WPRO Ladies Rajsich & Waselenchuk Win U.S. Team Qualifying Division

Congratulations to Kim Waselenchuk/Rhonda Rajsich who won the U.S. Team Qualifying Division at the 2012 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships presented by HEAD/Penn. Congratulations to Ben Croft and Rocky Carson on the men's side and to all the other winners and medalists

Join us for the National Singles, May 23-28, 2012 at the Meridian Sports Club in Fullerton CA.  The WPRO Ladies will be there in full force to claim their spot on U.S. Team.

Sponsorship Opportunities are available.  Contact; sponsorships@wprotour.com

  

For Immediate Release ~ New Year’s Resolution

The week right after New Year’s is always filled with post-holiday blues, large credit card bills, extra pounds and back to work for many!  One group of working professionals though is eager to get back to work on the courts!   The WPRO professionals will kick off the 2012 second half of the season and team up with the IRT to compete in the Coast to Coast California Open in Canoga Park, California.

Canoga Park and the Spectrum Club will host both the best men and women in the game and crown the first champions of the 2012 year!  Event director Debbie Tisinger-Moore will bring back the tours for another year, to one of the nicest and largest racquetball facilities in the country.  It’s a spectators dream to have both tours in town, with a stacked amateur draw to compliment the pro players. 

As many of us enjoyed time with family and festivities, many pro players took the few weeks off to recover and regroup.  Don’t be surprised if it was short lived for many, as the second half of the season is always critical for rankings and the push to end the season at the top.  Improvements in games, conditioning and strategy were on the front burner for the ladies coming off the holiday break.   

It will be a continued battle at the top slot as Longoria continues to play solid ball, Rajsich will have her hands full to knock Longoria out of the lead.  Samantha Salas continues to steady at #3 and a strong second half season could propel her confidence as she seeks to take down the long reigns of both Rhonda and Paola.  Tour veteran Cheryl Gudinas will return to the draw after missing the Arlington stop due to surgery.  A first time semi-finalist in Arlington, Krystal Csuk will be a tough matchup, and consistent ball will keep Kerri Wachtel in the semis as well.  Young guns Cristina Amaya and Da’monique Davis continue to quest to knock off some higher seeds. 

If you are in the area and want to kick off the New Year with some great racquetball head down to the Spectrum Club, tournament information is linked below!  To a new year, a second half of what has been an exciting year, and may it keep rolling. 

http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=9125

Sarah Warhaftig

WPRO Media Director   sarah@wprotour.com

One WPRO professional will be looking for an early Christmas gift

As the ladies of the WPRO head to Arlington, VA December 9^th through 11th to compete in the 20^th annual Christmas Classic, in its 6^th year as a WPRO stop.  Tournament directors Karen Denu, Bill Millback and Wayne Toyne anticipate a large amateur event in collaboration with the best women in the game seeking a win in what will be the last WPRO stop of 2011.  Held at 

Crystal Gateway Sport & Health Club - Arlington, VA USA

Big news in the rankings as Paola Longoria moves into the top spot over Rhonda Rajsich with her win at the Puget Sound Challenge in Olympia WA, Longoria has won more tournaments, - 16 - than any other player over the last four WPRO seasons.  Rhonda is the reigning champion of the Christmas Classic, but Paola will look to continue her reign coming off back to back wins over Rhonda in their last 2 meetings of the 2011-2012 season.

In addition to the shifting of the number one position, several players are also adding to the excitement, highlighting their careers with big wins.  Cristina Amaya out of Columbia leads a strong contingent of international players with her highest ranking yet at 6^th.  Samantha Salas out of Mexico is knocking on the door, looking to get off the 3^rd ranking and for now Longoria and Rajsich will stand in her way.  

Mexico’s Suzy Acosta comes of a semi-final appearance in Olympia to grab the 8^th ranking.  And Canada’s Jen Saunders comes in at 9th.  After a semi-final appearance in Olympia Kristen Bellows looks to move back into the top 5 after a year’s absence on tour.  Not to be overlooked, though, is TJ Baumbaugh, the number 13^th ranked player on tour, who will take a bit of a home court advantage in Crystal City, likely to unleash her hometown fans on opponents!   

Contact Media Director:  Sarah Warhaftig sarah@wprotour.com

More information http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=9022

 

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FROM THE US OPEN PAGE:
The move to Minneapolis in 2010 was nothing short of a HOME RUN!  If you did not attend last year I am sure you heard the buzz—-the tournament was AWESOME!!  In addition to a huge turnout of players and fans the real story was the incredible downtown entertainment district in Minneapolis.  Hotels, restaurants, night clubs, world class shopping, and the gorgeous Target Center combined to provide a backdrop for non-stop fun!

Information will be released on Monday, September 5...

US OPEN 

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