INTERNATIONAL RACQUETBALL TOUR ISSUE 3 | YEAR 2010 1. New Season, New President, New Logo! 2. 2010-11 Season Preview 3. HEAD Penn Players Dominate World Racquetball Championships 4. Ektelon Re-signs Andy Hawthorne for Two Years 5. Mike Boatman Photography 6. HEAD Penn Racquet Sports Signs Top Racquetball Professional Rocky Carson 7. Kansas City, Here I Come! 8. 2010-11 IRT Schedule 9. Interview with Cheryl Gudinas - Illinois Racquetball Hall of Fame 10. Championship Racquetball Sports Triangle... Tips from the Coach! 11. 2010 San Diego Racquet House IRT Pro/Am [Entry Form] 12. 2010 Cali Colombia Grand Slam [Entry Form] 13. 2010 U.S. Open [Entry Form] NEW SEASON, NEW PRESIDENT, NEW LOGO! By John Scott Many racquetball fans and professionals recognize Cliff Swain as the best player of all time. He has numerous #1 titles, he is one of only a few repeat players to win the U.S. Open, and now has another honor to add to his amazing resume...he is immortal- ized in the new IRT logo. Towards the end of last season, IRT President Jason Mannino issued a challenge to fans across the globe. The IRT was to hold a contest to submit ideas for a new logo. After a worldwide search, one fan was lucky enough to have his submission chosen: Jason Hentges of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Hentges said he’s honored to have his idea for the logo used as the most recognizable symbol of the sport, "It's awe- some! I tell you it's a real privilege that my idea was picked. It's neat that I can show my friends the logo and say, hey that's me." Click here to sign up Hentges says that he had a lot of great players to choose from. He tried using the images for the IRT newsletter of Ben Croft, Kane Waslenchuck, and Sudsy Monchik before settling on the Swain image. Hentges, who has been an avid player for over 15 years, wins a one hour lesson with the number one player in the world as well as a VIP pass at the U.S. Open. The tour would like to thank everyone for the hundreds of submissions received during the contest. We look forward to showing off the new logo during the upcoming seasons! 2010-11 SEASON PREVIEW having maintained his ranking in regained the number two rank- starting the season at thirty-two will be an indicator of his ability to fitness, Croft and Carson are in By Kathy Geels the top four for all but the first of ing, he is trading places with after taking last year off from advance, or at least keep pace in excellent shape and put a lot of season ending rank to six, both his nine seasons. In spite of the Carson for the second time and knee surgery. This leaves Croft the top eight. He is known to be a pressure on their opponents. The International Racquetball career firsts for Croft in his three contrast, he and Carson play forcing him down to three again. (#6), Shane Vanderson (#5), and crusher, and the service rule Huczek's controlled game style Tour (IRT) kicks off the 2010-11 years on tour. extremely close, each having Although Carson seems well Chris Crowther (#7) positioned to change could favor him. So far promotes long rallies and he is season the second weekend in narrowly beaten the other for the prepared for a few more seasons break into the top four for the first he has shown that he can main- known to be tireless on court. September. This season offers Beltran and Mannino missing at number one spot during Wase- of peak performance, at thirty- time in their respective careers. tain the pace from a conditioning Vanderson - as one of the best unprecedented opportunities for the top should have little impact lenchuk's two year absence in one, along with Beltran, and point of view. pure shooters - tends to promote fan participation and excitement. on Waselenchuk, Huczek, and seasons 2006/07 and 2007/08. Crowther, he will be one of the At thirty-one, #7 ranked Chris shorter rallies, but depending on In addition to already showing Carson. Barring injury, the effect Huczek finished 2006/07 at oldest full time players Crowther may be the least likely, As far as the other candidates his off season preparation may the influence of a different lead- upward mobility in spots four of the increased number of number one and Carson took it (compared to Huczek's twenty- having reached the semis only for number four are concerned, struggle with the conditioning ership style under new president through ten than in recent years. events won't have much effect away from him in 2007/08. The seven). That being said, aside once so far in his four years in Vanderson is currently ranked demands of so many events. helps to define an entire career. and former pro Jason Mannino, on these three either, since they two players both have unrelent- from Waselenchuk, Carson is the highest. However, he has not Even though number one will the sport will punctuate its The high number of events, the all emphasize conditioning a ing fitness standards and tend to currently the most troubling made it to the finals since 2004, Players like Andy Hawthorne, most likely be a lock for Wase- expanding global presence by reintroduction of the two-serve great deal. The serve rule prob- rely more on control than Wase- player on tour for Huczek. Their in spite of consistently making with his relentless diving, may lenchuk, the outcomes of most conducting the first ever grand rule, and two vacancies at the ably won't impact their games of the other matches impact lenchuk, who is so far fairly records against each other are the semis several times each Generally speaking, after the experience higher levels of slam outside the continental U.S. top formerly held by Jason Man- against each other, unless especially those careers which unapproachable in his physical- nearly split. Although tour new- players have had a chance to get physical stress from so many The schedule so far has twenty nino and Alvaro Beltran for the Huczek and Carson can identify have not yet reached maturity, ity. comer Croft has beaten Carson used to it, the latter round events. Physical readiness could Tier One stops planned, a past five seasons - are all factors a thus-far unexploited weakness but are working vigorously at twice, no other players have so outcomes will begin to tell the be another cause for some number quite a bit higher than that could shake up rankings four in Waselenchuk or each other. establishing themselves in the far been able to consistently story of the effect of the two- swings in the top ten. As far as the average of thirteen. This through ten. The battle for posi- Huczek maintains an advantage challenge these top three play- fans of the tour are concerned, record books. means increased opportunities tion will be especially interesting over Carson when comparing serve rule. Big servers such as ers. This implies that as long as Crowther and Williams would rankings four through ten could for all the pros, as well as to watch in the first part of the careers over the long run, but Being able to understand the Carson maintains his advantage appear to gain from it, but Wase- be more exciting than ever in the increased demands physically season as we see who will capi- recently the two have played impact of wins and losses and over Croft, it's likely the top three lenchuk has already been suc- sport's history. and mentally. talize on the openings, and as evenly, neither giving away any the top ten. However last season follow the changes in the rank- positions will remain the same cessfully using the big serve, so Beltran's post injury capabilities long term advantage from game proved to be Crowther's best on ings is a new opportunity for rac- this season. it's hard to say how much of an With a little analysis of player become more apparent. to game or in the overall statis- tour, with he and Croft emerging quetball fans. As a result of these equalizing effect it will have records and knowledge of the tics. The question of who will move as the only two top players previ- point system, the impact of changes, the sport is beginning season. His ranking seems to against him. Beltran will come into the into the number four ranking is a ously ranked beneath Beltran to to appeal to a greater number of season ranked number thirty-two 2010/11 will be Carson's twelfth jump up two places in the rank- have plateaued at number five enthusiasts. after missing the 2009/10 ings (Crowther from nine to for the past four seasons, in spite Huczek and Carson may benefit because they have the control to season due to a knee injury. If he seven, and Croft from eight to of some rapid moves as a rookie 2010/11 will be a good year for move the ball around the court, regains much of the consistency six). - launching at first from ten to the IRT and its fans. that has secured his position in seven, then to five within his first especially on return of serve. The the top four since 2005, he has Although Crowther is the same few seasons. In addition to what- one obvious effect is that it will In addition to these signs of vital- the potential to play the role of age as Carson and Beltran, he ever problems a returning allow those players that have ity, the rankings themselves are spoiler.