At Empower Pickleball, we love highlighting members of our community who represent the spirit of the sport—passion, perseverance, and positivity.

Teresa Tarn’s path to becoming a Senior Pro pickleball player began with a simple introduction to the sport and quickly turned into something bigger. She’s a competitor whose journey perfectly reflects what makes this game so special.

From Tennis to Pickleball Success

Teresa’s introduction to pickleball came through an unlikely, but fortunate, connection. She was playing in a pro-am tennis event when she met Simone Jardim, who at the time was the head tennis coach at Michigan State University. Simone encouraged Teresa to try pickleball.

One game was all it took.

Teresa was instantly hooked and entered her first pickleball tournament just five days later. At that first event in Lansing, Michigan, she admits she didn’t even know how to keep score. A month later, she returned to compete again at the 3.5 level, winning gold medals in both women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Since then, Teresa has steadily climbed the ranks, medaling at every level from 3.5 to senior pro. She began competing in pickleball tournaments in 2017 and continued progressing through the divisions until making the jump to the senior pro level after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her first senior pro match was a tough one—facing Julie Johnson and Mircea Morariu at the PicklePlex in Punta Gorda, Florida. For Teresa, it was a moment that confirmed she belonged on the professional stage.

A Lifetime Athlete and Pickleball Instructor

Teresa’s athletic background runs deep. She attended Michigan State University on a softball scholarship, where she studied physical education and exercise science. That foundation led to a career in education where she spent 22 years teaching P.E. and English.

During that time, she also coached a variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball, softball, and baseball—shaping the lives of countless student-athletes.

Today, Teresa continues to do what she loves most: teaching. She instructs pickleball at PicklePlex and travels to destination pickleball camps, sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for the game with players of all levels. She has now been teaching pickleball for six years.

Winning Gold at the APP English Open

Among her many achievements, Teresa points to one accomplishment that stands above the rest.

Winning back-to-back gold medals in senior pro women’s doubles at the APP English Open remains a career highlight—a testament to years of dedication, training, and love for the game.

How Teresa Tarn Trains as a Senior Pro Pickleball Player

Competing at the senior pro level requires commitment both on and off the court.

Teresa’s weekly routine includes:

Drilling four times per week
Playing competitive matches twice per week
Strength training in the weight room
Daily cardio, yoga, and stretching
Recovery

But she emphasizes that physical training is only part of the equation. The mental side of the game is equally important.

To stay fresh, Teresa makes time to step away from pickleball completely by reading books or going for walks. That reset helps her return to the court energized and ready to compete again.

Why Pickleball Keeps Teresa Competing

Ask Teresa what has kept her in pickleball for so many years, and the answer isn’t just competition.

It’s the friendships, the laughter, and the joy of the game.

And like so many players, there’s always that one perfect shot—the one that keeps you coming back the next day to try to do it again.

Teresa Tarn’s Advice for Pickleball Players

Teresa’s advice for players looking to improve is refreshingly simple:

“Enjoy the process, enjoy the game, and be okay with making mistakes. Pickleball is a game of mistakes.”

A Positive Influence in the Pickleball Community

If you’ve ever spent time around Teresa, one thing stands out immediately—her positive energy.

For her, the greatest reward comes from teaching and watching others succeed.

“I love life and bringing joy to others through teaching. Seeing someone hit that ‘aha’ moment and watching them succeed on the court makes me smile.”

And that spirit is exactly what makes Teresa Tarn such a perfect example of the pickleball community at its best.

Senior Pro Teresa Tarn: From Tennis Player to Pickleball Champion