DEVELOPMENT
Born in American Samoa, Pesa's journey led them to St. George, UT at the age of 15, where they faced the challenge of adapting to a new language and culture. Despite the initial hurdles of learning English, Pesa's determination propelled them forward, gradually mastering the language over time.
Pesa's athletic journey took an unexpected turn when they discovered pickleball in 2016 while living with an aunt in St. George. Coming from a background in competitive soccer, volleyball, and rugby, pickleball was a new frontier. Introduced to the sport by an uncle, Pesa quickly embraced it, diving into tournaments ranging from 3.0 to 5.0 skill levels and clinching medals along the way.
With a newfound passion for pickleball, Pesa decided to take their game to the next level, joining pro tournaments once COVID restrictions eased. Partnering with Daniel de Rosa, Pesa enjoyed successful runs at events like Red Rock, achieving impressive finishes in both men's doubles competitions. Additionally, Pesa secured three gold medals alongside Andrei Daeascu, further solidifying their presence in the pickleball community.
PPA Tour: Select Medical Orange County Cup - 2025
Bracket Completed
Gold:
Hunter Johnson
Silver:
Federico Staksrud
Bronze:
Connor Garnett
Bracket Completed
Match #6
Jun 17
Danna Funaro, Pesa Teoni
G1
11
-4
G2
8
-11
G3
11
-7
Ryan Sherry, Luana Stanciu
G1
11
4
G2
8
11
G3
11
7
Gold:
Anna Leigh Waters / Ben Johns
Silver:
Jorja Johnson / James Johnson
Bronze:
Anna Bright / Hayden Patriquin
Bracket Completed
Match #1
Jun 18
Pesa Teoni, Caden Nemoff
G1
3
-11
G2
11
-4
G3
1
-11
Cason Campbell, Adam Harvey
G1
3
11
G2
11
4
G3
1
11
Gold:
Ben Johns / Gabriel Tardio
Silver:
Federico Staksrud / Hayden Patriquin
Bronze:
James Johnson / CJ Klinger