Racquetball Romance 4 Pro Nationals at 2009 ISRA Newsletter Chicago’s Navy Pier 11 Advertising Rates 25 From the President 2 Catching Up with 16th Annual Summerfest 19 Cheryl Gudinas 5 5th Annual Racquet Lend Your Support 26 Donate Your for the Cure 13 TJ Ferro Inducted into Used Racquetballs 3 2009 USA Racquetball ISRA Hall of Fame 21 Attention ISRA Members 26 Chicagoland Regional 2009 USA Racquetball John Lomonaco Championships 8 Junior Olympic 2009-2010 USA Racquetball Memorial Grant 3 Championships 16 Tournament Calendar 24 Membership Application 26 USA Racquetball National ISRA Movin’ On Up: Singles Championships - 2009 NMRA International ISRA Officer and Board Racquetball Challenge 2009-2010 Season 3 “The Finals” 11 Championships 17 Member Election Held 25 Courts 27 www.illinoisracquetball.com 1 ILLINOIS STATE From the RACQUETBALL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT The racquetball community, as well as times be pain- PRESIDENT friends and family, gathered on Saturday, ful to accept Laurel Davis - Oak Brook July 25th to celebrate TJ Ferro and his ac- if you’ve VICE PRESIDENT complishments in the world of racquet- just blown a Geoff Peters - Chicago ball. This turned a regular Saturday night 10-0 lead in tournament party into a very special the tie-breaker!) SECRETARY event that will be remembered for a long Marla Cusano - Lombard time by everyone in attendance. The There is no need to rattle off TJ’s win- evening culminated with TJ’s induction loss record or mention the number of TREASURER into the Illinois Racquetball Hall of Fame. tournaments he has won at all levels. Michelle Halverson - Lombard This is about who he is and the im- I think Doug Halverson has captured the pact he has had on countless players ZONE VICE PRESIDENTS essence of TJ in his comments below, over the years. Even now in his cur- Steve Angelo - Alton (South) Pam Schubach - Peoria (Central) and I am happy to be able to share them rent situation, TJ is displaying a Kevin Brylski - Lake Villa (North) with you all. Please keep TJ in your fiercely positive and competitive atti- Doug Halverson - Lombard (West) thoughts and prayers as he continues his tude. I am inspired by his approach to “off the court” battle with cancer. the game, even when he’s not at the GOVERNING BOARD top of his game. Many of us over the Patrice Calvi - New Lenox — Laurel years would look at the draw to deter- Rich Clay - Libertyville mine our potential next opponent and Mike Davern - Naperville TJ Ferro hope player A might win over player TJ Ferro - Naperville To anyone currently involved in the sport B for numerous reasons, whether it Pam Grace - Wheaton of racquetball; to those who have been was that we did not like player B; he Rick Seaberg - North Aurora involved in the past; and to future play- had our number; he played a different Joe Silius - Mokena Tom Utterback - Orland Park ers who will join us in this endeavor we style of game we didn’t like; or he was Lynne Weisbart - Lake Forest all love and respect, these thoughts just hot and on a roll. Not TJ: he about TJ are for us all… wanted to compete against that better AUXILIARY BOARD player who was more difficult and on Larry Boyer - Mt. Zion Love and respect the game like TJ Ferro a roll. This demonstrated once again Keith Brown - West Chicago has throughout his career. You will bene- his love and respect for the game, not Dan Flood - Sugar Grove fit by learning a lesson from his example just a desire to win a match. I am a Jeff Grace - Wheaton both on and off the court. I have known better person for having personally Paul Jepsen - Hinsdale TJ for over 15 years, perhaps closer to witnessed TJ’s racquetball mindset. Joann Kempthorne - East Peoria 20. In that time I have watched him as a Cheryl Kirk - Naperville participant, an opponent and as a specta- Not only does TJ love the sport for his Kit Lawson - Naperville Jim Maroon - Peoria tor at many games and tournaments. He own enjoyment, but he has shared it Dave Milazzo - Gurnee has mentored me and others, probably continued on page 6 Liz Molitor - Glen Ellyn without even knowing the effect he’s had Mike Vicary - Metamora on us, whether before matches, on the Lynn Yeazell - Naperville court, even during timeouts. He pos- The ISRA Travel League sesses a wealth of knowledge about the ISRA NEWSLETTER STAFF game and its strategies; he is a true will start the new season Cheryl Kirk - Editor sportsman. TJ’s insights have never around the second Geoff Peters - Associate Editor been offered in a condescending man- Joe Silius - Advertising Editor ner; he makes it easy to accept his sin- week of October. Kit Lawson - Photo Editor cerely-offered constructive advice. (Which many of you know can some- There will be no Travel The ISRA Newsletter is published quarterly, and is the official publication of League meeting at Glass the Illinois State Racquetball Association (I.S.R.A). All rights reserved. Copyright Court this year, so check 2009. Reproduction in whole or in part www.illinoisracquetball.com of any text, photograph or illustration On the Cover... without written permission from the for more information, I.S.R.A. is strictly prohibited. Letters to Family and Friends Celebrate TJ the Editor, photographs, and articles or Ferro — his many contributions or contact Pam Grace editorial contributions should be sent to to racquetball and his induction at [email protected] [email protected]. into the ISRA Hall of Fame or 630-424-6035. Typesetting by: TypaGraphics 2 www.illinoisracquetball.com Donate Your Used Racquetballs Rick Weaver of Hesston, KS wrote He continued, “I invite you to partici- at the club...out of old bags in your to Racquetball magazine earlier this pate with me in this endeavor. If you garage…retrieved from your car year. “My kids absolutely love to are running a tournament or if you have trunk…wherever. For the person/ play with the used racquetballs I contact with a fitness or athletic club group that delivers the biggest col- take home. Given that the that has courts, would you please col- lection of used racquetballs to the racquetballs are small and light and lect all of the balls that are used and Turkey Shoot tournament at Glass so popular with my young ones, I would end up discarded? If anyone Court (the weekend before Thanks- had the idea to collect old balls from would be willing to help me out with this giving), he/she/they will receive one tournaments and athletic clubs and project, I would really appreciate it.” (1) $100 Visa gift card. To be eligible redistribute them to needy or disad- for the prize, the minimum donation vantaged kids domestically and Team Illinois, let’s help Rick out…and quantity is 12 dozen (144) even overseas. I’ve already begun promote a little healthy competition in racquetballs…but who will try to collecting for a Hopi Mission School the name of making some kids happy beat you by bringing more? that is on an American Indian reser- who have very little else in life. The vation in New Mexico and an or- challenge is for you and your racquet- The winner will be announced on phanage in Chennai, India.” ball compadres to collect all the used Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 12 [Editor’s Note: Rick has shipped racquetballs you can get your hands noon at Glass Court. Good luck! balls to China and the Philippines on...from that Saturday morning group this year as well.] — Cheryl Kirk John Lomonaco ISRA Memorial Grant Movin’ On Up For players who have never been to National Singles in 2009-2010 Season Houston, check out the next USA Racquetball eNewsletter! An all-expenses paid trip (up to $2,000) to Racquetball success equates to greater challenges. the USAR National Singles Championships in Houston, These individuals won at least one full-draw division Texas, May 26-31, 2010 has been anonymously donated during the 2008-2009 season and recently received by a friend of John Lomonaco of West Hills, California. Mr. “The Letter” (suitable for framing) notifying them of Lomonaco, an avid racquetball their new eligibility. Good luck to all in the coming player, passed away on year! May 5, 2009 at the age of 57. Singles Divisions Men’s A to Men’s Open – Tom Lamberson, Clint The recipient of the Hickman, Pierre De Janon, Ryan Kessler, Dean Hamiti John Lomonaco Men’s B to Men’s A – Ed Zak, Jesus Aguirre, Connor Memorial Grant Hueffner (WI), Jake Ryan, Juan Martinez, Kenny may be male or Brown, female and must be Men’s C to Men’s B – Oscar Madrigal, Dave Wielgus, at least 18 years of Ray Redelman, Enrique Rodriguez, Antonio Vazquez, age and a U.S. Basilio Salazar (two levels in one season!) Men’s D to Men’s C – Jeffrey Hill, Benjamin Torres citizen. He/she will Women’s A to Women’s Open – submit an application Cari Mory, Marcia Warren and write an essay of Women’s B to Women’s A – Dolores Lamberson 500 words of less expressing why he/she wants Doubles Divisions to attend National Singles next May. Men’s A to Men’s Open – Mark Calvin/Jim Freaner Men’s B to Men’s A – Jim Zidek/Wayne Lorenz Full details and the application form will be found at Mixed A to Mixed Open – Kelvin Branch/Judy Sands, usaracquetball.com. The deadline for submissions is Jim Maroon/Joann Kempthorne December 31, 2009, with the recipient announced on or before February 28, 2010.