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.
2026 Tucson PPA Challenger
Bracket Completed
Gold:
Matthew Finnerty
Silver:
Tama Shimabukuro
Bronze:
Bracket Completed
Gold:
Riley Inn / Tama Shimabukuro
Silver:
Connor McCartney / Rio Newcombe
Bronze:
Joel Poland / Eduardo Santini Ayon
Bracket Completed
Match #22
Jan 25
Zoey Weil, Pesa Teoni
G1
11
-4
G2
11
-3
Mike Radermacher, Mara Schmidt
G1
11
4
G2
11
3
Match #51
Jan 25
Zoey Weil, Pesa Teoni
G1
11
-3
G2
11
-1
MJ Marrero, Audrey Banada
G1
11
3
G2
11
1
Match #69
Jan 25
Zoey Weil, Pesa Teoni
G1
9
-11
G2
11
-13
Rafael Lenhard, Jalina Ingram
G1
9
11
G2
11
13
Gold:
Jalina Ingram / Rafael Lenhard
Silver:
Chloe Igleski / Lucas Pascoe
Bronze:
Samantha Parker / Tama Shimabukuro