First Half 2020 | VOL 38 NO 1 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ILLINOIS STATE RACQUETBALL ASSOCIATION Recognizing Excellence – ISRA Annual Awards and Hall of Fame Ceremony • Social Media ISRA-Style • Illinois Junior Racquetball • State Championships, Shamrock Shootout, and More! • 2020 Tournament Calendar (Tentative) Instagram: ISRA Illinois Racquetball | Facebook: Illinois State Racquetball Association | www.illinoisracquetball.com | 1 • Indoor Heated Pool • 2 Cardiovascular • Outdoor Heated Pool Fitness Centers & Sundeck • Swim Lessons for All Ages • Land & Water Aerobics • Supervised Nursery • 8 Racquetball/ • Whirlpools & Saunas Wallyball Courts • Indoor Track • Aerobics Classes • Basketball Court • Paramount & • Certifi ed Personal Trainers Cybex Equipment • State-of-the-Art Free • Pro Shop & Lounge Weight Equipment • Massage Therapist NO INITIATION FEE STAY HEALTHY & COME and FIRST MONTH WORKOUT IN A SOCIALLY DISTANT ENVIRONMENT! Some restrictions apply. 7 month commitment required. Expires 10/31/20. Indoor & Outdoor Heated Pools NO INITIATION FEE 830 E. Roosevelt Rd. • Lombard and FIRST 6 MONTHS ARE Check Us Out Online: I Some restrictions apply. 12 month commitment required. 630-629-3390 www.glasscourt.com Expires 10/31/20. 1285-0920CH 2 | www.illinoisracquetball.com | Facebook: Illinois State Racquetball Association | Instagram: ISRA Illinois Racquetball ILLINOIS STATE RACQUETBALL Table of ISRA COURTSIDE ASSOCIATION CONTENTS First Half 2020 | VOL 38 No. 1 PRESIDENT Cheryl Kirk - Naperville Racquetball Reflections ............................................................................ 4 VICE PRESIDENT Geoff Peters - Chicago ISRA Family News ........................................................................................ 5 SECRETARY Barbara Vagedes - Carol Stream Social Media, ISRA-Style ............................................................................ 6 TREASURER ISRA Annual Awards and Hall of Fame Ceremony ........................... 7 Dolores Lamberson - Indian Head Park ISRA Annual Meeting: Election of Board Members PAST PRESIDENT Laurel Davis - Oak Brook and Officers ................................................................................................... 8 ZONE VICE PRESIDENTS Movin’ On Up – 2019-2020 Season ....................................................... 8 Bill Roberts - Northbrook (North) John Thorson - Fox River Grove (West) KILLSHOT Kids’ Corner ............................................................................... 9 Arun Baskaran - Bloomington (Central) John O’Donnell, Jr. - Champaign (South) ISRA State Doubles Championships ...................................................12 GOVERNING BOARD ISRA State Singles Championships .....................................................15 Glen Bero - Addison Todd Burris - Oswego 35th Annual KWM Gutterman Shamrock Shootout .....................18 Mike Davern - Naperville Jonelle Dubois - Naperville Pam Grace - Wheaton WSMRA Annual Women’s Senior/Masters Alcides Gutierrez - Oak Lawn Begins New Decade of Events! .............................................................23 Rick Seaberg - Streamwood Carolyn Vazquez - Chicago USA Racquetball 2020 National Doubles Championships .........24 AUXILIARY BOARD ISRA 2020 Tournament Calendar .........................................................27 Marian Bala - Wheaton Jeff Grace - Wheaton Dan Jaskier - Lombard Lend Your Support ....................................................................................28 Eric Jensen - Bolingbrook Kit Lawson - Naperville 2020 ISRA Courtside Advertising Rates .............................................28 Dave Milazzo - Gurnee Liz Molitor - Glen Ellyn Lem Rowans - Chicago ISRA COURTSIDE STAFF On the Cheryl Kirk - Editor COVER Alisa Burris - Social Media Photo Credit – Mike Davern ISRA Courtside is the official publication of the Recognizing Excellence – ISRA Annual Awards Illinois State Racquetball Association (ISRA). and Hall of Fame Ceremony All rights reserved. Copyright 2020. (See article page 7) Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without written Recipients, Nominees, and Hall of Fame: permission from the ISRA is strictly prohibited. L to R: ISRA President Cheryl Kirk, Barb Vagedes, Letters to the Editor, photographs, and articles Kristin Coulter, Emily Fauser, Laurel Davis, Jake Ryan, or editorial contributions should be sent to [email protected]. JC Herrera, Tejas Veer, Thomas George, Andy Pitock Design & Layout by: TypaGraphics Instagram: ISRA Illinois Racquetball | Facebook: Illinois State Racquetball Association | www.illinoisracquetball.com | 3 RACQUETBALL REFLECTIONS by ISRA President Cheryl Kirk An ISRA Courtside during the pandemic? What’s there to USAR is the National talk about? Well, you’ll notice this isn’t exactly a shadow of Governing Body for Racquet- newsletters past…there’s plenty to absorb regarding the ball under the US Olympic past, the present, and our future. I use the following “WE” & Paralympic Committee in the context of ALL OF US: (USOPC). Our National staff (Executive Director and two WE want to preserve the memories of earlier this year at staff members) leads and State Singles, State Doubles, and the Shamrock Shootout. provides: WE want to keep racquetball in our minds and hearts in • Event sanctioning the many ways presented in this letter and in this issue. (insurance/R2 for both indoor and outdoor) WE want to remind everyone that while our racquetball • National Championships and the US OPEN family is effectively social distancing (really, no choice), we are all still here, we are hopefully staying safe, and we are • Social media, website, magazine, newsletter all fervently looking forward to the next time we can be together once again. • Rules maintenance, referee program, instructor program, event director support Go play other sports, but don’t forget to come back! Really, don’t WE have the BEST sport EVER?? • Rankings and record book Temporarily replacing Racquetball magazine, the monthly • Hall of Fame and Annual Awards USA Racquetball newsletter, Serving Up the News, features • Pan American Sport under the USOPC a different state association each month. In August, the ISRA was featured with an excellent recap by our treasurer, • US Team and US Junior Teams competing for our Dolores Lamberson. Our social media coordinator, Alisa country Burris, contributed as well. What a proud moment, and it’s due to so many volunteers continuing to do great things • Committees working on a number of important initia- here in Illinois that we had the opportunity to be featured. tives (see document on the USAR website for committee Be sure to check out the latest newsletter that should descriptions and members) have reached an email inbox near you. (Note: If you find you are not receiving communication from USA Racquetball, • Multiple vehicles to allow manufacturers of racquetball visit your membership profile at www.usaracquetball.com to equipment, racquetballs, etc. to showcase what they ensure your email settings are exactly as you desire.) offer to the racquetball community Speaking of memberships…there’s something every one • Membership rebate support that comes back to the of us can do if you are in a position to do so during these state associations (like us here in Illinois!) challenging times. Simply, please, please renew your USA So that’s what you can do to help. You can ALSO stay Racquetball membership if yours is expired, or extend it if safe and healthy until we meet again. Speaking of it’s not. that… Q. What?? Renew my membership when I may not be playing As you are able to get back on the court, USA Racquetball a tournament for awhile? has published some considerations for safer play, aptly A. Well, if everyone will think in terms of “what’s in it for named USA Racquetball Considerations for Safer US” vs. “what’s in it for me,” and if each member were to Racquetball Play. To review these before competing or contribute $5/month ($60 annually for auto renewal that practicing, visit: https://www.teamusa.org/usa-racquetball/ includes both indoor and outdoor memberships), it would about/resources-and-forms. mean a world of difference for USA Racquetball. WE dream of the time when we can get together and once Q. Why should I care whether USA Racquetball makes it past again play the sport we love! Hope to see you VERY SOON! the pandemic? A. Frankly, it depends on how much we value what most -- Cheryl and your ISRA Board of Directors take for granted or don’t realize. What part of our sport’s infrastructure are we okay with losing? Read on… 4 | www.illinoisracquetball.com | Facebook: Illinois State Racquetball Association | Instagram: ISRA Illinois Racquetball ISRA Family News Bowling Excellence! Singles -- 1st: Janet Leet, 2nd: Diane Bunker Never let it be said Doubles -- 1st: Janet Leet, 2nd: Karin McCauley racquetball players don’t Doubles Only -- 1st: Donna Heinzl, 2nd: Mary excel in other sports as Crawford well––we have a bowling superstar in our midst! On Thanks to Diane Bunker for her organization February 13, 2020, Lem and communication to keep the league running Rowans bowled a perfect efficiently throughout the season. The coming 300 game! This took season is uncertain, but the women are ready to place at Stardust Lanes in rumble when circumstances permit! Addison during a league The ISRA Men’s A/B Travel League, under the night. It takes laser-like capable leadership of Dan Jaskier, competed focus and nerves of steel their entire season except