Christie Van Hees
Encyclopedia
Christie Van Hees is a Canadian racquetball
player. Van Hees was the number one women's professional player at the end of the 2004-2005, but after playing only two events in the 2008-09 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
(WPRO), fell to #19.
- the most prestigious pro racquetball
title - are the most by a woman. She first won in 2000, and then again in 2005 and 2006.
Van Hees has won two International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships
in 1998 and 2006. She beat Kersten Hallander (USA) in the 1998 final, and Angela Grisar (Chile) in the 2006 final.
Van Hees also won the Girls 18 and under division at the IRF World Junior Championships in 1995.
in only her second tournament back.
In August 2009, Van Hees married Jack Huczek
, an American, who is also a champion racquetball
player having won three IRF World Championships. Originally from Kelowna
, British Columbia
, Van Hees currently resides in Dallas, Texas
with Huczek and their daughter.
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
player. Van Hees was the number one women's professional player at the end of the 2004-2005, but after playing only two events in the 2008-09 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
The Women's Professional Racquetball Organization 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....
(WPRO), fell to #19.
Professional career
Van Hees's three US Open Racquetball ChampionshipsUS Open Racquetball Championships
The US Open racquetball championship is widely acknowledged as the premier professional racquetball event. It is a Grand Slam event with men and women competing from the International Racquetball Tour and Women's Professional Racquetball Organization, respectively. It also includes divisions for...
- the most prestigious pro racquetball
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
title - are the most by a woman. She first won in 2000, and then again in 2005 and 2006.
Canadian and international career
Van Hees has won six Canadian Championships in 1997, 1998, 2000, and three consecutive years from 2006-2008.Van Hees has won two International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships
Racquetball World Championships
The World Racquetball Championships, organized by the International Racquetball Federation , were first held in 1981. The second World Championships were in 1984, and have been held every two years since.The World Championships have two parts...
in 1998 and 2006. She beat Kersten Hallander (USA) in the 1998 final, and Angela Grisar (Chile) in the 2006 final.
Van Hees also won the Girls 18 and under division at the IRF World Junior Championships in 1995.
Personal
Van Hees had considerable success early in her career, but then retired in 2001. But that turned out to be only a sabattical, as she came back the fall of 2003, and had even greater success, reaching the final of the US OpenUS Open Racquetball Championships
The US Open racquetball championship is widely acknowledged as the premier professional racquetball event. It is a Grand Slam event with men and women competing from the International Racquetball Tour and Women's Professional Racquetball Organization, respectively. It also includes divisions for...
in only her second tournament back.
In August 2009, Van Hees married Jack Huczek
Jack Huczek
Jack Huczek is an American professional racquetball player. Huczek was the #1 men's professional player at the end of the 2006-2007 International Racquetball Tour season, and was #3 at the end of the 2008-09 season. Retired from Professional Racquetball on May 24, 2011...
, an American, who is also a champion racquetball
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
player having won three IRF World Championships. Originally from Kelowna
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Van Hees currently resides in Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
with Huczek and their daughter.