2018 Media Guide SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Wednesday Oct. 3th Media Day 1 pm - 9 pm Pro-Am Doubles for St. Jude 6 pm - 10 pm Men’s & Women’s Pro Sgls & Dbls Qualifying 10 am - 11 pm Thursday Oct. 4th Men’s round of 32 Sgls 9 am - 1 pm Women’s round of 32 Sgls 9 am - 1 pm Men’s & Women’s Dbls Qualifying cont. 3 pm - 10 pm Men’s round of 16 Sgls 1 pm - 7 pm Women’s round of 16 Sgls 1 pm - 7 pm Men’s & Women’s Men’s & Women’s Quater-Finals Dbls 7 pm - 10 pm Friday Oct. 5th Men’s quarters Sgls #1, #2 10 am - 1 pm Women’s quarters Sgls #1, #2 10 am - 1 pm Men’s quarters Sgls #3, #4 1 pm - 4 pm Women’s quarters Sgls #3, #4 1 pm - 4 pm Men’s & Women’s semi’s Dbls 5 pm - 9:30 pm Saturday Oct. 6th Women’s semi Sgls #1 / Men’s semi Sgls #1 10 am - 1 pm Women’s semi Sgls #2 / Men’s semi Sgls #2 1 pm - 4 pm Women’s LPRT Dbls Finals 4 pm Men’s IRT Dbls Finals 5 pm Sunday Oct. 7th Women’s LPRT Sgls Finals Men’s IRT Sgls Finals 10 am - 2 pm Table of Contents US OPEN...“RACQUETBALL’S PREMIER EVENT” .............................. 2 US OPEN LEADERSHIP PROFILES ...................................................4-6 ...................Doug Ganim - US OPEN Event Director ............................... 4 ...................Dan Whitley - USA Racquetball Board President ................. 4 ...................Jeff Oliver - US OPEN Co-Media Manager ........................... 5 ...................Leo Vasquez - US OPEN Co-Media Manager ...................... 5 ...................Andy Kulback - IRT Commissioner (Men’s Tour) .................. 6 ...................T.J. Baumbaugh - LPRT Commissioner (Women’s Tour) ...... 6 PAST US OPEN CHAMPIONS .............................................................7-8 IRT PLAYER PROFILES & RANKINGS .............................................9-14 ...................#1 - Rocky Carson .............................................................. 10 ...................#2 - Alejandro Landa ........................................................... 10 ...................#3 - Kane Waselenchuk ...................................................... 11 ...................#4 - Daniel De La Rosa ....................................................... 11 ...................#5 - Alvaro Beltran .............................................................. 12 ...................#6 - Sebastian Franco ......................................................... 12 ...................#7 - Samuel Murray ............................................................ 13 ...................#8 - Mario Mercado ............................................................. 13 ...................2018-2019 IRT Scorecard & Schedule ............................... 14 ...................Current IRT Rankings ......................................................... 14 LPRT PLAYER PROFILES & RANKINGS .......................................15-20 ...................#1 - Paola Longoria ............................................................. 16 ...................#2 - Frédérique Lambert ..................................................... 16 ...................#3 - Samantha Salas .......................................................... 17 ...................#4 - Alexandra Herrera ........................................................ 17 ...................#5 - Nancy Enriquez ........................................................... 18 ...................#6 - Rhonda Rajsich ........................................................... 18 ...................#7 - Maria Jose Vargas ....................................................... 19 ...................#8 - Natalia Mendez ............................................................ 19 ...................2018-2019 LPRT Scorecard & Schedule ............................ 20 ...................Current LPRT Rankings ...................................................... 20 Media Guide Photo Credits: Freddy Ramirez, Roby Partovich, Geoff Thomsen, Jeff Gallemore, Mike Boatman and Mike Augustin. 2018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE 1 Racquetball’s Premier Event The UnitedHealthcare US OPEN is racquetball’s original “Grand Slam” event and the most prestigious tournament of the season. With cash prizes totaling more than $65,000, it boasts the largest total prize purse in the sport. One of the most exciting aspects of the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Racquetball Championships is the “made-for-TV” portable racquetball court, which will be used for all feature matches. The unique construction of the court allows for viewing through all four walls in a stadium seating configuration for more than 1,400 spectators. From the quarterfinals on, all men’s and women’s pro matches will take place on the stadium court. Dramatic player introductions complete with laser light shows and booming music will treat fans to a total entertainment experience. In addition to the marquee professional divisions, the US OPEN Rac- quetball Championships offers more than 80 USA Racquetball (USAR) sanctioned divisions separated by age and skill. UnitedHealthcare Since 2012, UnitedHealthcare has served as the Title Sponsor for the US OPEN Racquetball Championships. The sponsorship agreement partners racquetball’s largest and most prestigious annual tournament with one of the nation’s largest health and well-being companies. UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 650,000 physicians and care professionals and 5,000 hospitals nationwide. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 38 million people and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. 2 2018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE Minneapolis / St. Paul The Home of the US OPEN After 14 years in Memphis, Tennessee, the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Racquetball Championships made a successful move to Minneapolis in 2010. The Twin Cities region welcomed the world’s best racquetball event with open arms. The event’s relationship with LIFE TIME FITNESS and Meet Minneapolis has created partnership that should keep the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN in Minneapolis for many years to come. The main location and nerve center for the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN is in downtown Minneapolis at the fabulous LIFE TIME FITNESS Target Center, the same building in which the Minnesota Timberwolves play. All pro matches and many of the amateur matches will take place at this facility, located in the center of the exciting Entertainment District in Minneapolis. Restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, and world class shopping area located all around the club. Just two blocks away is the second LIFE TIME location that will be utilized, the Minneapolis LIFE TIME Athletic Club. Short complimentary shuttle rides to the LIFE TIME FITNESS Fridley and the University of Minnesota Recreation Center will complete the rotation of venues hosting matches. The 2018 UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Racquetball Championships will bring 700 professional and amateur racquetball players to the State of Minnesota. Since moving to the Twin Cities in 2010, the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Racquetball Championships has brought an estimated $6 million in annual economic impact to the area. During the week the US OPEN is in Minneapolis, more than 3 million local television viewers watch coverage of the event on the local news. For a preview of the type of action the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN brings to Minneapolis, please visit: http://bit.ly/usopenracquetball 2018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE 3 Doug Ganim US OPEN Event Director As US OPEN Event Director and Founder, Doug Ganim has brought a level of exposure to the sport that has not been seen since the early ’80’s. He started the project in 1996 with the dream of producing racquetball’s first “Grand Slam” event. That dream has been realized and the US OPEN, now in its 23rd year, has become the most prestigious racquetball tournament of the season. Ganim is also the president of the Ohio Racquetball Association and has run the successful Head Racquetball Tour there for the past 20+ years. He holds a degree in business from Ohio State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Dayton. An accomplished player in his own right, Ganim is a former U.S. National Racquetball Team member and has won three International Racquetball Federation World Doubles Championships. Dan Whitley USAR Board President Dan Whitley was named President of USA Racquetball’s Board of Directors in October 2016. Dan lives in Kirkwood, Missouri and is the General Manager of the Vetta Racquet Sports facility outside of St. Louis. His club host several regional and national racquetball tournaments, including the High School National Championships every other year. Whitley is also the president of the Missouri Racquetball Association and is the Executive Director of the Missouri High School Racquetball Association. 4 2018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE Jeff Oliver US OPEN Co-Media Manager Jeff Oliver is in his 13th year as the US OPEN Media Manager. He started playing racquetball as part of the highly successful Oregon High School Racquetball League (OHSRL) and now sits on the board of directors for the for the OHSRL. Oliver holds a degree from University of Oregon