Mia Dunagan, a former tennis player, has made quick work turning herself into a formidable pickleball professional.
A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, her journey in this sport only began five months ago, and she is already consistently achieving podium finishes in tournaments.
“Super Fun”
Reflecting on her rapid progress, Dunagan shared with Micah Fletcher of cherokeephoenix.org, “There’s only been one or two tournaments, maybe, that I’ve gone without making the podium.
“It’s been super fun, playing with different people and getting to be successful with them. I believe I’ve had 20 gold medals and a handful of others as well.”
Her first foray into pickleball came about a year ago after a knee injury halted her tennis career.
“I played tennis throughout high school and then in college as well, but I had a knee injury that sort of finished my tennis career. That’s why the transition to pickleball was very natural,” Mia explained.
Partnering With Her Father
Supported by her family and friends, Dunagan often partners with her father, who is also an enthusiast: “My dad plays with me – he’s an avid pickleball player, we love to play together. He’s really enjoyed seeing me transition from tennis into pickleball.”
“The rest of my family definitely gets a kick out of it. I don’t think they knew what pickleball was before. It’s really fun to be able to introduce that to my family and friends because it’s a sport that they can participate in with me, so I think that’s super cool.”
“Mini Tennis Court”
Describing pickleball as akin to a “mini tennis court,” she believes it is super accessible to anybody with racket sport experience.
“My advice for somebody looking to pick up pickleball is really to just go for it. There’s so many community centers, gyms, and racquet facilities that offer it,” Mia said. “I think that the pickleball community is very welcoming and super friendly from my experience. If you are a complete beginner and you go out there, I promise that they will be so excited to help you and guide you through picking up a paddle and learning the basic rules.”
Pete Peterson
Mia is not the only one making a splash in the Cherokee Indian pickleball world.
Pete Peterson is a seasoned tennis player and coach and has found a niche in introducing pickleball to Native American reservations. As a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Pete has long recognized the untapped athletic potential within reservations across the United States.
Through the Serving Love Foundation, a venture he co-established, he united his love for racquet sports with an underserved community.
Serving Love Foundation
Over the past year, the Serving Love Foundation has been nurturing pickleball engagement across five reservations, laying the groundwork for a remarkable initiative.
Peterson had aimed to showcase this progress at the inaugural Lock’din Native American Pickleball Championships and Fundraiser for Serving Love Foundation scheduled for November 17 to 19 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. However, the tournament has been postponed.
For more insights into Pete’s journey, read our article about him here.
The tournament will take place at the OKC Tennis Center – 3400 N Portland Ave Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112 in summer of 2024. Please click here for details.
