In December 2006, I played my first pro event in Virginia. I lost to Doreen Fowler, but I was hooked, the women's pro tour was where I belonged. I worked my way up to #12 in the rankings and in Decemeber 2008, I played my last pro event in Virginia. I didn't play very well as my mind wasn't in the game, in fact in was wrapped around knowing my time in the sport, although temporary, was over. Opportunities present themselves and if not taken, they may be missed out on, I had two. I was involved in opening a charter school in my community, which took 20-25 hours a week of work above and beyond the full time job I already had. No problem, I could squeeze a game in every now and again. But, I also went back to school FULL TIME to get another master's degree, Hmmmmmmm, that will take some time, did I mention the internship that was concurrent with all of this? From that day in Virginia in 2008 until July 9th 2010, I could count on my two hands how many times I picked up a racquet. When I did pick up a racquet, it was always in a tournament, never a day of practice! I had some close losses to some great players along the way, the whole time knowing, my day will come, my day will come.
Over the 19 months I wasn't playing, I put on some weight, got soft, lazy, and developed some bad eating habits. It's safe to say I was depressed, I have always been an athlete, and NOT being one, was the hardest thing mentally I have ever had to deal with. but I knew, my day would come.
July 9th 2010 - The charter school is open and running with good people in place... wow, I have a lot less to do now! I graduated with a boat load of honors, wow, a whole lot less to do now!!! It's time (Rocky theme music playing in the background) Mind you 19 months is a long time, and the body can transform into a blobby mess over that much time. I changed my eating habits, started training, gave up alcohol, soda, red meat, cakes, candies, cookies, etc.... 16 weeks later, I have lost 34 pounds went from 32.5% body fat to 21%, have gotten faster, leaner, focused on balance, flexibility, and endurance. I was weight training, cardio training, interval training and yes, have been playing a ton of racquetball!!!
My day has come, it is here, it is now, I am an athlete again, I am playing a sport a sport I love! I am healthy, I am in great shape, I feel great about myself again.
It doesn't matter how I do in tournaments, if I win or lose, I am me again, and there is no better feeling then finding yourself after intentionally losing yourself. I knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel all those months ago, and when I came out the other side, I was a better person, no doubt, and I am very very happy!!!
December 2010, Virginia, my goal is to be ready for Virginia...
and... if you're curious to know how things are coming along, I will leave you with this, I am playing better than I ever have, just ask everyone that I am beating!!!
Do you know when something is missing from your life and you can feel the space that is left vacant? When something is a part of your being and you feel incomplete when for whatever reason has been taken away... That's how I feel about racquetball, right now... Sure I have played in some local tourney's but only playing 2-4 times a month doesn't cut it. I know that life happens and you have to roll with it, I know that there will come a time that I will be able to play again, just not now, not soon... :( I'm sad.. I miss everything about the sport, I'm being responsible, I'm doing what needs to be done, so by saying hi to y'all, maybe, just maybe, I'll be inspired to percevere this busy time in my life and hold onto what matters most in my heart, my sport! I'm sure some of you know how I feel, and a few may not, It is difficult to delay one dream to pursuit another. It's not fun :(
Hey all,
Semis were Rhonda defeated Kimi
and cheryl defeated aimee
Finals: Cheryl over rhonda in Five
Mixed Doubles, Aimee and Jason beat Rhonda and Sanjay
I do not know womens doubles final, aimee could help
Great event alot of fun. I do not now what happened on the mens side, I was too busy playing. :)
Chek out aimees blog on the weekend at njracquetball.com for a great summary
Special thanks goes to Janell Wheeler for putting it together for us, just in time for our first event in Fayetteville. NC
www.wpro-tour.com
don't forget to watch us play on racquetballonline.tv
Blake Mandell, "COME ON DOWN!" your the next contestant on The MNP!!! You've just won a brand new car!!! No wait, we don't have brand new cars to give away on this show.
You are MNP'S Junior of the Month for September, so jump up and down a few times and spin like a top!! Okay, enough spinning, I'm getting dizzy...
This 6 year old hailing from New York (Woo Hoo, GO New York, GO New York, GO!!!) really likes "Star Wars". He enjoys playing the piano, baseball, basketball, and soccer. He dreams of taking up boxing, Blake, wait till you get a little older, and don't tell your mom!
Blake has been introduced to the sport of racquetball by his dad, and has been playing for three months. His primary ambition in the sport is to become so good at hitting wall paper shots that everyone he is playing will break all of their racquets and will then have to forfeit the match, leaving Blake standing victorious!
He has just finished the DLC Sports Junior Camp (YAY, props to Diane)
in this showcase showdown, we have a few parting gifts for you but everyone this forum is going to give you ALOT of APPLAUSE (Come on peeps, I just promised him some applause, let's hear it!)
Congratulations Blake, YOU ARE MNP'S JUNIOR OF THE MONTH!!!!!
If you want to purchase any Gearbox items, you go to their website, gearboxrb.com and order it directly through them.
There is a spot to enter a representatives number, put in 00026 and whatever proceeds I earn through Gearbox, I will donate to the Susan Komen Foundation. This is the foundation that is associated with the WPRO. I am making this donation in honor of my friends and family that have been stricken with this disease. This past summer is no exception, one of my closest friends had surgery to remove the cancer not more than two weeks ago.
His name is Carlson Aki. He is 14 years old. He lives in Hawaii. He is MNP's Junior of the Month for August!!! Yipee!!! Woo Hoo!!! YAY!!!
I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about him! Micah could tell you more, but this is all I have, so here it is.
Carlson is a highly talented volleyball player. He plays for the Onipa Volleyball Academy, was part of the Asics Volleyball Club and he intends to go to Junior Nationals in this sport. He is quite passionate about this sport, we have something in common...
Carlson was introduced to the sport of Racquetball in 8th grade during a PE class. He fell in love with the game immediately! It is only recently that he was entered the tourney scene!!! He has entered two events to date, losing in the quarter finals his first time out! His second event was outdoor doubles in which he and his partner won a game and lost two. "He is showing very promising skill, as well as the yearn to learn more about racquetball" yeah, yeah, nice ryhme!
He intends to be a well known player and the best possible player he can become!!!
Congratulations Carlson, you are this month's Player of the Month!!!
I am very happy to announce that I will playing for Gearbox Racquetball for the 2007/2008 season. I am excited to be a part of their team and looking forward to a successful year on tour!!!
September 13-16 – Fayetteville, NC / Outback Steakhouse Blast It! T1
October 5-7 – Laurel, MD / Mid-Atlantic Tournament of Champions (Satellite)
October 11-14 – Burlington, Ontario, CAN / Canadian Racquetball Classic (T1)
November 2-4 – Long Island, NY / Long Island Open (Satellite)
November 14-18 – Memphis, TN / Choice Hotels US OPEN (GS)
December 6-9 – Arlington, VA / Christmas Classic (T1)
January 10-13 – Panama City, Panama / Canal Challenge (T1)
January 24-27 – Sacramento, CA / Greater Sacramento Open (T1)
February 1-3 – Cincinnati, OH / Racquet & Hand for the Cure (Satellite)
February 7-10 – Phoenix, AZ / Ektelon Fireball Rollout (T1)
February 28-March 2 – Miami, FL / Great Balls of Fire (T1)
March 14-16 – Fountain Valley, CA / Ocean City Open (Satellite)
April 3-6 – Harrisburg, PA / Harrisburg Pro-Am (T1)
April 17-20 – New Orleans, LA / WPRO World Championships (GS)
May 9-11 – Sacramento, CA / WPRO Pro National Doubles (T1)
WPRO BOARD WELCOMES NEW MEMBER - BRENDA LOUBE
Brenda Loube, President and Co-founder of Corporate Fitness Works, has been elected to serve on the WPRO Board of Directors. Corporate Fitness Works is a Maryland-based firm that provides customized fitness and wellness services for corporations, government agencies and residential communities.
Brenda has been involved with the sport of racquetball since 1976 and has over 30 years of experience playing and teaching lessons for all ages. She was instrumental in starting the Maryland Racquetball Association in the early 1980’s and holds numerous titles on the state, regional and national levels, including a National Singles title in the 30+ division in 1983.
Brenda has been on the Board for Women Business Owners of Maryland, was appointed the Chairperson of the Maryland Advisory Council on Physical Fitness, is a board member of the National Health and Fitness Association, a member of the Advisory Board for the International Council on Active Aging, and sits on the Board of Directors for the American Breast Cancer Foundation.
As a result of Brenda's achievements in both racquetball and fast-pitch softball, she was inducted in the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. Brenda has presented at the Women’s Sports Foundation conference on the fitness benefits of the lifetime sport of racquetball.
The WPRO proudly welcomes Brenda Loube to serve on its Board of Directors!
I hope this works, otherwise i have to type it in!!!
??? I wanna get outside!!!
After a brief hiatus, known as Pro Nationals and Nationals, in May, I have returned post haste to introduce to you an accomplished individual. Would you like to meet him??? I give you Sammuel Newport of Fayetteville New York!!! Let’s give him some noise!!! Come on, you can do better!!! That’s what I like to hear!!! Let’s meet June’s MNP JOTM!!!!
Sammuel is a multi talented 12 year old. He is a hug music fan with a taste for it all; jazz, hip hop, country, rock, and more. He likes to throw down a beat on his drums and is looking forward to taking lessons from a studio artist. When he is not ripping overhead, backhand, pinch roll outs, you can find him playing basketball, football and tennis. Did I mention that he loves to watch great movies with his dad?
This young man start playing with his dad, I’m not really sure how long ago, but I can tell you that through his dad, he met the incomparable Jim Winterton. (Hey Jim, did you see those moving drive serves I used at nationals?) Sammuel started taking lessons from Jim and enrolled in his junior’s program. He has been quite successful as a junior; First place at the NY Freeze out tourney in the Juniors, Second at the NY Gold’s Gym juniors tournament, and you have to give him credit played in his first B level match this past year and lost in the first round. Let’s take a moment and remember our first B level match…. I think this should be a thread “Remembering your first B match” in honor of Sammuel!!!
Sammuel is highly ambitious, he wants to study his opponents and discover their strengths and weaknesses and understand their different styles. He can’t wait to start playing doubles with brother and above all things he salivates at thought of beating his dad. Dad, keep practicing, cause the clock is a tickin’ and Sammuel is on his way!!! With that said and this being the penultimate sentence, put your hands together for this future star!!! Congratulations Sammuel, You Are the weakest link, wait, wait, wait, You Are June’s MNP Junior of the Month!!!
I have to give up my eight year old cat. her name is jasmine and is the sweetest cat ever!!! I am moving in with my fiance and she is deathly allergic to her. I am very upset. I found a home for her biological brother and just gave him up tonight. She is marble in color, has her front claws, and is a huge mush. I do not want to bring her to a shelter as they put unadopted animals to sleep... I will pay to send her any where, where she will have a good home. If you are interested please IM me... and yes you can cange her name to fireball if you want.. :(
I know, I know, I'm a little behind getting this one out to you. It has been a very busy month and I promise you when I get home from Pro Nationals, I'll get you May's JOM!!!
However, there is a young man that I'd like to introduce you to, his name is Bob... No it's not, I'm kidding, it's Joseph Misita, Congratulations, you are Meet and Play's Junior of the Month for April!!! This young athlete hailing from Mineola, New York, loves to play baseball, enjoys karate and loves to swim. His freinds marvel at his speed, which he uses on the soccer field.
His dad, Bill, I'm sure is excited that he has inspired his five year old son to play racquetball. Joseph started watching his dad play through the glass and hopes to one day be able to get on the court with his dad and give him game.
So, take a moment and raise your glass, milk of course, to Joseph for being Meet and Play's, Junior of the Month!!!
In addition to Joseph's prize for this honor, Since I live very close by, I'd like to offer him a mini lesson with me to help him get started on his goal. So, dad, send me a PM so that we can arrange it.
With some of the regionals played and some more to go over the next couple of weeks, how did y'all do??
I was second in women's open (lost to aimee ruiz) and second in mixed open doubles (lost to aimee ruiz and Sanjay LaForest) here in new york... getting ready for pro nationals and nationals in May. :cheesy:
there are certain things that really irk me. There are certain things that are disrespectful on a court. Someone did this tonight and I really went off, but I will keep my cool and say I forgive you. So help me god, if it happens again though, you will never be on a court with me ever again (I'm being lady-like here)... I'm so angry... I don't feel better yet :*
