Seven Year Itch
WPRO Tour Stop Highlights Fundraiser
by Jean Gallagher & Linda Mojer

Photos by John Foust

Organizers, pros and volunteers lined up for long-hours. L-R: John Foust, Jean Gallagher, Marcia Richards, Rhonda Rajsich, Alan Beilgard.

The new Racquetball.com Mixed Pro-Am Doubles event was a hit.

Ladies enjoy downtime between matches on Saturday.

Rhonda Rajsich dives against Cheryl Gudinas in her way to a finals win.

Heading into its 7th year, Denver’s annual Racquet for the Cure benefit tournament went nationwide to attract the attention and support of players who – in turn – hosted companion fundraisers from coast to coast. The result was an incredible year of successful benefit events for the cure, and developments that promise to make the coming months even more exciting.

At this year’s founding event, the Denver Athletic Club venue hosted a satellite WPRO pro stop, which drew six top tour athletes to a grueling competition in the mile high city, and included a full schedule of promotional and fundraising events for the pros. They headlined clinics, gave exhibitions, donated equipment, time and effort – then dropped everything to pair up with Colorado’s top male players for a spirited round of mixed doubles. Oh, and they played singles, too.

In their formal tour playoff, WPRO No.2 Rhonda Rajsich advanced into the final with a win over Kristin Walsh in four games, while No.3 Cheryl Gudinas took her semifinal win over Angela Grisar in a tough five. Top honors went to Rajsich after she outlasted Gudinas in their straight game final on Saturday afternoon. Earlier, DAC pro and No.10 ranked Johanna Shattuck had joined No.19 Vivian Gomez in filling out the opening round, along with local challengers Cindy Tilbury and Marcia Richards.

The Racquetball.com Pro-Am Mixed Doubles fundraiser invited local men’s open players to make a $100 donation to be paired with a pro player. Of the total division entries, half was set aside for the grand prize and the other half earmarked for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Early on Superbowl Sunday, Travis Parrill and Chile’s Angela Grisar took a tough win over John Rhodes and top Mexican southpaw Vivian Gomez for the cash and glory. Thanks go out to the guys, for making this new division successful, plus so entertaining to watch. And a special thanks to Angela Grisar, who declined her winnings in order to donate them to the weekend’s fundraising effort.

Keeping with its “women’s only” tradition on Saturday, ladies of all skill levels teamed up to challenge each other for the top spots in singles and doubles. Some showed up just for doubles, some just for singles, and some stretched it out with both. Packed into their playing schedules, they found time to watch the pro rounds, visit the sponsor and demo tables, take in a quick massage by Peg Snyder and gorge themselves on a fabulous lunch sponsored by nearby Littleton’s Bear Rock Café.

Among the many event souvenirs, each of the women received a complimentary pink grip, donated by Python Racquetball, which were put on at no charge by Travis and Scott Parrill of The Racquet, who also had pink strings available and offered a pink ribbon stencil for a special finishing touch.

At the end of the day, we all retired to the DAC’s Grand Ballroom for an evening of camaraderie, guest speakers, silent auctions, prize awards and celebrations. Each of the evening’s guest speakers were breast cancer survivors, who touched the crowd with stories about how their lives had changed after being diagnosed. Committee members shared more happy news, from how much the events have raised nationwide to date … to inspirational recollections of how the Komen Foundation was established in Peoria. From the audience, the DAC’s CEO Andre van Hall and USAR Executive Director Jim Hiser were on hand to lend their support to the tournament’s good work.

To celebrate the day’s team events, the procession of winners kicked off with Lindita Winters cruising the prize table to stumble on an Ektelon signature pink racquet that had been hidden among the dozens of items offered by sponsors and supporters. Door prizes were awarded to the playing couple that had been married the longest (Jessie and Enrique Carbajal), the player who traveled the farthest (Angela Grisar from Chile!) and the highest point earner for their team (Sara Sikorski, one of the four players in the family who had taken part). And finally, a spelling bee for those who thought they could spell Rajsich without any help, which went to Jo Shattuck, after no one in the crowd could get it quite right.

All in all, the Denver founding event was a great success, raising the committee’s personal best of $8,000 for the weekend, and reaching a cumulative total of $28,300 since its startup in 2000. Added to the $28,500 raised by the four recent events held in Peoria, Omaha, Cincinnati, and Petaluma, California, racquetball players have raised over $56,000 to fund breast cancer research and aid. Give yourselves a hand!

The RFTC Committee would like to thank all of the sponsors that helped make this event a success, and we invite you to view and acknowledge them year round. So until next year, enjoy following our progress online, and then enjoy the experience in person – at a Racquet for the Cure event near you!