http://www.joplinglobe.com/sports/x993513467/JHS-Southern-grad-attains-much-success-U-S-ranking-in-racquetball


April 25, 2010

JHS, Southern grad attains much success, U.S. ranking in racquetball

By Rich Brown
Globe Sports Writer

JOPLIN, Mo. — Josh Tucker was like many 5-year-old Joplin boys with athletic parents in the mid-1980s, but with one difference.

When Steve and Gena Tucker headed to Olympic Fitness Center for racquetball leagues or tournaments, young Josh would be close at hand. However, unlike many children his age stowed away in the OFC nursery while their parents worked out, Josh would often find an empty racquetball court and pass the time hitting ball after ball.

Combine the fact that he was introduced to the sport at such an early age with skilled racquetball parents to guide him and a lot of natural athletic ability and it’s not hard to see how Tucker went on to become one of the top players in the Joplin area.

But, that was only the beginning.

At 10 years old, he played in his first tournament, which, he said, was like a men’s division, and although he is a bit hazy on the results, he admits he may have lost his first two matches.

“I was playing soccer, baseball and a little bit of everything around that time,” he said. “But I just kept playing racquetball.”

Then, in his first two years of high school, Tucker decided to drop baseball and soccer and start running track and cross country.

“My practices would get out around 5 or 5:30 each day and that would leave me plenty of time to go play racquetball,” he said. “I was on the court four or five times a week and sometimes spend up to two hours at a time practicing.”

Those long practice sessions started paying off quickly.

“When I got to be 15 or 16, I started playing in open tournaments, which are pretty much as high as the competition gets in Missouri,” he said. “When I got to that level I played in my first junior national tournament (as a sophomore) and made it to the quarterfinals before getting beat.”

With the Junior Nationals added to his yearly agenda, Tucker moved ahead to playing in the Junior Olympics in the summer of his 16th year.

“From then on, I started becoming a little more successful,” he said. “When you are one of the top players in the nation in your age group, that kind of helps your motivation.”

During his junior year at Joplin High School, Tucker tried out and made the Junior USA Team, which he played on for three straight years, including his first year of college at Missouri Southern.

“I got to travel, including going to Ireland for two weeks,” he said. “I did a lot of instruction, going to a bunch of little towns and cities and talking to the kids.”

As a member of the USA squad, Tucker competed in the Junior World Tournament.

“My first year I lost in the round of 16 and then the following year I got second,” he said. “Then, as a freshman in college, I won it.”

That was the same year he won the Junior Nationals.

After graduating from Missouri Southern in 2002, Tucker entertained thoughts of playing on the pro tour.

“I wanted to give it a shot,” he said. “Then, a friend who plays on the tour talked me into joining him in California and training with him. So I moved to California and just winged it without a job.”

His first full year as a pro was in 2004 and in the 2004-2005 season Tucker was named rookie of the year.

“I started going to every tournament in California in trying to improve my national ranking,” he said. “The highest I reached was No. 9.”

Tucker said outdoor racquetball is a common sight in southern California, particularly around Los Angeles. In fact, his doubles partner, Son Nguyen, won the national outdoor doubles championship in 2008.

Even though they lost, Tucker and Los Angeles pro Rocky Carson reached the finals of the U.S. National Doubles Championship, which automatically qualified them for the adult U.S. team that plays in world tournaments, as well as the Pan American Games.

Since getting a sales job with Medtronic, a medical company in Orange County, Calif., Tucker, who turns 30 on May 17, has had to cut back on the sport in which he has achieved so much.

With limited time for practice and playing on the tour, his U.S. Racquetball Association national rankings slipped to 26th last month.

Any player aspiring to reach the top of the racquetball hierarchy must put the hours of practice in, as Tucker knows.

“I have put a lot of work in just practicing on court by myself,” he said. “It helps if you are athletic but a lot of guys who are athletic just don’t put the work in. On the court, practicing, is a lot more important than just being gifted.”

Thanks for the great article.

The picture is quite old, he only dreams of looking that young at 30.

Good article.

Thanks for sharing.

Another prime example of someone who would probably be on the tour full time if there was more money for more players down the rankings.

I have had the pleasure of playing doubles against Josh in a local tournament when he was around 18 yrs. old. My partner and I were soundly thrashed and all I got out of it was a shot to the quad that broke a blood vessel and left a hugh black and blue spot for 6 weeks (he hit the ball like a pro then). I have followed his career every since then. It was great to see the coverage of the National doubles and watch him and Rocky play together. I would love to see him back on the pro tour full time. With Jason at the helm of the Irt maybe the money will start to flow and more players can make a living playing racquetball.
Good luck in the future to Josh and Jason.