tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91895836994608029872024-02-19T15:31:08.017-07:00Women's Professional RacquetballThe Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) is the governing body for the highest-level professional female racquetball players in the world. It is currently comprised of elite athletes representing over a dozen countries including the United States, Mexico, Chile, Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan, Colombia and Venezuela.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-22439520819395118922012-07-12T12:02:00.000-07:002012-07-12T12:02:03.125-07:00Support for the USA Racquetball Team at the World Games<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">We need your support for the USA Racquetball Team to compete at the </span></strong><strong style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">2012
IRF World Championships in the Dominican Republic, August 4-11, 2012 </span></strong><strong style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">The cost to send one
athlete is $1785:</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">$750 flight</span></strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">$550 hotel (shared room)</span></strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">$385 meals for 11 days</span></strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">$100 entry fees</span></strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Our Delegation consists
of the following players:</span></strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;"> <u>Men </u>
<u>Women</u></span></strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">#1 Singles </span></b></em><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">
Rocky
Carson
Rhonda Rajsich</span></strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">#2 Singles</span></b></em><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">
Jose
Rojas Cheryl
Gudinas</span></strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<em><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Doubles: </span></b></em><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">
Tony
Carson
Rhonda
Rajsich</span></strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;"> Jansen Allen
Kim
Waselenchuk</span></strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">These dedicated athletes
have competed in our National Championships and on the two pro tours, paying
their own way, in order to earn a position on </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">OUR
National Team</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">. They deserve the support of each
and every one of us.</span></strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Due to US Olympic
Committee cuts in support, we need help to send our deserving athletes to the
IRF World Championships. Please help with $20, $50, $100, $200, or
more. Any amount would help. </span></strong><em><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Remember,
Team USA is Your Team</span></b></em><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">. </span></strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;">Please click on or
copy the link</span></strong>
<a href="http://www.usaracquetballevents.com/cartProduct.asp?modelID=969&cartID=&productGroupID=49&categoryID=171&brandID=102">http://www.usaracquetballevents.com/cartProduct.asp?modelID=969&cartID=&productGroupID=49&categoryID=171&brandID=102</a> <strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;"> and this will take you to our donation page. It’s very easy to
navigate. </span></strong><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-60168000803329842542012-07-02T13:54:00.001-07:002012-07-02T13:54:12.540-07:00TEAM ROLLOUT SIGNS RHONDA RAJSICH<br />
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If you have followed along with Rollout, you know that we
have been making some major announcements throughout the sport over the past
few months. July is going to be a huge month for Rollout, and the new faces
representing this brand are just some of the reasons why. <o:p></o:p></div>
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RHONDA RAJSICH<o:p></o:p></div>
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Currently ranked #2 on the WPRO, Rhonda Rajsich has brought
her talent and personality to Rollout, and will be a major part of the Rollout
family for a long time! Rhonda's resume in racquetball goes on for days, and
includes countless WPRO titles, National and International Championships, US
Team appointments, and also the reputation of being one of the most well liked
and respected players in the entire sport. Stay tuned for more on this brand
new partnership between Rollout and Rhonda Rajsich!!!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p><span id="goog_1439755558"></span><span id="goog_1439755559"></span></o:p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-42579077940285970932012-06-24T14:58:00.000-07:002012-06-24T14:58:09.210-07:002012-2013 WPRO Season<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://theracquetballblog.com/">Posted by The Racquetball Blog </a></span><br />
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The Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (<a href="http://www.wprotour.com/">WPRO</a>) has posted its schedule for the
2012-13 season. There are 10 Tier 1 or Grand Slam events on the schedule, which
is balanced between events in 2012 and in 2013 with five in each. There's also
a Tier 3 event - the traditional Wilson Tour for Hope in Cincinnati.<br />
<br />
The WPRO season begins in late August with the Ektelon Texas Open in Dallas.
Then there will be a break of over a month before the US Open in Minneapolis in
early October.<br />
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In November, the WPRO will play in Mexico, which will be its first event outside
the USA since September 2010, when they were in Cali, Columbia, and two weeks
later in Seattle before ending the year with the Christmas Classic in
Arlington, Virginia.<br />
<br />
Two of the five events in the second half of the season are new and they are
the first two events of 2013. The WPRO will begin the new year with the Winter
Freeze tournament in Dayton, Ohio in early January and then in late February
they'll be in Overland Park, Kansas for the Winter Classic.<br />
<br />
The WPRO season will end with the Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio in April,
the SCS Title and Escrow Pro-Am in Herndon, Virginia and finally with the
Ektelon Nationals Presented by Penn in Fullerton, California. The WPRO was in
Fullerton this past season, but only as a Tier 3 event. Next year they plan to
have a Tier 1 event in Fullerton.<br />
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Of the eight Tier 1 or Grand Slam events this past season, seven of them are on
the schedule for next season. The only exception is the Denver event, but three
events have taken its place: in Mexico, Dayton and Overland Park.<br />
<br />
All in all the schedule represents a nice progression for the WPRO from what
seems to be a stable base of support. The spacing of events might be a bit
better, as there are no events in September or March and multiples in November
and May. But that's not something that's entirely within the WPRO's control.<br />
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We look forward to the next WPRO season, which is only a little over two months
away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2012-13 WPRO Schedule<br />
Dates - Tournament - Location<br />
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August 24-26 - Ektelon WPRO Texas Open, Dallas<br />
October 3-7 - US Open Championships - Minneapolis<br />
November 1-4 - Abierto Mexicano de Raquetas, Mexico <br />
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November 16-18 - Seattle Event, Seattle <br />
December 7-9 - Christmas Classic, Arlington, VA <br />
January 4-6 - Winter Freeze, Dayton, Ohio <br />
<br />
January 25-27 - Wilson Tour for Hope, Cincinnati <br />
February 22-24 - Winter Classic, Overland Park, Kansas <br />
April 19-21 - 2013 Battle at the Alamo, San Antonio <br />
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May 3-5 - 2013 SCS Title and Escrow Pro-Am, Herndon, Virginia<br />
May 22-27 - Ektelon Nationals, Presented by Penn, Fullerton,
California<br />
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(note: Tier 1 events in bold, Grand Slam events in bold italic)<br />
<br />
Follow the bouncing ball…. <o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Posted by The Racquetball Blog </span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-54359507128862771582012-06-11T11:17:00.000-07:002012-06-11T11:17:15.127-07:00Jenny from the Block ~ JEN SAUNDERS WPRO #7<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: '&apos', serif; font-size: 10pt;">By Sarah Warhaftig</span></div>
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It’s no surprise that Jen Saunders’ first sport love was ice
hockey. In Thompson Manitoba, Canada,
kids often learn how to skate before they walk, and Jen was no exception,
learning how to first play ice hockey before any other sports. However, after a one day racquetball clinic
at the courts attached to the ice rink, Jen entered her first racquetball
tournament and has been playing the sport ever since. Reflecting back, racquetball was the first
individual sport that Jen tried, and after being on team sports with all boys,
she was excited to have the chance to be the one to, “take all the shots.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jen received the nickname “Cool Spice” from her fellow
competitors for her casual and even keeled demeanor off the court. On the court, however, that demeanor changes,
and she becomes fierce competitor, battling for every point. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Currently, Jen works for the Racquetball Manitoba, whose
support she greatly appreciates, recognizing their support of her training and
touring for Canada as well as with the WPRO.</span><span style="background-color: white;">
</span><span style="background-color: white;">She has to bring work on the road but says it’s a very fair
tradeoff.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">According to Jen, playing for
Canada has been the greatest honor in her life, and her training focuses on
winning Canadian Nationals and representing Team Canada in international
tournaments.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "&apos","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Jen said that during her first World’s competition in 2002,
she made the finals against Cheryl Gudinas.</span><span style="background-color: white;">
</span><span style="background-color: white;">She recalls it being a highly competitive match, and it instilled
confidence in her to move forward in her racquetball career.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">From there, Jen made her first semi-finals in
Dallas and was thrilled to be playing in front of cousins who made the trip to
see her.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">And what’s more, the tournament
was Keely Franks Kennedy’s tournament, a close friend of Saunders.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div>
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Similar to many of the other top touring WPRO players, Jen is
excited to see the WPRO become a consistent and exciting tour. She would love to see both the WPRO and IRT
have the capabilities to pay their athletes, especially so young racquetball
players can aspire to play racquetball as a career.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jen spends her time off the racquetball court adoring her
nieces and nephews, and she stays active with golf and slow-pitch softball—of
course, when it’s not snowing. Jen is a
huge sport fanatic and probably can come up with any statistic you may need one
day. She holds season tickets for the
Winnipeg Jets and enjoys the WPRO travels, often taking time out to see live
sporting events in many of the cities that host tournaments. The list is quite long, but she recalls seeing
the Vikings, Broncos, Bulls, Padres, Wilds, Diamondbacks, and Coyotes games all
during her travels. Her one modest
request? Jen has asked that if you are reading this article, please host a
tournament in a city where she has yet to see a professional event.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Saunders_(racquetball)">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Saunders_(racquetball)</a>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-18828218969873669132012-06-07T17:47:00.002-07:002012-06-07T17:47:59.443-07:00ESPN W STORY ON RHONDA RAJSICH<a href="http://espn.go.com/espnw/journeys-victories/8013007/espnw-racquetball-player-rhonda-rajsich-fights-third-world-title">http://espn.go.com/espnw/journeys-victories/8013007/espnw-racquetball-player-rhonda-rajsich-fights-third-world-title</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-58965441189369471842012-05-29T09:34:00.000-07:002012-05-29T09:39:34.359-07:00Jen Saunders defends her title at the Canadian National Racquetball Championships<br />
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Follow the bouncing ball.... <o:p></o:p></div>
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Posted by <a href="http://theracquetballblog.com/">The Racquetball Blog</a></div>
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Jennifer Saunders successfully defended her singles titles on Saturday at the 2012 <a href="http://www.racquetball.ca/">Canadian
National Racquetball Championships</a> in Brossard, Quebec. Saunders won for the 4th
consecutive time and 6th overall.</div>
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<br />Saunders had a tough go of it against Frédérique Lambert, as Lambert won game
one before Saunders came back and won the match in a tie-breaker, 11-15, 15-1,
11-7. Lambert played well in game one and Saunders was a little off, but then
she found her groove in game two and pushed on to win game three.<br />
<br />
Saunders's desire for the title was clear in her effort on court as she dove
several times to keep the ball in play.<br />
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By reaching the finals, Jen Saunders has solidified her place on Team
Canada for the 2012 World Championships that will be held in Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic in August.<br />
<br />
2012 Canadian National Racquetball Championships Brossard, Quebec<br />
<br />Women's Open Final<br />
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Jennifer Saunders d. Frédérique Lambert, 11-15, 15-1, 11-7<br />
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Follow the bouncing ball.... <o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-7850699690110096992012-05-29T09:17:00.001-07:002012-05-29T09:17:26.507-07:00Longoria wins, Rajsich loses and wins in Fullerton<br />
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Paola Longoria defeated Rhonda Rajsich one last time in the
2011-12 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (<a href="http://www.wprotour.com/">WPRO</a>) season as she won the Ektelon
National Championships in Fullerton, California. Longoria was undefeated this
season and the runaway WPRO #1 player. <br />
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In Sunday's final, Longoria defeated WPRO #2 Rajsich, 12-10, 11-0, 11-6. In the
semi-finals on Saturday, Longoria beat Cristina Amaya, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7, and
Rajsich defeated Kristen Bellows, 12-10, 11-9, 11-3.<br />
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Rajsich did win the <a href="http://www.usaracquetball.com/">US Team</a> Qualifying
division by defeating Cheryl Gudinas in the final, 15-5, 15-5. As in the WPRO
division, Rajsich got to the final by defeating Bellows in the semi-finals, in
this case by scores of 15-11 and 15-4.<br />
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In the other semi-final, Gudinas beat Adrienne Fisher, 15-9, 15-6. Then in the
3rd place match, Bellows defeated Fisher, 15-13, 15-14.<br />
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WPRO Ektelon Nationals - Fullerton, California<br />
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-34851517730845375292012-05-07T16:29:00.002-07:002012-05-07T16:38:03.585-07:00Longoria wins 2012 SCS Title & Escrow WPRO Tournament<br />
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Paola Longoria continued her unbeaten streak in the 2011-12 Women's
Professional Racquetball Organization (<a href="http://www.wprotour.com/">WPRO</a>)
season with a win over Rhonda Rajsich in the final of the SCS Title and Escrow
Pro-Am in Herndon, Virginia, winning 7-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8.<br />
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Neither player drove serve very much, choosing instead to use half Z serves.
Longoria hit them to Rajsich's forehand while Rajsich hit them backhanded to
Longoria's backhand. Although they did use other serves, but those were what
they relied on.<br />
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After winning the first two games, Rajsich looked good to complete the upset in
game three, as she was up 5-1. However, Longoria came back to lead 8-7. But
Rajsich took the next two points to get the lead back at 9-8.<br />
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However, Longoria pushed it to 10-8 with the 10th point coming on a skipped
overhead return by Rajsich on that half Z to her forehand, and then Longoria
closed it out to force game four, winning 11-8.<br />
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Longoria led all the way in game four, although Rajsich made it close late when
she drew within one trailing 8-7. The game point was another skipped serve
return by Rajsich, as Longoria won 11-7.<br />
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In game five, Longoria looked like she was going to close it out easily, as she
quickly grabbed a 6-0 lead. But Rajsich is a fighter - she dove more than 20
times during the match - and she fought back again to tie the game at 8-8.
Rajsich's 7th and 8th points were the result of skips by Longoria, who may have
been feeling the pressure.<br />
<br />
However, in the end it was the #1 player who once again came out on top,
defeating the #2 player 11-8 in the fifth game.<br />
<br />
This is the last WPRO Tier 1 event of the season, but they will play a Tier 3
event later this month in Fullerton at the <a href="http://www.usaracquetball.com/">USA Racquetball</a> <a href="http://www.ektelon.com/">Ektelon</a> Nationals May 23-27.<br />
<br />
WPRO 2012 SCS Title and Escrow Pro-Am - Herndon, Virginia<br />
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Final<br />
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Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8<br />
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Follow the bouncing ball.... <o:p></o:p><br />
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Posted by The Racquetball Blog at <a href="http://www.theracquetballblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/longoria-wins-2012-scs-title-escrow.html" title="permanent link">1:14 PM</a> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7232787713283993396&postID=8647038272293565913">0
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-17621119901046216252012-05-04T20:32:00.003-07:002012-05-04T20:32:27.280-07:002012 SCS Title & Escrow Pro-Am - WPRO Round of 16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Posted by The Racquetball Blog2</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QrmwTMyixkY/T6SdVRH2DwI/AAAAAAAACBE/rNoffyDErbo/s1600/IMG_8291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QrmwTMyixkY/T6SdVRH2DwI/AAAAAAAACBE/rNoffyDErbo/s200/IMG_8291.jpg" width="133" /></a>The Round of 16 at the SCS Title and Escrow Pro-Am in Herndon, Virginia - this
weekend's Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (<a href="http://www.wprotour.com/">WPRO</a>) event - produced one upset by the
rankings, but it was former #1 Cheryl Gudinas defeating Jennifer Saunders in
five games, 5-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, to advance to the quarter finals and
likely continue Gudinas's streak of top 10 season ending finishes on the
women's pro tour that dates back to 1994.<br />
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Krystal Csuk, the fourth seed for the first time in her career, was almost
upset by Keely Franks, but managed to fend off the Texan in five games, 3-11,
11-4, 2-11, 11-6, 11-8.<br />
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Top seed Paola Longoria won easily, defeating Sarah Warhaftig, 11-0, 11-1,
11-3. Second seed Rhonda Rajsich might have been upset by Grace Hughes if
they'd played a best of seven, as Hughes got three more points each game of
their match. But of course, they played a best of five and Rajsich won in three
games, 11-3, 11-6, 11-9.<br />
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WPRO 2012 SCS Title and Escrow Pro-Am - Herndon, Virginia<br />
Round of 16<br />
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Paola Longoria d. Sarah Warhaftig, 11-0, 11-1, 11-3</div>
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Cristina Amaya v. Kristen Bellows<br />
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Adrienne Fisher d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7<br />
Krystal Csuk d. Keely Franks, 3-11, 11-4, 2-11, 11-6, 11-8<br />
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Kerri Wachtel d. Laura Brandt, 11-6, 11-4, 11-1<br />
Cheryl Gudinas d. Jennifer Saunders, 5-11, 12-10, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6<br />
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Susana Acosta d. Da'monique Davis, 11-8, 11-3, 11-13, 12-10<br />
Rhonda Rajsich d. Grace Hughes, 11-3, 11-6, 11-9<br />
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Quarter finals<br />
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Paola Longoria v. Cristina Amaya or Kristen Bellows<br />
Krystal Csuk v. Adrienne Fisher <br />
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Kerri Wachtel v. Cheryl Gudinas<br />
Rhonda Rajsich v. Susana Acosta<br />
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Posted by The Racquetball Blog at <a href="http://www.theracquetballblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/2012-scs-title-escrow-pro-am-wpro-round.html" title="permanent link">8:57 PM</a> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7232787713283993396&postID=6419396106159481577">0
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-64639758255709147842012-04-25T13:43:00.000-07:002012-04-25T13:43:34.835-07:00Longoria defeats Rajsich once again to win WPRO's Battle of the Alamo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Paola Longoria defeated Rhonda Rajsich for the 8th consecutive time in a battle of the top two Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (</span></span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.wprotour.com/" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">WPRO</a><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">) players, as Longoria won the 2012 Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas by the score line of 11-9, 11-8, 11-7.</span></span></div>
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The Battle of the Alamo title is Longoria's 6th of the WPRO season. She's won every event since the first one: the Texas Open, which was won by Rajsich last August.<br /><br />The WPRO announced their next event - the SCS Title and Escrow Pro-Am in Herndon, Virginia from May 3-6 - will end their 2011-12 season.
<a href="http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=9613">http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=9613</a> <a href="http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=9613"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_kQWm6hTw54/T48hyw9q_OI/AAAAAAAAB6E/ukW9bwsLgfk/s1600/scs_title.png" /></a><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
2012 WPRO Battle at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas <br />Final ~ Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7<br /><br /><br />Follow the bouncing ball.... <o:p></o:p><a href="http://theracquetballblog.com/">http://theracquetballblog.com/</a></div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-32842724183165898692012-04-25T11:21:00.000-07:002012-04-25T11:21:26.951-07:00Featured Athlete TJ Baumbaugh<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">T.J. Baumbaugh – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The Trainer”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Sarah Warhaftig<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttOhkr7DMeI/T48ZDth-BwI/AAAAAAAAB50/kMieB74nhDk/s1600/TJ_RACQUETBALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttOhkr7DMeI/T48ZDth-BwI/AAAAAAAAB50/kMieB74nhDk/s200/TJ_RACQUETBALL.jpg" width="98" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">T.J.’s personal training clients are
extremely supportive of her career outside the gym and on the WPRO Tour. After a solid few weeks of training, many of
them happily see T.J. on her way to a tournament, after the #11 player in the
world works them out! T.J., continues to
share her passion for fitness, and continues to improve her racquetball status,
a sport she was introduced to by her father. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">T.J. was put on a court at an early
age by her father, who himself still plays, but the tenacious T.J. began her
high level quest at Penn State where she played for the club team. T.J. was busy playing a multitude of sports
growing up including softball, swimming, basketball and golf. T.J. had the opportunity to play golf at the
college level, but she decided it was too slow of a sport and she made the
switch to racquetball. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After school, T.J. relocated to the
Washington D.C. area, where she first discovered the WPRO and met former
commissioner Ed Willis. Ed encouraged
her to play some tournaments and 10 years later T.J. is still a top touring
pro. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Similar to many of the ladies on
tour, T.J. manages to balance a busy work schedule with her tournaments. T.J.’s fitness trainer schedule has meshed
well with her touring dates, and her clients can usually look forward to those
days, after a few weeks of tough workouts.
T.J. feels like she gets to “play” at work every day and between clients
you can find her lifting weights, swimming, playing tennis, taking a Zumba
class, and of course racquetball! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Along with competing each weekend T.J. is also the player
representative of the WPRO. She would
love to see the tour grow, and appreciates her role as rep to learn more about her
fellow competitors. T.J. is involved
with behind the scenes efforts and challenges of the tour, and is excited to
see its development with more young and up and coming players.<span style="color: #0070c0;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHke8fXBuTM/T48ZkBhGHUI/AAAAAAAAB58/FeP2M9RdWNI/s1600/IMG_5398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHke8fXBuTM/T48ZkBhGHUI/AAAAAAAAB58/FeP2M9RdWNI/s200/IMG_5398.JPG" width="175" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">T.J. said she hasn’t had her greatest moment in her
racquetball career yet, but this motivates her to train and keep working hard
at her game. She values the tour for the
wonderful friendships and people she has met, and still having a competitive
outlet in a sport that she hopes to play for a long time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When asked what T.J. would be doing
if she wasn’t playing pro, she always had considered being a lawyer, a college
professor and even a singer. T.J. admits
that she really isn’t a great singer but seems like an amazing career to
have. For now we will watch her rise on
the tour, and maybe a few years down the road a pop career on the side with her
stage name of Teri Jade!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-23319433940611608082012-04-15T18:10:00.000-07:002012-04-15T18:10:00.982-07:00Blessed with a lightning-quick stroke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: large;">Blessed with a lightning-quick stroke, racquetball pro Rajsich shows why she's the real deal Saturday in downtown Prescott </b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jo51twMxdts/T4tw4TMFkyI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/XRMTExfc5aY/s1600/RhondaDenver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jo51twMxdts/T4tw4TMFkyI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/XRMTExfc5aY/s200/RhondaDenver.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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PRESCOTT - It's tough to catch up with Rhonda Rajsich.<br />
<br />
The reigning two-time professional world racquetball champion who has won a
women's record four US Open titles, Rajsich can strike a ball as fast as 160
mph with her forehand and backhand and make it seem effortless.<br />
<br />
Need proof? All one had to do was visit the Prescott Downtown Athletic Club,
130 N. Cortez St., Saturday afternoon to watch the 33-year-old from Phoenix
play a friendly co-ed match against Steve Joannes, 59, of Prescott Valley.<br />
<br />
Joannes, one of the best amateur men's players in the Prescott area who has won
multiple Arizona state championships in his age division through the years,
lost respectfully in straight games, 15-7 and 15-2, to the trim 5-foot-10,
138-pound Rajsich.<br />
<br />
Local USPTA tennis professional Chris Howard said the idea for the match sprung
to life after the Athletic Club's management asked Rajsich to host to an
instructional racquetball clinic Saturday.<br />
<br />
Once the four-hour clinic concluded shortly after 3 p.m., Joannes and Rajsich
took to the club's first-floor court where some 50 to 60 spectators sat behind
a glass partition and were wowed by Rajsich's skills.<br />
<br />
Joannes, who has known Rhonda's father and fellow player, Dennis Rajsich, since
the late 1980s and competed against him a short time later, got his start in
racquetball at the club in 1979.<br />
<br />
He said he did not know he would be facing Rhonda until two weeks ago. To
prepare, Joannes lifted weights, participated in spin classes on stationary
bikes, and played regularly.<br />
<br />
Rhonda, who was also a former all-conference basketball player at Phoenix
College and a subsequent standout at Texas' Stephen F. Austin University in the
late 1990s and 2000, needed roughly 40 minutes to dispatch Joannes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Joannes performed admirably in the first game before tiring
in the second. In the final game, Rhonda opened the scoring with a 6-0 run and
fended off a late Joannes push to claim the match as her father - who
accompanied her on the trip to Prescott - soaked in the action from behind the
glass.<br />
<br />
"She's a better player," Joannes said afterwards. "I didn't play
well and missed all kinds of easy shots. But she's a wonderful person to play
against."<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
Rhonda, currently the No. 1 American women's racquetball player in the world
who's ranked second on the pro tour, said she initially acquired a passion for
the sport as a 2-year-old when she used to sneak out of the nursery at a health
club her parents had just joined.<br />
<br />
While Rhonda's mom was off doing aerobics, her dad was learning how to play
racquetball from her godfather. She would run onto a basketball court at the
club, grab a basketball and sprint with it as she watched her dad and
grandfather swing the racquets.<br />
<br />
"When my dad was in between racquetball games, I would steal his racquet
and run on the racquetball court," she said. "I didn't know what I
was doing, but it was fun."<br />
<br />
Every time she got caught swiping the racquet, she'd return it to her dad and
head back to the basketball court.<br />
<br />
"That's essentially what I did with my life," Rhonda said. "I've
always loved racquetball and basketball."<br />
<br />
Years later, as a teenager, Rhonda pursued basketball because it was a sport
she knew a university would give her a full-ride scholarship to play.<br />
<br />
At first, basketball was her focus, as racquetball took a backseat.<br />
<br />
However, in 2000, that all changed. She had a chance to compete for the Women's
National Basketball Association (WNBA) that year when, out of the blue, she
qualified for the U.S. team in racquetball.<br />
<br />
"I was going to play in the WNBA, but it was my childhood dream to play
alongside racquetball players I literally looked up to all my life,"
Rhonda said. "I weighed my options. I was like, 'You know, I've always put
racquetball behind basketball.' I've obviously been very successful in
racquetball and it's been my secondary thing. I wanted to see what I could do
against the best in the world if I applied myself."<br />
<br />
Rhonda kept the dialogue open with WNBA teams for a full year before she
committed to racquetball full time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO)
tour in 2000-01, she advanced to the finals of her first-ever US Open, earned a
No. 3 world ranking, and has never looked back since.<br />
<br />
Rhonda has been a top-three player on the WPRO tour for the past 12 years,
achieving a season-ending No. 1 ranking from 2006-08 as well as 2010 and 2011.<br />
<br />
"I revel in the fact that, win or lose, there's nobody to blame but
me," she said of her affinity for racquetball. "I'm dedicated to what
I do and being the best in the world. I'm dedicated to making myself better
every time I get on that court.<br />
<br />
"I know that as much success as I've already had, I still have room for
improvement. Until I have no room for improvement, I'm going to continue to go
for that every chance I get."<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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4/14/2012 <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="mailto:dcook@prescottaz.com">Doug Cook</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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The Daily Courier Prescott AZ</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-38220738260733016682012-04-09T07:25:00.003-07:002012-04-09T07:25:56.619-07:00Longoria wins her 4th Pan American Championship<br />
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Follow the bouncing ball.... <o:p></o:p><a href="http://theracquetballblog.com/">http://theracquetballblog.com/</a></div>
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Posted by The Racquetball Blog </div>
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Saturday, April 7, 2012<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d5LID2FBlKE/T4LxNW80ZiI/AAAAAAAAB10/4oMavOZ8ngk/s1600/Paola+Pan+Am+Games_2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d5LID2FBlKE/T4LxNW80ZiI/AAAAAAAAB10/4oMavOZ8ngk/s320/Paola+Pan+Am+Games_2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="" name="3105308548431819147"></a><a href="http://www.theracquetballblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/longoria-wins-her-4th-pan-american.html">Longoria
wins her 4th Pan American Championship</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Mexican Paola Longoria won her fourth Pan American
Championship title in what was an anti-climactic final at the XXV Pan American
Championships in Temuco, Chile. The anti-climax came about because Frédérique
Lambert - Longoria's opponent in the final - withdrew due to injury in game one
with Longoria ahead 12-0.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Longoria won the chance to serve first, and using lob serves
only got out to a 5-0 lead before Lambert served. But Longoria got the serve
right back and scored another five points before Lambert got a second chance to
serve.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Again Longoria got the serve back, and scored a couple more
points.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At that point, Lambert who hadn't looked especially
distressed or especially energetic took a time out and decided to go no
further.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lambert has had chronic issue with her right shoulder and
that appeared to be reason for her withdrawal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Longoria's won the women's singles title at the Pan American
Championships in each even numbered year since 2006. Her fourth title ties her
for most all time by a woman with Americans Cheryl Gudinas (1994, 1997, 2001,
2009) and Michelle Gould (1988, 1990, 1991, 1998).<o:p></o:p></div>
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XXV Pan American Championships<o:p></o:p></div>
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April 2012 - Temuco, Chile<o:p></o:p></div>
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Women's Singles - Final<o:p></o:p></div>
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Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Frédérique Lambert (Canada),
12-0, injury forfeit<o:p></o:p></div>
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Follow the bouncing ball....<o:p></o:p></div>
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Posted by The Racquetball Blog <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-47946354774407714132012-04-07T07:57:00.000-07:002012-04-07T07:57:26.339-07:00Canadian Frédérique Lambert Defeats Defending Champion Rhonda Rajsich<br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Follow the bouncing ball....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Posted by The Racquetball Blog <a href="http://theracquetballblog.com/">http://theracquetballblog.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"> <a href="http://www.theracquetballblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/parc-2012-pan-american-championships_3080.html">PARC
- 2012 Pan American Championships - Longoria & Lambert in Women's final</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Canadian Frédérique Lambert reached the final of an
international event for the first time Friday as she defeated American Rhonda
Rajsich, 15-13, 15-10, in the semi-finals of women's singles at the XXV Pan
American Championships in Temuco, Chile. Lambert's opponent in the final will
be Paola Longoria of Mexico - the 2nd seed, as Longoria defeated Carola Loma
(Bolivia), 15-9, 15-11, in the other semi on Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qkbtqVJ1s3U/T4BUGmpscyI/AAAAAAAAB00/lc_8KK6dfNY/s1600/frederique_lambert_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qkbtqVJ1s3U/T4BUGmpscyI/AAAAAAAAB00/lc_8KK6dfNY/s320/frederique_lambert_3.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Lambert used a variety of serves against Rajsich, the #1
seed and defending champion, though never drive serves and did serve to both
sides. Rajsich also used several different serves including drive z serves to
the left side, but as with her match yesterday against Cristina Amaya
(Colombia), Rajsich made several unforced errors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dqo48tU9qtE/T4BUeDGZdRI/AAAAAAAAB08/8EUcJIbnWW0/s1600/DMB_1211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dqo48tU9qtE/T4BUeDGZdRI/AAAAAAAAB08/8EUcJIbnWW0/s320/DMB_1211.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">It looked like Rajsich might force a tie-breaker, as she had
an early lead in game two at 3-0 and they were tied at 7-7. But Lambert led all
the way after that, although Rajsich did close the gap to one at 11-10. Lambert
was able to finish off with four straight points.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nnH1Flgftyk/T4BUp-sSCMI/AAAAAAAAB1E/vwGr3g6sd-M/s1600/usopen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nnH1Flgftyk/T4BUp-sSCMI/AAAAAAAAB1E/vwGr3g6sd-M/s320/usopen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Longoria's win over Loma was also two straight and more
comfortable. After winning the first game 15-9, Longoria had a 8-2 advantage in
game two. Credit Loma for not quitting though, and she cut the deficit to two
points at 13-11 before Longoria finished it off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Longoria will be going for her 4th Pan American Championship.
She's won in each of the even numbered years since 2006. Lambert will be trying
to become the third Canadian woman to win a Pan American Championship (formerly
Tournament of the Americas) after Lori Jane Powell in 2004 and Heather Stupp in
1987. Longoria's the only Mexican woman to win a Pan Am title.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">The women's singles final will be Saturday at 10 AM and will
be streamed live via the <a href="http://www.parcwebsite.org/">Pan
American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">XXV Pan American Championships<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">April 2012 - Temuco, Chile<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Women's Singles - Semi-finals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Frédérique Lambert (Canada) d. Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 15-13,
15-10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Carola Loma (Bolivia), 15-9,
15-11<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Women's Singles - Final<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Frédérique Lambert (Canada)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;">Follow the bouncing ball....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
</h3>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-32080306609714953562012-04-05T14:04:00.000-07:002012-04-05T14:04:57.751-07:002012 Pan American Championships - Check out the Women<br />
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Tuesday, April 5, 2012<o:p></o:p></div>
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Follow the bouncing ball....<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9189583699460802987" name="5556423766130288653"></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Posted by <a href="http://theracquetballblog.com/">The Racquetball
Blog</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>XXV Pan American Championships</b></div>
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<b>April 2012 - Temuco, Chile</b></div>
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<b>Women's Singles - Quarter finals</b></div>
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Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Cristina Amaya (Col), 15-13, 10-15, 11-7</div>
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Frédérique Lambert (Canada) d. Susana Acosta (Mexico), 12-15, 15-6, 11-8</div>
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Carola Loma (Bolivia) d. Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-5, 12-15, 11-6</div>
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Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-12</div>
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<b>Women's Singles - Semi-finals</b></div>
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Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Frédérique Lambert (Canada)</div>
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Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Carola Loma (Bolivia)</div>
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<i>Follow the bouncing ball....</i></div>
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<span class="post-author vcard">Posted by <span class="fn">The Racquetball Blog</span> </span><span class="post-timestamp">at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://www.theracquetballblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/parc-2012-pan-american-championships_6591.html" rel="bookmark" style="color: #666699;" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: help;" title="2012-04-05T14:20:00-05:00">2:20 PM</abbr></a> </span><span class="post-comment-link"><a class="comment-link" href="http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7232787713283993396&postID=6600839647071215139" style="color: #666699; white-space: nowrap;">0 comments</a></span><span class="post-icons"></span></div>
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<span class="post-labels">Labels: <a href="http://www.theracquetballblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PARC" rel="tag" style="color: #666699;">PARC</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21px;"><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9189583699460802987" name="7645918925113110302"></a></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iMaOXoh7Kj8/TsQ7jEL9fUI/AAAAAAAABVI/Cq09cMn01po/s1600/ChristinaAmaya253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iMaOXoh7Kj8/TsQ7jEL9fUI/AAAAAAAABVI/Cq09cMn01po/s200/ChristinaAmaya253.jpg" width="161" /></a></div>
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One of the interesting potential singles matches will be
Cristina Amaya of Colombia - a top 10 player on the Women's Professional
Racquetball Organization (<a href="http://www.wprotour.com/">WPRO</a>) rankings
- versus Maria Jose Vargas of Bolivia, who was runner up in Girls U18 at last
year's Junior World Championships.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tCe9-CcIFJc/TsQ7lVqWKkI/AAAAAAAABVc/5oDb3ETxXs4/s1600/rajsich253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tCe9-CcIFJc/TsQ7lVqWKkI/AAAAAAAABVc/5oDb3ETxXs4/s200/rajsich253.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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The winner of that match would face top seed and defending
champion Rhonda Rajsich (USA), who seeded #1.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Frédérique Lambert of Canada defeated Vargas in that U18
final last year, and she could have a couple interesting matches this week, as
she could face veteran Claudine Garcia (Dominican Republic) in the Round of 16
and possible left-hander Susana Acosta of Mexico in the quarter finals.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ZhVITH-nsg/TsQ7k8V3v8I/AAAAAAAABVY/g8Jm7bOxsUQ/s1600/paola_253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ZhVITH-nsg/TsQ7k8V3v8I/AAAAAAAABVY/g8Jm7bOxsUQ/s200/paola_253.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Paola Longoria of Mexico is seeded #2, so would meet Rajsich
in the final if they both get that far. Canadian Jennifer Saunders is the #3
seed and she'll be trying to prevent Longoria from getting to the final, but
first will likely have to take on Bolivian Carola Loma, the silver medalist
from the 2009 Pan American Championships.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EkL_Wff9TkU/TsQ7mkyfDHI/AAAAAAAABVo/9cR2Kn4dFLc/s1600/jen_saunders_253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EkL_Wff9TkU/TsQ7mkyfDHI/AAAAAAAABVo/9cR2Kn4dFLc/s200/jen_saunders_253.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Loma and Saunders could face each other in doubles as well,
as Loma and Jenny Daza are seeded 3rd with Saunders and Christine Richardson
seeded 2nd. Mexicans Longoria and Samantha Salas are the top seeds.<o:p></o:p><br />
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The elimination round begins Wednesday in Temuco and runs
through Saturday. The Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) is
streaming matches live via <a href="http://www.parcwebsite.org/">their
website</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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XXV Pan American Championships<o:p></o:p></div>
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April 2012 - Temuco, Chile<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b><u>Women's Singles</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Rhonda Rajsich (USA) BYE<o:p></o:p></div>
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Carolina Gomez (Col) v. Maria Rene Rodriguez (Gua)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cristina Amaya (Col) v. Pamela Sierra (Hon)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) BYE<o:p></o:p></div>
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Frédérique Lambert (Canada) BYE<o:p></o:p></div>
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Claudine Garcia (Dom) v. Natalia Corti (Arg)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Véronique Guillemette (Arg) v. Lisa Lopezcepero (Pur)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Susana Acosta (Mexico) BYE<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jennifer Saunders (Canada) BYE<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maria Cespedes (Dom) v. Johan Collazo (Pur)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maria Cristina Cordova (Ecuador) v. Carla Muñoz (Chile)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Carola Loma (Bolivia) BYE<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) BYE<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile) v. Marie Gomar (Gua)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) v. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Paola Longoria (Mexico) BYE<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b><u>Women's Doubles</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) BYE<o:p></o:p></div>
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Carla Muñoz & Maria Paz Riquelme (Chile) v. Marie Gomar & Maria
Rene Rodriguez (Gua)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Maria Cespedes & Claudine Garcia (Dom) BYE<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Col) BYE<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jenny Daza & Carola Loma (Bolivia) BYE<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cristina Ana Velez & Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) v. Natalia Corti &
Véronique Guillemette (Arg)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mariana Paredes & Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. Johan Collazo &
Lisa Lopezcepero (Pur)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Christine Richardson & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) BYE<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://theracquetballblog.com/">Follow the bouncing ball....</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Posted by The Racquetball Blog<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-13065383288243360592012-04-04T14:33:00.000-07:002012-04-04T14:34:04.653-07:00From USA Racquetball ~ Ladies in Chile for Pan American Games<br />
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<a href="http://www.usaracquetball.com/News/tabid/5137/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1460/Rajisch-and-Kirk-Attend-PARC-Event-in-Temuco-Chile.aspx" style="color: #003366; text-decoration: none;">Rajisch and Kirk Attend PARC Event in Temuco, Chile</a></h1>
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<img alt="Cheryl Kirk and Rhonda Rajsich" src="http://www.usaracquetball.com/Portals/18/Images/panam2012/kirkrajsich2012panam160w.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-right: 4px;" />Greetings from Temuco, Chile, at the XXV Pan American Racquetball Championships (formerly the Tournament of the Americas). This event is hosted by PARC (Pan American Racquetball Confederation) and includes the championship divisions as well as junior, senior and A divisions.<br />
Representing the U.S. is Rhonda Rajsich in Women's Singles and yours truly (USAR President Cheryl Kirk aka delegate, team leader, "coach," player in Men's A Doubles with Franco Capandegui of Argentina, and reporter).<br />
Opening Ceremonies at 4:00 pm Friday kicked off the event. Each national delegation was announced and accompanied into the ceremonies by a young local person dressed in traditional Chilean costume. Each country's flag was displayed by two team members, with the rest of the team proceeding in behind. Rhonda and I proudly brought in the American flag and took our place among the players of the thirteen other countries represented here.<br />
The format here is round robin, then from those results a championship single elimination draw is formed. Rhonda's first round today against Natalia Corti (ARG) resulted in a win, 15-2, 15-2. Sunday's match at 11:30 am* is against Maria Paz Riquelme of Chile and Monday's, again at 11:30 am*, pits Rhonda against Maria Cespedes of the Dominican Republic. Tuesday will be a free day, then it's back to the courts Wednesday-Saturday. The event concludes on Saturday afternoon followed by a banquet at the Hotel Dreams (host hotel, very nice).<br />
Results and live streaming are available at:<br />
<a href="http://www.internationalracquetball.com/resultsss.aspx" style="color: #003366; text-decoration: none;" tabindex="0" target="_self">http://www.internationalracquetball.com/resultsss.aspx</a>Look for the live streaming icon (a roll of film) halfway down the page on the right.<br />
* Note that the time here in Chile is Central time plus two hours. In other words, when it's 12 noon in Chicago, it's 2 pm in Temuco.<br />
Check back for updates when Rhonda plays.<br />
GO USA!!<br />
~Cheryl Kirk<br />
<hr style="color: dimgrey; height: 1px;" />
<strong>April 3, 2012</strong><br />
<strong>Reporting from Temucho, Chile at the XXV Pan American Racquetball Championships</strong><br />
<img alt="Cheryl Kirk" src="http://www.usaracquetball.com/Portals/18/Images/panam2012/cheryl2012panam300w.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-right: 4px;" />Tuesday mid-day from Temuco, where the weather is surprisingly chilly. I walked down the street this morning to scope out a laundry facility, and it was a brisk 40 degrees F. They say the ocean is so painfully cold that swimming is not possible. You'd think it would be hot, but in this hemisphere they're going into winter. Temperatures are ranging from the 40's at night to the 60's/low 70's during the day.<br />
All is well here at the event. Fourteen countries, not sure the total number of athletes, but there are many. The atmosphere is upbeat, excited, and, naturally, competitive. When people enter the dining room and pass by tables, for example, it's not just "good morning," it's "good morning, Guatemala!"<br />
The hotel here is just great, nice employees who learn your name. Rhonda and I have discovered a restaurant called "Oregon" where the food, service and ambiance are all just top-notch. You've never tasted such flavorful vegetables (even the celery...yes, really). The avocados (sprinkled with oil and lemon) are to die for.<br />
As the team leader (with Rhonda being the team), it's my job to make sure I have the draw and match times; set our daily schedule; have water, towels, and practice balls available; greet the other country's coach and player before the match and shake their hands afterward. I'm not a coach, but perhaps an insightful comment to offer here and there... Also, make sure "the team" adheres to all US Team rules in the handbook. This is the biggest challenge -- Rhonda is quite a handful. (Kidding, she's great.)<br />
<img alt="Rhonda Rajsich" src="http://usra.org/Portals/18/Images/panam2012/rhonda2012panam160w.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: right; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-right: 4px;" />Speaking of Rhonda, after winning her three round robin matches with seven total points scored against her, today is the event's scheduled day off. She'll work out, eat (a lot!), and relax. (Did you know ... world-class athletes take in an exponential number of calories per day compared to the average person's consumption -- to fuel their incredible metabolisms!)<br />
The draw is set for the rest of the week -- Rhonda is seeded #1 in the Women's Singles main draw, with Paola Longoria (MEX) at #2. Included with Rhonda in the top half of the draw (24 players) are Susana Acosta (MEX) at #4, Frederique Lambert (CAN) at #5, Maria Jose Vargas (BOL) at #8, Cristina Amaya (COL) at #9, Claudine Garcia (DOM) at #12, and Veronique Guillemette (ARG) at #13.<br />
Rhonda's first round will be Wednesday 1:15 pm local time (Central +2 hours) against the winner of the feeder match between the players from Colombia and Guatemala (#16 and #17 seeds, respectively).<br />
Live streaming is available on courts 4 and 5 here at this five-court facility.<br />
<a href="http://www.internationalracquetball.com/resultsss.aspx" style="color: #003366; text-decoration: none;" tabindex="0">http://www.internationalracquetball.com/resultsss.aspx</a><br />
Look for the live streaming icon (a roll of film) halfway down the page on the right.<br />
The Women's Singles drawsheet appears here...tune in to cheer on Rhonda! GO USA!!<br />
--Cheryl Kirk<br />
P.S. In the second round of the Men's A Doubles RR, my partner Francisco Capandegui (ARG) and I (USA), won our first game, 15-13, but then the guys from Chile came on strong. Scores were, sadly, 2 and then 4 in the 'breaker. Tomorrow is the third round, then a playoff bracket involving all four teams in the RR (the rest of the teams are all from Chile). They're all serving to the weaker player...go figure. That's the game; so would I...</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-88459335847181841042012-04-03T11:48:00.000-07:002012-04-03T11:48:06.277-07:00Rock And The Role<br />
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d The Role</h1>
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<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gigi Rock, WPRO Commissioner, Outsider and Thinking Big.</em></div>
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<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/pJ*PhQUb5l-OZ7pJEJzfl*XtBYBeWuIuiyrOTmUHUdoQAchSAuO4nUzm0HdgRQynaYPAK5AOGBsRLZS8gLKCECavtHQysCHH/gigirock.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #aeb874; font-size: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com/files/pJ*PhQUb5l-OZ7pJEJzfl*XtBYBeWuIuiyrOTmUHUdoQAchSAuO4nUzm0HdgRQynaYPAK5AOGBsRLZS8gLKCECavtHQysCHH/gigirock.jpg?width=300" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: left !important; font-size: 1em; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 25px !important; margin-top: 5px !important; max-width: 643px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /></a></div>
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The email reply went as such, "The trials and tribulations I have gone through in seven months almost makes me want to throw in the towel….wow..the things I’ve learned…sure I’m game to put this down on paper...". As provocative a statement as that is, Gigi makes sure to point out, that her Rock keeps her in line with who she is. When her husband, who goes by "Rock", sees her getting caught up in the frustrations in her work life, he will simply walk her outside for 15 minutes, so she can breath and calm down. Upon accomplishing the cool down, he simple states, "Now get over it and get back to work."</div>
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<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/ySC4HNfZvNmaEVd4SJ8DL44EhsukZrx0KVXAyRAh6OH6Cex9i2a0UFzrMf4cIizCB7fI-blOSQwMrzpouSn4HAnQN6cMGnIW/IMG_0845.JPG" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #aeb874; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://api.ning.com/files/ySC4HNfZvNmaEVd4SJ8DL44EhsukZrx0KVXAyRAh6OH6Cex9i2a0UFzrMf4cIizCB7fI-blOSQwMrzpouSn4HAnQN6cMGnIW/IMG_0845.JPG?width=250" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: right !important; font-size: 1em; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 25px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 5px !important; max-width: 643px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;" width="250" /></a>When the <a href="http://www.wprotour.com/">Women's Professional Racquetball Organization</a> was looking to to fill the lead spot left by former commissioner Shannon Feaster for professional and familial reasons, Gigi Rock was tapped to fill the position. Whereas, Feaster was once an actual player in the WPRO, Gigi, who openly talks about not playing racquetball, over a short time, got put into the mix after an encounter with Rhonda Rajsich and Feaster, as they attended weekend networking events taking place during the 2010 Superbowl in Miami. Rock, having a deep entertainment and charitable events management background can be thought of as a direct contrast to Feaster, who still serves on the President's Council of Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.</div>
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As it goes, Gigi and Rhonda remained connected. During a phone conversation, Rhonda mentioned that the WPRO was in the process of searching for a new commissioner. As they were speaking, Rhonda casually worded that Gigi should fill the position. They both laughed. Shortly after that conversation though, Rhonda mentioned the conversation with Shannon, who by speculating that it may not be a bad idea, sparked the vetting process for Gigi Rock.</div>
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It was an overall positive engagement, though it did have signs that foreshadowed some tough aspects Rock faces each day in her drive to advance the WPRO's mission. At one point in her interview with the organization's board of directors, she inquired about women professional racquetball players participating in the Olympics and took note that she was actually told that the Pan American Games would be the best they could do. (...to which, began her own inquiry with the IRF.) But its the restrictive sentiment behind that kind of language that Rock faces regularly in her drive to advance opportunity for the athletes of the WPRO.</div>
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<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/HFqCj2J1p5cqP1zMNKdslpM4iH1MQ3sg67ZRfeYTgwWCduAYMVE240uWmJZuP6wcD9h*Ph6MXJu6FqBYJ4vyZrhJ9A9CdW-4/IMG_9675.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #aeb874; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com/files/HFqCj2J1p5cqP1zMNKdslpM4iH1MQ3sg67ZRfeYTgwWCduAYMVE240uWmJZuP6wcD9h*Ph6MXJu6FqBYJ4vyZrhJ9A9CdW-4/IMG_9675.jpg?width=250" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: left !important; font-size: 1em; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 25px !important; margin-top: 5px !important; max-width: 643px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;" width="250" /></a></div>
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<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">READS LIKE TROUBLE</em></div>
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Almost immediately upon her securing the commissioner position, Rock seemed to stir up controversy. At the start of the 2011-2012 season, Gigi removed the WPRO from being a featured division at the 3 Wall Ball outdoor Las Vegas event, in it's second year for the new ambitious outdoor endeavor. She wasted no time in holding a hard line to equal prize money for the women. What ensued was a series of public postings online that quickly got ugly. It was the first example of how Rock's "outsider" status and uncompromising stance would clash with how the sport has been operating over the past two decades.</div>
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Gigi Rock operates from a marketer's perspective and she is quick to state that her main priority is the interest of her players, something she views as currently well undervalued. When speaking with her, one quickly gets that she wears this on her sleeve, as she talks about the incredible athleticism of the women of the WPRO. What they look like. How competitive they are. She sees tremendous value in presentation, detail and what is possible. Her thinking leads to her fighting for what she feels her players need right now.</div>
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<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/*zTFE7oG1KkZJvjm0yWHCeO-Yjoiy5l*I6Mhtp8LWcGzk6w*q694hylGobNwRTgXiRR*gzg2hIQzDhnDQ7mWbZLN3dnuq2Ad/IMG_3596.5.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #aeb874; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com/files/*zTFE7oG1KkZJvjm0yWHCeO-Yjoiy5l*I6Mhtp8LWcGzk6w*q694hylGobNwRTgXiRR*gzg2hIQzDhnDQ7mWbZLN3dnuq2Ad/IMG_3596.5.jpg?width=250" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: left !important; font-size: 1em; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 25px !important; margin-top: 5px !important; max-width: 643px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;" width="250" /></a>She also wants them, all of them, thinking about what they are. Their ability. Their recognition. And the thought that they should go beyond just showing up at clubs to play racquetball. She wants all of them, in their own ways, following the lead of her two top players, <a href="http://restrungmag.com/page/petite-powerhouse" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #aeb874; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Paola Longoria</a> and<a href="http://restrungmag.com/RhondaRajsich" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #aeb874; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Rhonda Rajsich</a>, who appear seasoned in front of fans and cameras. Top WPRO players are professionals and Rock feels they have the right to embrace everything possible with those rights. </div>
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Fighting for those rights as she knows how, directly and to the point, has caused tension between the WPRO and some who are comfortable with the established norms. Her feeling is that if she can't control what the women professionals are presented and how they are viewed, then she will find other ways to facilitate her mission. To her it's about the words "No" and "Why Not?". It is also about openly addressing the bias towards men as it relates to money and coverage in the sport of racquetball that has been historically prevalent. </div>
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<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/FbfDP8T4rW5aB4o*3KpfNl9BljHQ31JAgY41negIDIzu2EByiauW7oVLDQ*JI2f-Wwq8wXa-SCdN92fMQaSEP00H7DRwv*nK/110.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #aeb874; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com/files/FbfDP8T4rW5aB4o*3KpfNl9BljHQ31JAgY41negIDIzu2EByiauW7oVLDQ*JI2f-Wwq8wXa-SCdN92fMQaSEP00H7DRwv*nK/110.jpg?width=250" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: left !important; font-size: 1em; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 25px !important; margin-top: 5px !important; max-width: 643px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;" width="250" /></a>Having suitable presentation and benefit for her athletes is about money. The commissioner insists she maintains good relationships with the WPRO's major sponsors. Though she admits that funding is still hard to come by. To move forward with her vision, Rock works by the premise that most of the money circulating within the sport is already taken. Some manufacturers "don't even want to talk to us." It's in that line of thinking, where Gigi has crafted her strategy of looking outside the sport for backing, support and media services. That's where she spends her time and energy. It also serves as subtle message, "Watch us grow, with or <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">without</em> you." </div>
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<a href="http://api.ning.com/files/OzB87jdfCLr5jeb9JLEjmXScUfJNww1Hto0a-NctJLAvYQK5d0ylcKPsB4bslw90ql96832FK0UHeFn62UZ3m6f54dLEKBG6/IMG_3974.5.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #aeb874; font-size: 1em; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com/files/OzB87jdfCLr5jeb9JLEjmXScUfJNww1Hto0a-NctJLAvYQK5d0ylcKPsB4bslw90ql96832FK0UHeFn62UZ3m6f54dLEKBG6/IMG_3974.5.jpg?width=250" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: left !important; font-size: 1em; height: auto; margin-bottom: 10px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 25px !important; margin-top: 5px !important; max-width: 643px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;" width="250" /></a></div>
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<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">GOT MAIL</em></div>
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As the head of the WPRO, she communicates clearly that her mission is to grow interest in her athletes. It's a mission filled with "outside the box" big ideas, crossover and follow ups with sporting industry contacts. All for her players. Her mother bear attitude has caused some ripples in what some have come to expect through the years. She openly pushes anything that promotes her players and exposure for the WPRO. Some of her thinking flies in the face of traditional conservative views of what women racquetball players should be. She receives a good number of emails, and although the majority of them are positive, many are negative in nature. She states that, without even getting to know her, or even a proper greeting, she will get statements like "Why don't you get off your high horse?"...in the vain of who do you think you are? </div>
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She takes it in stride, though she relies on the support from her husband and daughter. She also leans on Deputy Commissioner Andy Kulback, who ensures all WPRO stops meet the specific guidelines set for each event, allowing Rock to concentrate on the big picture.</div>
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">AND THE WOMEN OF THE WPRO</em></div>
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She openly communicates with them and runs everything by them. They have a voice with her. Some have taken to her completely, and some are still learning how to ride her train during this, her first full season. The women professionals are the ones the work and the pressure is all about, and for some, well, only they know how they feel about her. </div>
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You will spot Gigi Rock at all the major WPRO events. Working the sidelines, advocating for times and music and access for her players. For her, every event is an opportunity to see what works and what doesn't and what can be done better. She sits back and watches. She networks, pushes and learns. And what you might hear, when sitting by some of the most elite women players as the commissioner approaches is, "Here comes Gigi, she's gonna change the rules."</div>
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<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">About Restrung:</span></em></em></div>
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<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Restrung Magazine shares a view of racquetball, influenced by diversity, community, competition and opinion.</span>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-53764522540174342412012-03-20T09:26:00.000-07:002012-03-20T09:26:19.322-07:00The Fastest Game Just Got a Little Faster<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 5280 – Mile High Pro-Am Denver, CO<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By:
Sarah Warhaftig<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6eGrZNamp8/T2ipWIJYegI/AAAAAAAABu8/hzSoJV7Nv_I/s1600/MileHighLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="111" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6eGrZNamp8/T2ipWIJYegI/AAAAAAAABu8/hzSoJV7Nv_I/s200/MileHighLogo.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WPRO athletes all have their training
secrets before tournaments: diet, training and mental work. However, coming to the city that sits one
mile above sea level may not have been an easy factor into their plans. The first ever Mile High Pro-Am took place
over the weekend of March 8<sup>th </sup>at the prestigious Denver Athletic
Club downtown. Tournament Director
Debbie Beldring worked tirelessly to provide a top-notch event that included a
full amateur draw in one of the most picturesque cities in the country. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7hQd_yV0RSg/T2ipgOXl--I/AAAAAAAABvE/r95olUuO_zA/s1600/cheryl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7hQd_yV0RSg/T2ipgOXl--I/AAAAAAAABvE/r95olUuO_zA/s200/cheryl1.jpg" width="133" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A handful of WPRO players arrived a
bit earlier to adjust to the altitude and the speed of the already fast Ektelon
Fireball, hoping to gain some advantage over their sea level playing competitors. Cheryl Gudinas said, “I didn’t feel the
altitude with my breathing, but needed to slow down the pace of the ball
especially on ceiling balls. Next year,
I would come out a day earlier, it takes two or three days to really adapt, but
once I did adjust I loved it.” </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zndpNuidwqI/T2iqMrzNdRI/AAAAAAAABvM/Z0Beu3D4f9U/s1600/Saunders.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zndpNuidwqI/T2iqMrzNdRI/AAAAAAAABvM/Z0Beu3D4f9U/s200/Saunders.JPG" width="196" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thursday night’s traditional sponsor
doubles paired reining mixed doubles state open champion Kevin Holmes with #9 Jen
Saunders out of Canada to take home the title.
A fantastic atmosphere to start the event DJ George Coleman kept the
crowd going with music all weekend long, and sponsors enjoyed the social
atmosphere of the club. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Match play began on Friday with only
one upset, as veteran Cheryl Gudinas returned to the WPRO draw and quickly
dispatched of rising young star Cristina Amaya out of Colombia in three
straight games. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday’s quarterfinals had all top
seeds advancing with the exception of Krystal Csuk who is having her best
season yet defeating Adrienne Fisher.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EQCBjiaghKo/T2isPQ3ZEvI/AAAAAAAABvc/BVHU__6BDrI/s1600/IMG_5581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EQCBjiaghKo/T2isPQ3ZEvI/AAAAAAAABvc/BVHU__6BDrI/s200/IMG_5581.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most exciting match was between Susy Acosta and Rhonda Rajsich. A similar getting style and fast game had
this one going to five with Rajsich squeaking out the victory. Top seed Paola Longoria proved she was on a
quest and continues to frustrate her opponents as she defeated Canadian Jen
Saunders in three straight.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CVV74JHVkRM/T2ispJu3VgI/AAAAAAAABvk/u1pYwGkWAfQ/s1600/IMG_5613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CVV74JHVkRM/T2ispJu3VgI/AAAAAAAABvk/u1pYwGkWAfQ/s200/IMG_5613.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday night’s semi-finals were
standing room only as crafty veteran Kerri Wachtel battled athletic Rajsich in
a four game match. A unique matchup,
Wachtel gave Rajsich bouts of trouble, but in the end Rajsich pure shooting was
too much for Wacthel. Longoria battled
it out with Csuk – a hard hitting contest Csuk looked comfortable and was
shooting well, but Longoria’s experience and consistency outlasted Csuk and
Longoria advanced in three straight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
finals had a familiar paring as Paola and Rhonda set off to face each other
again. The winner of this match was going to be whoever got out of the box the
fastest and could apply the most pressure to her opponent. Both players do a
fantastic job of covering the court and since balls stay up a little longer in
the altitude, the fans thought that Rhonda’s athleticism and ability to keep
rallies going would work to her advantage. That turned out not to be the case
as Paola showed that she is equally able to cover the court. Both players came
out hitting big serves and driving the ball at every opportunity. Paola stuck
to her strategy from the semifinals, hitting drive serves to Rhonda’s backhand
and z-serves to her forehand. Rhonda reached into her entire bag of serves,
looking for something that would be effective. After a fairly even start to
game 1, Paola found a little bit of a groove and took advantage of every ball
that Rhonda left up, winning game 1, 11-6. Paola got out to a fast start in
game 2, never really letting Rhonda get into the game, winning 11-3. Rhonda
reached down deep at the start of game 3, keeping things close, but Paola
showed why she is # 1, <o:p></o:p>closing
out the match at 11-5. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BlCYI5WUN-E/T2irGfBpEYI/AAAAAAAABvU/7BP6qAKHxik/s1600/IMG_9994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BlCYI5WUN-E/T2irGfBpEYI/AAAAAAAABvU/7BP6qAKHxik/s320/IMG_9994.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With every first tournament on the
WPRO schedule, the WPRO is extremely thankful for the wonderful
sponsors and patrons who made the event happen.
The Colorado Racquetball community and players once again stepped
forward to make this a successful event.
American Motors, the Title Sponsor and family owned by racquetball
phenoms Victor, Nancy, Adam and Erika. A
special thank you to Layer Cake Marketing and Kimberly Graham whose husband
Ralph is a top tournament player in Colorado for providing a wonderful media
opportunity for players Rhonda Rajsich and Paola Longoria to make appearances
on both ABC and NBC Denver morning shows.
Thank you to Subaru, GOSubaru, EAS Nutrition and GrahamGolden technologies</span>.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RuzaA9IIVEM/T2is1v98WzI/AAAAAAAABvs/s_dXkuxNfRo/s1600/IMG_5320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RuzaA9IIVEM/T2is1v98WzI/AAAAAAAABvs/s_dXkuxNfRo/s320/IMG_5320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-43313306208371397152012-03-13T09:44:00.002-07:002012-03-13T09:44:44.373-07:00ROLLOUT: WPRO Athletes Nail Public Relations<br />
<div class="post-802 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-pr" id="post-802" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<h1 class="entry-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #531700; font-family: BernhardModernFSRoman, 'Bernhard Modern FS Roman', Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
ROLLOUT: WPRO Athletes Nail Public Relations</h1>
<div class="entry-meta" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By </span><span class="author vcard" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="url fn n" href="http://www.golayercake.com/author/kimberly-mcarthur-graham/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #f12d1f; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.05em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts by Kimberly">KIMBERLY</a></span><span class="meta-sep meta-sep-entry-date" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> | </span><span class="meta-prep meta-prep-entry-date" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Published: </span><span class="entry-date" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><abbr class="published" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; cursor: text; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: 0.05em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;" title="2012-03-13T04:57:25-0600">03/13/2012<a href="http://www.golayercake.com/2012/03/rollout-wpro-athletes-nail-public-relations/">Rollout: WPRO Athletes Nail Public Relations</a></abbr></span></div>
<div class="entry-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 6px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<a href="http://www.golayercake.com/2012/03/rollout-wpro-athletes-nail-public-relations/418018_368526093181636_142191685815079_1198861_2126150871_n/" rel="attachment wp-att-805" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #f12d1f; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-805 " height="278" src="http://www.golayercake.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/418018_368526093181636_142191685815079_1198861_2126150871_n.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: initial; height: auto; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: none; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="418018_368526093181636_142191685815079_1198861_2126150871_n" width="371" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 0.9375em; line-height: 1.5em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Kimberly, Rhonda & Bonnie</div>
</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 0.9375em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This past weekend, I did something my racquetball-loving husband has been asking me to do for years – I was a tournament groupie. He’s a sponsored and ranked A-level player, and this sport is his (healthy) obsession. Me, I’ve gotten on a court a couple of times, but have never considered cheating on my distance running.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 0.9375em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Well, recently Layer Cake helped promote the <a href="http://www.milehighproam.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #f12d1f; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mile High Pro / Am Racquetball Tournament</span></a>, a stop on the women’s pro tour organized by (pro) Debbie Beldring of the <a href="http://www.denverathleticclub.cc/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #f12d1f; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Denver Athletic Club</span></a>. The four-day tournament was a huge draw for amateurs, but the real stars were the ladies of the <a href="http://www.wprotour.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #f12d1f; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WPRO (Women’s Professional Racquetball Organization)</span></a>. Insanely talented and fully passionate about their sport, they blew apart my “pro athlete” bias by also being down-to-earth, gracious to everyone from refs to reporters (even the ones who got something wrong), and genuinely appreciative of all their fans. They thanked their sponsors at every opportunity and made an extra effort to spend time with those who attended. As a marketer, I couldn’t help but notice. Perhaps in addition to racquetball skills clinics, they should offer lessons in public relations!</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 0.9375em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Let me illustrate the effect the WPROs had on me. On Thursday, I stopped by “just to introduce myself.” A couple hours went by real fast, and over the next 3 days, I hung around for hours at a time – Friday night (!), Saturday night (!!), even rearranging my sacred Sunday morning run (!!!) to attend the finals, a killer match between Rhonda Rajsich and Paolo Longoria. I was a junkie, a groupie gleefully experiencing something that heretofore I’d described only in the abstract. I have long told non-profit clients, “Make your supporters come back and bring friends by making them feel special, like they have a backstage pass to a sold-out show.” Now I know just how well – and fast – that works.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 0.9375em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We (heart) the WPRO and are crossing fingers that Denver and the DAC will become a regular stop on the tour.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 0.9375em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Next time, maybe I’ll even venture back on the court!</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 0.9375em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Note: A “rollout” is racquetball’s perfect shot, played so low to the ground that it rolls out from the wall. It is virtually impossible to return.</em></span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-35828995467541314322012-03-06T12:54:00.000-07:002012-03-07T12:18:12.382-07:00Hall of Fame ~ Professional Female Racquetball Players<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The Racquetball Hall of Fame was created in 1973 by the USA Racquetball, the following are the professional elite female athletes of racquetball that have been inducted over the years.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
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<h1 style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">
1988</h1>
<table style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; background-color: #f7f7f7; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img alt="" src="http://usra.org/Portals/18/steding.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: left; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px;" /></td><td><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Peggy Steding</strong> | <i>Odessa, Texas (<span style="text-decoration: underline;">deceased:</span> 4-17-36 to 11-17-91)<br />(Professional Athlete, Inducted 1988)</i><br />
Peggy started playing racquetball in 1971. She had always been athletic and was attending Odessa College on a tennis scholarship. She had also competed in basketball, volleyball and fast-pitch softball, before discovering racquetball. Peggy dominated women's play in the early 70's and continued playing in the senior divisions prior to her death in 1991. In 1992 the USRA Female Age Division Athlete of the Year award was renamed the Peggy Steding Award in her honor. It is said that Peggy elevated the game of racquetball for women during her reign as champion.</td></tr>
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<h1 style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">
1991</h1>
<div style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">
<strong style="font-weight: bold;"></strong></div>
<table style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; background-color: #f7f7f7; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img alt="baxter.jpg" height="212" src="http://usra.org/Portals/18/baxter.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: left;" width="150" /></td><td><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Cindy Baxter </strong>| <i>Reedsville, Pennsylvania<br />(Amateur Athlete, Inducted 1991)</i><br />
Cindy was instrumental in building a reputation for the U.S. National Racquetball Team in the eighties by distinguishing herself as a major competitor on the international racquetball scene. Early in her career, Cindy became the first U.S. athlete to win three consecutive gold medals in the World Games, first in 1981, again in 1984, and again in 1986. Her achievements in the sport have been documented by the Guinness Book of Records, and have yet to be matched.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h1 style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">
1994</h1>
<div style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">
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<table style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; background-color: #f7f7f7; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img alt="" height="150" src="http://usra.org/Portals/18/kenyon.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: left;" width="100" /></td><td><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Jo Kenyon</strong> | <i>Ft. Lauderdale, Florida<br />(Amateur Athlete, Inducted 1994)</i><br />
Jo Kenyon was the 15th inductee to the USRA Hall of Fame, on the basis of her long-history of age group competition. A retired veterinary receptionist, Kenyon took up racquetball at the age of 50 and quickly laid claim to over 25 national title over the ten year period preceding her induction. Her love of the game, and the tournament environment, helped her become one of the top female age group competitors -- even after undergoing a hip replacement in May of 1998. Only three months after that procedure, Kenyon was back in top form, winning a silver medal in doubles, followed by a renewed <br />
string of gold medal finishes in subsequent seasons.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h1 style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">
1996</h1>
<div style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<table style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; background-color: #f7f7f7; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img alt="" height="150" src="http://usra.org/Portals/18/acuff_m.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: left;" width="100" /></td><td><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Mary Low Acuff</strong> | <i>Asheville, North Carolina (<span style="text-decoration: underline;">deceased</span>: 7-9-19 to 2-4-05)<br />(Amateur Athlete, Inducted 1996)</i><br />
Hall of Fame athlete Mary Low Acuff dominated the "upper echelons" of age group competition among women beginning in 1984, with career wins that include forty-five national titles, nine silver medals and a scant two bronze medal finishes. In 1994 alone, Mary Low took five national titles and a world championships victory, then followed up in 1995 with a record of nine national wins and another world title to her credit. The mother of eight was a long time supporter of the USRA and is a legend in racquetball, who continued to compete in every tournament available to her. In 1999, Mary Low was joined by her husband Earl in the Hall of Fame -- the two are the only husband-and-wife pair to share this honor.</td></tr>
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<h1 style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">
1997</h1>
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<tr><td><img alt="" height="150" src="http://usra.org/Portals/18/adams.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: left;" width="100" /></td><td><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn Adams</strong> | <i>Libertyville, Illinois<br />(Professional Athlete, Inducted 1997)</i><br />
Lynn Adams won 325 of her 369 professional matches, for a .887 winning percentage. An eight-time player of the year (1982-88, 90), Adams won six pro tour season titles (1982-83, 85-88) and seven overall championships (1982-83, 85-88, 90). Even more impressive is Adams’ courageous fight against multiple sclerosis throughout her life and racquetball career.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><img alt="" height="150" src="http://usra.org/Portals/18/mckay.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: left;" width="100" /></td><td><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Heather McKay</strong> | <i>Brisbane, Australia<br />(Professional Athlete, Inducted 1997)</i><br />Heather McKay (Brisbane, Australia) had lost only two matches in two decades of international squash dominance before turning to the sport of racquetball in 1980, at the age of 39. McKay didn’t waste much time earning the title of best women’s racquetball player in the world, winning the pro national’s in 1980 and ‘81. She again won the coveted title in ‘84. Before returning to Australia in ‘85, the Canadian national amassed nine national titles and the ‘84 Steding Cup, given yearly by the women’s pro tour for outstanding contributions to women’s racquetball.</span></td></tr>
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<h1 style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">
2001</h1>
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<tr><td><img alt="" height="150" src="http://usra.org/Portals/18/mckinney.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: left;" width="100" /></td><td><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Caryn McKinney</strong> | <i>Atlanta, Georgia<br />(Professional Athlete, Inducted 2001)</i><br />
Well known for her court-sense, Caryn McKinney dominated the Women’s Pro Racquetball Association [WPRA] Tour throughout the 80’s and into the 90’s, where she consistently placed in the top five. During her professional career she reached the semifinals in nearly 50 pro events, winning eight. Her career peaked in 1989 when she captured the WPRA National Championship, the top spot in the rankings and was named the tour’s Player of the Year. As late as the 1998 U.S. OPEN, McKinney remained competitive on the women’s pro tour, reaching the semi-final there against an tough field of up-and-coming current tour regulars. Well respected as an instructor and coach, she taught at the Elite Olympic Training Camp for eleven years, longer than any other instructor.</td></tr>
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<h1 style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">
2004</h1>
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<tr><td><img alt="" src="http://usra.org/Portals/18/Fran%20Sitting.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: left; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; width: 100px;" /></td><td><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Fran Davis</strong> | <em>San Francisco, California</em><br />
<em>(Contributor, Inducted 2004)</em>Fran Davis is known throughout racquetball as one of the top clinicians in the game. <br />
She has also been successful as a coach for the U.S. National Team. She served as Assistant Coach for the 1990, ’92, ’94, ’96, ’98, and 2002 IRF World Champions and in 1987 she was named the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Racquetball Coach of the Year. She was also part of the 1995 U.S. Pan American Games coaching staff, helping them to sweep the competition in Buenos Aires, Argentina. </td></tr>
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<tr><td><img alt="" src="http://usra.org/Portals/18/wright.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: left; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; width: 100px;" /></td><td><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Shannon Wright </strong>| <em>Fridley, Minnesota</em><br />
<em>(Professional Athlete, Inducted 2004)</em>Shannon Wright dominated women’s racquetball throughout the late 1970’s and early 80’s. During her 12-year career she racked up over 35 professional tournament victories, captured seven National Championships, and finished #1 on the Women’s Professional Racquetball Association (WPRA) Tour four times. She is said, by some, to have revolutionized women’s racquetball with her hard-hitting style and aggressive play.<br />
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<h1 style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">
2006</h1>
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<tr><td><img alt="" src="http://usra.org/Portals/18/connie2.JPG" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: left; height: 170px; width: 173px;" /></td><td><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Connie Martin | </strong><em>Gresham, Oregon</em><br />
<em>(Contributor, Inducted 2006)</em>Connie Martin has been involved in the teaching and programming of racquetball since 1975. Currently Connie is the Program Director for Cascade Athletic Clubs in Gresham, Oregon, the commisioner of the Oregon Racquetball Association and coaches the Gresham High School Racquetball Team and the Mt. Hood Community College Team. She was the founder and executive director of PARI (Professional Association of Racquetball Instructors), now known as AMPRO. She has published numerous books on racquetball programming including the original PARI teaching manual and the YMCA training program for Junior Racquetball. Connie Martin and her club were the recipients of the first International Racquet and Sport Club Association (IHRSA) award for outstanding service. Additionally Connie played the Women's Pro Tour and was a member of the US Racquetball Team in 1987 winning 2 golds and 1 silver at the World Championships.<br />
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<tr><td><img alt="" src="http://usra.org/Portals/18/SANY0015.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; float: left; height: 156px; width: 207px;" /></td><td><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Susan Pfahler (left) & Mary Lyons (right) | </strong><em>Neptune Beach, Florida</em><br />
<em>(Amateur Team, Inducted 2006)</em>In both Open and Age Division competition, the championship record of doubles team Susan (Morgan) Pfahler and Mary Lyons is unmatched in racquetball history. No other pairing, male or female, can claim 17 doubles titles. Their run began in 1984 with Women's 25+ titles and a bronze medal in Women's Open. Over the next two decades, they accumulated a total of 17 gold medals, including a double gold in 1992 (Women's Open and Women's 35+) followed by five consecutive wins in the Women's 35+ division from 1993 to 1997. From 1997 to 2005, they captured their Age Division title each year. Both players have earned the respect and admiration of their peers through long and outstanding performance, good sportsmanship, teamwork and fair play.</td></tr>
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<h1 style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: arial; text-align: left;">
2009</h1>
<br />
<a href="http://usra.org/Portals/18/Images/Hall%20of%20Fame/jackieparaisohof09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Jackie Paraiso" border="0" src="http://usra.org/Portals/18/Images/Hall%20of%20Fame/jackieparaisohof09.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; height: 151px; margin-top: 5px; width: 120px;" /></a><br />
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<tr><td></td><td><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Jacqueline Paraiso</strong> | <span style="font-style: italic;">San Diego, </span><em>California</em><br />
<em>(Amateur Athlete, Inducted 2009)</em>Jacqueline's esteemed record on the Pro Circuit closely mimicked her prowess as a DOUBLES LEGEND. Her acclaimed Titles include 3 Overall Pro Tour Championships, 2 US Open Titles, 18 First Place finishes, and 23 Final appearances. Even more impressive were her accomplishments in Doubles that boast a treasure chest of Gold Medals that includes 16 National Doubles Titles, 5 Olympic Festival Gold, and 3 Pan American Games Gold - over 75 Gold Medals in all! The highlights of Jacqueline's International career are the Gold Medals she won with here twin sister, Joy MacKenzie, at the 1995 and 1999 Pan American Games.<br />
<br />
Jacqueline has qualified more times for a position on the US Team than anyone in the history of the sport and has made more appearances for Team USA than any other racquetball player, man or woman. In 24 appearances over 20 years she won 1 Silver and 23 Gold Medals! Paraiso and MacKenzie played together 7 times for Team USA, winning Gold each time.</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-69219994428253281262012-03-06T10:50:00.000-07:002012-03-06T10:50:15.147-07:00Rhonda and Paola in Denver<a href="http://www.thedenverchannel.com/video/30601286/index.html?taf=den">Rhonda Interview in Denver CO</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-40763777186442967412012-02-29T17:41:00.001-07:002012-02-29T17:41:45.600-07:00PAOLA LONGORIA: EL REVÉS DE ORO. ANUARIO 2011 PERIÓDICO EL NORTE / GRUPO REFORMA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lYNB-cCEH8o/T07Fckp0A6I/AAAAAAAABs0/2w705MUCZco/s1600/396448_2977196187060_1176521154_33374252_1829123024_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lYNB-cCEH8o/T07Fckp0A6I/AAAAAAAABs0/2w705MUCZco/s320/396448_2977196187060_1176521154_33374252_1829123024_n.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">PAOLA LONGORIA: EL REVÉS DE ORO. ANUARIO 2011 PERIÓDICO EL NORTE / GRUPO REFORMA</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Paola Longoria El revés de oro. Por: Jesús Carvajal</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">El camino del oro para Paola Longoria inició a los 7 años de edad en su natal San Luis Potosí.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br />Indiscutible reina de los recientes Juegos Panamericanos al obtener tres preseas doradas, la estudiante de FIME de la UANL hizo volver los ojos del mundo hacia el raquetbol que no es olímpico y que tiene en los Panamericanos su mayor plataforma.<br /><br />Y colgarse las medallas de oro no es una casualidad. Su trayectoria empezó desde pequeña, cuando apoyada por sus papás practicaba deportes como la natación, el futbol, el taekwondo, tenis y otros, pero cuando descubrió el raquetbol le pareció muy divertido.<br /><br />Hubo entrenadores que vieron en ella aptitudes excepcionales para los deportes de raqueta y, con ello, la ayudaron a ser la mejor en su área y a que obtuviera ocho campeonatos mundiales juveniles, de los que luego se retiró para dedicarse al tour de la Women's Professional Racquetball Organization, en donde domina en el ranking.<br /><br />El raquetbol, en palabras de Paola, es un deporte difícil, ya que exige de una condición física excepcional porque se requiere fuerza de brazos y piernas, además de una mentalidad de triunfo, lo que evidentemente ella tiene de sobra.<br /><br />Sus mejores armas son su revés, su capacidad de concentración y su preparación física.<br /><br />Luego de su destacada participación en los Panamericanos, Longoria busca seguir siendo la número uno en la gira de la WPRO y obtener el Campeonato Mundial de singles de federación, el único título que a sus 22 años todavía no tiene y al que aspira para el 2012.<br /><br />Pero su máxima aspiración sería ir a unas Olimpiadas, algo que no depende de ella porque primero deberá lograrse que el raquetbol sea considerado deporte olímpico, para lo que se necesita que las autoridades impulsen más este deporte que es muy completo y que tiene seguidores en muchos países.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-41305919074245223062012-02-21T10:05:00.000-07:002012-02-21T10:05:03.919-07:00FEATURED ATHLETE KRYSTAL CSUK<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Shooting
Star</b></i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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By Sarah
Warhaftig<o:p></o:p></div>
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After
attending her first junior nationals at the age of 11 Krystal Csuk realized
racquetball was going to be a huge part of her life. After pairing up with Coach T.J. Ferro, as
well as her mother’s support Csuk took her racquetball dreams to the next
level.<o:p></o:p></div>
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T.J. Ferro
has been and always will be Csuk’s motivation to train every day. “He taught me so many skills from basic
mechanics in racquetball to life skills,” says Krystal. T.J. passed away from lung cancer in 2010, but
his racquetball spirit still lives inside of Csuk. “I think of him every day, and keep me
motivated to train, even when life is busy.”
Krystal calls him his shooting star, watching from above rooting for her
at all of her matches and this keeps her inspired to excel both on and off the
court. <o:p></o:p></div>
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While
Krystal is not on the court, she holds a busy schedule as a physical therapist
trying to balance boyfriend, friends an family.
She admits to losing a bit of sleep to fit it all in, but she expects
herself to give each day her best. She
realizes some weeks are easier than others, but tries to train 2-3 hours on
workdays and more during the weekends.
She feels lucky to have a boss who is a racquetball player himself, and
has been one of her biggest supporters to continue playing. <br />
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As Krystal
continues to move up the WPRO rankings she is excited to see where the tour
will go. On new tour commissioner Gigi
Rock, Krystal says, “I think she offers a bright new outside perspective and is
sparking change within the WPRO.”
Krystal hopes with a cooperative group dynamic from the ladies on the
tour, the WPRO will embrace positive change and an exciting future. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Krystal has
reached her highest ranking yet at #6, and her first semi-final appearance in
December of 2011 are listed as her biggest accomplishments to date. In April of 2011, Csuk made the trip to
Nicaragua with the US National Team, and was extremely proud to represent her
country. Krystal will continue to
improve her game, challenging herself on and off the court; she knows the best
is yet to come!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-45933669255491391742012-02-20T08:05:00.000-07:002012-02-20T08:05:20.561-07:00The Loser and the ChampSeason 4 Biggest Loser, Bill Germanakos and World Racquetball Champion Rhonda Rajsich, meet up in Phoenix Arizona and share stories of glory...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pyOMAt8oq2k/T0Jfo5nGZHI/AAAAAAAABpI/91Ic6SUPllU/s1600/loser+and+champ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pyOMAt8oq2k/T0Jfo5nGZHI/AAAAAAAABpI/91Ic6SUPllU/s320/loser+and+champ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://wprotour.com/player_bios/athletes_rhonda.html">Checkout Rhonda's Bio</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.weightlosstwins.com/billsbio/">Checkout Bill Germanakos' Bio</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189583699460802987.post-60378786908910092802012-02-17T07:55:00.002-07:002012-02-29T14:10:30.541-07:00WPRO Highly ranked racquetball pro's passion for sport led her to love affair with new hometown<div id="section_header_wrapper" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #d9e2ed; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 994px;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small;">By </span><a href="http://www.commercialappeal.com/staff/don-wade/" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: medium;" title="Don Wade">Don
Wade</a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small;"> Posted February 13, 2012 at 12:07 a.m.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvQwKRuTYKo/T06TAjUOy5I/AAAAAAAABso/w33qkiGe2QY/s1600/adrienne1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvQwKRuTYKo/T06TAjUOy5I/AAAAAAAABso/w33qkiGe2QY/s320/adrienne1.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Adrienne Fisher works on her game on the racquetball court
at Germantown Athletic Club. An Ohio native, Fisher came to know Memphis from
competing in the sport's U.S. Open. She is now the fifth-ranked player in the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This is not a story of boy meets girl, but of girl meets
game and girl meets city.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Adrienne Fisher met the game of racquetball when she was 6
years old. She fell in love with it, committed to it by turning pro as a
teenager and decided to stay with it, even though she understood the game's
figurative low ceiling: Pro racquetball is too fast to make for good
television. And this keeps the game and its players forever standing by the
side of the tracks as the Great American Sports Gravy Train rolls by without
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"It's frustrating," Fisher says of the money not
to be made on the women's pro tour. In her best year, she brought home maybe
$2,000 in winnings and bonuses; she's currently the fifth-ranked player in the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"But it's a Catch-22," she continues.
"There's not as many racquetball players as there are people playing
tennis or golf. So the money's proportional to how many people are playing it.
But playing the tour has never been about making money. It's something I love
to do and I don't have to spend money. I can break even."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A second story: Fisher met Memphis at 16, kinda liked it,
and grew to like it more as she made her annual return to play in racquetball's
U.S. Open, which for years was held at The Racquet Club. Ultimately, Fisher,
now 26, fell for the city, even as those around her -- native Memphians -- were
disparaging it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"I didn't go to Graceland until I moved here," she
says, "but everybody was really nice. I know a lot of people from here say
they hate it, but I don't know what the problem is. I love it here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"There are just so many things to do -- the Pink
Palace, Beale Street, all the good places to eat. I just went to my first
Grizzlies game, and it was awesome. I'm now a Tigers/Grizzlies fan."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Originally from Centerville, Ohio, Fisher played racquetball
at the University of Alabama and graduated with a degree in marketing and
public relations. She is close to getting a master's in restaurant and
hospitality management from Alabama and works for an area hotel owned by
Kemmons Wilson Companies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"They've been supportive," she says. "They
let me go play the tournaments."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Fisher has mostly avoided injury during her career, but she
did recently have her tonsils removed and has just returned to the court. She
is always looking for ways to improve her health and conditioning. Recently,
she began using an app on her iPhone to help her adjust her diet. Her biggest
challenge to staying true comes at work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"We get all the leftovers from the catering," she
says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Besides playing racquetball, she runs, lifts weights and takes
the occasional spinning class.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The sport earns high marks for burning calories:
website <a href="http://shapefit.com/">shapefit.com</a> says a
130-pound person playing a casual game of racquetball for an hour would burn
413 calories, 590 if playing competitively.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">She has added paddleball, essentially a slower version of
racquetball that demands a lot more running, and results have come quickly. She
has reached the semifinals twice this season -- a career first -- and less
frequently finds she's using inventive ploys to buy time and catch her breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"I'm not making as many mistakes, not taking as long to
recover between points, not having to clean my goggles, tie my shoelaces, check
my strings -- I've used them all," she says with a laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">With no other pro women's players in town, Fisher has to
play men -- if they're willing to step on the court with her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"There are a lot of guys who don't want to play her
because they're afraid they'll get beat," says Charlie Andrews, 50, one of
the top players in the city, who usually plays Fisher on Sunday afternoons at
the Germantown Athletic Club. "I don't ease up on her. She wants me to
play as hard as I can. Her dream is to be No. 1. She's told me that on several
occasions."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It is perhaps a romantic notion given that the world's No. 1
player, Paola Longoria, is demonstrably better than No. 2 Rhonda Rajsich, and
Rajsich is clearly better than everyone else. Fisher's game is power. Or as
tour veteran Cheryl Gudinas, 44, who once held the top spot four years running,
says: "She hits the ball a ton."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Fisher embraces the power label, especially on her more
formidable backhand side, and says, "Strategy is not my first thing. But
that's just the way I play. I play aggressive rather than being defensive and
waiting for people to make mistakes."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Gudinas, who has been something of a mentor to Fisher,
recalls a semifinal match they had a couple of years ago. Gudinas had the serve
and was one point away from closing out the match when she left Fisher a
"setup," and an easy lane for hitting a passing shot. Instead of
hitting the pass, Fisher went for a kill shot, skipped it, and lost the match.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"There are times when she could make it more simple for
herself," Gudinas says, adding there is much to like about her game:
"She has a really good drive serve, the power, and hits the ball well down
the lines."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Says Andrews: "Fundamentally, she's sound. She's extremely
competitive, which is a really good strength. She's fearless. She's not afraid
to hit a shot."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Gudinas and Fisher serve on the Women's Professional
Racquetball Organization's rules committee, and Gudinas says Fisher is
"good for the sport."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Fisher plans to stay in the sport and in Memphis; her job is
here, her boyfriend is here, and she envisions playing years from now, even
without much financial reward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">"I'm going to play as long as they let me go
play," she says. "And when it's time to start a family, we'll see.
There are a lot of girls (on tour) that have families and jobs."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.commercialappeal.com/privacy/">© 2012 Memphis Commercial
Appeal. All rights reserved. This</a><a href="http://www.commercialappeal.com/privacy/"> material has been
approved to be republished, by the WPRO</a></span></span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1