Second Half 2018 | VOL 36 NO 2 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ILLINOIS STATE RACQUETBALL ASSOCIATION • President’s Message -- Call to Action • Killshot Kids’ Corner • Local/National/International Events • Tournament Calendar - 2019 Facebook: Illinois State Racquetball Association | www.illinoisracquetball.com | 1 “All the Pro’s on the IRT know that the Pro Penn HD ball is second to none. With today’s lightweight racquets this is the “I love the Pro Penn Green ball. The fast only ball to play with. Its lightweight crisp action off my racquet helped me to design and softer feel offers players of all win multiple Pan American Games and levels the most comfortable experience World Championship GOLD Medals. No on the court, even with shots exploding other brand compares to Penn!” over 180 mph!” Paola Longoria Rocky Carson 2 | www.illinoisracquetball.compennracquet.com | Facebook: Illinois State Racquetball Association ILLINOIS STATE ISRA COURTSIDE RACQUETBALL Table of ASSOCIATION CONTENTS Second Half 2018 | VOL 36 No. 2 PRESIDENT Laurel Davis - Oak Brook From The President ............................................................................................... 4 VICE PRESIDENT Geoff Peters - Chicago ISRA Family News .................................................................................................. 5 SECRETARY KILLSHOT Kids’ Corner ......................................................................................... 6 Barbara Vagedes -- Carol Stream Notice of Annual Meeting and Election of ISRA Board Members ........ 7 TREASURER Dolores Lamberson - Indian Head Park 25th Annual Summerfest Open ....................................................................... 8 ZONE VICE PRESIDENTS Bill Roberts - Chicago (North) Glass Court Fall Shootout .................................................................................10 Doug Halverson - Lombard (West) Arun Baskaran - Bloomington (Central) 27th Turkey Shoot Open/LPRT Tier 1 Pro Stop .........................................12 John O’Donnell, Jr. - Champaign (South) Illinois Juniors Compete in Des Moines ......................................................16 GOVERNING BOARD Todd Burris - Oswego UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Racquetball Championships ....................18 Mike Davern - Naperville Jonelle Dubois - Naperville Pam Grace - Wheaton XIX IRF World Racquetball Championship .................................................22 Alcides Gutierrez - Oak Lawn Cheryl Kirk - Naperville 34th IRF World Senior Racquetball Championships ...............................24 Rick Seaberg - North Aurora Joe Silius - Mokena 30th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships ...............................27 John Thorson - Carol Stream Carolyn Vazquez - Chicago ISRA 2019 Tournament Calendar ...................................................................29 AUXILIARY BOARD Marian Bala - Indian Head Park Racquetball Challenge Courts ........................................................................30 Jeff Grace - Wheaton Dan Jaskier - Lombard Lend Your Support ..............................................................................................31 Eric Jensen - Bolingbrook Kit Lawson - Naperville 2019 ISRA Courtside Advertising Rates ........................................................31 Dave Milazzo - Gurnee Liz Molitor - Glen Ellyn Lem Rowans - Chicago ISRA COURTSIDE STAFF On the Cheryl Kirk - Editor COVER Turkey Shoot/LPRT Sponsor Doubles “All the Pro’s on the IRT know that the Joe Silius - Advertising Editor Pro Penn HD ball is second to none. With Platt Hill -- Samantha Salas (Mexico) today’s lightweight racquets this is the Cheryl Kirk -- Rhonda Rajsich (USA) “I love the Pro Penn Green ball. The fast only ball to play with. Its lightweight ISRA Courtside is the official publication of the Liz Molitor -- Natalia Mendez (Argentina) crisp action off my racquet helped me to design and softer feel offers players of all Illinois State Racquetball Association (ISRA). Susan Mueller -- Cristina Amaya (Colombia) win multiple Pan American Games and levels the most comfortable experience All rights reserved. Copyright 2018. Michael O’Dea -- Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) World Championship GOLD Medals. No on the court, even with shots exploding Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, Spencer O’Dea -- Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) other brand compares to Penn!” over 180 mph!” photograph or illustration without written Rick Seaberg -- Paola Longoria (Mexico) permission from the ISRA is strictly prohibited. Letters to the Editor, photographs, and articles Dave Singer -- Carla Muñoz (Chile) or editorial contributions should be sent to Accompanied by Glass Court President Dan Jaskier (far left) Paola Longoria Rocky Carson [email protected]. pennracquet.com Design & Layout by: TypaGraphics Facebook: Illinois State Racquetball Association | www.illinoisracquetball.com | 3 From the PRESIDENT Welcome to the heart of the racquetball tournament season! representative. In the event that a referee’s removal is requested by one This is the time of year when we all get the chance to hit the reset player or team and not agreed to by button. We are currently living in a time where many seem to the other, the Tournament Director be angry. The politicians are rude and continually fighting with or the designated representative each other, people are shooting each other in the street for no may accept or reject the request. apparent reason, and things are just plain out of control. All of It is suggested that the match be this bad behavior seems to make normal people feel like they can observed before determining what, if behave a little badly, too, and no one will call them on it. any, action is to be taken. In addition, There is one place where I hope not to see any bad behavior in two line judges and a scorekeeper 2019…and that is in the racquetball club. There should be no bad may also be designated to assist the referee with officiating the behavior by players during or after a match and no bad behavior match. from spectators watching a match. That includes taunting or (c) Protests. Any decision not involving the judgment of the threatening the other player(s) or the referee, as well as physical referee will, on protest, be accorded due process as set forth contact. This seems like a good time to review the rules regarding in the constitution of USAR. For the purposes of rendering a player and spectator conduct as well as the role of referees. prompt decision regarding protests filed during the course of Sections A.9 and A.10 of the USA Racquetball Rulebook outline an ongoing tournament, the stages of due process will be: possible repercussions of poor player and/or spectator conduct: 1. First to the tournament desk; A.9 Tournament Conduct 2. Then to the Tournament Director; and finally to In all USAR sanctioned tournaments, the referee is empowered 3. The tournament rules committee to forfeit a match, if the conduct of a player or team is considered In those instances when time permits, the protest may be detrimental to the tournament and the game. See B.5 (d) and (e). elevated to the State Association or, when appropriate, to the A.10 Spectator Conduct National level as called for in the USAR By-Laws. In the event of disruptive or threatening behavior on the part of Section D.6 applies to self-officiated tournaments: any spectator, relative, parent, guardian, or coach at any USAR sanctioned event, the referee is empowered to address a first D.6 Disputes offense by applying sanction (a) described below. Should either player, for any reason, desire to have a referee, then a referee should be sought, although there could be some delay For additional infractions, the Tournament Director or USAR in the match while the person is sought. official in attendance, either of their own accord or at the request of the referee, is empowered to apply either sanctions (b) or (c) as Please note the sentence in bold above. Players have the right warranted. to report bad behavior that occurs during or after a match. If a player wants to file a grievance, they must report it first to the (a) For the first offense, the violator may observe, but not tournament director and then provide a written statement of speak (as determined by whether the referee hears the the incident. Other people who have witnessed the event will be person), while the athlete’s match is being played. asked to also provide a written statement of what they have seen. (b) For the second offense, the violator may not watch that match, but may remain within the building. The rules are very clear as to how a grievance is handled. The ISRA (c) For the third offense, the violator will be removed from Board must put together a committee of 3 or 5 Board members the club for the duration of the tournament, and appropriate to review the grievance and the witness statements. They will authorities advised of the restriction. If a given situation so adjudicate the issue and determine whether a player will receive warrants, the Tournament Director or USAR official may invoke a warning or be suspended from tournament play. The player the (c) sanction immediately and without previous offenses - who is accused of the bad behavior is also invited to speak to the in the interest of general safety. Board committee on his or her own behalf. The Board then comes to agreement on the penalty. Tournament players have rights regarding referees whether playing in a tournament that provides referees or in a tournament That is the least