USA Racquetball

Ben Croft and Mitch Williams Win Gold

Once again the country's best doubles players were at the ASU Student Recreation Complex in Tempe, AZ to compete in the 2010 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships presented by Head/Penn Racquet Sports. The “National Doubles” is the only national championship for doubles competition in open, skill, age group divisions and is sponsored by Ektelon, and Gearbox. Over 70 divisions were crowned national champions with gold medals, including Women's A Doubles Champions Elizabeth Higa/Stephanie Christensen who claimed their first title together. Mimi Greene/Lynn Stephens also earned gold by winning the Mixed B Doubles in a close tie-breaker. No strangers to the winners circle and defending their titles from 2009, included Jeff Bell/Tom Fuhrmann who repeated as champions in the Men's 35+ Doubles as did Chris Evon/Scott Cullins winning gold in the Mixed 45+ Doubles. Other defending champions included Malia Bailey/Glenn Bell in the Mixed 50+ doubles, Mildred Gwinn/Jim Bailey in the Mixed 60+ Doubles, and Lorraine Feeney/Roz Petronelli in the Women's 40+ Doubles.
In addition, finalists in the Men's and Women's National Team Qualifier Divisions earn one year appointments to the U.S. National Team. The finals of the Men's U.S. Team Qualifier division saw Ben Croft/Mitch Williams defeat Rocky Carson/Josh Tucker in two straight games, 15-13, 15-8 for the championship. This was Croft and Williams's second National Doubles title. Their first win was in 2007.
In the Women's U.S. Team Qualifying division Jackie Paraiso/Aimee Ruiz defeated Rhonda Rajsich/Janel Tisinger, 15-8, 15-7, to win gold and earn a one year appointment to the U.S. National Team. It's the fourth consecutive title for Paraiso/Ruiz who could arguably be considered the best women's doubles players ever.
A complete story and more photos will be published in the next issue of Racquetball Magazine. For more winners click the Results link on the official tournament page.

Jackie Pariaso and Aimee Ruiz Dominate

For the third consecutive year Jackie Paraiso and Aimee Ruiz defeated Rhonda Rajsich and Janel Tisinger to win the Women's U.S. Team Qualifying division at the 2010 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships. It's the fourth consecutive title for arguably the greatest women's doubles players who won 15-8, 15-7 in the finals. It's the 6th consecutive year that Ruiz has etched her name in the record books. She also won in 2006 and 2005 with partner Laura Fenton.

Paraiso won three consecutive years before that time, from 2002-2004, with Kim Russell-Waselenchuk. Remarkably for nine consecutive years either Paraiso or Ruiz or both have claimed the U.S. National Doubles Championship. Over her career, Paraiso has won 13 doubles titles dating back to 1990 beginning with Michelle Gilman and her sister Joy MacKenzie.