Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour is the latest name for the women's professional racquetball tour. It features the world's best players and several events each season - running from September to May - that are mostly played in the USA.

History

Women's professional racquetball has existed since the 1970s but the women's pro tour began in 1980, when the Women's Professional Racquetball Association (WPRA) was created.[1] The tour was run by International Management Group, and did well in the early 1980s in part due to the great rivalry between Lynn Adams and Heather McKay. The WPRA lasted until 1994, when the Women's International Racquetball Tour (WIRT) was created.

In 2000, the United States Racquetball Association (USRA) took over administration of the WIRT, and renamed it the Ladies Professional Racquetball Association (LPRA). This led to significant growth under the supervision of the USRA, which had a three year plan for the LPRA.[2]

In 2005, the players took over control and ownership of the tour, and again it was reorganized and rebranded as the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization.[3] Shannon Feaster, a former player and marketing executive, served as the WPRO Commissioner from February 2006 to May 2011, when she stepped down to focus on her family. Gigi Rock was then hired as the new commissioner in July 2011.[4]

In 2012, the players decided to reorganize and created the LPRT with T. J. Baumbaugh as President and Andy Kulback Deputy Commissioner. Kulback resigned in October 2016.

Current season

2019-2020 (Tier 1 and Grand Slam Events)

EventChampionRunner UpSemi FinalistsQuarterfinalistsDoubles ChampionsFinalists
Paola Longoria Experience[5]

San Luis Potosí, Mexico
August 23-25, 2019

Paola Longoria
15-13, 15-6
Maria Jose Vargas Monserrat Mejia
Samantha Salas
Cristina Amaya
Ana Laura Flores
Alexandra Herrera
Nancy Enriquez
Monserrat Mejia
Alexandra Herrera
12-15, 15-10, 11-7
Paola Longoria
Samantha Salas
Chesapeake Open[6]

Virginia Beach, Virginia
September 6-8, 2019

Maria Jose Vargas
7-15, 15-12, 11-4
Paola Longoria Masiel Rivera
Rhonda Rajsich
Nancy Enriquez
Brenda Laime
Samantha Salas
Natalia Mendez
Paola Longoria
Samantha Salas
15-6, 15-11
Natalia Mendez
Maria Jose Vargas
US Open Racquetball
Championships
[7]

Minneapolis, Minnesota
October 2–6, 2019

Paola Longoria
15-5, 15-7
Maria Jose Vargas Monserrat Mejia
Samantha Salas
Masiel Rivera
Natalia Mendez
Alexandra Herrera
Nancy Enriquez
Monserrat Mejia
Alexandra Herrera
15-13, 15-12
Paola Longoria
Samantha Salas
LPRT Turkey Shoot[8]

Lombard, Illinois
November 22-24, 2019

Paola Longoria
15-2, 15-6
Monserrat Mejia Alexandra Herrera
Natalia Mendez
Cristina Amaya
Maria Jose Vargas
Erin Rivera
Jessica Parrilla
Paola Longoria
Samantha Salas
4-15, 15-10, 11-7
Monserrat Mejia
Alexandra Herrera
Christmas Classic[9]

Laurel, Maryland
December 13-15, 2019

Paola Longoria
15-3, 12-15, 11-8
Maria Jose Vargas Alexandra Herrera
Natalia Mendez
Cristina Amaya
Nancy Enriquez
Rhonda Rajsich
Carla Muñoz
Paola Longoria
Samantha Salas
12-15, 15-11, 11-4
Natalia Mendez
Maria Jose Vargas
LPRT Florida[10]

Fort Lauderdale, Florida
January 10-12, 2020

Paola Longoria
15-6, 15-12
Maria Jose Vargas Valeria Centellas
Alexandra Herrera
Jessica Parrilla
Cristina Amaya
Natalia Mendez
Kelani Bailey Lawrence
Paola Longoria
Alexandra Herrera
15-14, 15-14
Natalia Mendez
Maria Jose Vargas
Sweet Caroline Open[11]

Greenville, South Carolina
January 24-26, 2020

Paola Longoria
15-5, 15-6
Maria Jose Vargas Alexandra Herrera
Rhonda Rajsich
Montserrat Mejia
Valeria Centellas
Natalia Mendez
Samantha Salas
Paola Longoria
Samantha Salas
15-5, 15-12[12]
Alexandra Herrera
Montserrat Mejia
Boston Open[13]

Marlborough, Massachusetts
March 6-8, 2020

Paola Longoria
15-8, 15-3
Samantha Salas Adriana Riveros
Maria Jose Vargas
Jessica Parrilla
Carla Muñoz
Rhonda Rajsich
Brenda Laime
Paola Longoria
Samantha Salas
15-10, 15-12
Natalia Mendez
Maria Jose Vargas
Battle of the Alamo

San Antonio, Texas
April 17-19, 2020

Cancelled due to COVID-19
Teamroot.com Classic

Overland Park, Kansas
June 12-14, 2020

Cancelled due to COVID-19

Season Summaries (Tier I and Grand Slam Events)

SeasonWinsUS Open winner
2019-20 Paola Longoria (7), Maria Jose Vargas Paola Longoria
2018-19 Paola Longoria (8), Maria Jose Vargas Paola Longoria
2017-18 Paola Longoria (7), Samantha Salas, Maria Jose Vargas Paola Longoria
2016-17 Paola Longoria (10), Frédérique Lambert, Samantha Salas Paola Longoria
2015-16 Paola Longoria (11) Paola Longoria
2014-15 Paola Longoria (10), Maria Jose Vargas (2), Rhonda Rajsich Paola Longoria
2013-14 Paola Longoria (12) Paola Longoria
2012-13 Paola Longoria (11) Paola Longoria
2011-12 Paola Longoria (7), Rhonda Rajsich Paola Longoria
2010-11 Paola Longoria (5), Rhonda Rajsich (4), Samantha Salas (1) Rhonda Rajsich
2009-10 Paola Longoria (5), Rhonda Rajsich (2), Cheryl Gudinas (1) Rhonda Rajsich
2008-09 Paola Longoria (4), Rhonda Rajsich (4), Kristen Walsh Bellows (1) Paola Longoria

Rankings

Season ending top 10 rankings

Rank 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
1 Paola Longoria Paola Longoria Paola Longoria Paola Longoria Paola Longoria
2 Rhonda Rajsich Frédérique Lambert Frédérique Lambert Samantha Salas Maria Jose Vargas
3 Maria Jose Vargas Samantha Salas Jessica Parrilla Maria Jose Vargas Samantha Salas
4 Frédérique Lambert Jessica Parrilla Alexandra Herrera Alexandra Herrera Alexandra Herrera
5 Samantha Salas Alexandra Herrera Rhonda Rajsich Rhonda Rajsich Natalia Mendez
6 Jessica Parrilla Rhonda Rajsich Nancy Enriquez Natalia Mendez Montserrat Mejia
7 Sofia Rascon Cristina Amaya Natalia Mendez Nancy Enriquez Rhonda Rajsich
8 Alexandra Herrera Carla Muñoz Cristina Amaya Cristina Amaya Nancy Enriquez
9 Susana Acosta Susana Acosta Maria Jose Vargas Frédérique Lambert Cristina Amaya
10 Cristina Amaya Adriana Riveros Carla Muñoz Adriana Riveros Jessica Parrilla
Rank 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13[14] 2013-14[15] 2014-15[16]
1 Rhonda Rajsich Paola Longoria Paola Longoria Paola Longoria Paola Longoria
2 Paola Longoria Rhonda Rajsich Rhonda Rajsich Rhonda Rajsich Maria Jose Vargas
3 Samantha Salas Kerri Wachtel Samantha Salas Maria Jose Vargas Rhonda Rajsich
4 Kerri Wachtel Krystal Csuk Susana Acosta Samantha Salas Frédérique Lambert
5 Cheryl Gudinas Adrienne Fisher Cheryl Gudinas Cristina Amaya Samantha Salas
6 Susana Acosta Susana Acosta Adrienne Fisher Frédérique Lambert Cristina Amaya
7 Jennifer Saunders Jennifer Saunders Grace Hughes Aubrey Kirch Michelle Key
8 Adrienne Fisher Cristina Amaya Kerri Wachtel Susana Acosta Sofia Rascon
9 Cristina Amaya Kristen Walsh Bellows Cristina Amaya Veronica Sotomayor Cheryl Gudinas
10 Krystal Csuk Cheryl Gudinas Maria Jose Vargas Da'monique Davis Da'monique Davis
Rank 2005-06[17] 2006-07[18] 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
1 Rhonda Rajsich Rhonda Rajsich Rhonda Rajsich Paola Longoria Paola Longoria
2 Cheryl Gudinas Holmes Kerri Wachtel Cheryl Gudinas Holmes Rhonda Rajsich Rhonda Rajsich
3 Christie Van Hees Cheryl Gudinas Holmes Kerri Wachtel Cheryl Gudinas Holmes Cheryl Gudinas Holmes
4 Kristen Walsh Bellows Angela Grisar Angela Grisar Kristen Walsh Bellows Kerri Wachtel
5 Angela Grisar Christie Van Hees Kristen Walsh Bellows Kerri Wachtel Adrienne Fisher
6 Diane Moore Brenda Kyzer Paola Longoria Veronica Sotomayor Jo Shattuck
7 Brenda Kyzer Kristen Walsh Bellows Adrienne Fisher Adrienne Fisher Keely Franks
8 Jo Shattuck Samantha Salas Brenda Kyzer Angela Grisar T. J. Baumbaugh
9 Tammy Brown Jo Shattuck Christie Van Hees Jennifer Saunders Vivian Gomez
10 Laura Fenton Diane Moore Doreen Fowler Jo Shattuck Samantha Salas
Rank 2000-01[19] 2001-02[19] 2002-03[20] 2003-04[19] 2004-05[21]
1 Cheryl Gudinas Cheryl Gudinas Cheryl Gudinas Cheryl Gudinas Christie Van Hees
2 Jackie Paraiso Jackie Rice Jackie Paraiso Rice Christie Van Hees Cheryl Gudinas
3 Rhonda Rajsich Kerri Wachtel Kerri Wachtel Rhonda Rajsich Rhonda Rajsich
4 Laura Fenton Rhonda Rajsich Rhonda Rajsich Kerri Wachtel Kerri Wachtel
5 Kersten Hallander Kersten Hallander Kersten Hallander Kristen Walsh Bellows Kristen Walsh Bellows
6 Susana Acosta Kristen Walsh Bellows Adrienne Fisher Kersten Hallander Angela Grisar
7 Doreen Fowler Claudine Garcia Kim Russell Adrienne Fisher Tammy Brown
8 Kerri Stoffregen Kim Russell Kristen Walsh Bellows Tammy Brown Adrienne Fisher
9 Lori-Jane Powell Lori-Jane Powell Lori-Jane Powell Angela Grisar Diane Moore
10 Kim Machiran Laura Fenton Susana Acosta Jackie Paraiso Rice Brenda Kyzer
  • Note - Christie Van Hees announced she was retiring at the end of the 2000-01 season, and was omitted from the season ending rankings despite winning two tournaments that season and being in the finals of two others. She certainly would have been in the top 10 that season.[22]
Rank 1995-96[23] 1996-97[23] 1997-98[23] 1998-99[23] 1999-2000[23]
1 Michelle Gould Michelle Gould Michelle Gould Jackie Paraiso Jackie Paraiso
2 Cheryl Gudinas Cheryl Gudinas Jackie Paraiso Cheryl Gudinas Cheryl Gudinas
3 Amy Kilbane Jackie Paraiso Marci Drexler Christie Van Hees Christie Van Hees
4 Marcy Lynch* Laura Fenton Cheryl Gudinas Kersten Hallander Kersten Hallander
5 Anita Maldonado* Molly O'Brien Laura Fenton Lydia Hammock Susana Acosta
6 Kim Machiran Lynne Coburn Lynne Coburn Robin Levine Lisa Hjelm
7 Molly O'Brien Marcy Lynch Molly O'Brien Molly O'Brien Kim Machiran
8 Jackie Paraiso Janet Myers Lorraine Galloway Michelle Wiragh Phyllis Morris
9 Dina Moreland Lydia Hammock Lydia Hammock Janet Myers Doreen Fowler
10 Lynne Coburn Randi Friedman Doreen Fowler Lori-Jane Powell Michelle Lucas
  • Note - Marcy Lynch and Anita Maldonado tied for 4th in 1995-96.
Rank 1990-91[24] 1991-92[24] 1992-93[24] 1993-94[24] 1994-95[23]
1 Michelle Gilman Jackie Paraiso Gibson Michelle Gould Michelle Gould Michelle Gould
2 Lynn Adams Malia Kamahoahoa Bailey Marci Drexler Marci Drexler Robin Levine
3 Malia Bailey Toni Bevelock Malia Bailey Robin Levine Marci Drexler
4 Caryn McKinney Michelle Gilman Gould Jackie Paraiso Gibson Cheryl Gudinas Cheryl Gudinas
5 Jackie Paraiso Dottie Fishl Kelly Lynne Coburn Lynne Coburn Lynne Coburn
6 Toni Bevelock Marci Drexler Kaye Kuhfeld Molly O’Brien Chris Evon
7 Kaye Kuhfeld Marcy Lynch Toni Bevelock* Laura Fenton Laura Fenton
8 Marci Drexler Lynne Coburn Molly O'Brien* Chris Evon Molly O'Brien
9 Lynne Coburn Kaye Kuhfeld Chris Evon Ellen Crawford Marcy Lynch
10 Marcy Lynch Robin Levine Caryn McKinney Roz Olson Amy Kilbane
  • Note - Toni Bevelock and Molly O'Brien tied for 7th in 1992-93.
Rank 1985-96[24] 1986-87[24] 1987-88[24] 1988-89[24] 1989-90[24]
1 Lynn Adams Lynn Adams Lynn Adams Caryn McKinney Lynn Adams
2 Caryn McKinney Caryn McKinney Caryn McKinney Lynn Adams Michelle Gilman
3 Marci Drexler Marci Drexler Kaye Kuhfeld Toni Bevelock Caryn McKinney
4 Vicki Panzeri Molly O'Brien Marci Drexler Marci Drexler Toni Bevelock
5 Terri Gilreath* Vicki Panzeri Molly O'Brien Kaye Kuhfeld Kaye Kuhfeld
6 Bonnie Stoll* Kaye Kuhfeld Jackie Paraiso Molly O'Brien Malia Bailey
7 Molly O'Brien* Terri Gilreath Vicki Panzeri Dottie Fishl Molly O'Brien
8 Sandy Robson* Marcy Lynch Liz Alvarado Jackie Paraiso Jackie Paraiso
9 Fran Davis Chris Evon Toni Bevelock Cindy Doyle Dottie Fishl
10 Trina Rasmussen Jackie Paraiso]] Cindy Doyle Marcy Lynch Chris Evon

Note: In the 1986-85 season, Terri Gilreath and Bonnie Stoll tied for 5th and Molly O'Brien and Sandy Robson tied for 7th.

Rank 1980-81[24] 1981-82[24] 1982-83[24] 1983-84[24] 1984-85[24]
1 Heather McKay Lynn Adams Heather McKay Heather McKay Lynn Adams
2 Lynn Adams Heather McKay Lynn Adams Lynn Adams Vicki Panzeri
3 Shannon Wright Shannon Wright Shannon Wright Shannon Wright-Hamilton Terri Gilreath
4 Marci Greer Marci Greer Laura Martino Janell Marriott Caryn McKinney
5 Karin Walton-Trent Peggy Gardner Vicki Panzeri Vicki Panzeri Marci Drexler
6 Peggy Gardner Laura Martino Janell Marriott Terri Gilreath Janell Marriott
7 Laura Martino Terri Gilreath Marci Greer Laura Martino Heather McKay
8 Linda Prefontaine Rita Hoff Terri Gilreath Caryn McKinney Liz Alvarado
9 Francine Davis Jennifer Harding Peggy Gardner Marci Greer Diane Bullard
10 Janell Marriott Vicki Panzeri Heather Stupp Brenda Barrett Cindy Baxter

Most years in top 10

RankPlayerYears
1. Cheryl Gudinas21
2. Rhonda Rajsich20
3. Jackie Paraiso16
4. Paola Longoria13
5. Kerri Wachtel12
5. Molly O'Brien12
7. Lynn Adams11
7. Marci Drexler11
9. Samantha Salas10
9. Cristina Amaya10
11. Adrienne Fisher9
11. Michelle Gould9
11. Caryn McKinney9
11. Kristen Bellows9

Players ranked #1 at season's end

Years ended No. 1
1. Paola Longoria11
2. Michelle Gould7
3. Lynn Adams6
4. Cheryl Gudinas4
4. Rhonda Rajsich4
6. Heather McKay3
6. Jackie Paraiso3
8. Caryn McKinney1
8. Christie Van Hees1

References

  1. "Video". CNN. October 29, 1984.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2003-08-02. Retrieved 2003-08-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Racquetball Magazine article
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20050824155731/http://ladiesproracquetball.com/ 2005 WPRO website
  4. http://wprotour.com/documents/Rock_And_The_Role.pdf WPRO Press Release
  5. "Women's Singles LPRT Pro Single Elimination - Racquetball - The 2019 Paola Longoria Experience". www.r2sports.com. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  6. "Women's LPRT Draw". www.r2sports.com. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  7. "Women's Singles LPRT Pro Main Single Elimination - Racquetball - 2019 UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Racquetball Championship". www.r2sports.com. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  8. "LPRT Turkey Shoot". R2 Sports. R2 Sports. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  9. "2019 LPRT Christmas Classic". R2 Sports. R2 Sports. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  10. "LPRT Florida Pro-Am - Singles Draw". R2 Sports. R2 Sports. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  11. "2020 Sweet Caroline - Singles". R2 Sports. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  12. "2020 Sweet Caroline - Doubles". R2 Sports. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  13. "2020 Boston Open". R2 Sports. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  14. "LPRT - Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour" (PDF). Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  15. "LPRT - Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour" (PDF). Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  16. "LPRT - Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour". Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  17. "Ladies' Pro Raquetball - LPR Association". Archived from the original on 2006-07-03. Retrieved 2006-07-03. Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
  18. "Ladies' Pro Raquetball - LPR Association". Archived from the original on 2007-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-09. Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
  19. "Ladies' Pro Raquetball - LPR Association". Archived from the original on 2003-02-14. Retrieved 2003-02-14. Ladies Professional Racquetball Association
  20. https://web.archive.org/web/20030720144454/http://ladiesproracquetball.com/ Ladies Professional Racquetball Association
  21. "Ladies' Pro Raquetball - LPR Association". Archived from the original on 2005-08-26. Retrieved 2005-08-26. Ladies Professional Racquetball Association
  22. Racquetball magazine, July–August 2001
  23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2003-06-07. Retrieved 2003-06-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Women's International Racquetball Tour
  24. "Ladies' Pro Raquetball - LPR Association". Archived from the original on 2003-06-07. Retrieved 2003-06-07. Women's Professional Racquetball Association
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