Based on their accomplishments in the 2000-2001 season, Jack Huczek, Adrienne Fisher and Kristen Walsh were named the USRA’s Junior Athletes of the Year. Although judging for the award is based strictly as their accomplishments as junior athletes, all three of these up-and-coming stars has already made their mark in adult tournaments and look as though they will continue to do so for a long time to come. [Pictured L-R: Walsh, Huczek, Fisher]

Male Junior Athlete of the Year: Jack Huczek
Huczek, who has dominated the junior ranks like no one else, earned the Male Junior Athlete of the Year Award for the second year in a row. In 2000, Huczek earned two gold medals by winning both the boy’s 18- and 16- singles divisions at the Junior Olympic Championships, then took home two medals, one gold and one silver, at the IRF World Junior Championships by winning the boy’s 16- singles and placing second in the boy’s 18- singles. Later, he continued his string of wins with a successful title-defense at the 2001 National High School championship.

“Only a handful of people have ever gotten (the Male Junior Athlete of the Year) award and got their name up on that plaque,” says Huczek. “I think that it is an awesome achievement to get and I am definitely proud of it.”

Female Junior Athlete of the Year: Adrienne Fisher
Fisher earned her “half” of the Female Athlete of the Year award by ruling her age division throughout the season. She won not only the girl’s 2001 National High School National singles champion but teamed up with her sister, Kelley, to also win the National High School doubles title. She earned three medals at the 2000 Junior Olympic Championships by placing first in girl’s 14- singles and 16- mixed doubles with Chris Meyer and placed third in girl’s 16- singles. Fisher also earned a title at the IRF World Junior Championships in the girl’s 14- and was a runner-up in the girl’s 16- singles.

“It’s really exciting to get it (Co-Female Junior Athlete of the Year),” she says. “I have looked up to the other people that have gotten the award as role models and it is exciting to be put in the same class as them.”

Female Junior Athlete of the Year: Kristen Walsh 
For the second year in a row, Walsh was tapped as the Female Junior Athlete of the Year, albeit this year shared with co-awardee Fisher. At the U.S. Junior Olympic Championships Walsh won a hat-trick of sorts by earning gold medals in all three divisions in which she competed. She won the girl’s 18- singles division over Krystal Csuk and then teamed up with Csuk to take the girl’s 18- doubles title. She also won the 18- mixed doubles gold medal with her partner Stephen Lewis. At the IRF World Junior Championships Walsh was crowned the girl’s 18- singles champion and again teamed up with Csuk to earn the girl’s 18- doubles title as well.

A long-time racquetball player at the Lakewood Athletic Club in Denver, Rich and his wife Cheryl have two young sons, Zach (2) and Alex (6). Rich is an independent business owner, but when he was unable to work, the hospital bills began to take their toll. That’s when the LAC racquetball community, upon hearing about the accident, decided to host a fundraising event for Rich and his family last May. The tournament attracted over 70 players for the two-day event, where a silent auction was organized with donated items from clients, family, and friends.

When all of the proceeds were tallied, the LAC was able to offer Rich and Cheryl Owens a check in the amount of $7035.00! Marianne Alonzi, LAC Court Sports Director, presented the check to a visibly moved Cheryl Owens at the USRA’s Junior Olympic banquet.

Alonzi was proud of all those involved, “The generosity of the LAC racquetball players and the friends of the Owens family far exceeded my wildest expectations.” Owens is still not fully recovered but is getting better with each passing day. “He is still recuperating and has a long road ahead of him,” says Alonzi. “Please keep him in your prayers.”

Donations are still be accepted to the Rich Owens Fund and can be made to: Rich Owens Fund, c/o Lakewood Athletic Club, 3333 South Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, Colorado 80227.

After a league match, Stan mentioned that it would be nice if his son, a student at Centennial, could experience racquetball in its true environment – on a court instead of the basketball gym. Without funds to construct their own facility, the athletic department had to rely on the basketball gym to serve as the “court” for physical education classes teaching racquetball.

Obviously, the speed of the game, the angles of the side walls and returns off the back wall had no place in the students’ experience memory bank – because they do not exist in that context. Listening to this “sad tale of woe,” John questioned, “what if we could arrange to use our club courts during the day when membership use is minimal?” Such an arrangement could fit very nicely into the high school class schedule if it were to materialize.

The next day John approached club manager Rich Ruthenberg to discuss the concept in general terms. After going through several possible options, the club offered its courts, free of charge, during mid-day hours. Mr. Ruthenberg’s thinking was that “commercial business should give a little back to the community when an opportunity presents itself.” An agreement was also reached to assure club member priority, in the event of a court request conflict.

With the basic groundwork in place, Athletic Director Stan Lewis was contacted for his input on the concept. Needless to say, he was very receptive to the opportunity for no court costs, plus no-fee instruction by AmPro certified instructors for his students. His immediate response was to contact the head of Physical Education Department, Mark Goodwin, to review the proposal and forward a recommendation back to him with a “yes or no” in regards to school participation. The PE staff had a very positive response to the proposed activity and Mrs. Kathy Reineke, a racquetball player in her own right, was given supervisory responsibility for the program. [Pictured: O'Donnell and Reineke]

Then came the “nitty-gritty” – logistics. Transportation, insurance coverage, class times, class size, and equipment were just a few of the details that needed attention. With everyone finally on the same page, after more than four months of preparation, racquetball was “going to school.”

On Monday, March 19, basic instruction began in four co-ed PE classes per day, ranging from 26-34 students per class, with supervised competitive play on six courts. With the assistance of club pro Bob Graf and three club members (all open/A tournament competitors), the program has been a resounding success without a major problem. Kathy Grill, Illinois State Women’s Open title holder, Dave Leach and Chad Pitcher have contributed their time and skills to give the students an excellent insight into what the sport has to offer over a lifetime of play.

Our only major hurdle has been in persuading the students to stop their play and leave the courts in time to change clothes and make the bus schedule for their return to school!

We haven’t discovered any Swains, Monchiks, Gudinases, or Paraisos (yet), but the competitive juices are flowing and the spirit of friendly competition is readily apparent. It’s a great feeling to see the young people pick up the sport in such a short period of time – and have such a great time in the process. Only three weeks into the activity, we have four or five doubles teams that are really “into the zone” and play a very credible competitive game.

While it is only a start – we have taken the first step. Hopefully it is the first of many more to come.