TOURNAMENT RECAP BY SARAH WARHAFTIG

Texas Hold ‘Em!
By Sarah Warhaftig

Texas Open Recap Video - by Karen Seimears

Everything is bigger in Texas! This state slogan held true as the top women racquetball players headed to Dallas for the WPRO Texas Open. The season opener of the WPRO Tour kicked off in true southern fashion under the leadership of co-tournament directors Mike and Keely Franks. Pro and amateur participants experienced the very best of Dallas with delicious Texas barbecue, cowboy boots and specially engraved belt buckle trophies. Excitement was building in the weeks leading up to the event, and the stage was set to see the top pros fight for the season’s first major title. But attaining bragging rights at this event came as no easy task for the top pros as the draw was packed with 34 players, more than any other Tier 1 event in recent memory.

Familiar faces, new names and returning players stacked the draw as play began at the Landmark Fitness Club on Friday morning. Notable current pros included: #1 Paola Longoria, #2 Rhonda Rajsich, #3 Cheryl Gudinas, #4 Kristen Bellows, #5 Kerri Wachtel. Christie Huczek (formerly Van Hees) and Jackie Paraiso returned to the pro draw as well. Players representing Mexico, Canada and Colombia, along with a strong junior contingent rounded off the draw.

The round of 32’s saw no major upsets, and the match of the day was Adrienne Fisher barely escaping junior champion Sharon Jackson in a 5-game marathon. Many anticipated matches awaited the round of 16’s including an exciting matchup between Christie Huczek and Paolo Longoria. Similar playing styles made this match a thriller, with Longoria pulling it out despite a leg injury sustained during the match in a tough 5-game battle. Paola was able to take an injury timeout because her injury was not pre-existing and occurred during the course of play. Jackie Paraiso’s path through the draw was challenging, too, as she escaped Jen Saunders in four games and Jo Shattuck in 5 games to get her to the quarterfinals. And Mexico’s Samantha Salas defeated Adrienne Fisher to return to the quarterfinals.

Jackie’s run came to an end in the quarterfinals when she met up with Paola who looked well recovered from the previous day’s hamstring injury. Cheryl Gudinas marched into the semifinals in 3 games against Samantha. Rhonda Rajsich defeated #8 Angela Grisar in 5 tough games. The story of the weekend was Kerri Wachtel, who announced at the event that she is three months pregnant with her third child (she already has twins Peyton and Quinn who stayed home with dad Chris). Kerri played some of the best ball we’ve seen from her in years, defeating Kristen Bellows in 4 to round off the semifinals.

Rhonda was flawless in her semifinal against Gudinas, which earned her a spot once again in the finals. The Paola vs. Kerri match was an all-out war watched by a full house Saturday night. Kerri stuck to a precise, measured game style while Paola shot from everywhere to even the match at 2 games each. A close breaker, tough calls, and phenomenal rallies resulted in Kerri taking out the top seed and advancing to the finals against Rhonda.

The finals were set for high noon between #2 and #5 seeds, Rhonda and Kerri. Both ladies had efficient game plans and roughed each other up a bit to force a tiebreaker. In the end, Rhonda was able to gut it out against Kerri, 11-8 in the 5th.

Special thanks to Mike and Keely Franks for an outstanding inaugural event and all the tournament sponsors including title sponsor, Ektelon, and event host Jack Gian and the Landmark Fitness Club. We would also like to thank event sponsors eMedia EFX, McCourt and Son’s Equipment, KO Trading, National Master’s Racquetball Association, Big Image Graphics, OneSource Cooling, Ben Brewster, King Label, Inc., The Racquet Spot, Tekcenture, Inc., Laura Brandt, Mikel Faulkner, Cristina’s Fine Mexican Restaurant, Vinny’s Italian Restaurant, Campisi’s Restaurants, and Corner Bakery.

View full pro draw online with results | Photo gallery

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