Oct 14, 2008

HOUSTON, Texas -- This year, for the first time since 1992, the Navy sent the All-NAVY Racquetball Team to Houston, Texas to compete against the Air Force and the Marine Corps in the 41st USA Racquetball Association National Singles Championships (“The Finals”), May 22 – 26, 2008. Racquetball has been around since the 1960’s. The sport currently boasts an estimated 5.8 million players nationwide with international recognition growing at a rapid rate in over 40 countries.

Racquetball’s roots in the Navy date back to the early 1980’s. Navy bases (Fleet-wide) and Air Force major commands would sponsor base-wide racquetball qualifying tournaments, with the winners attending region-wide competitions. Regional winners would then advance to either the Air Forces’ MAJCOM Racquetball Team or the All-NAVY Racquetball Team. The top four players in each competitive division were sent to Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Texas to compete in the Armed Services Inter-Service tournament (Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines), and then on to the US National Singles Championships in Houston, Texas. Unfortunately, in 1990-91, the Inter-Service competition was cancelled due to funding issues during OPERATION DESERT SHIELD.

The six team members who participated this year have been working diligently to put together a Navy team for more than two years; and now, with the backing of Navy Sports, their dream became a reality. The members of the team were chosen based on their impressive individual resumes. Most members competed and/or won sanctioned tournaments at the state and regional levels. Their winnings and cumulative points at sanctioned tournaments determined their ranking at Nationals.

This year’s team of players competed nationwide with some of the best racquetball players from across the country.

Six Sailors, six Marines, 17 Airmen and one Soldier competed in two or more matches per day for six days over the Memorial Day Weekend.

“It’s a passion and the adrenaline that keeps me coming back,” said Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) Russ Bruns, All-Navy team co-captain from Trident Refit Facility, Kings Bay, Ga. “I mean, the racquetballs have been clocked at speeds of over 150 mph within the confines of a 40ft by 20ft court. Where else can you experience that?”

Military members from all four services have been working with their respective branches and with USA Racquetball for the last few years to get backing to compete in these tournaments. The ultimate goal is to grow the sport within the services as well as grow the relationship between the military and USA Racquetball.

“We [military] are always looking for good players who are at their A level to compete,” said Air Force Capt. Rik Lepine, Air Force team captain, from Hurlburt Field AFB, Fla. Racquetball is an all-season cross-training sport that is open to male and female athletes of all ranks. Between military commitments and deployments, it is often hard to keep players for a team and find the time to play.

“It’s all about the game,” said Harper, All-Navy team captain, from Maritime Security Squadron Five, Imperial Beach, Calif. “The game is a true challenge because once you understand the fundamentals, you will want to get better. It is truly addictive!” said Harper. “It’s the best way to stay fit and offers a different mental challenge every time you step on the court, and that’s the new physical theme of the Navy…staying physically ready for any situation,” he continued.

Overall the Air Force won with 47 points, second place went to the Navy with 42 points and the Marines came in third with 11 points. For a team of only six members competing with a larger Air Force team of 17 members, the Navy stood its ground.

“Overall the competition was tough,” said Lepine. “This is the first time the military has played at this level, and it was great.”

This is only the beginning. Naval Base San Diego MWR is in the initial planning stages for hosting a sanctioned tournament, “The All Military Invitational Open Racquetball Tournament,” for all active duty members in all services during the fall season (Nov. 14 – 16, 2008).

For more information or just to keep up with military racquetball visit: http://www.militaryracquetball.com

More Fitness News:

- Army Fitness News
- Navy Fitness News
- Marine Corps Fitness News
- Coast Guard Fitness News
- Air Force Fitness News

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