March 1, 2005

National High School Racquetball Championships

Set for St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, MO. – The 2005 Wilson 18th USA Racquetball (USAR) National High School Racquetball Championships presented by Penn Racquet Sports are set to get underway at the Vetta Sports Club – Concord in St. Louis this Thursday, March 3. The winner of the boy’s and girl’s singles divisions each earns a one-year appointment to the U.S. Junior National Racquetball Team. The event boasts the largest numbers in the history of the tournament, with 426 players representing 46 high schools from across the country.

Last year’s boy’s singles champion is not taking part in the event, which opens up the draw for the rest of the field. Mike Keddie (Memorial H.S. – Manchester, N.H.) earned the top seed in boy’s singles. Keddie finished in the quarterfinals a year ago. Also earning top seeds are No.2 Brady Prince (Brainerd H.S. – Brainerd, Minn.), No.3 Nathan Chirban (Rolla Homeschool – Rolla, Mo.), and No.4 Alan Crockett (Oak Mountain H.S. – Birmingham, Ala.). Prince also finished in the quarterfinals a year ago, where he lost to eventual champion, Joey Lakowske (Crescent Valley H.S. – Corvallis, Ore.).

2004 girl’s singles champion Kelley Fisher (Centerville H.S. – Centerville, Ohio) also won’t be able to defend her title, but there isn’t a shortage of girl’s ready to take her place. Ashley Willhite (Klamath Union, H.S.) placed third in 2004 and has earned the top seed for this event. She is followed by No.2 Kara Mazur (Miss Porter’s School - Avon, Conn.), No.3 Sara Hettesheimer (Mother of Mercy H.S. – Cincinnati, Ohio), and Samantha McGuffey (Northwest H.S. – Cincinnati, Ohio). None of the No.2-4 seeds participated in last year’s event.

Individual titles aren’t the only titles at stake this week - there is the all-important team competition. Catlin Gabel (Portland, Ore.) shocked everyone a year ago when they earned the overall team competition. They are back again this year with 11 players listed on their squad. Southridge H.S. (Beaverton, Ore.) finished second in 2004, but will be hard pressed to finish as high with only six players making the cross country trek to St. Louis. Other favorites include Beaverton H.S. (Beaverton, Ore.), who finished third a year ago, and Kirkwood H.S. (Kirkwood, Mo.), last years fourth place finisher. Defending boy’s team champions St. Louis University (St. Louis, Mo.) look set to defend their title, listing 37 players on their roster for the hometown event. Parkway West (St. Louis, Mo.) has the most players competing with 46.

The 2005 USAR National High School Championships begin Wednesday, March 3 and continue through Sunday, March 6 at the Vetta Sports Club – Concord. There is no fee for spectators to view the action.

For more information contact Ryan John, USA Racquetball Media Relations Director

at 719-635-5396 ext. 126 or via e-mail at RJohn@usra.org.

For more racquetball on the internet, go to www.usaracquetball.com