Rhonda Rajsich
Encyclopedia
Rhonda Rajsich is an American racquetball
player. She is the reigning two time racquetball World Champion
and has won four US Open championships
- more than any other woman. Rajsich was the #1 player on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
rankings at the end of the 2010-11 season, regaining the #1 position she held for three consecutive seasons from 2005-06 to 2007-08 from Paola Longoria
. Rajsich has a somewhat unorthodox game style using a variety of serves. She is also a very athletic player, often diving around the court to save the ball, and keep the rally going.
a record eight times with a 4-4 win-loss record. She became the most decorated US Open Women's Champion in 2010 when she defeated Paola Longoria
to win her fourth US Open title. That win was her second consecutive over Longoria. Rajsich also won in 2003, when she beat Christie Van Hees
in the final and 2007, when she defeated Cheryl Gudinas Holmes
in the final. She has been a top 4 player on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
tour since the 2000-01 season, achieving the season ending #1 ranking for four seasons (2006–2008 & 2010-11).
in Kingscourt, Ireland and successfully defending it in 2010
in Seoul, South Korea. In 2008, Rajsich defeated fellow American Cheryl Gudinas Holmes
in the final., and in 2010 she defeated Nancy Enriquez of Mexico in the final.
Rajsich won gold in both singles and doubles (with Janel Tisinger) at the 2007 Pan American Championships
. She was the silver medalist in 2008.
Rhonda was also a silver medalist at the 2009 World Games
, losing the final to Mexican Paola Longoria
.
Rajsich won the silver medal at 2011 Pan American Games
, losing the final match against Paola Longoria.
She then transferred to Stephen F. Austin University and played for the Ladyjacks in 1999-2000 on a team that went 28-4 and won the Southland Conference Championship
.
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. She is the reigning two time racquetball World Champion
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...
and has won four US Open championships
US 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...
- more than any other woman. Rajsich was the #1 player on the 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....
rankings at the end of the 2010-11 season, regaining the #1 position she held for three consecutive seasons from 2005-06 to 2007-08 from Paola Longoria
Paola Longoria
Paola Michelle Longoria López is a Mexican racquetball player. She is the first Mexican woman to attain the #1 ranking on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization tour, doing so at the end of the 2008-09 season and at the end of 2009-2010 season as well...
. Rajsich has a somewhat unorthodox game style using a variety of serves. She is also a very athletic player, often diving around the court to save the ball, and keep the rally going.
Professional career
Rajsich has been in the finals 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...
a record eight times with a 4-4 win-loss record. She became the most decorated US Open Women's Champion in 2010 when she defeated Paola Longoria
Paola Longoria
Paola Michelle Longoria López is a Mexican racquetball player. She is the first Mexican woman to attain the #1 ranking on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization tour, doing so at the end of the 2008-09 season and at the end of 2009-2010 season as well...
to win her fourth US Open title. That win was her second consecutive over Longoria. Rajsich also won in 2003, when she beat Christie Van Hees
Christie Van Hees
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 , fell to #19.- Professional career :Van Hees's three US Open...
in the final and 2007, when she defeated Cheryl Gudinas Holmes
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes
Cheryl Gudinas is an American racquetball player. She has been one of the dominant players from the 1990s into the 2000s.-Professional career:...
in the final. She has been a top 4 player on the 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....
tour since the 2000-01 season, achieving the season ending #1 ranking for four seasons (2006–2008 & 2010-11).
International career
Rajsich is the reigning two time World Champion, winning the title first at the 2008 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships2008 Racquetball World Championships
The 14th Racquetball World Championships were held in Kingscourt from August 2 to 9, 2008, with 22 men's national teams and 15 women's national teams; and several players in the Singles and Doubles competition.-Men's team competition:...
in Kingscourt, Ireland and successfully defending it in 2010
2010 Racquetball World Championships
The 15th Racquetball World Championships are being held in Seoul from August 13 to 21, 2010, with 16 men's national teams and 11 women's national teams; and several players in the Singles and Doubles competition....
in Seoul, South Korea. In 2008, Rajsich defeated fellow American Cheryl Gudinas Holmes
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes
Cheryl Gudinas is an American racquetball player. She has been one of the dominant players from the 1990s into the 2000s.-Professional career:...
in the final., and in 2010 she defeated Nancy Enriquez of Mexico in the final.
Rajsich won gold in both singles and doubles (with Janel Tisinger) at the 2007 Pan American Championships
Pan American Racquetball Championships
The Pan American Racquetball Championships are held annually in the spring with play ending on the day before Easter. Originally called the Tournament of the Americas, the Pan American Championships are hosted by the Pan American Racquetball Confederation....
. She was the silver medalist in 2008.
Rhonda was also a silver medalist at the 2009 World Games
Racquetball at the World Games
Racquetball was part of the 1985 World Games in London and 1993 World Games in Den Haag. Also, racquetball was part of the first World Games in 1981 at Santa Clara...
, losing the final to Mexican Paola Longoria
Paola Longoria
Paola Michelle Longoria López is a Mexican racquetball player. She is the first Mexican woman to attain the #1 ranking on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization tour, doing so at the end of the 2008-09 season and at the end of 2009-2010 season as well...
.
Rajsich won the silver medal at 2011 Pan American Games
Racquetball at the 2011 Pan American Games
Racquetball competitions at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara will be held from October 17 to October 25 at the Racquetball Complex...
, losing the final match against Paola Longoria.
US championships
Rajsich has won three US National Championships in singles in 2004, 2006 and 2007.Basketball career
Rajsich played college basketball first at Phoenix College in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference, where she was freshman of the year in 1997-98, and was a first team Arizona Community College Athletic Conference all-conference player in both 1997-98 and 1998-99.She then transferred to Stephen F. Austin University and played for the Ladyjacks in 1999-2000 on a team that went 28-4 and won the Southland Conference Championship
Southland Conference Women's Basketball Tournament
The Southland Conference's Women’s Basketball Tournament began in 1983, with the winner of the tournament receiving the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship...
.