CRA Rollout, Spring 2015 - Colorado Racquetball Association

CRA Rollout, Spring 2015
Read the CRA Rollout Online at ColoradoRacquetball.com
The Colorado Racquetball Association Quarterly ENews
SPRING 2015
STATE SINGLES ... BY THE NUMBERS
First-time Men's Open Champ joins Women's Three-peat-er
In its 42nd year, the Colorado State Singles Championships drew 103 players to
compete in 41 divisions of pool play and single elimination medal rounds.
Thanks to careful scheduling and management, the entire event ran on time and
players enjoyed taking full advantage of the host club, Apex Racquetball &
Fitness, throughout the weekend.
In this issue:
• 2015 STATE SINGLES
In Men's Open, Jordan Walters advanced out of his preliminary flight undefeated, • Club & Tourney Updates
with straight-game wins over Jacob Eggemeyer and Earl Haskins to take the top • Member Profile: Dick
Kincade
line in the playoff bracket. A bye into the semifinal put him against Timothy
Danos, where he advanced with an 11-4 tiebreaker win to reach the final against • Upcoming Events
• Board News
Michael Eitzel. Another two games in that round gave Walters his first CRA
• Know your Rules
State Singles crown.
• From the President
On the women's side, Erika Manilla was seeking a three-peat, following title wins
• From the Editor
in each of the past two years. From her pool, she kept challengers Kathleen
• National News
Erickson and Briana Jacquet under 10 points per game, then defeated Janelle
Past Event Results:
Williams in straight games to reach the playoff final. In a redux rematch, Briana
• CRA State Singles
Jacquet was able to score a few points more than she had in the round-robin
• Racquet for the Cure
flight, but was unable to unseat the defending champ, Erika Manilla, who
claimed her record-setting three-peat.*
Other men's victors included: Brent Anderson
(Elite), Jacob Kingsford (A), James Hoffman (B),
Richard Perales (C), Robert Bruce (D/Novice),
Nick Blanchard (25+), Timothy Danos (35+), Lee
Beckwith (45+), Bruce Evans (55+), Jurgen Denk
(65+).
Combined age/skill winners Scott Walker (25+A/B),
Luis Martinez (35+A/B), Rock Carrion (45+A/B)
and Victor Manilla (55+A/B).
Among the women champs were: Hanna
Shnurman (Elite), Gaye Crossen (A & 35/55+A/B),
Danae Morton (B), and Janelle Williams (45/55+).
In a combined Junior 12 and under division round
robin, Grant Haskins [ << pictured left ] took
home the first place trophy, followed by Evan
Gear, Lily Caldwell and Thomas Winnefeld.
In standalone playoffs, the Rocky Mountain
Collegiate Racquetball Conference also fielded
tough competition throughout the weekend in
advanced, intermediate and beginner brackets (see below).
With thanks to Avril Haemmerle, you can also view a photo album of happy
medalists and hard-working TDs on Facebook. Congratulations to everyone for
a great tournament, all around!
*According to existing
records, Erika Manilla
is the only woman in CRA
history to claim three
consecutive Open titles.
Records are spotty, so if
you have other, official
documentation to fill in the
blanks and challenge
this claim - please share!
CRA Rollout, Spring 2015
TOURNEY UPDATE | Rocky Mountain Collegiate Racquetball Conference
Congratulations to Shannin Rudman, whose appointment as Commissioner
of the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Racquetball Conference [RMCRC] was
reported in the Spring edition of RACQUETBALL Magazine. Current
members of the conference are; University of Colorado at Boulder,
University of Colorado at Denver, Colorado State University at Pueblo,
Colorado School of Mines, University of Denver University of Northern
Colorado and the University of Wyoming.
Pictured at right: Shannin Rudman with Hannah Belle Schnurman from
University of Northern Colorado after the pair won the CRA State Mixed
Elite title in November. Schnurman also went on to win the Women's Elite
division at State Singles. Photo by Krysia Rudman.
At State Singles, the RMCRC was invited to field players to a special
collegiate playoff, and an elite roster of undergrads took up the challenge.
In the Advanced division, Jacob Kingsford represented the Air Force
Acacemy, defeating Shawn Lopez of Colorado School of Mines and CSU's Michael Eckfield in pool play. A larger
group of Intermediate players saw UNC's Casey Montoya come out on top to take the division title over Dylan
Inskeep. Newcomer Eric Hipp, of CSU, advanced out of regulation Novice pool play to gain some valuable
tournament experience. Other RMCRC players to round out the roster included: Nathaniel Barden (UNC), Daniel
Butler (School of Mines), Joseph Encinias and Greggory Washam (UNC).
CRA Rollout, Spring 2015
MEMBER PROFILE | Farewell to Dick Kincade
An icon in southern Colorado racquetball for over 35 years, our good
friend Dick Kincade passed away at his home in Divide on February 12, at
the age of 89.
The retired naval aviator had been introduced to the game in 1974 by a
friend in Lincoln, Nebraska, and then spent the remainder of his lifetime
involved in the sport in some way, shape or form. He relocated to New
York for work and became an avid player at the Buffalo Athletic Club,
before returning to Nebraska to open the Sports Courts of Lincoln in 1976,
then founding two more clubs in short order. In 1980, the family retired to
the Colorado Springs area, where Dick briefly headed up a club in
Woodland Park.
Just a few years ago, he had been characterized as a hard-charging
racquetball player in a Gazette feature article that cited his "deeply
ingrained competitive drive." He was a National Masters Champion in
singles and doubles multiple times over and was inducted to the U.S.
Masters Racquetball Hall of Fame in 2008. His final competition was the
2014 Men of October event last fall in Sun City, Arizona.
Dick was devoted to his wife and high school sweetheart, Phyllis (who
passed away last year), and the pair had visited more than 35 countries,
rafted the Grand Canyon, plus skied and hiked in Colorado and Europe.
His career as a Naval Aviator began in 1943 and he flew missions from
the USS Princeton during the Korean war and served as flight deck
commander on the USS Midway during the Viet Nam war. During his assignment at Naval headquarters in
Washington, D.C., Dick led a project to build and install the first anti-missile devices in U.S. military aircraft, then
retired from the Navy in 1968.
CLUB NEWS | Reports & Previews
CRA Board Member Ralph Graham reports that the Denver Athletic
Club is in full-scale prep for another successful pro tour stop. On
April 16-19 the 2015 Mile High Pro-Am will feature a Ladies
Professional Racquetball Tour stop, combined with a regional
qualifier. Along with amateur singles and doubles divisions and onsite
clinics, several sponsorship options for local businesses remain
available. For more information, contact Debbie Beldring, or visit
www.MileHighProAm.com.
After closing the books on this year's Racquet for the
Cure fundraiser, organizers inched a bit closer to their
all-time 100k donation goal, adding a 2015 gift of
$5500 to the Denver Affiliate of Komen for the Cure.
Special thanks to volunteers Lori Inskeep, Ramona
Knipstein (exceptional centerpiece designer!) and Janelle Williams for
their outstanding help in coordinating the event.
June 9-13: The Rocky Mountain Senior Games are Colorado's
qualifying event for the biennial Summer National Senior Games. The
City of Greeley has partnered with the Colorado Senior Sports
Development Council (CSSDC) to bring RMSG Racquetball
competition to the Greeley Recreation Center.
July 22-25: The National Masters Racquetball Association was
formed in 1971 to offer the first national tournament exclusively for
players 45 and over. This year's International event will be hosted by
Highlands Ranch, in a format that ensures you are never eliminated
from play and that sportmanship and friendship are more important
CRA Rollout, Spring 2015
than winning. NMRA tournaments are conducted in full round-robin
format, self-refereed, and first time players are not required to join the
NMRA (however, USA Racquetball membership is always required
for sanctioned competition). Find out more by visiting the NMRA site
or go ahead and beat the rush when you enter online today >>
Delayed, but still coming up August 6-9: The 30th (and final!) Pepsi Cup will be held at Highlands Ranch, and
founder John Foust has re-committed to hosting the event for its last hurrah. Save the date now, then look for
more details soon!
CRA SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
ENTRY DOWNLOADS & REGISTRATION
• Mile High Pro Am - April 16-19
• Cinco de Mayo - May 1-3
• USAR National Singles - May 20-24
• Rocky Mtn Senior Games - June 9-13
• Rocky Mtn State Games - July 17-19
• National Masters - July 22-25
• 30th & Final Pepsi Cup - August 6-9
• World Seniors - August 27-30
CRA on Facebook
THE BOARD REPORT | by Marcia Richards
Is Your Game Still Moving in the Right Direction?
Everyone can sing. Not everyone can sing well, but
with practice we can always perform better. Just don't
ask me to sing the National Anthem! But with practice I
believe that anyone can learn anything and it's never
too late. Studies show the best time to learn is before
the age of 20, but that we tend to draw on our stored
knowledge as adults. How did you learn to play
racquetball? Did you take a lesson, attend a clinic, or
teach yourself?
Once you learned, what pushed you to the next level? When did you make
the move from being a recreational player to a league player? What was it
that drew you into playing a tournament? What is your measuring stick for
feedback to assess your game? These decisions are based on personal
experiences and motivation. What moves you?
And what is it that holds you back ... fear of losing, or of looking bad?
Psychologists say that discomfort is an indication of being on the right
path. When something presents itself as uncomfortable or unfamiliar, it's
exactly where you need to go. When you are through improving your game,
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BEST & BRIGHTEST !
Nominations for annual
awards are accepted yearround, to honor Adult and
Junior players of the year,
most improved and
outstanding sportsmanship.
Do you know anyone who
should be recognized in any of
those categories? If so, send
an email with their name and a
brief description of why they fit
the bill, to Board Secretary
Avril Haemmerle.
Want to help keep things
running smoothly? Learning
how to referree or assist at the
tournament desk is an easy
CRA Rollout, Spring 2015
those feelings will level out to become your "new normal." In order to move
your game in a different direction you have to play different people, add
something new to your skill set, and accept the challenge of facing stronger
players. What are you willing to do to keep your game moving forward?
way to help the sport continue
to thrive in Colorado! Just
contact any board member to
step up and volunteer!
Some players will move up too fast and jump into a division that is too
challenging, without developing a sound base of skills. That void in their game will cause weaknesses and
frustration when they're unable to improve and advance consistently. Other players refuse to leave their comfort
zone, which causes their game to stagnate and they lose the ability to improve. If either situation applies to you,
where would you go for advice on skill analysis and gamesmanship?
When was the last time you had a lesson? The sport could use even more certified instructors capable of guiding
our players. Currently, USAR-IP certified instructors based in Colorado include: Doug Buchanan, Teena Fuller,
Jim Hiser, Eddie Meredith and Nicholas Riffel. Searchable AmPRO listings can also help you locate some help
with your game ... but we could still use more resources!
The CRA would like to develop more certified instructors. If you are interested in taking a certification class please
contact me, since we're compiling a list of interested players and programmers. I am certified through AmPro
level III, I have my Masters in teaching physical skills, and I'm not through yet. I plan to face the challenge of
going to the next level. How about heading outside your comfort zone, and joining me?
MEETING UPDATE | from Board Secretary Avril Haemmerle ... As mentioned in the President's column, the
CRA Board spent a good deal of time in discussions surrounding how to best support volunteer tournament
directors. In attendance at the March 29 meeting were Dan Davis, Ralph Graham, Avril & Larry Haemmerle,
Linda Mojer, Deven Naik, Marcia Richards and George Tellez.
Also on the meeting docket were debriefs of State Singles, venue costs & contract negotiations, development
programs, sponsorship opportunities, outreach improvements and new website plans. USA Racquetball is
seeking volunteers to assist with hosting National Singles next month (already!), since projections of at least 100
more players are on target, using three facilities. Let us know if you're interested and available!
KNOW YOUR RULES ! Policy & Procedures | by Dave Stone
That's out of order ... ! Today we'll focus on the CRA's responsibility to host sanctioned
events in an organized and safe way. As Larry details in his column, the CRA has adopted
new policies & procedures that everyone who plays in tournaments needs to know!
It should go without saying that Tournament Directors have the final word in approving any
schedule or venue changes affecting sanctioned match play. And even though players may
have the best intentions (for relieving a backed-up desk, or saving some drive time), the fact
is that competing outside the established norm causes more problems than it solves unless the TD supervises any-and-all adjustments.
CRA Rollout, Spring 2015
What many don't realize is that a lot of pre-planning goes into trying to assure adequate - and equal - amounts of
rest between matches for the players themselves, as well as separation between divisions (in given blocks of
time!) to avoid schedule conflicts and bottlenecks.
As often as not, the CRA Tournament Team is able to run events ahead of schedule, due to good planning. Those
same TDs are always willing to consider any changes that can be made without compromising the overall
planning grid. What may seem like a simple request by you may - in fact - create a domino effect that slows down
a tournament for hours on end! It's always up to the TD to make that determination.
FROM THE PRESIDENT | by Larry Haemmerle
In March, we held a very successful State Singles
Championships. Congratulations to all of our new
champions! Shortly after the event, the Board of Directors
met to debrief the event as part of our normal course of
business. For that follow-up we were happy to report that
the State Singles ran on time; in fact, it ran early for the
entire event. Thanks to cooperation by everyone to keep
things moving, we were able to leave the club on schedule
and manage volunteers effectively.
We also discussed two related situations in more depth:
playing off schedule and playing off site. To address liability and management
concerns, new rules have been adopted for use at CRA-run events.
The first involves playing matches off schedule without authorization from the
tournament desk. When players ask to play a match early, (possibly even one
set for the following day) we check to see if we can make it work, given the
complex demands of any schedule with so many moving parts. At times, when
we've been unable to accommodate such a request, the players have grabbed
what they feel is an empty court and played anyway. This results in TDs being
unaware of having an available court to assign, which then backs up everyone
else who is checked-in and waiting to play on time. The disruption caused by an
unassigned match being played without approval, without a referee, and without
a scorecard, will no longer be permitted.
The second, and similar, issue involves playing matches off site - which also
presents a number of its own problems. When tournaments are sanctioned,
specific venues are recorded for insurance coverage, making any match played
elsewhere at risk. In addition to potential liability concerns, off site matches are
often played without referees, governance or oversight - and without benefit of a
tournament committee to assure that proper eyeguards are worn, equipment is
safe, or rule on important questions or disputes.
In reviewing both situations, the CRA Board voted unanimously that, if either
occurs, the match result will not be accepted. The early match will remain in
the lineup to be played as scheduled; the venue will expect players to check in
to play at the designated facility. If opponents fail to show up when and where
the match is scheduled, the result will be entered as a double forfeit.
Please help us avoid this by playing your matches at their published time and
place. We want to help whenever possible, but it's important to respect the
tournament desk if we're unable to do so. It's in everyone's best interest!
On a separate - and exciting - note ... our membership has increased by
over 26%! This is great news, which also reflects recent increases in
tournament participation. We really enjoy and appreciate providing the best
possible tournament experience for our members. We have a great tournament
calendar this year, so we'll look for you on the courts soon!
FROM THE EDITOR
Spurred by hosting a series of
major events in Colorado this
year, the CRA is undertaking
a number of development and
outreach projects to
showcase our athletes and
programs.
Among them is a re-designed
website that will both serve as
an information portal for all
things CRA, but also make full
use of social media platforms
to re-deliver messaging about
the sport to prospective
players. We're shooting for a
pre-National Singles "rollout"
for the new site, and will be
seeking feedback and
suggestions as changes begin
to take shape.
Another project is planned to
support CRA tournaments,
TDs and event management,
by compiling selected "rules
of the road" to help players
understand some of the
special issues that apply to
sanctioned competition.
We all know that tournaments
are a bit different from your
everyday lunchtime gettogether, so it helps to be up to
speed before you head into
your first-ever refereed match!
Some of these guidelines are
new and others have been in
place for a while, so we think
that having them available in
a single document is a great
idea. Once that's complete,
we'll use the website, ecommunications and social
media platforms to re-deliver
what we hope will be a great
resource for players.
So look for improved public
information in coming months,
announcing lots of new ideas,
programs, outreach and
CRA Rollout, Spring 2015
growth from CRA - Linda
Mojer
NATIONAL NEWS | by Larry Haemmerle
We're very excited about two major events coming to Colorado this year.
The first will be the National Singles Championships, hosted at three
venues in southern Denver. The Highlands Ranch Recreation Center at
Northridge will be the main host facility, along with match play at the
Littleton YMCA and the Centennial Lifetime Fitness Center.
If you dropped by last year's National Junior Olympics, you'll be happy to
learn that the entire HRCA gymnasium will be converted into a player's
village with vendor booths and equipment displays. As always, selected
manufacturers preview their new product lines for the next season at
National Singles.
This event also features U.S. National Team Qualifying divisions, where many of the top young American players
will seek a spot on our National Team. Finally, the Hall of Fame will induct the legendary Sudsy Monchik at
ceremonies in a fun venue, with great food and drinks - at no charge for participants. USA Racquetball will also
present seven annual awards during the celebration, which should be short on ceremony and long on fun. There
will also be plenty of other surprises so keep an eye out for news as it develops. Let's show the nation how
Colorado can put on a great National Championships!
We are also proud to host the National Masters Racquetball Association International Championships, again at
Highlands Ranch, where the very best "seasoned" players will come together to compete. Some of these
amazing athletes are 80 and even 90 years young - and it's likely you'll see a number of top former pros in the
draw! If you're over 45, consider competing in this amazing event, which will have you scheduled daily
(sometimes playing multiple times each day). The last one I entered had me playing 11 matches - in one division!
You'll want to be in shape for this one, since it's usually the fittest players that win this four-day slugfest!
Wow! The last 12 months have seen Colorado emerge as a prime location for National events. Make certain you
take advantage of the opportunity to play in these major events ... without having to incur travel expenses!
Everyone should experience playing in a National event at least once in their racquetball career. I'm certainly
looking forward to seeing Colorado well represented and bringing home the gold!
Copyright © Colorado Racquetball Association | With Substance, Inc.
CRA Rollout, Spring 2015
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