Wikipedia
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 edit
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 edit
2022-2023 (Tier 1 and Grand Slam Events) edit
| Event | Champion | Runner Up | Semi Finalists | Quarterfinalists | Doubles Champions | Finalists |
| KWM Gutterman World Singles and Doubles Open Racquetball Championships Highlands Ranch, Colorado | Paola Longoria 13-15, 15-3, 11-5[5] | Montserrat Mejía | Alexandra Herrera Brenda Laime | Samantha Salas Natalia Mendez Gabriela Martinez Erika Manilla | ||
| 2023 LPRT Turkey Shoot Lombard, Illinois | Maria Jose Vargas 15-9, 15-5[6] | Erika Manilla | Montserrat Mejía Paola Longoria | Alexandra Herrera Brenda Laime Natalia Mendez Kelani Lawrence | Alexandra Herrera Montserrat Mejía 12-15, 15-5, 11-9[7] | Paola Longoria Samantha Salas |
| 31st Annual LPRT Christmas Classic Millersville, Maryland | Maria Jose Vargas 15-8, 15-7[8] | Montserrat Mejía | Paola Longoria Cristina Amaya | Alexandra Herrera Samantha Salas Kelani Lawrence Gabriela Martinez | Alexandra Herrera Montserrat Mejía 15-10, 15-8[9] | Paola Longoria Samantha Salas |
| Arizona Open Tempe, Arizona | ||||||
| Boston Open Marlborough, Massachusetts | ||||||
| Battle at the Alamo San Antonio, Texas | ||||||
| Sweet Caroline Open LPRT Grand Slam Greenville, South Carolina |
Season Summaries (Tier I and Grand Slam Events) edit
Rankings edit
Season ending top 10 rankings edit
| Rank | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23[10] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paola Longoria | Paola Longoria | Montserrat Mejía |
| 2 | Alexandra Herrera | Alexandra Herrera | Paola Longoria |
| 3 | Montserrat Mejía | Maria Jose Vargas | Alexandra Herrera |
| 4 | Maria Jose Vargas | Natalia Mendez | Erika Manilla |
| 5 | Samantha Salas | Gabriela Martinez | Brenda Laime |
| 6 | Natalia Mendez | Erika Manilla | Angélica Barrios |
| 7 | Jessica Parrilla | Angélica Barrios | Maria Jose Vargas |
| 8 | Angélica Barrios | Jessica Parrilla | Jessica Parrilla |
| 9 | Valeria Centellas | Rhonda Rajsich | Carla Muñoz |
| 10 | Rhonda Rajsich | Montserrat Mejía | Natalia Mendez |
| 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 Mejía |
| 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[11] | 2013-14[12] | 2014-15[13] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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[14] | 2006-07[15] | 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[16] | 2001-02[16] | 2002-03[17] | 2003-04[16] | 2004-05[18] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.[19]
| Rank | 1995-96[20] | 1996-97[20] | 1997-98[20] | 1998-99[20] | 1999-2000[20] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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[21] | 1991-92[21] | 1992-93[21] | 1993-94[21] | 1994-95[20] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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[21] | 1986-87[21] | 1987-88[21] | 1988-89[21] | 1989-90[21] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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[21] | 1981-82[21] | 1982-83[21] | 1983-84[21] | 1984-85[21] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 edit
| Rank | Player | Years |
| 1. | Rhonda Rajsich | 22 |
| 2. | Cheryl Gudinas | 21 |
| 3. | Paola Longoria | 16 |
| 3. | Jackie Paraiso | 16 |
| 5. | Kerri Wachtel | 12 |
| 5. | Molly O'Brien | 12 |
| 7. | Samantha Salas | 11 |
| 7. | Lynn Adams | 11 |
| 7. | Marci Drexler | 11 |
| 9. | Cristina Amaya | 10 |
| 9. | Maria Jose Vargas | 10 |
| 11. | Adrienne Fisher | 9 |
| 11. | Michelle Gould | 9 |
| 11. | Caryn McKinney | 9 |
| 11. | Kristen Bellows | 9 |
Players ranked #1 at season's end edit
| Years ended No. 1 | ||
| 1. | Paola Longoria | 13 |
| 2. | Michelle Gould | 7 |
| 3. | Lynn Adams | 6 |
| 4. | Cheryl Gudinas | 4 |
| 4. | Rhonda Rajsich | 4 |
| 6. | Heather McKay | 3 |
| 6. | Jackie Paraiso | 3 |
| 8. | Montserrat Mejía | 1 |
| 8. | Caryn McKinney | 1 |
| 8. | Christie Van Hees | 1 |
- 1980-81: Heather McKay
- 1981-82: Lynn Adams
- 1982-83: Heather McKay (2)
- 1983-84: Heather McKay (3)
- 1984-85: Lynn Adams (2)
- 1985-86: Lynn Adams (3)
- 1986-87: Lynn Adams (4)
- 1987-88: Lynn Adams (5)
- 1988-89: