2009 Women’s Senior/Masters Racquetball Championships- 20 Years of Great Racquetball

Unusually warm weather in the mid 80’s greeted the 100 players arriving in Los Angeles for the 20^th Annual Women’s Senior/Masters Racquetball Championships, held Jan 16-18, 2009 at the Spectrum Club in Canoga Park. Many players gladly left behind frigid temperatures to venture to sunny California, and all the participants from New York to Hawaii were anticipating 3 days of exciting competition, camaraderie and fun!! Not to mention trips to the beach!

As usual, the action got off to a fast start with “fun doubles” on Thursday afternoon. This bonus event was planned to give players a chance to meet friends and check out the courts in a relaxed atmosphere. Along with the usual “old-timers”, lots of new faces were seen. The doubles is traditionally a fund-raiser for Breast Cancer Research, with players contributing for a chance to win prizes donated by Chris Evon and Wilson, National Sponsor of the Women’s Senior/Masters Racquetball Association (WSMRA). Over $700 was raised, which is donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure^®.

At check-in all players received special 20^th Anniversary souvenirs, a backpack/carryall sporting the special California-themed tournament logo, and a pink fleece vest with the WSMRA 20^th Anniversary logo. Debbie-Tisinger Moore’s father, Richard Torst, designed both logos. Rules and procedures specific to the tournament were explained. Some age groups were combined for maximum playing opportunities. The large 45+ and 55+ open divisions were broken into flights, with flight competition to be followed by a round of 8 playoff. Semifinals and finals in these divisions, as well as final matches in all other divisions would be played on Sunday morning, so everyone would have time to play and/or watch before heading home. Matches were played in blocks of time so most players would have time off to just relax, or to head for the beach at Malibu- just a short ride down Topanga Canyon.

On Friday morning the serious singles competition got underway. Tournament directors Debbie Tisinger-Moore and Randy Lam manned the tournament desk with the help of Janel Tisinger. Super volunteer Hiro Nagata kept the food and snacks coming all weekend. There were always fresh bagels available from Western Bagel courtesy of club member Debbie Rose Simon. When not playing, players had time to eat lunch, watch other matches and of course browse through the items offered in the silent auction. The auction featured lots of goodies donated by Chris Evon and Wilson, and Debbie Tisinger-Moore; as well as Ektelon items donated by Kris Kaskawal, and Nidia Funes; an entry to the World Seniors donated by Paula Sperling; and a special quilt made by the late Mary Low Acuff and donated by Vickey Utter.

Besides the court action, one highlight of every Women’s Senior/Masters is the Saturday night banquet, and this one for the 20^th was special. It was a relaxed affair at the Radisson, featuring a buffet, and live music from local band “Take Cover”. A slide show featuring pictures from all 20 tournaments ran continuously during dinner- laughter greeted some of the old pictures: “Was I that skinny?” “Look at those glasses!!” Nancy Kronenfeld prepared a booklet with lots of history and fun facts about our 20 years: 3 players were at both the first and the 20^th Women’s Senior/Masters: Pauline Kelly, Linda Covault and Kendra Tutsch. By good luck Kendra has played in all 20!! Over the years Jo Kenyon won the most gold medals, and Linda Moore has won the most silver medals. After dinner, we had a few presentations. The results of the silent auction were announced: We raised over $1200, with half going to the USAR college scholarship fund. Awards were given to the player who came the farthest: Laura Natividad from Hawaii and to the state with the most players: California with 28. In fact, over the 20 years California has had the most total players with 258. The site of the 2010 tournament was announced- the Lakeforest Sport and Health Club in Gaithersburg, MD. Most everyone hit the dance floor, even those who had to play early Sunday

After 2.5 days of intense competition, winners had been decided by early Sunday afternoon. All players who placed received a beautiful glass trophy featuring the tournament “wave” logo. In 35+ Tammarian Rogers (CA) finished first on total points over Renee Roux (IL). Alicia Paoletta (CA) improved on last year, moving up to first in 35+ B/C, ahead of Irma Zaldana (CA). In 40+ Jean Halahan (NY) repeated as champion on total points ahead of Beth Neff (WA). The 45+ bracket had two flights and the top seeds met in the finals of the round of 8. In the final match of the tournament, Laura Brandt (FL) defeated Solanna Taragan (CA) in an exciting tiebreaker to claim her first WSMRA title. In 45+ B/C, newcomer Elaine Marie Ransome (AZ) took first on total points over Dori Arai (CA). Last year’s 45+ champion, Debbie Tisinger-Moore (CA), moved up to 50+ and did not lose a game in taking first over Linda Moore (NE). Great concentration for the tournament director! The 55+ division had 3 flights and in the finals of the round of 8, #2 seed Elaine Dexter (CA) defeated top seed Wanda Collins (WA). In 55+ B/C Margie Der (CA) beat out Kathy Zasucha (NY) on total points. In a reversal of the 2008 finish in 60+, Margaret Hoff (IL) won the division on total points over Merijean Kelley (CA). The 65+ champion was Pauline Kelly (IL) on total points over Nidia Funes (CA). Other champions were Lola Markus (IL) in 75+ and Reta Harring (WI) in 80+. Find complete results on R2 at http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/viewResults.asp?TID=4353.

The WSMRA would like to thank the owners, manager Ken Marshall and the entire staff of the Canoga Park Spectrum Club; Tournament Directors Debbie Tisinger-Moore and Randy Lam; Chris Evon and our National Sponsor Wilson Racquetball; and all of the other individuals and businesses who supported this tournament, and Brenda White of USA Embroidery for producing the great pink vests. Look for a complete list of sponsors and contributors on our web site. This tournament has been going strong since 1990. It features round-robin brackets in age groups from 35 on up and regularly attracts some of the best players in the country. You are never out of this tournament; you play everyone in your flight, usually at least 5-6 matches and sometimes as many as 10! We also offer B/C divisions for those less experienced in National tournament competition. The Women’s Senior/Masters Racquetball Association (WSMRA) sponsors the tournament every year with support from our major sponsor, Wilson Racquetball.

The 21st annual tournament will be held in the Washington, DC area at The Lakeforest Sport and Health Club in Gaithersburg, MD in mid-January 2010. For more on the WSMRA, pictures, results and information on next year’s tournament, please check our website www.wsmra.com or http://my.execpc.com/~tutsch/WSMRA/main.html, or contact Kendra Tutsch at kdtutsch@wisc.edu.