The Pickleball Hall of Fame (PHOF) has officially unveiled the five individuals invited into the 2023 Pickleball Hall of Fame Inductee Class.
Competitors And Contributors
The PHOF annually inducts members into two distinct categories: Competitor and Contributor.
Mona Burnett, Jennifer Dawson, and Scott Moore are the three players who make up this year’s Competitor Category.
The 2023 Contributor Category comprises Bill Booth and Seymour Rifkind.
Melissa Zhang, USA Pickleball Director of Communications and Content, reports that the much-anticipated 2023 PHOF Inductee Celebration is scheduled to take place on November 9th in Plano, Texas, coinciding with the 2023 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships, powered by Invited and the PPA Tour.
For those interested in attending this prestigious event, further details and ticket purchasing information can be found here.
Stu Upson, President of the Pickleball Hall of Fame, announced:
“It is with great pleasure that the Pickleball Hall of Fame announces its esteemed 2023 Inductees, who have truly left an indelible mark on pickleball through their athletic accomplishments and tireless passion for this sport.
“I looked forward to honoring these five incredible community members this fall at Nationals, who have contributed so much to our sport and community over the years.”
Mona Burnett
Mona is the sole pickleball player to achieve the remarkable feat of clinching gold medals in all five events she entered at the 2015 USA Pickleball National Championships.
Throughout her distinguished pickleball career, she garnered 16 gold medals at Nationals, amassing an impressive tally of over 150 medals, with an astonishing 75 being gold.
Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, this accomplished athlete not only participated but medaled in all three major inaugural events, including the 2009 USA Pickleball National Championships, the 2013 Tournament Of Champions, and the 2016 U.S. Open.
Jennifer Dawson
Jennifer is the world’s first-ever Triple Crown professional pickleball champion, having triumphed in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles during the same 2017 Minto U.S. Open.
Her illustrious playing career is marked by over 20 U.S. Open, National, and Tournament of Champions singles and doubles championship titles. Beyond her on-court success, Dawson has cultivated a distinguished career spanning three decades as a pickleball and tennis coach.
Alongside her husband, Steve Dawson, she owns the Bobby Riggs Racket and Paddle Centre in California, further contributing to the sport’s growth.
Scott Moore
Moore’s pickleball journey is studded with accolades, including a staggering 21-time USA Pickleball National Champion, securing an impressive 12 consecutive events at Nationals from 2015 to 2017.
His illustrious playing career extends to being a 12-time U.S. Open champion, a seven-time Senior Pro Triple Crown winner, and a 10-time Tournament of Champions victor. Beyond the court, the Fort Worth, Texas native co-founded Pickleball Trips in 2016, offering unique cultural and pickleball experiences for like-minded travelers.
In 2020, he co-founded the highly successful High Performance Pickleball Academy, providing online instruction. Moore’s dedication to his global promotion of the sport is exemplified by teaching pickleball in over a dozen countries.
His achievements were further highlighted by receiving the 2022 APP Icon Award and becoming the first player to secure Senior Pro and Super Senior Pro Gold medals in the same tournament at the 2022 Mesa APP Open.
Bill Booth
Bill Booth’s contributions to the pickleball community are multifaceted. Serving on the USA Pickleball Board of Directors for six years, he assumed the role of President for 3.5 years, providing invaluable leadership.
Booth’s innovative spirit led to the creation of the first online store for pickleball products and the development of the initial software used by USA Pickleball for membership, rankings, court locations, and tournaments.
His dedication extended to the creation of a free online court reservation system and collaboration with sports equipment manufacturer Oncourt Offcourt to introduce the first portable pickleball net.
Booth played a pivotal role in establishing numerous pickleball courts in his local community of Sun City, Arizona.
Notably, he also played a significant role in crafting the first USA Pickleball Rulebook and introduced the original deflection test for pickleball paddles in 2012.
Seymour Rifkind
Seymour Rifkind’s influence in the world of pickleball spans several key roles. As the Founder and former President of the Pickleball Hall of Fame, established in 2017, he has played an essential role in preserving the sport’s history.
Rifkind also founded the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA), the pioneering teaching organization in pickleball. In 2018, he took a step further by establishing the World Pickleball Federation, an International Governing Body for the sport.
Prior to his involvement in pickleball, Rifkind’s background in gymnastics saw him achieve international-level success as a gymnastics champion and coach, mentoring 25 All-Americans and 5 Olympians. His journey into pickleball commenced in 2014, and he has since excelled as a 5.0 pickleball player.
About the Pickleball Hall of Fame
The Pickleball Hall of Fame (PHOF) came into existence in 2017, operating as an independent not-for-profit corporation. The initial tier 1 sponsors of PHOF included IPTPA, USAPA, Pickleball Central, Pickleball Magazine, and Pickleball Channel.
In November 2017, the PHOF conducted its inaugural induction ceremony, recognizing six outstanding individuals.
PHOF takes a global perspective, considering nominees from all corners of the world. Presently, it enshrines four distinguished members each year, with three falling under the Competitor category and one under the Contributor category.
This annual tradition seeks to honor and celebrate the exceptional contributions and accomplishments within the sport of pickleball.
Board of the Pickleball Hall of Fame:
Stu Upson – President
Kim Jagd – Vice President
Suzanne Guerin – Secretary
Joe Santoro – Treasurer
Steve Paranto
Hilary Marold
Randy Stafford
About USA Pickleball
USA Pickleball serves as the National Governing Body for the sport of pickleball within the United States. This organization plays a pivotal role in offering players access to official rules, tournaments, rankings, and promotional resources. At its core, the mission of USA Pickleball is to foster the advancement and expansion of pickleball in the United States and its territories.
Operating as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, USA Pickleball is governed by a board of directors and supported by a team of professional staff. This collective leadership provides the necessary direction and infrastructure required to sustain the continuous growth and development of the sport, ensuring that pickleball continues to thrive in the United States.
