MID-YEAR 2016 | VOL 34 NO 2 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ILLINOIS STATE RACQUETBALL ASSOCIATION • ISRA Board Election Results • Movin’ On Up 2016-17 • Events: Local/Regional/ National/International 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 “I love the Pro Penn Green ball. The fast crisp lightweight racquets this is the only ball to action off my racquet helped me win GOLD play with. Its lightweight design and softer Medals at the 2011 Pan American Games and feel offers players of all levels the most 2012 World Championships. No other brand comfortable experience on the court, even compares to Penn!” with shots exploding 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 MID YEAR 2016 | VOL 34 NO 2 PRESIDENT Laurel Davis - Oak Brook From The President ............................................................................................... 4 VICE PRESIDENT Geoff Peters - Chicago Board Member & Officer Election Held ......................................................... 5 SECRETARY Movin’ On Up – 2016-2017 Season ................................................................. 5 Marla Cusano - Glen Ellyn TREASURER Killshot Kid’s Corner .............................................................................................. 6 Michelle Halverson - Lombard 2016 USA Racquetball Regionals - Illinois ................................................... 7 ZONE VICE PRESIDENTS Bill Roberts - Chicago (North) Doug Halverson - Lombard (West) USA Racquetball National Singles Championships ................................10 Samuel Gomez - Peoria (Central) John O’Donnell, Jr. - Champaign (South) 2016 Summerfest Open ....................................................................................12 GOVERNING BOARD Todd Burris - Streamwood New R2 Sports App Now Available ...............................................................13 Mike Davern - Naperville Jonelle Dubois - Naperville Pam Grace - Wheaton Windy City 3 Wall Brawl .....................................................................................14 Cheryl Kirk - Naperville John Puccio - Naperville XVIII IRF Racquetball World Championship ...............................................16 Dolores Lamberson - LaGrange Rick Seaberg - North Aurora Joe Silius - Mokena 32nd IRF World Senior Racquetball Championships ..............................18 AUXILIARY BOARD ISRA Calendar .......................................................................................................20 Marian Bala - Indian Head Park Jeff Grace - Wheaton Paul Jepsen - Hinsdale Challenge Courts .................................................................................................21 Kit Lawson - Naperville Lisa Mayer - Naperville Advertising Rates/Deadlines ...........................................................................22 Dave Milazzo - Gurnee Liz Molitor - Glen Ellyn Vickie Onesti - Elmhurst USAR Membership Application ......................................................................22 Barbara Vagedes - Carol Stream Mike Vicary - Metamora ISRA eMAGAZINE STAFF Cheryl Kirk - Editor Joe Silius - Advertising Editor On the COVER The ISRA eMagazine is published quarterly, and is the official publication of the Illinois State May 28, 2016: For his service as Athletic Racquetball Association (ISRA). All rights reserved. Copyright 2016. Trainer for the US Team, Brent Huff Reproduction in whole or in part of any text, received the Joe Sobek Outstanding photograph or illustration without written permission from the ISRA is strictly prohibited. Contribution Award in Denver at Letters to the Editor, photographs, and articles National Singles. or editorial contributions should be sent to [email protected]. Design & Layout by: TypaGraphics Facebook: Illinois State Racquetball Association | www.illinoisracquetball.com | 3 From the PRESIDENT As you all know, one of the best parts about playing racquetball is the people you meet and the friendships you make. A group of Illinois women have played golf and renewed their racquetball friendships for every one of the last 17 summers! Not everybody still plays racquetball. Not everybody still even lives here. But the friendships we started in racquetball bring us back every year. We started with two foursomes (8 players) and expanded to three foursomes after a couple of years. This year’s group included the following racquetball players: Nancy Amaro, Connie Arvia, Laurel Davis, Cindy DeVoss, Connie Morong, Dorothy Noto, Catherine Tojaga and Barb Utterback. See if you can pick them out in the picture below. Other racquetballers who have played over the years include Marla Cusano, Julie Carter, Kim Gregoire, Terry Hiller, and Mary White. As we embark upon a new season, friendships, exercise, and competition are all good reasons for getting to the court. The ISRA Tournament Schedule is set. Pull the schedule from this eMagazine and put it on your refrigerator door now! Please note that the dates of our state tournaments have changed for this season. Cheryl Kirk and I will serve as tournament directors for the 28th Annual WSMRA (Women’s Senior Masters Racquetball Association) National tour- nament in January 2017. Illinois players have always been great supporters of this tournament. Let’s keep that record going!! USA Racquetball is being reinvigorated and will be providing enhanced support to state organizations. New staff members have been added to the office. They are bringing energy and ideas to help us grow the game and programs. There are many new updates to R2 Sports, including electronic score cards that can be used on iPads or smart phones (see p. 13 of this issue). So put away the golf clubs, dust off the racquets, and we will see you on the courts! 4 | www.illinoisracquetball.com | Facebook: Illinois State Racquetball Association ISRA Board Member & Officer Election Held The Annual Meeting of the ISRA Board of Directors was held In officer elections, the results were: Geoff Peters is Vice on Tuesday, June 7, 2016. As with all ISRA meetings, this President and Michelle Halverson was re-elected Treasurer. meeting was open to the membership. ISRA Board Elections Bill Roberts will assume the North Zone VP position vacated were held, with the following results. by Geoff Peters. Board positions are staggered two-year terms. This year, there The ISRA continues to welcome volunteers who would like to were nine open seats. The following individuals were re-nomi- join the Auxiliary Board and become more involved in sup- nated to the Governing Board by the Nominating Committee: porting racquetball on the state level. Todd Burris, Jonelle Dubois, Doug Halverson, Michelle Halverson, Cheryl Kirk, Geoff Peters, John O’Donnell, Jr., and Joe Silius. Ad- Any member who would like to lend time and talent in ditionally, John Puccio was elected to the Board. support of Illinois racquetball should contact Laurel Davis ([email protected]) or any ISRA Board member. Bill Roberts was appointed by the Board to a one-year term to fill a recent vacancy. Signed, Per ISRA Bylaws (posted on www.illinoisracquetball.com), The ISRA Nominating Committee the above slate was accepted automatically since there were Marla Cusano (Chair), Samuel Gomez, and Dolores Lamberson no opposing nominations. All Board member appointments were effective July 1, 2016. Movin’ On Up – 2016-2017 Season Racquetball success prepares players for greater challenges. Men’s C These individuals/teams won at least one full-draw division Stephen Lindstrom, Turkey Shoot during the 2015-2016 season and recently received “The Letter” (suitable for framing) from ISRA Eligibility Chair Eduardo Acosta, ISRA State Singles Dolores Lamberson, notifying them of their new eligibility. Jesus Lopez, Shamrock Shootout Congratulations, and good luck to all in the coming year! Tim Klein, USAR Regionals Men’s Open Alcides Gutierrez, Summerfest Women’s Open Jeremy Dixon, Turkey Shoot, ISRA State Singles Susan Mueller, ISRA State Singles Danny Ortega, USAR Regionals Women’s A Men’s A Emily Fauser, Petition Adam Mills, Summerfest Men’s Open Doubles Michael Fornero, Fall Brawl Danny Ortega / Frank Wrobel, Turkey Shoot Levester Dean, Turkey Shoot James Camasto / James Zidek, ISRA State Doubles Anthony Cosmano, ISRA State Singles Ravi Kishore Yenduri, Shamrock Shootout Women’s Open Doubles John Puccio, Petition Cari Mory / Rebecca Bowman, US Open Men’s B Mixed Open Doubles Carlos Ibarra, Summerfest Matt Beals / Laurel Harper, Turkey Shoot Carl Carman, ISRA State Singles Chris Liljestrand / Julianne Valentino, ISRA State Doubles Brad Simon, Shamrock Shootout Brent Huff / Rebecca Bowman, National Doubles Brett Chidester, USAR Regionals Facebook: Illinois State Racquetball Association | www.illinoisracquetball.com | 5 KILLSHOT Kid’s Corner USAR Junior Olympic Championships Junior Team Illinois (JTI) Begins a New Season Jeremy Dixon of Downers Grove and Nathan Yaklovich of Under the leadership of Andy Pitock, Marian Bala, and Mascoutah represented Illinois in the USAR Junior Olympic Carolyn Vazquez, JTI will get underway at Glass Court on Championships at Life Time Fitness in Fridley, Minnesota, October 16th. A registration meeting will be held that day at June 22nd-26th. 9:00 am along with Beginner, Intermediate,