March - April 2002
Vol. 13, No. 2 | Contents
Excerpts of story by Ryan John
The U.S. Junior Team and coaching staff poses in front of the Orlando Fitness & Racquet Club, after capturing another World Junior team title. Led by 18- winners Jack Huczek and Kristen Walsh, the U.S. contingent outscored their competition by a healthy margin, but were still put on notice in early rounds by a fast-rising Team Mexico. Photo: Robert J. Baker.
Tournament Returns Home
This year marked a return to Florida, where the tournament originated in 1989 as the World Junior Orange Bowl. Miami hosted that year and again in 1990 before the event moved north to Jacksonville, where it stayed from 1991-94. In 1995 the tournament moved west to Fountain Valley, California were it remained until this year.
Designed to determine the best junior racquetball squad in the world, as well as reward individual winners with the title of world champion, this year’s event drew over 230 players representing seven countries. The United States again led the way with 128 entrants, followed by Mexico with 74 players and sizable squads from Canada, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Puerto Rico.
USA Juniors Win Again
Although U.S. Juniors have earned the overall team title every year since the tournament’s inception in 1989, Mexico made a big move at the beginning of this year’s tournament, winning many early round matches over their U.S. opponents to move within striking distance with only a few days of competition left. Veteran junior team member Jack Huczek remained calm, however. “I’m not worried yet,” said Jack. “It always seems like we are down at the beginning, but the U.S. team has always pulled through when the pressure is on.”
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This year the U.S. Junior National team coaches initiated a program in which a member of the junior team pairs up as a “big brother/big sister” for one of the younger players competing for points for the U.S. The program has been a success and gives the younger juniors a chance to meet and bond with some of the older players that they look up to. “It’s really a great program,” Junior Team coach Gregg Peck explains. “The kids really respond well to the program and it’s a lot of fun not only for the younger kids but the older ones really enjoy [it] too.”
Each team member gives a t-shirt to their “little brother or sister” and spends time with them throughout the tournament. During matches they often help to coach their partner and several times the younger juniors could even be seen “coaching” their mentors.
“It creates an exciting atmosphere,” Peck says. “It makes the younger kids feel more like they are a part of the team and it is great how they bond and become close during the tournament.”
The program seemed to work extremely well for “sisters” Adrienne Fisher and Wesley Toland (shown at right). The two were paired together and were the only two players to each earn three gold medals.
“It was fun getting to know Wesley better and I’m sure that she will be on the team soon,” Fisher said of the program. “It was really cool that she was my little sister and we each won three.”
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The first group to tour the studios had a chance to take part in the show with some of them actually getting “slimed.” Although no one in the second group was chosen to be “slimed” (is that a bad thing?), they did receive another special treat – a live performance by Aaron Carter. Aaron is the brother of Back Street Boy, Nick Carter, and a recording artist in his own right. He performed two songs, complete with a dance routine, and even took the time to pose for a photo with some of the swooning juniors.
With thanks to all the parents that helped car pool the players to the studios, an extra special thanks goes to Jennifer Hallstrom, who made the whole trip possible. Jennifer is a segment producer with Nickelodeon and the Games & Sports Network. She has worked to help promote racquetball by putting USRA events in their “In Play Today” segments. Watch for upcoming racquetball events to be publicized on the network, thanks to Jennifer!
Pictured L-R: Shannon Inglesby, Kara Mazur, Elizabeth Brenner, Doug Brenner, Britney Legget, Kaitlin Inglesby, Jansen Allen, Jonathan Doyle. Photo: Tom Inglesby.
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