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: 2026 PPA Finals
Bracket Completed
Match #7
May 4
Janet Liu, Pesa Teoni
G1
11
-5
G2
11
-7
Martin Thomas, Melissa Beré
G1
11
5
G2
11
7
Bracket Completed
Match #20
May 4
Sam Angelo, Pesa Teoni
G1
11
-1
G2
11
-5
Yaamunan Venkatesan, Aaron Li
G1
11
1
G2
11
5
Bracket Completed
Match #4
May 5
Ella Cosma, Gabriel Joseph
G1
11
-1
G2
11
-6
Pesa Teoni, Janet Liu
G1
11
1
G2
11
6
Gold:
Isabella Dunlap / Nicolas Acevedo
Silver:
Layne Sleeth / Tyler Loong
Bronze:
Cailyn Campbell / Blaine Hovenier
Bracket Completed
Match #9
May 7
Gabriel Joseph, Wesley Burrows
G1
4
-11
G2
8
-11
Sam Angelo, Pesa Teoni
G1
4
11
G2
8
11
Match #17
May 8
AJ Koller, Blaine Hovenier
G1
6
-11
G2
11
-9
G3
11
-2
Sam Angelo, Pesa Teoni
G1
6
11
G2
11
9
G3
11
2
Gold:
Tama Shimabukuro / Yuta Funemizu
Silver:
Nicolas Acevedo / Clayton Powell
Bronze:
Cason Campbell / Adam Harvey