STEVE PARANTO
Steve is the longest running tournament player from 1974 to the present. He has been teaching pickleball since 1980 and was one of the first certified pickleball instructors with an IPTPA certification. Steve is a multi-National Champion at the 5.0 level.
Steve helped his father, Arlen, invent and design the first composite pickleball paddles. This revolutionary paddle led to the creation of Pro-Lite in 1984. Steve was inducted into the pickleball hall of fame in 2019. His father, Arlen, was inducted into the inaugural class of the Pickleball Hall of Fame in 2017 along with the founders of the sport. Steve has a Masters in Education and taught Physical Education for 30 years.
MAJOR TOURNAMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
• 1976 The World’s First Pickleball Championship
Silver: Singles
Silver: Men's Doubles
• 1984 or 1985 USAPA Doubles Championships
Gold: Men's Doubles
• USAPA National Championships
2010 - Silver: Singles
2011 - Gold: Men’s Doubles 50+
2011 - Silver: Singles 55+
2014 - Gold: Men’s Doubles 55+
2017 - Bronze: Singles 60+
2017 - Bronze: Men’s Doubles 60+
2019 - Bronze: Men's Doubles 5.0 60+ (with Bob Deller)
• Huntsman World Senior Games
2012 - 2015 Singles – gold (in the highest division level in all four years)
• National Senior Games
2011, 2013, 2014 - Gold: Open Men’s Doubles (with Randy Bither all three years)
• 2016 International Indoor Pickleball Championships
Gold: Mixed Doubles (with Sheila Schoonover)
Gold: Senior Men’s Doubles (in age group with Randy Bither)