIR INVIKTA

PAPreviously documented in 2024–2025

Selkirk pictured Shick with the Vanguard Power Air Invikta in an April 2024 first-person feature, and a 2025 match-used auction identified the same model with his custom weighting. No reliable source reviewed on October 2, 2026 established that it remained his current paddle. The shopping link below therefore compares current Selkirk options rather than claiming an exact current match.

COMPARE SAME-BRAND OPTIONS

SELKIRK paddle options

These are same-brand shopping options, not a claim that every listed paddle is the exact VANGUARD POWER AIR INVIKTA documented above. Price and availability can change.

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PPA match footage and instruction

Watch Collin Shick’s breakthrough, return and singles teaching

2026 return

Dylan Frazier vs. Collin Shick

PPA Tour · 2026 National Championships

Breakthrough final

Ben Johns vs. Collin Shick

PPA Tour · 2023 Florida Open

Singles instruction

How and when to approach the net

Selkirk TV · July 23, 2024

Verified player accounts

Follow Collin Shick

Quick answers

Collin Shick FAQs

Transparent sourcing

Primary evidence

Age, sponsorship, equipment and competitive-return details are dated. The page omits a current PPA ranking, numeric DUPR rating, medical-school graduation year and current MLP team when the audited evidence did not support them.

01Selkirk: Collin Shick player profile↗02Selkirk: From tennis to pickleball↗03PPA Tour: Shick happens Thursday in Florida↗04DUPR: Collin Shick’s rise↗05DUPR: 2023 Collegiate Individual National Championship recap↗06NC State men’s tennis profile↗07NC State: 2022 All-ACC Academic Team↗08Pickleball.com: September 2026 recap↗09Charlotte PPA Challenger standings↗10Pickleball Auctions: 2025 match-used paddle↗