2021 PHOF Inductee
Steve Wong
Steve Wong
CITIZENSHIP: USA
BORN: January 10, 1978 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
PLAYS: Right-handed
EDUCATION:
- Minnetonka High School, Minnetonka, MN
- Bachelors of Arts – Global Studies and Japanese, University of Washington, Bothell, Bothell, WA
MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS:
In 2005, Steve helped to organize the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) with Mark Friedenberg and served as its first Webmaster. He also served as Vice-President during the first few years of this new organization. The huge growth and expansion of pickleball was the result of the USAPA and its stated mission “to promote the growth and development of pickleball, not only on a national but an international level.” Steve returned to the USAPA in 2011 to serve with Gigi LeMaster as Co-Directors of the 2012 USAPA National Championships.
In 2005, Steve created his first paddle company, S-Type Sports, making it the third commercially marketed line of paddles in existence at the time. It was later re-named Onix Sports and sold to Escalade Sports in 2015.
Steve helped form Arizona’s Surprise Pickleball Association in 2012. That same year, he spearheaded fundraising to get the City of Surprise to create pickleball courts. The creation of these courts and those that followed helped elevate Surprise to the status of this country’s Pickleball Mecca.
In 2019, Steve launched Armour Pickleball, featuring a new line of paddles, bags, accessories, and training.
Background
Steve began playing pickleball in the 8th Grade at Odle Middle School in Bellevue, Washington. He loved all sorts of racquet sports and played tennis, badminton, and table tennis. He really dove into pickleball after stumbling upon it again at the Bellevue 24 Hour Fitness gym where he trained with great players like Mark Friedenberg and Chris Miller.
He has dedicated his life to growing the sport by being one of the sport’s biggest worldwide ambassadors.
COMPETITION AWARDS IN MAJOR TOURNAMENTS:
Steve began playing pickleball in 1991 and won many tournaments before the current era of majors. Steve has been a powerhouse in the Sport of Pickleball. Since 2009, he has won:
- 38+ GOLD MEDALS
- 35+ SILVER MEDALS
- 27+ BRONZE MEDALS
This does not include the results of many tournaments prior to 2009.
He is a Six-Time National Champion, Canadian Nationals Champion, US Open Medalist, and Bainbridge Cup Medalist.
USA Pickleball Nationals:
2009
- Men’s Doubles 19+ (with Rick Young)
- Men’s Singles 19+
2012
- Men’s Doubles 19+ (with Enrique Ruiz)
- Open Men’s Doubles (with Enrique Ruiz)
- Open Mixed Doubles (with Lydia D. Willis)
2015
- Mixed Doubles 35+ (with Joy Leising)
Other Notable GOLD Medals
2011
Grand Canyon State Games
- 5.0 19+ Gold with Gigi LeMaster
- 5.0 19+ Gold with Dan Gabanek
1st Annual Surprise Pickleball Tournament (Fundraiser)
- 5.0 Gold with Pat Kane
2012
Arizona State Pickleball Championships
- 5.0 Men’s 19+ Gold with Glenn Griffin
- 5.0 19+ Gold with Gigi LeMaster
- 5.0 Gold with Chris Miller
Surprise Spring Tournament
- 5.0 Gold with Tony Negrete
St.George Spring Open @ SunRiver
- 5.0 Mixed Doubles Gold with Gigi LeMaster
- 5.0 Men’s Doubles Gold with Tommy Wong
1st Annual Rally In The Valley
- 5.0 Men’s Doubles Gold with Enrique Ruiz
- 5.0 Mixed Doubles Gold with Gigi LeMaster
2013
2013 Grand Canyon State Games
Arizona State Pickleball Championships
- 5.0 35+ Gold with Mark Friedenberg
- Men’s Open Doubles Gold with Chris Miller
2014
Surprise Pickleball Spring Fling
- Mixed Doubles 5.0 Gold with Stephanie Lane
SPA Fundraiser #1
- Men’s Doubles 5.0 Gold with Scott Clayson
- Mixed Doubles 5.0 Gold with Christine Barksdale
USA Pickleball Southwest Regional Tournament
- 5.0 35+ Gold with Scott Stone
2015
2015 Grand Canyon State Games
Arizona State Pickleball Championships
- 5.0 19+ Gold with Aspen Kern
March Madness Skills Tournament @ Melba
- 5.0 Gold with Justin Shomaker
- 5.0 Gold with Kris Anderson
Tustin Labor Day Tournament
- Mixed Open Doubles Gold with Kris Anderson
2016
Tommy Wong Memorial Tournament
- 5.0 Mixed Gold with Christine Barksdale
Tustin Winter Classic
- Men’s Open Doubles Gold with Callan Dawson
International Indoor Pickleball Championships
- 5.0 35+ Gold with Shayne Johnson
2017
Tommy Wong Memorial Tournament
- 5.0 Gold with Christine Barksdale
2018
Tommy Wong Memorial Tournament
- 5.0 Gold with Christine Barksdale
2020
Pueblo El Mirage Kokopelli Klassic
- 5.0 35+ Gold with Enrique Ruiz
PPA Championship – 150,000
- 5.0 35+ Gold with Ky McMakin
2021
USA Pickleball Mountain Regional Championship
- 5.0 35+ Gold with Sara Ash
Pickleball Hall of Fame Championships
- 5.0 35+ Gold with Sara Ash
2022
Tommy Wong Memorial Tournament
- 5.0 35+ Gold with Sara Ash