FEATURED ATHLETE KRYSTAL CSUK

Shooting Star

By Sarah Warhaftig

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.

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. 

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.   

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. 

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!

CATCHING UP WITH DA'MONIQUE DAVIS! (WPRO #11) - 1/18/2012

The holidays are always a special time for me. I feel it’s a great way to spend more time with family as well as relax from any stressors. I took a break from racquetball and somewhat from work over the holidays to be with family and friends. I feel it re-fueled and re-charged me for the New Year and new goals. My diet however wasn't the greatest.. But hey, it's the holidays.. What do you expect!? :-)

 The second half of the season is looking great! There are 6 stops left for me, I’m feeling healthy and eager to get on the court to learn new things and get better. I feel with each stop, I learn something new. So I fully plan on using every stop to learn as well as develop my game to a higher level.

It's tough to work and play racquetball. As a nurse, I'm fortunate to only working 3 days a week.. However those 12-15 hour shifts are very stressful and my days are especially tough when I wake up 2 hours before to get a workout in, but I've made it work the past year as long as I get enough sleep, eat right, and balance my days and nights I can accomplish doing both.

Goals for the next half of the year are to improve my speed and footwork, improve my mental game and to play hard at every stop. I'd like to make a semi-final this year (something I’ve never done). So I know I need to kick my game and training up a notch to do so. These female athletes are the best in the world and know how to ball! All I want to do is be able to give them a great match to remember.

Sarah Warhaftig - WPRO Media Director

Featured Athlete Susy Acosta

The Cake Boss

By:  Sarah Warhaftig

Susy Acosta admits to having a sweet tooth.  When the lefty out of Mexico isn't battling it out on the courts, she is creating some beautiful and tasty cakes for weddings, Quinceaneras (the Mexican culture's version of a Sweet 16), and special occasions-including her own wedding.  Acosta has always enjoyed baking and said, "Well truthfully I enjoy eating my creations even more!" While she has always enjoyed baking, she discovered her creative abilities and decided to create a business, which she still runs today. 

Susy, who has received the nickname "superwoman" for her fearless attitude, has had a successful 2011-2012 season. With already a semi-final appearance in Olympia under her belt, Acosta continues her charge up the rankings on the WPRO.

According to Acosta, though, her greatest feelings of success and accomplishment come from playing for her home country of Mexico.  She feels blessed and proud to have sung the national anthem already a handful of times in her career.  Her proudest moment came in 2003 at the Pan American games, where she and her partner, Rosy Torres, won gold.  Her motivation to win a pro title is still pushing her to train and compete, and it makes hitting the courts everyday so much easier. 

Acosta balances court time with weights, speed training, and her new yoga workout-though she admits to being a total beginner!  Traveling and competing can be exhausting, but Acosta still manages to balance her court time with her other passions while resting in the hotel room.  Just ask her WPRO roommates. Thanks to them, they can tell you when all the reality cooking shows are on. 

When asked about the new look of the tour, Acosta says, "I am really excited and I truly believe this is a new era for our tour."  The media and connection to the world is new and exciting, and Acosta believes this is just the beginning of new and great things.      

An exciting player to watch on the courts, Susy looks forward to many more years of successful racquetball, and ultimately, a pro title would be her "icing on the cake."

Cakes designed by Susy:  

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

WPRO - Puget Sound Challenge Semi-finals

It'll be 1 v. 2 again in a Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) event final, as WPRO #1 Rhonda Rajsich will face #2 Paola Longoria Sunday in the Finals of the 2011 Puget Sound Challenge Pro/Am in Olympia, Washington. Longoria has won their last two meetings: last month in the US Open and in the Pan American Games.

Rajsich reached the final by defeating Kristen Bellows, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6, while Longoria beat fellow Mexican Susana Acosta, 11-3, 11-1, 11-6.

The final will be at noon Sunday.

2011 Puget Sound Challenge, Olympia, Washington

Semi-finals

Rhonda Rajsich d. Kristen Bellows, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6

Paola Longoria d. Susana Acosta, 11-3, 11-1, 11-6

Finals

Rhonda Rajsich vs. Paola Longoria

Follow the bouncing ball....

Posted by The Racquetball Blog