L-R: Jane Fleming, Lynette Farhart (SGK), Eleanor Alston and Carrie Reitmeier at the check presentation.   The Omaha Auction spread was impressive! Click on photos for larger views.

Racquetball players are very familiar with Holly and her big smile, and professional, pleasant attitude. She has worked part time for over three years as a weekend manager and teaches kindergarten full time. She is also an important part of our successful racquetball program on a daily basis as well as providing support at all 12 tournaments that PLC has hosted over the last five years. The RFC committee was unanimous in its decision to give Holly a portion of the proceeds that were collected.

The format for the tournament was similar to last year, starting at 8:00 am with lots of racquetball action. Divisions included women's singles and doubles and men's doubles and mixed doubles, with players coming from Iowa and Kansas to join the Nebraska players in this worthwhile event. The forty-five players were divided into 5 teams distinguished by the color of their bandanas. The matches played earned points for their “team”. In the end the Purple team defeated the Red team by just seven points. This team scoring system has been very popular during this tournament as it encourages all players to seek out their teammates by finding those with the same color bandanas. Friendship and camaraderie are the result.

Each player received a goodie bag full of coupons, key chains, and phone charms, along with a cozy fleece blanket from our sponsor Goracke and Associates. Everyone was also treated to breakfast, lunch and snacks throughout the day from generous local vendors like Brueggers Bagels, Roberts Dairy, Whole Foods, Blimpies, Papa Johns and Valentinos. BAck by popular demand, the evening meal of roast beef, chicken breast, potatoes, veggies and dessert was provided by Grandmother’s restaurant.

Wine, wine, wine! New this year was the addition of a very popular wine tasting event. Fifty-six guests tasted six different wines as well as hors d’oeuvres to compliment each selection. This addition brought more bidders to our auction as well as provided a very social evening for all who attended.

Our silent auction boasted 110 different items-- from gift certificates to gas grills, tennis and racquetball equipment to Husker, Creighton and Chiefs tickets. There was a TV, a hammock, jewelry, coolers, tools, golf items and SO much more. Four hundred people placed bids on these items to raise over $6300.00. Adding to the total was donations from Saturday morning basketball players, a free will donation during the Water Circuit classes, a raffle for a Prairie Life Center membership, an Ektelon Pink O3 Racquet raffle and a month long donation drive.

The local ABC affiliate station featured the event on the 6 and the 10 o’clock news and - all told - $12,141.98 was donated by PLC members and guests. Committee members Julie Dvorak, Jane Fleming, Eleanor Alston and Carrie Reitmeier did an outstanding job in organizing this event through many, many hours of planning and devotion.

Tournament Directors Vinnie Caramagno and Barry Lynes.   Supporters line up - front row: Nidia, Nancy, Terry, Kim, Shanna. Back row: Louise, Rick, Freddy, Vinnie, Jack, Alyse, Barry. Click on photos for larger views.

One year ago - as a racquetball only tournament - this group raised over $12,000 for breast cancer research. This year the tournament directors and club owners decided to combine the tournament with the annual club Hallowine event. The weekend included the Vintage Doubles Racquetball Tournament a fundraiser for breast cancer research and a Halloween costume party for players, club members, and guests complete with gaming tables and a live and silent auction.

The tournament and event organizers through many hours of hard work were able to secure food and product items needed to run a successful event through donations. Over 12,000 raffle tickets were sold for raffle items of trips, cash, bikes, gift certificates, a barbeque, and much, much more. The live auction and silent auction raised over $6000. Sponsors were secured for the gaming tables to defray the cost of the tables and all proceeds went to the cause.

Nidia Funes set up a beautiful breast cancer display which included informational and instructive items, a personal book from her breast cancer walk and a book from club owner Martha Domont who is a breast cancer survivor. A separate raffle was held for an Ektelon O3 Pink racquetball racquet and a Prince O3 Pink tennis racquet.

Terry Rogers and Jack Hughes assisted in getting many Team Ektelon players from the area together as they pitched in and assisted the tournament directors and were involved in the selling of the thousands of raffle tickets and securing some of the numerous raffle items. Monetary sponsor donations were made by six of the Team Ektelon players. Their contributions along with many other generous donations from others helped to defray tournaments costs and assist with the success of the event.

This was truly a team effort but the real kudos go to the tournament directors Barry Lynes and Vinnie Caramagno, club owners Rob and Martha Domont and the Hallowine Vintage Doubles Committee comprised of 8 racquetball members, 2 tennis members and the club owners for pulling this all together and making it such a successful event!

Team Ektelon Contributors: Vinnie Caramagno, Barry Lynes, Brian Dixon, Jack Hughes, Terry Rogers, Nidia Funes, Alyse Cori, Nancy Large, Louise Winter, Shanna McBain, Kim Cameron, Rick Ramirez, Christian Skegrud, Tyler Lanman, Lee Hardiman, Chris Hardiman, Larry Steiner, Freddy Ruiz.

Pro-Am Doubles Players   Rhonda Rajsich shows off Ektelon's pink signature frame to breast cancer survivor, Ronnie Yorski. Click on photos for larger views.

Seven years ago, a group of phenomenal Denver racquetball enthusiasts decided, “……..let’s do more than just talk about it….let’s help spread information, bring women together to form networks and most importantly, do what we can to support the cause” and Racquet for the Cure was formed. It provides an avenue for women and men alike to become more familiar with this disease, be in touch with breast cancer survivors up close and in person, and play some great racquetball.

This year, the Maryland Washington Racquetball Association decided to join the bandwagon to help support the cause. In conjunction with the WPRO, Sport & Health Club of Gaithersburg, MD, many wonderful sponsors, and the adoring fans/players, a Racquet for the Cure WPRO Pro-Am was held in Gaithersburg, MD the weekend of October 20th-22nd, 2006.

Heart-felt moments for the players and pros such as the testimonial from our own Malia Bailey and the autographed Ektelon O3 Pink by Rhonda Rajsich presented to Breast Cancer Survivor Ronnie Yorski were some of the many activities that were held that weekend. Laurel Regional Hospital played and instrumental role in lending us a nurse to perform free Breast Examinations as well as provide guides to self-examinations and awareness. A player’s village with an abundance of information from the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the American Cancer Society was provided for one and all in addition to Breast Cancer souvenirs. In addition, Malia Bailey provided a free hands-on Racquetball 101 Clinic.
[ read the full account in PDF format ]

We started on Friday night with a "meet and greet" fun doubles, followed by round-robin singles and doubles on Saturday at 9:00. We'd never had an all-women's event before, so it was a great opportunity to get the ladies out playing – two women had never played before but wanted to join us for this special day.

Players were divided into nine skill levels, and the novice division had a full draw of eight women who had played for less than three months. They were presented with pink breast cancer socks for playing in their first tournament, and the first place winners received pink hats with the tournament logo, designed and made by Brad Melster of the Melster Pro Shop.

We couldn't have raised as much money without the fantastic help of the Wisconsin Athletic Club – they donated the whole facility, plus 10% of the bar to the cause. Ektelon donated the red fire ball for competition, and a pink racquet for the auction. We also had representatives from Party Lite and Mary Kay offering their time and products, while Piranha Promotions donated the shirts and Promolux donated towels.  Lunch was provided by Extreme Pita and dinner by Tres Locos.

One of the most outstanding elements of the tournament was a very special commemorative pendant designed by Janet La Paz, owner of Genesis Jewelry and Art Gallery. She hand-crafted and had donated three of the pendants to the silent auction, and has offered to make more and donate 10% of pendant proceeds to the SGK Foundation. Look for more information about how to obtain one of the pendants on the main "Racquet for the Cure" web site soon.

Over 100 items were donated for the silent auction and raffle that took place after the close of play. A local DJ donated her time to play music and the fun continued. It was a lot of hard work but everyone wants to do it again until there is no such thing as breast cancer. Then we will really play and celebrate.

You are probably wondering how much we actually raised. Since everything was donated we were able to include the entry fees to the total as well. The grand total that will be presenting to the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is $10,119.00.

What a tournament! We couldn't have done it without the generosity of so many people. Thank you all. We hope that you're able to come next year ... the first weekend in October. See you all there!

With thanks to Ektelon for donating their trademark pink O3 racquet and red fireballs, the company once again showed that they care about giving back to their communities. Iowa State Racquetball is a growing club that is made up of mostly college students and it is truly a great thing that these young people are putting their time and efforts into such a great cause.

This was a great experience for a debut event with a first-time tournament director. We plan on continuing this tournament for several years to come with the hopes of raising awareness and introducing more collegiate players to the game.

Young supporters Miranda Barrett & Serena Gaa.   Committee members line up L-R: Karen Carter, Terry Sutton, Gail Goeppinger, Jim Maroon, Pam Schubach, Traci Steen and Joann KempthorneClick on photos for larger views.

Our goals for this year were to have 50+ players enter the tournament and donate $6,000 to the Foundation. Both goals were exceeded through the hard word of the Planning & Fundraising Committee, consisting of Jim Maroon & Pam Schubach (co-directors), Terry Sutton, Traci Steen, Karen Carter, Joann Kempthorne and Gail Goeppinger. We also had an Advisory Committee consisting of Cheryl Kirk (Naperville), Laurel Davis (Chicago), Kelly Carter (Bloomington), Jean Gallagher (Colorado) and Kurt Mankle (Peoria) to get their input and pass the word to other local clubs.

We had 77 players (up from 51 last year) consisting of 53 women (up from 34 last year) and 24 men (Mixed doubles only). The players came from throughout the Midwest and Colorado. A donation in the amount of $10,500 was presented to Linda Maricle, Program Director of the Peoria Memorial Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation by Terry, Pam and Jim.

The format was a two-day racquetball tournament beginning Friday evening with Women's Singles, Women's Doubles, and to include the men, Mixed Doubles. On Saturday, we had a full day of racquetball with many women playing in three events. Upon entering the tournament, all women were given a stylish pink scoop-neck Tee with the RFTC logo in embroidered lettering and goodie bag full of items, coupons, etc. The men received a dri-release T-shirt with the RFTC logo. 
[ read the full account in PDF format ]

Many thanks to Ektelon for donating its pink signature racquet, which was won by Sela Brown. Other donations came from Julian Gomez (visors), Einstein Brothers (bagels) and Valerie Shewfelt (glove savers). Many volunteers hours were spent by Heather Montanez, Pam Martin and Stephanie Astin. 

Spectrum Club Hosts "Some Like it Hot" Event
Our traditional, annual "Some Like It Hot" Women's Tournament is in the books and the big winner is Janel Tisinger, who won the Open Singles and teamed with Tournament Director (and mom) Debbie Tisinger, to win the Open Doubles.

Roxanne Davis ended up 2nd in both events (teaming with Lori Soares in the Doubles). Other winners included Vivian Schneider (1st) and Kim Glansberg (2nd) in the 'A' Singles, Jocelyn Loredo (1st) and Cindy Harris (2nd) in the 'B' Singles, Mary Crawford (1st) and Jackie Tilton (2nd) in the 'C' Singles, and Judy Hulen/Vivian Schneider (1st) and sisters Arantza & Jocelyn Loredo (2nd) in the 'A' Doubles.

The raffle was enjoyed by all, although I suspect the prize winners enjoyed it a little more. A $195 check from the proceeds of the raffle was sent to "Racquet for the Cure". A big thanks goes to Wilson for all the raffle prizes that they provided.