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 Sacramento Open
Bracket Completed
Match #9
Apr 13
Janet Liu, Pesa Teoni
G1
11
-3
G2
11
-3
Dmitry Ivanenko, Adelie Osher
G1
11
3
G2
11
3
Bracket Completed
Match #15
Apr 13
Zach Gonnering, Pesa Teoni
G1
11
-5
G2
11
-0
TJ Rudden, Tanner Suard
G1
11
5
G2
11
0
Bracket Completed
Gold:
Federico Staksrud
Silver:
Zane Ford
Bronze:
Roscoe Bellamy
Bracket Completed
Match #9
Apr 14
Lacy Schneemann, Hunter Johnson
G1
11
-2
G2
11
-1
Pesa Teoni, Janet Liu
G1
11
2
G2
11
1
Gold:
Tyra Hurricane Black / Eric Oncins
Silver:
Jorja Johnson / JW Johnson
Bronze:
Parris Todd / Andrei Daescu
Bracket Completed
Match #1
Apr 14
Jace Morris, Andre Mercado
G1
11
-5
G2
13
-11
Zach Gonnering, Pesa Teoni
G1
11
5
G2
13
11
Gold:
Gabriel Tardio / Ben Johns
Silver:
CJ Klinger / JW Johnson
Bronze:
Andrei Daescu / Federico Staksrud