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

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, served as the WPRO Commissioner from 2005 to 2010, when she stepped down to focus on her family. Gigi Rock was then hired as the new commissioner in July 2010.^[4]

In 2012, the players decided to reorganize and created the LPRT with T. J. Baumbaugh as President and Andy Kulback Deputy Commissioner.

Current season

2015-2016 (Tier 1 and Grand Slam Events)

Event	Winner	Runner Up	Semi Finalists	Quarterfinalists
Cali Open Cali, Colombia August 28–30, 2015	Paola Longoria 11-13, 11-2, 11-6, 11-3	Maria Jose Vargas	Samantha Salas Rhonda Rajsich	Sofia Rascon Michelle Key Frédérique Lambert Cristina Amaya
US Open Racquetball Championships Minneapolis, Minnesota October 7–11, 2015	Paola Longoria 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9	Rhonda Rajsich	Veronica Sotomayor Maria Jose Vargas	Sofia Rascon Samantha Salas Frédérique Lambert Michelle Key
Paola Longoria Experience[5] San Luis Potosí, Mexico October 31–November 1, 2015	Paola Longoria 11-0, 11-1, 11-5	Maria Jose Vargas	Samantha Salas Rhonda Rajsich	Alexandra Herrera Susana Acosta Frédérique Lambert Jessica Parrilla
Paola Longoria Invitational[6] Monterrey, Mexico November 13–15, 2015	Paola Longoria 9-11, 11-8, 11-1, 11-2	Rhonda Rajsich	Samantha Salas Maria Jose Vargas	Sofia Rascon Alexandra Herrera Frédérique Lambert Cristina Amaya
NES Associates Christmas Pro-Am Arlington, Virginia December 11–13, 2015	Paola Longoria 11-1, 11-1, 11-0	Maria Jose Vargas	Samantha Salas Veronica Sotomayor	Sofia Rascon Alexandra Herrera Frédérique Lambert Rhonda Rajsich
Mercedes-Benz of Cincinnati Pro-Am[7] Cincinnati, Ohio January 29–31, 2016	Paola Longoria 11-3, 11-8, 11-4	Rhonda Rajsich	Frédérique Lambert Adriana Riveros	Susana Acosta Sofia Rascon Samantha Salas Jessica Parrilla
Winter Classic[8] Overland Park, Kansas February 19–21, 2016	Paola Longoria 11-2, 11-2, 11-4	Frédérique Lambert	Alexandra Herrera Rhonda Rajsich	Masiel Rivera Jessica Parrilla Sofia Rascon Adriana Riveros
New Jersey Open[9] Warren, New Jersey March 4–6, 2016	Paola Longoria 11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 11-2	Rhonda Rajsich	Frédérique Lambert Maria Jose Vargas	Carla Muñoz Susana Acosta Adriana Riveros Jessica Parrilla
Battle of the Alamo[10] San Antonio, Texas April 22–24, 2016	Paola Longoria 11-8, 11-5, 11-6	Maria Jose Vargas	Veronica Sotomayor Rhonda Rajsich	Jessica Parrilla Cristina Amaya Frédérique Lambert Michelle Key
Dare 2 Dream Stockton, California May 13–15, 2016
Tour Rosa Mexicano Vera Cruz, Mexico May 10–12, 2016

Season Summaries (Tier I and Grand Slam Events)

Season	Wins	US Open winner
2015-16	Paola Longoria (9)	Paola Longoria
2014-15	Paola Longoria (10), Maria Jose Vargas (2), Rhonda Rajsich	Paola Longoria
2013-14	Paola Longoria (12)	Paola Longoria
2012-13	Paola Longoria (11)	Paola Longoria
2011-12	Paola Longoria (7), Rhonda Rajsich	Paola Longoria
2010-11	Paola Longoria (5), Rhonda Rajsich (4), Samantha Salas (1)	Rhonda Rajsich
2009-10	Paola Longoria (5), Rhonda Rajsich (2), Cheryl Gudinas (1)	Rhonda Rajsich
2008-09	Paola Longoria (4), Rhonda Rajsich (4), Kristen Walsh Bellows (1)	Paola Longoria

Season End Rankings

Rank	2013-14[11]	2004-15[12]
1	Paola Longoria	Paola Longoria
2	Rhonda Rajsich	Maria Jose Vargas
3	Maria Jose Vargas	Rhonda Rajsich
4	Samantha Salas	Frédérique Lambert
5	Cristina Amaya	Samantha Salas
6	Frédérique Lambert	Cristina Amaya
7	Aubrey Kirch	Michelle Key
8	Susana Acosta	Sofia Rascon
9	Veronica Sotomayor	Cheryl Gudinas
10	Da'monique Davis	Da'monique Davis

Rank	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13[13]
1	Paola Longoria	Rhonda Rajsich	Paola Longoria	Paola Longoria
2	Rhonda Rajsich	Paola Longoria	Rhonda Rajsich	Rhonda Rajsich
3	Cheryl Gudinas	Samantha Salas	Kerri Wachtel	Samantha Salas
4	Kerri Wachtel	Kerri Wachtel	Krystal Csuk	Susana Acosta
5	Adrienne Fisher	Cheryl Gudinas	Adrienne Fisher	Cheryl Gudinas
6	Jo Shattuck	Susana Acosta	Susana Acosta	Adrienne Fisher
7	Keely Franks	Jennifer Saunders	Jennifer Saunders	Grace Hughes
8	T. J. Baumbaugh	Adrienne Fisher	Cristina Amaya	Kerri Wachtel
9	Vivian Gomez	Cristina Amaya	Kristen Walsh Bellows	Cristina Amaya
10	Samantha Salas	Krystal Csuk	Cheryl Gudinas	Maria Jose Vargas

Rank	2005-06[14]	2006-07[15]	2007-08	2008-09
1	Rhonda Rajsich	Rhonda Rajsich	Rhonda Rajsich	Paola Longoria
2	Cheryl Gudinas Holmes	Kerri Wachtel	Cheryl Gudinas Holmes	Rhonda Rajsich
3	Christie Van Hees	Cheryl Gudinas Holmes	Kerri Wachtel	Cheryl Gudinas Holmes
4	Kristen Walsh Bellows	Angela Grisar	Angela Grisar	Kristen Walsh Bellows
5	Angela Grisar	Christie Van Hees	Kristen Walsh Bellows	Kerri Wachtel
6	Diane Moore	Brenda Kyzer	Paola Longoria	Veronica Sotomayor
7	Brenda Kyzer	Kristen Walsh Bellows	Adrienne Fisher	Adrienne Fisher
8	Jo Shattuck	Samantha Salas	Brenda Kyzer	Angela Grisar
9	Tammy Brown	Jo Shattuck	Christie Van Hees	Jennifer Saunders
10	Laura Fenton	Diane Moore	Doreen Fowler	Jo Shattuck

Rank	2001-02[16]	2002-03[17]	2003-04[16]	2004-05[18]
1	Cheryl Gudinas	Cheryl Gudinas	Cheryl Gudinas	Christie Van Hees
2	Jackie Rice	Jackie Paraiso Rice	Christie Van Hees	Cheryl Gudinas
3	Kerri Wachtel	Kerri Wachtel	Rhonda Rajsich	Rhonda Rajsich
4	Rhonda Rajsich	Rhonda Rajsich	Kerri Wachtel	Kerri Wachtel
5	Kersten Hallander	Kersten Hallander	Kristen Walsh Bellows	Kristen Walsh Bellows
6	Kristen Walsh Bellows	Adrienne Fisher	Kersten Hallander	Angela Grisar
7	Claudine Garcia	Kim Russell	Adrienne Fisher	Tammy Brown
8	Kim Russell	Kristen Walsh Bellows	Tammy Brown	Adrienne Fisher
9	Lori-Jane Powell	Lori-Jane Powell	Angela Grisar	Diane Moore
10	Laura Fenton	Susana Acosta	Jackie Paraiso Rice	Brenda Kyzer

Rank	1997-98[19]	1998-99[19]	1999-2000[19]	2000-01[16]
1	Michelle Gould	Jackie Paraiso	Jackie Paraiso	Cheryl Gudinas
2	Jackie Paraiso	Cheryl Gudinas	Cheryl Gudinas	Jackie Paraiso
3	Marci Drexler	Christie Van Hees	Christie Van Hees	Rhonda Rajsich
4	Cheryl Gudinas	Kersten Hallander	Kersten Hallander	Laura Fenton
5	Laura Fenton	Lydia Hammock	Susana Acosta	Kersten Hallander
6	Lynne Coburn	Robin Levine	Lisa Hjelm	Susana Acosta
7	Molly O'Brien	Molly O'Brien	Kim Machiran	Doreen Fowler
8	Lorraine Galloway	Michelle Wiragh	Phyllis Morris	Kerri Stoffregen
9	Lydia Hammock	Janet Myers	Doreen Fowler	Lori-Jane Powell
10	Doreen Fowler	Lori-Jane Powell	Michelle Lucas	Kim Machiran

• 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.^[20]

Rank	1993-94[21]	1994-95[19]	1995-96[19]	1996-97[19]
1	Michelle Gould	Michelle Gould	Michelle Gould	Michelle Gould
2	Marci Drexler	Robin Levine	Cheryl Gudinas	Cheryl Gudinas
3	Robin Levine	Marci Drexler	Amy Kilbane	Jackie Paraiso
4	Cheryl Gudinas	Cheryl Gudinas	Marcy Lynch*	Laura Fenton
5	Lynne Coburn	Lynne Coburn	Anita Maldonado*	Molly O'Brien
6	Molly O'Brien	Chris Evon	Kim Machiran	Lynne Coburn
7	Laura Fenton	Laura Fenton	Molly O'Brien	Marcy Lynch
8	Chris Evon	Molly O'Brien	Jackie Paraiso	Janet Myers
9	Ellen Crawford	Marcy Lynch	Dina Moreland	Lydia Hammock
10	Roz Olson	Amy Kilbane	Lynne Coburn	Randi Friedman

• Note - Marcy Lynch and Anita Maldonado tied for 4th in 1995-96.

Rank	1989-90[21]	1990-91[21]	1991-92[21]	1992-93[21]
1	Lynn Adams	Michelle Gilman	Jackie Paraiso Gibson	Michelle Gould
2	Michelle Gilman	Lynn Adams	Malia Kamahoahoa Bailey	Marci Drexler
3	Caryn McKinney	Malia Bailey	Toni Bevelock	Malia Bailey
4	Toni Bevelock	Caryn McKinney	Michelle Gilman Gould	Jackie Paraiso Gibson
5	Kaye Kuhfeld	Jackie Paraiso	Dottie Fishl Kelly	Lynne Coburn
6	Malia Bailey	Toni Bevelock	Marci Drexler	Kaye Kuhfeld
7	Molly O'Brien	Kaye Kuhfeld	Marcy Lynch	Toni Bevelock*
8	Jackie Paraiso	Marci Drexler	Lynne Coburn	Molly O'Brien*
9	Dottie Fishl	Lynne Coburn	Kaye Kuhfeld	Chris Evon
10	Chris Evon	Marcy Lynch	Robin Levine	Caryn McKinney

• 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]
1	Lynn Adams	Lynn Adams	Lynn Adams	Caryn McKinney
2	Caryn McKinney	Caryn McKinney	Caryn McKinney	Lynn Adams
3	Marci Drexler	Marci Drexler	Kaye Kuhfeld	Toni Bevelock
4	Vicki Panzeri	Molly O'Brien	Marci Drexler	Marci Drexler
5	Terri Gilreath*	Vicki Panzeri	Molly O'Brien	Kaye Kuhfeld
6	Bonnie Stoll*	Kaye Kuhfeld	Jackie Paraiso	Molly O'Brien
7	Molly O'Brien*	Terri Gilreath	Vicki Panzeri	Dottie Fishl
8	Sandy Robson*	Marcy Lynch	Liz Alvarado	Jackie Paraiso
9	Fran Davis	Chris Evon	Toni Bevelock	Cindy Doyle
10	Trina Rasmussen	Jackie Paraiso]]	Cindy Doyle	Marcy Lynch

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
1.	Cheryl Gudinas	21
2.	Jackie Paraiso	16
3.	Rhonda Rajsich	15
4.	Kerri Wachtel	12
4.	Molly O'Brien	12
6.	Lynn Adams	11
6.	Marci Drexler	11
8.	Adrienne Fisher	9
8.	Michelle Gould	9
8.	Caryn McKinney	9
8.	Kristen Bellows	9

Year-end number 1

	Years ended No. 1
1.	Michelle Gould	7
2.	Lynn Adams	6
3.	Paola Longoria	6
4.	Cheryl Gudinas	4
4.	Rhonda Rajsich	4
6.	Heather McKay	3
6.	Jackie Paraiso	3
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: Caryn McKinney
• 1989-90: Lynn Adams (6)
• 1990-91: Michelle Gilman
• 1991-92: Jackie Paraiso Gibson
• 1992-93: Michelle Gould (2)
• 1993-94: Michelle Gould (3)
• 1994-95: Michelle Gould (4)
• 1995-96: Michelle Gould (5)
• 1996-97: Michelle Gould (6)
• 1997-98: Michelle Gould (7)
• 1998-99: Jackie Paraiso (2)
• 1999-2000: Jackie Paraiso (3)
• 2000-01: Cheryl Gudinas
• 2001-02: Cheryl Gudinas (2)
• 2002-03: Cheryl Gudinas (3)
• 2003-04: Cheryl Gudinas (4)
• 2004-05: Christie Van Hees
• 2005-06: Rhonda Rajsich
• 2006-07: Rhonda Rajsich (2)
• 2007-08: Rhonda Rajsich (3)
• 2008-09: Paola Longoria
• 2009-10: Paola Longoria (2)
• 2010-11: Rhonda Rajsich (4)
• 2011-12: Paola Longoria (3)
• 2012-13: Paola Longoria (4)
• 2013-14: Paola Longoria (5)
• 2014-15: Paola Longoria (6)

References

1. "Video". CNN. October 29, 1984.
2. http://web.archive.org/web/20030802090845/www.racqmag.com/racqmag/2003/233/232feat_lpra.htm Racquetball Magazine article
3. http://web.archive.org/web/20050824155731/http://ladiesproracquetball.com/ 2005 WPRO website
4. http://wprotour.com/documents/Rock_And_The_Role.pdf WPRO Press Release
5. http://www.r2sports.com/website/bracket.asp?leftFrame=&TID=16642&divID=34&combinedID=0&print=&fromPage=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message=
6. http://www.r2sports.com/website/bracket.asp?leftFrame=&TID=16751&divID=34&combinedID=0&print=&fromPage=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message=
7. http://www.r2sports.com/website/bracket.asp?leftFrame=&TID=16763&divID=34&combinedID=0&print=&fromPage=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message=
8. http://www.r2sports.com/website/bracket.asp?leftFrame=&TID=17056&divID=34&combinedID=0&print=&fromPage=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message=
9. http://www.r2sports.com/website/bracket.asp?leftFrame=&TID=16622&divID=34&combinedID=0&print=&fromPage=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message=
10. http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/drawsOut/view-bracket.asp?leftFrame=&TID=16926&divID=34&combinedID=0&print=&fromPage=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message=
11. "LPRT - Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour" (PDF). LPRT - Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
12. "LPRT - Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour". LPRT - Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
13. "LPRT - Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour" (PDF). LPRT - Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
14. http://web.archive.org/web/20060703233841/ladiesproracquetball.com/rankings.htm Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
15. http://web.archive.org/web/20070609022856/www.ladiesproracquetball.com/rankings.htm Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
16. http://web.archive.org/web/20030214221311/ladiesproracquetball.com/events.htm Ladies Professional Racquetball Association
17. http://web.archive.org/web/20030720144454/http://ladiesproracquetball.com/ Ladies Professional Racquetball Association
18. http://web.archive.org/web/20050826202508/www.ladiesproracquetball.com/rankings.htm Ladies Professional Racquetball Association
19. http://web.archive.org/web/20030607144001/ladiesproracquetball.com/events/WIRT_results.htm Women's International Racquetball Tour
20. Racquetball magazine, July–August 2001
21. http://web.archive.org/web/20030607145240/ladiesproracquetball.com/events/WPRA_results.htm Women's Professional Racquetball Association

• "2010-11 Schedule". Retrieved 2010-10-15.

External links

• "Official Website". Retrieved 2010-04-26.
• International Racquetball Tour