Tournament Trail Juniors Ladies+ Results TIDBITS CRA Board
SPRING 2007 EDITION www.ColoradoRacquetball.com
PRESIDENT’S CORNER —
Racquetball — A Stress Reliever
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by Marcia Richards
acquetball season begins in Colorado in late August or early September. The kids are in school, the summer is over, and work is work … When we were younger, it was very easy to just pick up and go play racquetball, either for fun or in a tournament setting. Now we have what many call our "real lives" and then there is racquetball. Our daily lives come and go, family commitments come and go, work piles up and we deal with it, and then there is racquetball. Stress is part of our lives and it comes and goes. Stress does not play favorites; it hits us all throughout the year. Stress is unavoidable, but how we deal with it is what makes us different. The challenge is for us to figure out how to use stress in our favor, by capitalizing on its energy. When you are stressed, your body seems to race and the adrenaline flows at higher measures. There is no better time to pick up a racquet and direct this vigor into a fastpaced, high-energy game like racquetball! It is important to recognize what our bodies need and direct our energies in a way that empowers us to play, even on the most adverse days. Racquetball incorporates large muscle groups, is a huge calorie burner, and is lots of fun. No doubt, racquetball can be an antidote to our stressful lives. Good humor, allowing yourself to choose your level of commitment, and competition make up a great formula for keeping racquetball in your life. When things get too chaotic, pick up your racquet and go to the gym for a short workout. You can re-energize your life, probably sleep better, and, no doubt, feel better because you got to sweat, even for a short moment. The game is fast and furious, just like our lives, so make time for yourself to play so you can keep the stress at bay, if not useful at play, and be back at work with a smile on your face.
I believe you will find that there will never be a day when you regret getting onto a court and drilling or playing-life is just a little better afterward.
EDITOR’S CORNER —
Hall of Fame
I
by Cindy Tilbury
n January, I was fortunate enough to be inducted into the Minnesota Racquetball Hall of Fame. Since I had moved to Denver in 1999, it was an unexpected honor, so I appreciated the honor and the fact that they had not forgotten my 12 years of tournament play and state association board member service. I always love going back to Minnesota to play and to visit with friends, but this time was extra special. In my acceptance speech, I talked about two recent events that brought me way back to the beginning, and I wanted to share them with my Colorado player friends, too. During the last year, I had been playing with a group of men who don’t get outside their
courts much, and I put on a few events for them, including some classes and a pro exhibition match. They had never seen the game played like that, and it reenergized them for playing and improving. In September, I convinced two of the guys to enter a USAR-sanctioned tournament not far from their hometown. I became their coach and cheerleader during the weekend, but before that, I had to get them the tournament calendar and entry forms, get them in the right divisions, get their start times, teach them to read drawsheets, when to take timeouts and how to best use their five-minute warm-up time. It was fun, but I couldn’t remember how or when I had learned all of the little things about tournaments, and now I feel most at home at a tournament. The guys had such a great weekend and they did fairly well in Consolation. They met some new people to play, too. It was so satisfying for me that I’d like to encourage each of you to make a special effort to invite a non-tournament player to your next tournament. Carve a path for that person—racquetball tournaments can be a little intimidating to start—just like any competitive sport. The second event was my pilgrimage to the Massillon (Ohio) YMCA where my older brother had taught me to play racquetball in about 1978. The lady at the front desk let me come in and see the courts and walk around a bit. She thought she remembered my brother from back then. It made me realize how we all leave a racquetball legacy and that we need to think about that all the time. I was honored and grateful that my fellow Minnesota players hadn’t forgotten my racquetball legacy.
USA GOLD DEFENSE —
“USA” Passion for Racquetball & Going for the Gold!
A
by Woody Clouse
year ago this April, I had the honor of representing the United States in the Pan-American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala—an opportunity that I thought had long passed me by. Embracing the challenge and preparing as much as I could, my coach, Dave Ellis, warned me that I would have to keep a very open mind because I was not able to train for the experience I was about to encounter. Not really sure what that meant, I continued to keep my nose to the grindstone and prepare for the rare opportunity to represent my country. After a couple of days of practice, my doubles partner, Willie Tilton, and I felt ready, or as ready as we could for a team where half of us was spending as much time on the commode as in bed. It seemed that food from the street vendor did not agree with Willie too much. Regardless of the unique warm-up methods, we felt pretty good and were ready to get the play started. Our first match had us pitted against (who else?) the host country, Guatemala. As we warmed up, we had a full house but nothing that caught our eye as unusual. We started off pretty well, which was fortunate because we were not aware of what we were in store for. With a comfortable lead, we got caught off guard and lost a couple of rallies. And that’s when we began to hear this deep rumbling GUATE-MALA, GUATE-MALA, GUATE…Willie and I looked over at each other and just grinned with a determined gleam MALA… in our eye. Never in our racquetball careers had we ever seen that kind of passion come from a crowd! We were able to close out the first game and jump to another comfortable lead in the second. Once, again we lost our stride and that’s when it was taken to a whole new level. The crowd that once was a large supportive crowd became a thundering force of chants, cheers, and patriotism that was a thing of beauty. The crowd had grown to proportions that defied the space behind a back wall glass court. We battled back and fourth with the home country willing their inspired team to beat us, the favored team from the United States. As a couple of breaks would have it, we squeaked the second game out and appreciated the wake-up call we needed.
Coach Ellis was right! There was no way to prepare for what I experienced at that event. It was a great event that taught me how much love and passion exists around the world for our native sport. It was also great being a part of an event that showed me how much the game is growing in other parts of the world. In fact, the second most popular sport in Bolivia is racquetball! As luck would have it, I have another opportunity to compete for the USA again in the 2007 Pan-American Championship’s in Santiago, Chili. I’m looking forward to the challenge and the honor of representing the Red, White & Blue to another successful defense of our Gold Medal Sweep!
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DON’T MISS OUT! Colorado State Racquetball SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS Entry Form on pages 7-8!
PROGRAM DIRECTOR’S CORNER —
I
by Cindy Tilbury
travel a lot with my job and stay in one place for awhile, so I have the opportunity to get to know the local racquetball players and see how programs are run. One particularly successful league idea comes from Debbie Tisinger in California. Debbie is a many-time national champion, and pro at the 24-court Spectrum Club in Canoga Park, California. Debbie runs singles and doubles leagues, but instead of playing one player per week for an hour, she makes it an evening of racquetball. To encourage people to show up each week, she has all players play all of the other players. These are usually onegame-to-11 matches, as she gets 10 to 12 people to sign up for each weeknight league. If 12 people sign up, she reserves six courts for that league. Wins are totalled and updated each week. Missing a night means lots of losses, but not an automatic last-place finish for the season. A playoff between the top six or eight players is set up the last night. Trophies or merchandise items are awarded to the winners. For doubles, substitutions are allowed, except during the playoff. In some cases, approval to join a league is needed by Debbie to keep the divisions competitive and fun. Once the league is set up for the season, Debbie doesn’t need to be there during the league—she just drops off the updated sheets and picks up the win/loss sheet the next day. I believe it was the traffic in Los Angeles that made this format the best for Debbie’s members, since they can be a little late and still play all of their matches. Sometimes they play until 9:30 at night. Maybe your players would like to try this format next season. It’s always good to try new and interesting formats. If you need more details on this format or running leagues, contact me.
Good luck with all of your racquetball programs.
Colorado Juniors Shine at IRF Junior Championships
by Dan Davis
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Kevin Hernandez Friendship Cup, Won a Silver medal in the Red Division boy’s 16 singles and a Silver in the Gold Division boy’s 16 doubles.
Kevin
Elizabeth Vargas Esprit Cup, Won a silver medal in the Gold division Girl’s 10 doubles, Friendship Cup won a silver medal in the red division girl’s 10 singles and a bronze medal in the mixed 10 doubles. Matt McAdam Friendship Cup, won a bronze medal in the gold division. Zack Pellowski Friendship Cup, won a bronze medal in the red division boy’s 10 singles. Erika Manilla Esprit Cup, Won a silver medal in the gold division girl’s 8 & under single bounce and a silver medal in the gold division girl’s 8 & under multi-bounce.
Chris
Zack Adam Manilla Esprit Cup, Gold medal (world champion) in the gold division mixed 10 doubles, bronze medal gold division of the boy’s 10 singles, and a bronze medal in the gold division boy’s 10 doubles. Erika & Adam World Cup – The two top two singles players and the top doubles team of girls and boys ages 14, 16, and 18 represent the US in team points for the World Cup. Mexico beat the US for first place by 14 points. Esprit Cup – The top boys and girls singles player ages 6, 8, 10, and 12 and the top doubles team of girls and boys ages 10, and 12.play for team points in the Esprit Cup. Mexico won first and the US was second. Friendship Cup – Non team competition with top players in the world. Canada first, Mexico second, US third.
Elizabeth
More details on the International Racquetball Federation website. Hollee, Elizabeth, Matt & Adam
by Maylen Gasper
Editor’s Note: I asked Maylen to write about her experience moving up to Open, as this is probably the biggest jump in the tournament world. It has been over 20 years since I made this move, and I thought the CRA members would like to hear a fresh perspective. Not every player has a goal to compete in the Open division, but we all want to play our best and feel good about our efforts, so we all can take some inspiration from Maylen’s thoughts. – Cindy Tilbury
he 18th IRF World Junior Championships 2006 were held December 15-12, 2006, in Tempe, AZ. We had seven Colorado junior players attending. They all had tough competition but played well, and all brought home at least one medal and were large contributors to team points.
Chris Good Friendship Cup, won a bronze medal in the Gold division of the boy’s 14 Doubles and a silver in the Blue division boy’s 14 singles.
The Big Move from A to Open
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he beginning of this racquetball season marks my fourth anniversary playing. So it seemed only fitting that I take time to evaluate just where I want to go in the sport. Having some success rising up through the divisions, spending about two years playing As, I’ve convinced myself that I’m ready to dabble in both the Women’s Open division and Mixed Open Doubles division. I see this as a “must” to improve my play, both technically and mentally. Besides, playing higher-caliber players with years of experience can only help me become a better player. We’re all competitive. If we weren’t, we wouldn’t be playing. And one of the best ways to improve is to be continuously challenged. I’m doing this by competing in a higher division. This also satisfies my competitive drive. It is easy to get comfortable winning in one division and avoid the risk of losing a few matches by moving up. The downfall with this decision, however, is that eventually the players you defeat today will move up, leaving less competition in the lower division. But more important than a player’s stagnation is the increased chance that a player who is unwilling to advance will become a sandbagger. Sandbagging is detrimental to the growth of the sport. Junior division players quickly recognize when sandbaggers hang back in the skill divisions, and they’re likely to be discouraged from competing in those divisions. No one is gratified by winning in a division that lacks challenging competition. We should value the hard loss over the easy victory. This is why the CRA enforces the “winners move up” rule. So rather than become a despised sandbagger and a stagnate player, I’m choosing to improve by moving to the
Continued on page 4...
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COACHES’ CORNER —
Balance and Coaching
A
by Woody Clause
s coaches, our job and effort to bring out the best of the people we work with depend on one primary focus—balance. Balance should always be the primary concern. When a player is balanced, he/she is going to perform better. As coaches, if this is not our focus, we are making our jobs harder than it has to be. As coaches, we often look at specific performance points, such as a wrist snap, the height of the elbow, or the amount of shoulder rotation a person has. All of these need attention and we should address each one. But we should always maintain balance as the foundation, because of the fact that every movement and improvement will come much more efficiently and consistently when a player is balanced and stable. Keep in mind that from balance comes stability, from stability comes consistency, from consistency comes confidence and from confidence comes success. If players are not balanced, they should hit a shot that will allow them to regain their balance and get back to the center of the court!
The Big Move from A to Open — continued from Page 3... next higher division. And I encourage you to do the same. It’s well worth a few losses to significantly improve your own game and the sport as a whole. I realized there are several areas to keep in mind when making this move, such as: Will this cost me more money? Who will I play against? Can I handle the pressure of being on the court with a seasoned open player? Money. Playing Open division tournaments could increase the need for monetary resources in several areas. Perhaps I should hire a coach for a period of time to help me work out those areas that will keep me from moving forward and eventually become competitive in the division. Also, most tournaments charge a higher entry fee for the Open division. The upside of it is that those tournaments also offer dollars for the top finishers so I used that as a positive motivator. Overall, I think the benefits outweigh the speed bump. Seeding. The thought of going to a tournament to play only one quick match is not appealing to anyone—especially those of us who are competitive. The reality of advancing in any sport is that, at first, your seeding will be against a number one or two competitor—and rightfully so, because they have paid their dues and I am just moving into this new area. I know that I will probably have only two matches (maybe three), but time and experience will change that in a few years. I can expect to be at the bottom of the totem pole, as they say, for a few years and I am okay with that because it gives me a target to hit. I will be thrilled if I accomplish my goals in a shorter time. I’ll get more matches by entering both the A and Open divisions whenever I can. Pressure. I remember the first time I competed in a racquetball tournament four years ago in Korea. I had been playing for about three months with the local guys on base and the opportunity came for me to represent the military base at which I was stationed. I was so nervous I could not focus and my adrenalin was going a thousand miles per hour. I could not hit the ball correctly to save my life. This changed after subsequent matches that weekend, and I got comfortable with the game. I expect the same, if not more pressure when stepping into the court with these experienced players. At the same time, that feeling of pressure will find its place and I will be able to use it as a tool rather than let it become a consistent hinder in my game. Ready For My First Match? Just recently, I played in a tournament in which I entered both the A and Open divisions and my experience was a good one because I was able to be on the court with one of the most calm players I have seen play in our area tournaments. Even though I was very nervous the first game, I was able to settle in and give my opponent a better second game. One of the other pressures I put on myself is that of not being a competitor to my opponent and having them feel like they just wasted 30 or 40 minutes of their time. This, by the way, is one of my pressure motivators to help me stay focused and improve my game. During that tournament, I realized how important it is to be prepared to compete with higher-caliber players. I was not ready by any definition of the word, and it showed. I was tired so I was
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distracted by my exhaustion rather than being able to stay focused to implement the mental strategy and to have the ability to use my energy to get me through the match. Being physically ready will make it easier to implement all parts of my game. Open doubles before singles. Being a doubles player also, I experienced the same amount of pressure playing against a pro team during the first match in the Open division. This, too, took me a full game to get somewhat settled and, by then, we were already in the hole by losing the first game. To some players, it may be easier to play in the Open doubles division and get some experience and comfort; however, I find that my doubles and singles game are completely different. My singles game helps my doubles game but I am not sure that it works in reverse. Coach. Getting a coach during this transition is a very important part of my move. I know that I have a lot to learn about this game we love so much, and I cannot have a mirror all the time to see what I am doing right and on which areas I need to improve. Besides, I know we can be our own worst critic and have a tendency to overanalyze the game. This can be more detrimental than positive. Investing in some instruction time can take anyone’s game to the next level. Someone I respect a lot in this game once told me that practice does not make perfect but perfect practice makes perfect. I am one of those players that need to take to the court and dedicate time to implement the lessons learned. Warm up before the match. When I got involved with tournament play here in the Colorado area, I remember listening to the Open players talk about warm-ups and their routines before the match. This has proven to be a very important part of my game because, when I go in the court without taking the time to hit the ball from different areas and practice a few serves, I have found that it take me longer to get comfortable. If I take a nonchalant approach, I tend to play that way and the results are not positive. I try to practice at least five times each shot that I could potentially use during the match, just to get the muscles to remember the function. The 2006/2007 tournament season should be an exciting one for me in the Open division. If you’re consistently winning in the As, I hope to compete against you soon in the Opens. It’s a big move up, but I can’t wait to win matches in my new division. Wish me luck.
Racquetball Addicts Anonymous Tournament December 15-17, 2006 Denver Athletic Club
CRA 2006/07 Tournament Results Photo courtesy of John Foust
For all results of all divisions, including the professional divisions, please visit our website at www.coloradoracquetball.com.
Racquet for the Cure February 8-11, 2007
Denver Athletic Club Division WPro WO WA WB WC WD MO MA MB MC MD XPro Dubs XO Dubs XA Dubs XB Dubs WO Dubs WB Dubs
Winner Rhonda Rajsich Malia Bailey Lori Inskeep Dianne Winter Amy Pera Shelly Stetler Woody Clouse Andy Kulback John Beldy Adam Manilla Matt McAdam Clouse/Mazur Ferina/Kulback Faulkner/Thompson Sikorski/Sikorski Ferina/Mehegan Bertelsen/Pera
2nd Place Christie Van Hees Michelle Earl Shirley Parsons Loretta Marks Vicki Dykstra Susan Spear Lee Beckwith Chuck Meredith Drew Popovich Brian Small Bob Sikorski Bailey/Herrera Alonzi/Beldring Holmes/Inskeep Guajardo/Wilkinson Faulkner/Hagen Garcia/Winter
Third Kerri Wachtel Kimi Ferina Gaye Faulkner Diane Degitis Chantel Anderson Michael Ruder David Guentert Kevin Holmes Dorsey Comeau Chris Martinez Christopher Knapp Salas/Mehta Hagen/Mehta Manilla/Parsons Brunetti/Small Bailey/Jirik Brunetti/Degitis
Fourth Cheryl Gudinas Kara Mazur Barb Mehegan Diane Wilkinson Kristen B Robin Sikorski Alok Mehta Ken Sylvester Gene Fladen Brad Green Guentert/Enriquez Guentert/Erardi Mojer/Sylvester Lincoln/Douglass Earl/Inskeep Anderson/Wilkinson
Touring Squad Meet Goodson Recreation Center
February 3, 2007 Division #1s & #2s #3s & #4s #5s & #6s #7s & #8s
Winner Adam Gray (AFA) Adam Stoke (AFA) Scott Welsingher (AFA) Sara Weiman (AFA)
2nd Place David Chambers (AFA) Stanley Montoya (AFA) Gordon Randall (AFA) Matt Douglas (AFA)
Third Keiran Flanigan (CU) Vitaly Uretsky (DU) Michael Blackbrun (AFA) Bob Sikorski (CU-CO Springs)
Thanks to Ben Kincses of DU for running this event!
Special Appeal to CRA Members/Friends from the University of Denver Touring Squad! Ben Kincses and Jo Shattuck report that the DU racquetball team is going to compete in the Phoenix USAR National Intercollegiates Championships at the end of March. They are short of funds for this trip, and hope you can help support racquetball at the college level with your contributions. Please contact Jo Shattuck and she will get you in touch with the team. For information about the University Touring Squad, including starting a team, contact Jo Shattuck at 303.949.7785 or joshattuck@hotmail.com.
Division Winner MO Woody Clouse WO Cindy Tilbury MA Byron Thompson WA Chris Meyer MB David Radke MC Tim Lenahan MD Jason Zemlicka M30 Alok Mehta M40/50 Byron Thompson MO Dubs Beckwith/Shovlain XO Dubs Croft/Spinks MA Dubs Burgess/Letsche WA Dubs Meyer/Spinks MB Dubs Irlando/Radke
2nd Ben Croft 2nd Marcia Richards 2nd Kevin Holmes 2nd Shirley Parsons 2nd Jason Korn 2nd Robert Korn 2nd Wayne Kirmer 2nd Mike Winters 2nd Ed Kidneigh 2nd Guintert/Shattuck 2nd Meredith/Tilbury 2nd Holmes/Thompson 2nd Lindeman/Parsons 2nd Cornell/Sanchez
Opening Shots Tournament September 14-17, 2006 Highlands Ranch Rec Center Division Winner MA Bruce Evans 2nd 3rd Jeff Weston 4th MB Miles Venzara 2nd 3rd Mark Sikorski 4th MC Alan Claussen 2nd 3rd John Irlando 4th MD Jason Pardikes 2nd 3rd Dan Pardikes 4th WA Chris Meyer 2nd 3rd Michelle Sikorski4th MADubs Fair/Weston 2nd 3rd Howell/Lewallen 4th
Byron Thompson Mike Smalley Kent Lewallen Drew Popovich Michael Phan Tino Rael Beau Wood Scott Kilpatrick Shirley Parsons Lucy Jirik Amdahl/Cornell Popovich/Smalley
COLORADO STATE RANKINGS on next page...
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Congratulations to all of the participants and winners!!
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Not for Ladies Only
USRA —
by Dan Davis
State Rankings
ORLANDO WOMEN’S SENIOR/MASTER TOURNAMENT Marcia Richards and I just got back from competing in the Women’s Seniors/Masters Racquetball Association Championships in Orlando and, although we are very tired and sore, we wanted to share how much fun we had. If you are female and 35+ and can travel to only one tournament in 2008, this may be the one you want to attend.
Colorado WOMEN
Photo courtesy of John Foust
About 150 ladies competed in 35+ through 75+ age round-robin divisions, including several B/C divisions. In our divisions, there was not one easy match, and all of the ladies were nice on and off the court. The weather was warm, but we were indoors most of the time, playing or watching top-level play. One of the off-court highlights was the banquet—short on speeches and long on dancing and karaoke-ing. Kendra Tutsch from Wisconsin is the President of the organization and she really rallies the women together for a tournament experience that makes you wish all of your women players could share. Karaoke at the Women’s Senior/ Masters banquet in Orlando
CLOSER TO HOME We are so fortunate to have a great group of ladies that get together monthly to play some ball and share some snacks. Currently, we are Marcia Richards and Linda Mojer with a local looking for clubs to host our group on a weekend breast cancer survivor in Olando during non-primetime hours, and we would love to try out some new venues. Three courts are usually enough to accommodate our group, so please contact Tamera Schlegel if you have a suggestion for us. She or one of her helpers can contact the club and set up the details. As always, if you are not on Tamera’s official list, please email her at imtedious@msn.com to be added. As a special event, we are considering taking an overnight trip to the Hot Springs Spa and Pool in Glenwood Springs in the next several months. Email Tamera if you are interested in that type of trip. Suggestions to make the trip more fun are welcome, as well.
PASTA SALAD
Recipe
By April Settell Serves 30 to 40 People 42 ounces dry noodles, multicolored and twisty is more fun 3 10 3/4 ounce can black olives, chopped 2 onions, chopped
3 green peppers, chopped 1 cup parmesan cheese 1 large bottle of Italian dressing Salt and pepper to taste
Cook noodles until just tender and drain. Toss with a small amount of salad dressing just to keep the noodles from sticking together while they cool. Chop the other ingredients and toss with the noodles and add Italian dressing until well coated. Let cool in refrigerator for several hours. Add more dressing just prior to serving, as the noodles absorb it. This recipe will serve about 30-40 people. You can also dress it up with artichoke hearts, shrimp or a variety of other items.
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Photo courtesy of John Foust
Marcia and I will pursue bringing this tournament to Denver in the future, but in the meantime, here is the schedule for the next several years. Check out the http://my.execpc.com/~tutsch/WSMRA/main.html website for results and updates, or contact us.
January 24-27, 2008 Overland Park (Kansas City), Missouri — Drive From Denver! January 22-25, 2009 Canoga Park (Los Angeles), California
as of 2/1/07
Rank Player City 1 Jo Shattuck Denver 2 Marcia Richards Littleton 3 Tina Hagen CO Springs 4 Cindy Tilbury Denver 5 Micky Richer Ft. Collins 6 Mary Keenan CO Springs 7 Barbara Mehegan CO Springs 8 Linda Mojer CO Springs 9 Ann Schramm CO Springs 10 April Settell Aurora 11 Carol Zimlinghaus Littleton 12 Shirley Parsons Rangely 13 Nicole Hamilton Ft. Collins 14 Janelle Williams Highlands Ranch 15 Gaye Faulkner Littleton 16 Lori Inskeep Littleton 17 Dena Morrissey Durango 18 Cara Pellowski Palisade 19 Jean Gallagher Littleton 20 Christine Meyer Arvada 21 Maylen Gaspar CO Springs 22 Hannah Oliver CO Springs 23 Petra Allen CO Springs 24 Melissa Zantop Littleton 25 Kenna Anderson Parker
Colorado MEN Rank Player City 1 Derek Robinson Littleton 2 Mitch Williams Pueblo 3 Woody Clouse Highlands Ranch 4 Gilberto De Los Rios Pueblo 5 Tony Boscia Lakewood 6 Andres Jimenez Pueblo West 7 Nicholas Giunta Pueblo 8 John Vohland CO Springs 9 Eric Metherd Centennial 10 Tony Feldstein Monument 11 John Lee Rhodes CO Springs 12 Anthony Herrera Grand Junction 13 Lee Beckwith Boulder 14 Ray Cordero CO Springs 15 David Guentert Aurora 16 Craig Thomerson Littleton 17 Mathew Christensen Lakewood 18 Mike Cole Thornton 19 Noel Delporte Lakewood 20 Michael Eitzel Denver 21 Eddie Meredith CO Springs 22 Alok Mehta CO Springs 23 Dan Beaudry Pueblo 24 Gary West Montrose 25 Jim Hiser CO Springs
Tournament Host Highlands Ranch Recreation Center 8801 South Broadway ł Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80126 Entry Deadline WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14 – 12:00 noon Entry Fees Adults: $55 First event / $15 Second event (see form for “Early Bird” discount) Collegiate Team Players (18 & over): $30 First event / $15 Second event Juniors & High School Team Players (18 & under): $20 First event / $15 Second event Events Two event limit; only one skill level allowed per entrant. Drop-downs in all skill divisions will be pre-scheduled. The CRA attempts to schedule playoffs for all divisions offered, but those with fewer than six (6) entrants may be combined, offered in round-robin format, or cancelled. Members Only All entrants must be current CRA/USAR members in good standing. Draws Close Monday, March 19 – 12:00 noon. No entries will be processed after the draws have closed. Event Directors CRA Board of Directors ł Questions before draws close: (720) 244-7654 or (303) 738-9797 Start Times Wednesday, March 21 – after 1:00 pm Online at www.ColoradoRacquetball.com or by phone at (303) 471-8950 Daily Starts Thursday at 6pm … Friday at 6pm … Saturday at 8am … Sunday at 8am Conflicts Please be prepared for Friday play in most divisions; if necessary, larger divisions will begin on Thursday. Accommodation of first round conflicts cannot be guaranteed. Referees Awards Souvenir Special Events Venue Notes
Loser(s) must referee immediately after match or find comparable replacement. First, second and third place awards will be given in all divisions of six or more. All participants will receive a high-quality, logoed souvenir item. General Membership Meeting on Saturday at 1:00 pm; CRA Board Elections No towel service … To use the locker facilities, players must provide their own towels and locks … There is no child care available; children must be under adult supervision at all times … Parking is limited and you must use designated spaces, or risk being ticketed (no exceptions!). NEW! All State Singles events have been designated as QUALIFIERS for the USA Racquetball National Singles Championships in Houston (regional participation is no longer required). If you’re planning to attend Nationals this May, you’ll qualify by playing in this event!
Visit the CRA Website at www.ColoradoRacquetball.com 7
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2007 CRA State Singles Championships ENTRY FORM March 22-25 @ Highlands Ranch Recreation Center Mail to: CRA, 5875 South Greenwood Street, Littleton, CO 80120, TEL: 720-244-7654 ! PLEASE NOTE: NO FAXING ! DEADLINE: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 ! (Entries must be postmarked or received by deadline to receive discount) Ĺ‚ COMPLETE ENTRY FORM WITH PAYMENT REQUIRED FOR PLACEMENT IN THE DRAW
Name: _______________________________________Age: ______________ Gender: M | F Address: _____________________________________City, State, Zip: _________________
Divisions ADULTS Open
Only one skill level: A or B or C or D/Novice 2425+ 30+ 35+ 40+ 45+ 50+ 55+ 60+ 65+ 70+ 75+ 80+
Phone: (Day) __________________________________(Evening): _____________________ E-Mail address ________________________________@ ____________________________ Home Club: ___________________________________School:________________________ First division: __________________________________Second Division: ________________
*Only one skill level choice [A,B,C,D] is allowed. Second division must be an open/age division. Comments:_________________________________________________________________ WAIVER: I hereby, for myself, my heirs, executors waive and release the Colorado Racquetball Association, the Highlands Ranch Recreation Center, participating sponsors, their agents, representatives, or employees for any injury or disability which may incur as a result of my participation in this event or in any activities (whether or not authorized by the CRA or HRRC) in utilizing any of the facilities of the Highlands Ranch Recreation Center or while on any part of the premises. By registering for this event, I release and relinquish all rights to the use of event photography or videotape in which my image appears.
__________________________________________________________________________ Signature (Guardian, if under 18 years of age) Date
Event Entry Fees
First
Second
Adults
$55
$15
Adult, early bird* =
$40
$15
*Entry must be postmarked or received by March 14
Collegiate (over 18)
$30
$15
All draws close Monday, March 19 at NOON
High School (under 18)
$20
$15
Juniors (18 and under)
$20
$15
Adult
Junior
USAR Membership is Required for Entry
$35
$20
Player must have valid membership card or receipt
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UPDATE —
From a Special CRA Friend
I
by Jeremy Lanosga
t’s been almost three years since my life changed forever. In an instant, things would never be the same. In 2004, I fell rock climbing in Garden of the Gods while taking a picture of the sunset. I broke my neck at a level that would render me a quadriplegic. At first, when I found out that I would never walk, my heart was crushed. All I wanted was to walk again, to climb a mountain, to play racquetball, to chase my siblings. Now, as I have gained strength and a new realization of life, my ambitions have grown. While I still dream of one day walking, I now can see beyond that.
I am in college, taking classes towards a business degree. I am enjoying my classes and the many things I am learning. My ambition is Law school. I know I would make a good lawyer. Besides school, I keep busy playing pool and hanging with friends. I also had a unique opportunity to show some newly-injured patients that are a similar level injury how they could play pool. When I saw them, I remembered how weak I was in the hospital and I realize how much strength I have gained. Recently, the Lion’s Club sponsored me to get a hand bike. When the weather is warm, I will be outside again, in the sun, riding a bike.
Some days are hard, but I have learned many things in the last few years—most of all, that you can find joy and happiness in life despite your circumstances.
IPRO INSTRUCTORS’ CORNER —
Peak Performance
A
by Woody Clause
s a coach and a player, if we’re frequently told that 90 percent of the game happens between our ears, why do we spend 90 percent of our practice time on its physical aspects? As a coach, I am constantly sought after for my knowledge of the technical aspects of the game. Requests such as “I would like to improve my forehand,” or “I want to beat this guy I’ve been playing at the club, can you help?” are typical. As a coach, my response is always yes, I can teach a person how to hit a better forehand; and yes, I can teach a person how to improve their shot selection and court positioning. But, as a “Peak Performance” coach, the question I am immediately concerned with when someone has improved their technique is: do they have the mental toughness necessary to step up to a higher level of competition? When it’s getting close to the end of the match, can they clear their mind and let their body move free of thought? If they can, they’ve begun to act as a true “Peak Performer.” The answer to the first question is really quite simple. Practicing the physical side of the game is, first and foremost, a tangible exercise. We can see it and we can feel it; and as we do, simply out of habit, our confidence grows along with our muscle memory. These are both necessary to be confident. Conventional wisdom tells us that practice makes perfect and that’s that! Conventional wisdom, in this case, however, is wrong and I want to be very clear about this misunderstood concept: Only “perfect” practice makes perfect! Reinforcing a bad habit only makes it worse. Putting too much stock into court time can be counterproductive, if there is not clarity and thoroughness within our approach to improve.
So what do we do, and how to do it? We begin by seeing the big picture. We focus on “Peak Performance” on a daily basis. Our daily goal must be to improve each and every day in all areas of the game. This effort must address a number of contributing factors. And the first one is a biggie! How sound is the foundation of your game? Are you truly mentally and physically prepared to play your best? Are you rested? Are you hydrated? Will your diet allow you to perform your best? Are you aware of the strengths of your game, as well as the areas that need improvement? During a match, are you willing to go the extra mile to gut out the
Peak Performance continued... victory, if necessary? Are you only focused on what you can control? Are you willing to not allow outside influences to affect your next shot or performance? Do you have daily goals? Are you thinking only positive thoughts? Is there balance within these factors, as well as in your life in general? Balance is a huge factor in achieving Peak Performance due to the fact that if you don’t have balance within these factors you’re not giving yourself a chance to be your best. The next step is critical. Understand that “being in the zone” and being a “Peak Performer” are manufactured states. They are not places you end up by chance. The more time and effort you put into getting into the zone and bringing out your best when it counts, the more it will happen! Take a minimum of 15 minutes every day to allow yourself some quiet time and space. Just prior to your warmup is always a good time. Lie down, close your eyes and begin to visualize yourself playing perfectly. Incorporate as many details as possible into your vision: the smell of the court, the color of the ball, the lighting, the sounds that occur during play. Visualize yourself playing great during big points, as well as any other situation that enters your mind. Your best past performances will be your greatest ally. The more often you can tap into those past experiences of greatness, the more likely it will happen again. The art of this exercise is to “feel” yourself doing it while you’re visualizing yourself. This exercise will also be very effective in small doses. Five-time world champion Sudsy Monchik has been teased about his lack of time on the court compared to his relentless attack of constantly playing the game in his head, but this is definitely one of the reasons why he has been able to play the game as close to perfect as anyone ever has. So before you begin addressing areas of your physical game, begin working on your game from the inside out. This will enhance and improve all areas of your game and get you one giant step closer to not only being a more mentally tough player, but a true “Peak Performer”. One of the biggest transformations you will experience as a recreational or competitive athlete is going from a player who “believes” in yourself to a player who has “faith” in the outcome of the game!
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TIDBITSTIDBITS Men and Women 45 Years and Older!!!!! Please consider playing in the National Masters Racquetball Association tournaments for 2007. They are held especially for you. The format is all round-robin, with a last-day playoff in divisions with 20 or more entrants. Line up your travelmate now and reserve your spot. Contact Cindy Tilbury (NMRA Board Member) or Marcia Richards for more information, or go to www.nmra.info for entry forms. March 3-10, 2007 Portland, Oregon July 25-28, 2007 Kansas City, Missouri Men and Women 35 Years and Older!!! In addition to National Singles and National Doubles, there is another special tournament for you that you will want to consider--The IRF Seniors/Masters Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from August 28 through September 1, 2007. Join us for some serious singles. Gary Mazaroff is the main contact for this round-robin event. Playing in our State Singles or any USAR Regional tournament (I strongly recommend the Chicago IRT Pro Nationals so you can also watch the Men's pros play) qualifies you to attend the USAR National Singles tournament in Houston in May. Previously, only USAR regionals and a few other 45+ tournaments would count as qualifier tournaments. Prefer Doubles?!?! The IRF World Senior/Master Doubles is coming up quickly in Hamburg, Germany, June 6 though 9, 2007. Go to www.internationalracquetball.com for event information. Represent the USA with us. If you need a partner, you can ask for one on the entry form. This event is also 35+ and round-robin, but teams from all over the world will compete. Can't get to the WPRO tour events but want to watch all of the action? Go to www.racquetballonline.tv for live coverage and on-demand past matches! This is one of the coolest developments in our sport this year and is sponsored by Ektelon. Create a free login account and check the schedule or watch an event. When she is not playing, our own Jo Shattuck of the Denver Athletic Club does the play-by-play commentary. See you computer-side! The University Touring League continues to ramp up with more teams and more players. These young people are always looking for a little help--coaching, competition and equipment are a few examples. If you can adopt a team or help out for a few afternoons, they need you--especially the girls, who sometimes don't get the attention they deserve! Contact Jo Shattuck to get involved. Maybe you're more comfortable around the smaller crowd. Dan Davis and Debbie Beldring have Junior programs going on both sides of the Denver metro area. If you have a junior who wants to try racquetball or would like to help out with the program, contact the CRA or Dan or Debbie to lend a hand. Outdoor court rats! We are planning another outdoor tournament this summer, and possibly two. Details will be available on the www.coloradoracquetball.com website when they are available. Rangeview High School in Aurora is the perfect site for our outdoor events with six outdoor courts available year-round. Head on over to Rangeview and start practicing your outdoor strategy now (or as soon as the snow melts). Want to help out at tournaments or do other things to promote racquetball in our area? Contact the CRA and we'll find the best fit for your interests. You don't have to be an official board member or officer to contribute--even the small things help a lot. All ages and abilities--are you interested in playing other clubs? Some of the club players have expressed interest in creating a traveling league with club teams. If you have a group of club players who would like more information about competing and representing your club, contact the CRA and we can help organize it if there are a few
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TIDBITS continued... teams. Typically, a team consists of a Number 1 singles man and woman, a Number 2 singles man and woman, a Number 3 singles man and woman, a Men's Doubles team and a Women's Doubles team. The participants of the traveling league would determine what format is best for this new league. Details will also be shared on the www.coloradoracquetball.com website.
Several special requests have come in from around the Colorado racquetball community asking for a little financial help getting to tournaments and, if you find our sport to be a favorite charity of yours, please consider the following causes: • Jeremy Lanosga continues to improve after his fall in the Colorado Springs area two years ago. The CRA has been helping him out financially by providing cell service-his connection to many who can't visit him in person. Jeremy is a very special Colorado racquetball junior and it has been a joy to be able to help him out in this small way. If anyone wishes to contribute further to Jeremy's Journey, please contact the CRA for more details and suggestions. • Next, the University Touring Squad is in need of a little assistance. The Denver University team has decided to take their team to National Intercollegiates this spring and wanted to request a little aid. Other collegiate teams are good candidates for assistance, as well. Jo Shattuck is the contact person if you would like to help our college teams represent Colorado at their national tournament. • One other recent need that was brought to my attention is our US team- representing us soon at the Tournament of the Americas. Woody Clouse and former Coloradan Willie Tilton are the Men's Doubles Team. The USOC will not be helping out the US team financially for these games, so the players must do some fundraising, as well as taking time off from their jobs. Please contact the CRA or Woody Clouse if you have a desire to help out our US team or want more details on the up-coming tournaments abroad. They need all of the cheerers they can get, so you might also contact Woody or the USAR for details on spectating at the tournament(s).
WPRO Update
CLUB PROFILE —
Crossroads Fitness
T
he WPRO has had a fantastic season with three lead changes in the Number One spot so far. The February Denver Racquet For The Cure was even more exciting with the ladies using the Ektelon Fireball at altitude—a crazy combination! See results on page 5.
by Carol Pellowski
Address: 2768 Compass Drive, Grand Junction CO 81506 Phone:970.242.8746 Web:www.crossroadsfitness.com Court Coordinator: Carol Pellowski
The remaining events of the 2006-2007 season are listed at www.wpro-tour.com .
Remember, you can watch these events LIVE at www.racquetballonline.tv. Just log in with an email address and start watching. Color commentary durng matches is provided by locallybased pro, Jo Shattuck. Contact Jo Shattuck at joshattuck@hotmail.com for more information.
(part-time club employee for last 2 1/2 years)
T
8th Annual Racquet for the Cure
by Linda Mojer
Photo courtesy of John Foust
he 8th Annual Racquet for the Cure Benefit Tournament in the Mile-High City closed with another successful $5,000+ fundraiser and a renewal of commitment on the part of Colorado players, sponsors and volunteers. Rounding out a four-year stint as host, the Denver Athletic Club venue provided a perfect backdrop for the longrunning event.
Another special guest on the appearance docket was former U.S. National Team member and world title-holder Malia Bailey, whose own battle with breast cancer was fought just two years ago. During that time, her primary concern had been how to keep her unbroken career string of national titles intact. As the keynote speaker at the event banquet, she described her chemotherapy and surgery, and her remarkable comeback to maintain her winning streak. Her humor and devotion to the game she loves was inspirational and moving to Special clinic given by Pro and the assembled players and guests. Breast Cancer Survivor Malia Bailey
Memberships: Racquetball-only memberships are available and very popular. Members who have a regular membership can add on court use for +$10 per month. No guest fees for Montrose Athletic Club members. Annual Tournaments: Separate singles, doubles and junior tournaments. Limited entries due to only two courts. Monthly: Friday night doubles play, Saturday skill level round robins Weekly: Challenge Court play...Monday night A/B, Tuesday night C, Thursday night B/C, Beginner Women and Squash. Leagues: Starting to see some activity. Juniors: 40 to 50 kids, ages 5 to 18, after school and evening programs. 5 to 10 kids play State Singles. Lessons: Free intro lesson or evaluation. Pro Shop: Limited product available with Wilson line. Demo racquets, eyewear, gloves, balls, etc. Other items ordered as needed.
Photo courtesy of John Foust
Capping the all-day, women-only format on Finals action with Rhonda Rajsich and Saturday, the WPRO tour rounds Christie Van Hees http://www.tennisinformation.com/tourny/5/1/7/ 3/1/0/6/draw-18-mf.asp concluded with an exciting straight game win by No.1 Rhonda Rajsich over No.7 Christie Van Hees, 11-9, 11-3, 11-8. But playing at altitude with the Ektelon Fireball resulted in longer-than-usual rallies and a frustration on the part of athletes who prefer to keep their shots low. Still, top-seeded Rajsich was able to advance through the draw with only a few early-match game losses before taking her second win of 2007.
Photo courtesy of John Foust
RFTC VIPs Jean Gallagher, Kathy Martinez, Marcia
Earlier on, organizers had committed to Richards, Rhonda Rajsich, Christie Van Hees, Malia making the Denver event a full Tier One stop Bailey, Linda Mojer and Shannon Feaster on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization http://www.ladiesproracquetball.com/ circuit, and opening up amateur play to expanded divisions in men's singles and mixed doubles competition. For the first time, the RFTC tournament featured a top-16 draw of the finest pros in the world, along with a full complement of Colorado's own best male players.
General Information: Two courts, both have upstairs viewing, both adaptable to wallyball, one adaptable to squash. Same owner and manager for over 20 years, with two satellite locations. Considering more courts to increase programming. 200 to 250 racquetball players.
Stringing: Available...cheap. Carol carried that Ektelon beast (stringer) from Wisconsin! Private Lessons: Available when requested
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Tournament Trail...
(2007 Season)
Dates
Tournament
Club
Mar 7-10 Mar 8-11 Mar 23-25 Mar 28-31 Apr 13-15 Apr 27-29 May 4-6 May 23-28 Jun 8-10 Jun 20-24 Jul 25-28 Aug 2-5 Aug TBA
National Masters Lynmar Classic CO State Singles* Intercollegiates USAR Regionals* IRT Pro Nationals* Cinco De Mayo USAR National Singles Pepsi Cup Junior Olympics National Masters State Games of America IRF World Seniors Al Fresco Open
Portland, OR Lynmar CO Springs Littleton YMCA TBA TBA Chicago, IL Pueblo Athletic Club Houston, TX TBA Tempe, AZ Kansas City Lynmar CO Springs Albuquerque, NM Rangeview HS
Contact Paul Banales 602.319.8677 Eddie Meredith 719.491.4703 Marcia Richards 720.560.1484 USAR 719.635.5396 USAR 719.635.5396 USAR 719.635.5396 Deb Beaudry 719.561.3488 USAR 719.635.5396 Marcia Richards 720.560.1484 USAR 719.635.5396 Paul Banales 602.319.8677 Eddie Meredith 719.491.4703 USAR 719.635.5396 Dave Guentert 303.669.9527 *Qualifier for National Singles
USA Racquetball 1685 West Uintah / Colorado Springs, CO 80904-2921 719-635-5396/FAX 719-635-0685
Articles, Advertising & Letters: ROLLOUT ATTN: Cindy Tilbury, Editor 3131 East Alameda, #205 Denver, CO 80209 303.888.4461
USRA/CRA • 1685 West Uintah Colorado Springs, CO 80904-2921
CRA Board of Directors Officers Marcia Richards, President marcia@coloradoracquetball.com 303.738.9797
Linda Mojer, Vice President linda@coloradoracquetball.com
April Settell, Secretary april@coloradoracquetball.com
Krystyna Popovich, Treasurer krystyna@coloradoracquetball.com
Board Members Dan Davis David Howell Steve Nelson Scott Parrill Travis Parrill Drew Popovich Byron Thompson Cindy Tilbury
dan@coloradoracquetball.com david@coloradoracquetball.com steve@coloradoracquetball.com scott@coloradoracquetball.com travis@coloradoracquetball.com drew@coloradoracquetball.com byron@coloradoracquetball.com cindy@coloradoracquetball.com
Newsletter design: BirgitteDs@comcast.net
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