2018 Media Guide - UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Racquetball .

2018 Media Guide

SCHEDULE OF EVENTSWednesday Oct. 3thMedia Day1 pm - 9 pmPro-Am Doubles for St. Jude6 pm - 10 pmMen’s & Women’s Pro Sgls & Dbls Qualifying 10 am - 11 pmThursday Oct. 4thMen’s round of 32 Sgls9 am - 1 pmWomen’s round of 32 Sgls9 am - 1 pmMen’s & Women’s Dbls Qualifying cont.3 pm - 10 pmMen’s round of 16 Sgls1 pm - 7 pmWomen’s round of 16 Sgls1 pm - 7 pmMen’s & Women’s Men’s & Women’sQuater-Finals Dbls7 pm - 10 pmFriday Oct. 5thMen’s quarters Sgls #1, #210 am - 1 pmWomen’s quarters Sgls #1, #210 am - 1 pmMen’s quarters Sgls #3, #41 pm - 4 pmWomen’s quarters Sgls #3, #41 pm - 4 pmMen’s & Women’s semi’s Dbls5 pm - 9:30 pmSaturday Oct. 6thWomen’s semi Sgls #1 / Men’s semi Sgls #110 am - 1 pmWomen’s semi Sgls #2 / Men’s semi Sgls #21 pm - 4 pmWomen’s LPRT Dbls Finals4 pmMen’s IRT Dbls Finals5 pmSunday Oct. 7thWomen’s LPRT Sgls FinalsMen’s IRT Sgls Finals10 am - 2 pm

Table of ContentsUS OPEN.“RACQUETBALL’S PREMIER EVENT”. 2US OPEN LEADERSHIP PROFILES. 4-6. Doug Ganim - US OPEN Event Director. 4. Dan Whitley - USA Racquetball Board President. 4. Jeff Oliver - US OPEN Co-Media Manager. 5. Leo Vasquez - US OPEN Co-Media Manager. 5. Andy Kulback - IRT Commissioner (Men’s Tour). 6. T.J. Baumbaugh - LPRT Commissioner (Women’s Tour). 6PAST US OPEN CHAMPIONS. 7-8IRT PLAYER PROFILES & RANKINGS. 9-14. #1 - Rocky Carson. 10. #2 - Alejandro Landa. 10. #3 - Kane Waselenchuk. 11. #4 - Daniel De La Rosa. 11. #5 - Alvaro Beltran. 12. #6 - Sebastian Franco. 12. #7 - Samuel Murray. 13. #8 - Mario Mercado. 13. 2018-2019 IRT Scorecard & Schedule. 14. Current IRT Rankings. 14LPRT PLAYER PROFILES & RANKINGS. 15-20. #1 - Paola Longoria. 16. #2 - Frédérique Lambert. 16. #3 - Samantha Salas. 17. #4 - Alexandra Herrera. 17. #5 - Nancy Enriquez. 18. #6 - Rhonda Rajsich. 18. #7 - Maria Jose Vargas. 19. #8 - Natalia Mendez. 19. 2018-2019 LPRT Scorecard & Schedule. 20. Current LPRT Rankings. 20Media Guide Photo Credits: Freddy Ramirez, Roby Partovich,Geoff Thomsen, Jeff Gallemore,Mike Boatman and Mike Augustin.2018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE1

Racquetball’s Premier EventThe UnitedHealthcare US OPEN is racquetball’s original “Grand Slam”event and the most prestigious tournament of the season. With cash prizestotaling more than 65,000, it boasts the largest total prize purse in the sport.One of the most exciting aspects of the UnitedHealthcare US OPENRacquetball Championships is the“made-for-TV” portable racquetballcourt, which will be used for all featurematches. The unique construction ofthe court allows for viewing throughall four walls in a stadium seatingconfiguration for more than 1,400spectators. From the quarterfinals on,all men’s and women’s pro matcheswill take place on the stadium court. Dramatic player introductionscomplete with laser light shows and booming music will treat fans to atotal entertainment experience.In addition to the marquee professional divisions, the US OPEN Racquetball Championships offers more than 80 USA Racquetball (USAR)sanctioned divisions separated by age and skill.UnitedHealthcareSince 2012, UnitedHealthcare has served as the Title Sponsor for the USOPEN Racquetball Championships. The sponsorship agreement partnersracquetball’s largest and most prestigious annual tournament with one ofthe nation’s largest health and well-being companies.UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthierlives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer healthand wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with careproviders. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programsfor individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, andcontracts directly with more than 650,000 physicians and care professionalsand 5,000 hospitals nationwide. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 38million people and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.22018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE

Minneapolis / St. PaulThe Home of the US OPENAfter 14 years in Memphis, Tennessee, the UnitedHealthcare US OPENRacquetball Championships made a successful move to Minneapolisin 2010. The Twin Cities region welcomed the world’s best racquetballevent with open arms. The event’s relationship with LIFE TIME FITNESSand Meet Minneapolis has created partnership that should keep theUnitedHealthcare US OPEN in Minneapolis for many years to come.The main location and nerve center for the UnitedHealthcare US OPENis in downtown Minneapolis at the fabulous LIFE TIME FITNESS TargetCenter, the same building in which the Minnesota Timberwolves play.All pro matches and many of the amateur matches will take place atthis facility, located in the center of the exciting Entertainment District inMinneapolis. Restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, and world class shoppingarea located all around the club. Just two blocks away is the second LIFETIME location that will be utilized, the Minneapolis LIFE TIME AthleticClub. Short complimentary shuttle rides to the LIFE TIME FITNESSFridley and the University of Minnesota Recreation Center will completethe rotation of venues hosting matches.The 2018 UnitedHealthcare US OPEN Racquetball Championships willbring 700 professional and amateur racquetball players to the State ofMinnesota. Since moving to the Twin Cities in 2010, the UnitedHealthcareUS OPEN Racquetball Championships has brought an estimated 6million in annual economic impact to the area.During the week the US OPEN is in Minneapolis, more than 3 millionlocal television viewers watch coverage of the event on the local news.For a preview of the type of action the UnitedHealthcare US OPEN bringsto Minneapolis, please visit: http://bit.ly/usopenracquetball2018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE3

Doug GanimUS OPEN Event DirectorAs US OPEN Event Director and Founder,Doug Ganim has brought a level of exposureto the sport that has not been seen since theearly ’80’s.He started the project in 1996 with thedream of producing racquetball’s first “GrandSlam” event. That dream has been realizedand the US OPEN, now in its 23rd year, hasbecome the most prestigious racquetballtournament of the season.Ganim is also the president of the OhioRacquetball Association and has run thesuccessful Head Racquetball Tour there for thepast 20 years. He holds a degree in businessfrom Ohio State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Dayton.An accomplished player in his own right, Ganim is a former U.S. NationalRacquetball Team member and has won three International RacquetballFederation World Doubles Championships.Dan WhitleyUSAR Board PresidentDan Whitley was named Presidentof USA Racquetball’s Board of Directors inOctober 2016.Dan lives in Kirkwood, Missouri andis the General Manager of the Vetta RacquetSports facility outside of St. Louis. His clubhost several regional and national racquetballtournaments, including the High SchoolNational Championships every other year.Whitley is also the president of theMissouri Racquetball Association and is theExecutive Director of the Missouri High SchoolRacquetball Association.42018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE

Jeff OliverUS OPEN Co-Media ManagerJeff Oliver is in his 13th year as the USOPEN Media Manager. He started playingracquetball as part of the highly successfulOregon High School Racquetball League(OHSRL) and now sits on the board of directorsfor the for the OHSRL.Oliver holds a degree from Universityof Oregon with majors in public relations,advertising and political science. After a fouryear stint working at a public relations agencyfor clients that included Microsoft, he is now theSenior Director of Operations at the EugeneFamily YMCA.The St. Louis native serves as the PressChief for the Nike Prefontaine Classic, the international Diamond Leagueprofessional track meet held each year in Eugene, Oregon. He also is thegeneral manager for the Willamette Valley Titans, an American LegionBaseball team.Contact Jeff at: jeff@usopenracquetball.com / 541-543-7775Leo VasquezUS OPEN Co-Media ManagerLeo R. Vasquez started as a volunteerwith the US OPEN Media Staff in 2003 andnow manages the public relation efforts of thetournament. Leo brings first hand experience ofthe sport as a Program Director of the MaverickAthletic Club located in Arlington, Texas.Vasquez is also an avid tournament playerwho has also served as the President of theTexas Racquetball Association (TXRA). Hisexperience also includes dual roles with USARacquetball, serving as their Public RelationsDirector and website manager for their website.In the Spring of 2013, Vasquez was appointedto the USA Racquetball Board of Directors andrecently served as USAR’s Vice President.Contact Leo at: leo@usopenracquetball.org / 817-791-49482018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE5

Andy KulbackIRT CommissionerAndy Kulback has been an avid racquetballplayer since 1978. He has numerous state,regional and national championship titlesover the years. In addition to his duties for theInternational Racquetball Tour (IRT), he runsseveral successful racquetball tournamentsin the Cincinnati area. Andy also previouslyserved as the deputy commissioner for theLadies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT).Kulback has 25 years of experienceas a senior level finance/accounting officerin the wireless communication industry and,more recently, in the construction field. He joined Allen-Villere Partners(www.allenvillere.com) as Vice President in March of 2004 after servingas the Chief Financial Officer for a large ready mixed concrete producer inCincinnati, Ohio for five years. He is a graduate of Wright State University(1985) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting.T.J. BaumbaughLPRT PresidentT.J. Baumbaugh was an LPRT playerfor over 10 years achieving her highestcareer ranking at No. 7. Later during hertime on the tour, she became the Tour’sPlayer Representative, which evolved intoher increased involvement with the LPRT’sadministration. As the LPRT expanded, T. J.took on more responsibilities, which transpiredin to her current role as commissioner.T.J. earned a B.S. degree in Kinesiologyfrom Penn State University. She worked ineducation and coaching and is now a CertifiedTrainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She works forSport & Health in McLean, Virginia as a Master Trainer with additionaltime spent as Fitness and Sports Program Manager. Baumbaugh lives inHerndon, Virginia where she continues to enjoy both indoor and outdoorracquetball.62018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE

US OPENMen’s Pro ChampionsKane Waselenchuk2003, 2004, 2005, 2008,2009, 2010, 2011, 2012,2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017(13 Times)Rocky Carson2007Sudsy Monchik1996, 1998,2000 & 2002Jason Mannino1999 & 2006Cliff Swain1997 & 20012018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE7

US OPENWomen’s Pro ChampionsPaola Longoria2008, 2011, 2012,2013, 2014,2015, 2016 & 2017(8 Times)Christie Huczek(Van Hees)2000, 2005 & 2006Cheryl Gudinas2002 & 2004Rhonda Rajsich2003, 2007,2009 & 2010Kerri Wachtel2001Jackie Paraiso1998 & 1999Michelle Gould1996 & 199782018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE

InternationalRacquetballTourwww.irt-tour.comPlayer Biographies2018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE9

Rocky CARSONIRT #1Date of Birth:May 21, 1979 (age: 38)Place of Birth:Newport Beach, CaliforniaCurrent Residence:Ladera Ranch, CaliforniaCollege:Saddleback CollegeHeight:6’ 0”Weight:175Year Started Playing:1982Best US OPEN Finish:Champion (2007)@RockyCarsonRBAlejandro LANDAIRT #2Date of Birth:March 20, 1988 (age: 30)Place of Birth:Chihuahua, MexicoCurrent Residence:El Paso, TexasHeight:5’ 8”Weight:163Year Turned Pro:2009Best US OPEN Finish:Semifinals (2014 & ‘17)@AlexLanda2024102018 US OPEN RACQUETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MEDIA GUIDE