Inducted in the backdrop of the USA Pickleball National Championships were contributor Norm Davis and competitors Pat Kane , Larry Moon and Wes Gabrielsen , who join 21 previous honorees . It was the Pickleball Hall of Fame ’ s ( PHOF ) sixth year to recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves in the sport .
Contributor Norm Davis was introduced to the game in 2000 . When the USAPA ( now USA Pickleball ) was formed in 2005 , Norm became a charter board member and director of training . In this role , he created more than 60 training videos about various aspects of pickleball . He introduced the USA Pickleball Grant Program for any group starting a pickleball program in a new location anywhere in the U . S . This later led to the creation of a grants program for schools . He also created a comprehensive “ Places to Play ” feature on the USA Pickleball website by consolidating incomplete lists from several sources . Norm tightened rule specifications for paddles , organized volunteers to teach local high school students , and raised funds to create public pickleball courts . He assisted in running the Arizona Senior Olympics from 2004 to 2008 . As a competitor , he has earned 10 USA Pickleball National Championship medals including a gold in men ’ s doubles . He has also won seven Huntsman World Senior Games ( HWSG ) awards , four of them gold . At age 89 , Norm is still an avid competitor , earning gold in men ’ s doubles at the 2021 HWSG .
Competitor Pat Kane is a 76-year-old retired Seattle firefighter now residing in Arizona . He began playing pickleball in 1985 and competed from 1991 to 2019 . During his competitive career , he amassed a total of 288 medals and awards . During the 10-year period from 2006 to 2016 , Pat won a total of 100 awards and medals — 88 of them gold . As a multiple USA Pickleball National Champion , he won a total of five gold medals in the first Nationals tournament in 2009 , capturing Triple Crown titles in the process . He repeated his Triple Crown wins in 2010 . He also holds eight Huntsman World Senior Games titles , earning Triple Crown titles in 2011 and 2012 . With his men ’ s doubles partner Mark Friedenberg , the pair captured gold in 2002 and 2003 at The Villages , Florida National Tournament . It was the first pickleball tournament to offer cash prizes . Pat also served on the original USA Pickleball Rules Committee .
Competitor Larry Moon was recognized for his dominance in pickleball from 2012 to the present . He is a former Utah state and Huntsman World Senior Games racquetball champion , as well as a 35 + NTRP 5.5 tennis player . Currently , at age 68 , his successes include 16 USA Pickleball National Championships , earning Triple Crown titles in 2016 , 2017 and 2019 . He won three titles at the US Open and 11 titles in the HWSG , including Triple Crown wins in 2017 . He also won gold in the inaugural Tournament of Champions , Men ’ s Doubles Legends division . Larry is a retired electrical engineer . He has volunteered his expertise to help cities develop optimal court layouts and lighting .
Competitor Wes Gabrielsen , age 36 , is the youngest member to be inducted so far , and has dominated the Open / Pro level since 2011 . He has won more than 160 gold medals , which includes 11 USAPA national titles with a Triple Crown in 2013 . He is a six-time Canadian National Champion , earning a Triple Crown in 2015 . In addition , he is a two-time Tournament of Champions winner and a two-time US Open champion . Wes is a former high school history teacher and tennis coach . He is also a Level 2 certified International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association instructor and now devotes much of his time to teaching pickleball and competing .
On Nov . 12 , the eighth day of the National Championships , the new inductees were introduced on Championship Court . They were welcomed by previous PHOF inductees as well as hundreds of enthusiastic attendees — perhaps future Hall of Famers among them .
The Pickleball Hall of Fame was established in 2017 . The original sponsors included the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association and USA Pickleball . For a brief period the groups appeared to head in separate directions , but an agreement has been reached , with the PHOF and USA Pickleball uniting as one organization . Stu Upson , Suzanne Guerin , and Randy Stafford from USA Pickleball have now joined the PHOF board . The purpose is to move forward with one improved Pickleball Hall of Fame that will best acknowledge and honor all present and future inductees . •
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022 | MAGAZINE 41