Denver? In the Winter?

By Joan Vande Kieft

Who knew the WSMRA tournament in Littleton, Colorado in mid January would boast of warmer temperatures than any other of the 87 participants’ home states? The only person who may have missed the warmth of home, Guatemala, was Marie Gomar. Chicagoans and Floridians alike basked in the sunny Highlands Ranch 55+ degree weather.

The 22nd annual tournament, first time ever in Colorado, featured the 10 beautiful courts of Highlands Ranch Rec Center, great embroidered tournament souvenir jackets, personalized for each participant, and convenient shuttle transportation. All the women enjoyed the support and assistance of the tournament directors Marcia Richards, Cindy Tilbury and Lori Inskeep and the Colorado men and women who volunteered to help the tournament run smoothly. The two tournament hotels featured spacious comfortable rooms, complementary full breakfast. The superb hospitality at the club included breakfast, lunch and dinner, fruit, snacks and beverages. Participants recovered from their numerous round robin matches by relaxing in the hot tub and indulging in profession massages while their racquets were being restrung onsite.

Cheryl Kirk, who celebrated her birthday during the Saturday banquet and will forever be remembered for her Meatloaf rendition, represented the USAR along with Executive Director Jim Hiser, board members Peter McMillen and Larry Hammerling, and USAR staff members Eddie Meredith and Joe Williams. The local mailman moonlighted as DJ and very few were able to stay off the dance floor. Dancing to all the favorites including “YMCA” was a good idea because the banquet covered all the basic food groups and vegetarians and meat lovers were all delighted.

Colorado had the most players, 22, while Illinois and New Mexico tied with 11 women from each state traveling to the event. The women ranged in age from 35 to 82, all playing with determination to win a coveted title and beautiful Colorado themed metal award. Winners are listed below in their divisions in first, second and third places, respectively:

80+ Rita Harring (WI)

75+ Lola Markus (IL)

70+ Mildred Gwinn (NC), Pauline Kelly (IL), Gloria Piscoran (OR)

65+ Margaret Hoff (IL), Merijean Kelly (CA), Nidia Funes (CA)

60+ Terry Ann Rogers (CA), Joann Johnson (WA), Joan Vande Kieft (IL)

55+ Kathryn Bender (CO), Marsha Berry (KY), Susan Adams (FL)

50+ Linda Moore (NE), Janelle Willams (CO), Christine Meyer (CO)

45+ Debbie Beldring (FL), Wendy Chesters (NE), Laura Brandt (FL)

40+ Jean Halahan (NY), Lorraine Galloway (NY), Marie Gomar (Guatemala)

35+ Patricia Green (NM)

55+ B/C Joanna Nache (NC), April Settell (CO), Patricia Meyer (NY)

45+ B/C Kim Deamer (UT), Susan Miller (UT), Melanie Newsome (NC)

35+ B/C Michiele Stapleon (CO), Tiffany Middleton (CO), Andee Felker (UT)

Wilson Racquetball, WSMRA’s National sponsor, outdid themselves with Blue Bullet balls for our high altitude tournament and generous donations for our Racquet for the Cure Fun Doubles and our Silent Auction to benefit the USAR Collegiate Scholarship Fund.

It was so hard to say goodbye to wonderful Colorado on Sunday that some players stuck around and went skiing in Breckenridge. The rest of us returned home thinking of our next matches, next year, in Sarasota, Forida. Check out www.WSMRA.com for tournament photos, membership forms and information about the 23rd WSMRA tournament on Martin Luther King holiday weekend in 2012.

Submitted by: Joan Vande Kieft for the WSMRA