Pickleball Hall of Fame Welcomes Class of 2022
INDIAN WELLS, California — Contributor Norm Davis and athletes Pat Kane, Larry Moon and Wesley Gabrielsen were inducted into the Pickleball Hall of Fame and honored at the Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships in November. The Pickleball Hall of Fame annually recognizes outstanding individuals who have made a significant impact on the sport of pickleball. The Hall of Fame was established in 2017 and has enshrined 24 members to date.
Pickleball Hall of Fame founder and president Seymour Rifkind, who is retiring from his role after six years of dedicated service, presented Hall of Fame jackets to the inductees. For more information on the Hall of Fame, its history, and its members, please visit pickleballhalloffame.com.
The inductees are as follows:
Contributor Category
Norm Davis
Norm was a charter member of the USA Pickleball Board of Directors, serving 10 years as Director of Training. He produced training videos and created a template for teaching pickleball in schools. Norm also initiated the organization’s grant program, providing equipment to more than 200,000 new players nationwide. In 2007, he helped establish public pickleball courts in Surprise, Arizona and he later aggregated data to create Places to Play, a comprehensive facilities list that has grown to include more than 10,000 locations.
Competitor Category
Pat Kane
From 1991-2019, Pat amassed over 288 medals and awards as a player. In 2002, he and his doubles partner, Mark Friedenberg, won the sport’s first-ever prize money at the inaugural National Pickleball Tournament in the Villages, Florida. In addition to many tournament wins prior to the current majors, he is a multiple USA Pickleball national champion. Pat was also one of the original members of the USA Pickleball Rules Committee.
Larry Moon
Larry has been a dominant player from 2012 to the present. In his first USA Pickleball national championship, he won singles in the 55+ age group. He went on to become a 16-time national champion, earning triple crown titles in 2016 and 2017. He’s captured multiple championships at both the U.S. Open and Huntsman World Senior Games, as well as the Tournament of Champions. Larry also volunteers his engineering services to help municipalities with court design.
Wesley Gabrielsen
From 2011 to present, Wes has won over 160 gold medals at the open/pro level. He has won eleven USA Pickleball national titles including a triple crown win in 2013. Additionally, he is a six-time Canadian national champion who earned a triple crown in 2015, a two-time Tournament of Champions winner, and a two-time U.S. Open champion. He is also a founding member of the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association.
