Professional Player Profile: Ricky Dove

Name:

Ricky Dove

Age

Who is your sponsor, and how did you get sponsored?

HEAD. I’ve been sponsored by HEAD for 1 ½ years. I received my sponsorship after placing third in the 2019 PPR Pickleball Championships.

How did you get into pickleball?

A few snowbirds who are members at Penn State and clubs in Florida asked for pickleball at Penn State. I became PPR certified in 2019 and have continued to educate and improve both as a player and coach since.

Tournaments you’ve participated in, medals you’ve won?

Received a bronze medal in the 2019 PPR Pickleball Championships at the Palmetto Dunes Pickleball Center on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. At this tournament in the Mixed 5.0 division, I partnered with another HEAD sponsored pro Suzee Anderson.

I was introduced to the sport of pickleball by getting my butt kicked by a 70 year old man in singles.

Favorite sport besides pickleball?

Tennis. Pretty easy one for me seeing that I’m a tennis professional as well.

Favorite food?

Surf and Turf

Day Job?

I am the Tennis/Pickleball Program Coordinator at the Penn State Tennis Center. Hired by Penn State Campus Recreation, I use tennis and pickleball programming to engage as many Penn State students, community members and juniors. Pickleball programming includes: private lessons, weekly beginner/intermediate/advanced clinics, Glow in the Dark pickleball and tournaments. A favorite event was in February 2020 when I hosted a Penn State student pickleball tournament with 64 players.