CLASSIC PROFESSIONAL RACQUETBALL TOUR

LATEST NEWS

MAKE PLANS NOW TO ATTEND THE 2010 PRO NATIONALS.

April 29-May 2, 2010

AS ALWAYS, HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG WITH VEGAS AND RACQUETBALL?

Entry on R2 Sports is NOW available! Please note the new host hotel for the Pro Nationals is the Stratosphere with some incredible rates offered:

HOST HOTEL
The Stratosphere Hotel and Casino – 800-998-6937
Website: www.stratospherehotel.com
Reservation ID: C-CPRT – MUST use codes for group discount.
Group Name: Classic Professional Racquetball Tour
Group Rate: Thurs $28 / Friday & Saturday $69 each night
Located 1.6 miles from LVAC.
Party with the Pro’s Saturday night 9pm til the fun rolls out.

Start making your plans to be in Las Vegas on April 29!

DOWNLOAD THE 2010 PRO NATIONALS ENTRY FORM

JUST ADDED: UNIFORM DIVISIONS AT THE PRO NATIONALS FOR

MILITARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIREFIGHTERS, AND EMTs!

DOWNLOAD THE 2010 PRO NATIONALS UNIFORM DIVISION ENTRY FORM

NEXT STOP. . .PENFIELD PRO-AM; ROCHESTER, NY

DOWNLOAD THE 2010 PENFIELD PRO-AM ENTRY FORM

CPRT Pros Gerry Price & Cliff Swain Hold Toys for Tots Charity Tournament

On December 12th Club Sport San Ramon graciously hosted a Toys for Tots Charity Christmas Tournament to support the US Marine Corps and San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District. With the help of CPRT pros Gerry Price and Cliff Swain, Club Sport and touring pro Angela Grisar and Club Sport and NMRA/CSRA member Mike Lippitt, and under the auspicious of the California State Racquetball Assocation, this event amassed over 350 unwrapped toys in addition to well over $1000 to support Toys for Tots. It was truly an unqualified success! Pictured are the toys under three trees along with representatives from CS-SR, the US Marines, the SRV Fire Protection District, Gerry Price and Cliff Swain, and Mike Lippitt holding Maddox Price.

Las Vegas Safe Nest Toy Drive a huge success!

The CPRT raised over 125 toys and gifts last weekend for Safe Nest. This year a special thanks goes to Fabian for running the desk and keeping everyone happy. Thank you to the staff at LVAC and Minker Sports Complex! Happy holidays!

Las Vegas Classic Shootout January 22-24, 2010 - Download the entry form

Staying Young and Fit

CPRT fans have often asked for advice and information from the CPRT pros about staying young and fit as they compete into their 40's and beyond. Thanks to Mike Ceresia for pulling together this article that will help you on and off the court; Staying Young and Fit .

CPRT to Support Victims of Fort Hood

The Classic Professional Racquetball Tour is joining forces with the Military Racquetball Federation to support a benefit tournament being held at Fort Hood. The first annual Ironhorse Open will be held December 4-6 and all proceeds from the tournament will benefit the families of the victims of the recent shootings on the base. The CPRT along with other sponsors will donate product to be auctioned during the event as a fundraiser for this cause. If you wish to contribute to assist the families of the victims please contact the Military Racquetball Federation through militaryracquetball.com.

CPRT Pros Host Charity Events

In the spirit of CPRT's mission to give back to the sport and to our communities, CPRT pros will be hosting charity events at their home clubs this Holiday Season. The first of these will be December 12th at Club Sport San Ramon (CA) where Gerry Price will host the Toys for Tots Doubles One Day Shootout. Bret Harnett and Mike Coulter will host the Las Vegas Toy Drive Tournament that same weekend to benefit Safe Nest. Watch for additional information on other events hosted by the CPRT pros around the country.

Download Entry - Las Vegas Toy Drive Tournament

Kauai Event Update

We were just informed that the CPRT Kauai event scheduled for April 2010 has been postponed. The tournament director has been called into active duty by the US Air Force and will be unable to run the event. We are working with him for a new scheduled date during the 2010-11 season and we are also working with other events to fill in the CPRT schedule for early 2010.

Please watch classicproracquetball.com for additional information and follow the CPRT on Facebook and Twitter

Clouse Takes 2009 CPRT US OPEN Championship

Woody Clouse became the third different CPRT player to earn a US OPEN title with his four game win over Ruben Gonzalez on the stadium court in Memphis. A great crowd and live audience on RacquetballOnline.tv was treated to an incredible level of racquetball showcasing the CPRT’s two greatest athletes in another round of what has become a great rivalry between two good friends.

Clouse came out firing and got off to a strong start with a 9-1 first game seeming to catch Gonzalez a little too relaxed. Gonzalez grabbed the early lead in game two before Clouse kept it close but Gonzalez closed it out 9-7. Game three was back and forth the whole way but Clouse escaped with a 9-7 game of his own. The fourth, and last, game was one of the most exciting the CPRT (and US OPEN crowd) has seen as Gonzalez pushed ahead to 8-3 and was on the brink of forcing a fifth game. Clouse was able to hold off Gonzalez several times with side outs and each time would grab a point or two of his own until he not only reached 8-8 but was able to close out the match 9-8 and take home the US OPEN championship.

Clouse extended his hold on the number one ranking while Gonzalez stayed well ahead of Cliff Swain with Jimmy Lowe and Doug Ganim rounding out the top five.

Download the final CPRT US OPEN Draw

The CPRT US OPEN finals will be a rematch of 2007 and a meeting of the CPRT's top two players as Woody Clouse and Ruben Gonzalez survived the quarters and semi-finals on Saturday. Clouse advanced with a pair of four game wins over Dave Sable and Doug Ganim. Ganim had reached the semi-finals with a straight game win over Cary Slade. in the bottom half, Gonzalez had a slightly easier time with his three game wins over Keith Minor and Brad McCunniff. It was McCunniff who had the surprise upset ot the tourney with his quarterfinals win over defending champion Jimmy Lowe.

The Quarterfinals are set for the CPRT Division at the US OPEN Racquetball Championships with top seeded Woody Clouse leading way with his three game win over Jeff Hanno. Second seed Ruben Gonzalez also advanced in straight games over Rod Van Dyke as did number three Jimmy Lowe over Chris Buckner. The match of the day was fifth seed Doug Ganim holding off Richard Eisenmann 9-4, 9-4, 5-9, 5-9, 9-2 while both the sixth & seventh seeds feel with Brad McCunniff advancing over Tom Travers and Keith Minor over Steve Wattz. Third seed Cliff Swain was forced to drop out with an injury allowing Cary Slade to advance.

The CPRT Division kicks into full speed on Friday as the top eight open up play against the players who made through Wednesday and Thursday's qualifying rounds. Play opens with defending champion and third seed Jimmy Lowe vs. Chris Buckner followed by Tom Travers vs. Brad McCunniff. Next up, second seed Ruben Gonzalez vs. Rod Van Dyke and the number five Doug Ganim vs. Richard Eisemann. Later in the afternoon session top seed Woody Clouse vs. Jeffrey Hanno followed by fourth seed Cliff Swain vs. Cary Slade. The round finishes with late matches of seventh seed Steve Wattz vs. Keith Minor and eighth seed Roland Grassl vs. Dave Sable.

Swain & Green Take the CPRT Las Vegas Doubles

In a phenomenal match of nearly two hours, top seeds Cliff Swain & Mike Green stopped second seeded Woody Clouse & Rob DeJesus to win the Las Vegas Doubles and open the 2009-10 CPRT season. After trading 8-9, 9-8 games, Swain & Green seemed to take control with a 9-4 third and early lead in the fourth. Clouse & DeJesus stepped it up in the fourth to take command only to let Swain & Green close to 8-8 before escaping and setting up the tiebeaker 9-8. It was all Swain & Green from the beginning in the fifth as they cruised to the title 9-2. While there was great racquetball all weekend, this match was one to remember!

Download the final Las Vegas Doubles draw

The finals are set as the top two seeded teams advanced in semi-finals action with Swain & Green first taking out Ivers & Gonzalez 8-9, 9-6, 9-0, 9-0 followed by Clouse & DeJesus knocking off Harnett & Lane 9-6, 3-9, 9-3, 9-0.

The semi-finals are up next at the Las Vegas Doubles. . .in quarterfinal action on Friday night play opened with Ruben Gonzalez & Steve Ivers knocking out Mike Ray & Troy Stallings 9-5, 9-4, 9-3. Local favorite Bret Harnett & Craig Lane stopped Jonathan Dunn & Tom Fuhrmann 9-8, 9-7, 9-6. Second seeds Woody Clouse & Rob DeJesus made a great comeback against Jason Conway & Louis Vogel 3-9, 8-9, 9-0, 9-7, 9-3. The finished with top seeds Cliff Swain & Mike Green taking out local qualifiers Larry Desorbo & Rick Koll 9-2, 9-6, 9-2.

The stage is set and the draw is done for the 2009 Las Vegas Doubles. Play begins on Friday night at the Las Vegas Athletic Club with a qualifying match then the quarterfinals. The opening of the draw to players between the ages of 35-40 for this doubles event (not a CPRT rule change for singles) has created some interesting teams. Leading the seeding is Cliff Swain & Mike Green followed by Woody Clouse & Rob DeJesus. Third seeds will be Bret Harnett & Craig Lane and Ruben Gonzalez & John Ivers round out the top 4.

Price to Miss 2009-2010 Season

Gerry Price has announced that he will miss the 2009-10 season as he continues to battle and rehabilitate shoulder and back injuries. Price, a CPRT fan favorite, will be missed on the court this season but has hopes to return to the CPRT and competitive racquetball, perhaps after surgery and rehab. When asked how these injuries originally came about, Price who is a firefighter in Northern California, gave this account;

"The day my life changed forever. We were going to training at our training tower. The drill to be done that day was called the bail-out drill. This drill simulates a fire chasing you down a hallway of a high rise building. A year prior to our drill a firefighter was killed doing the same drill. That day I was the first one to do the drill. You go out of the second story window head first instead of feet first onto the ladder. My right hand slipped off the rung of the ladder and was caught in the rung with all my momentum going toward the ground. Then I fell two stories to the asphalt. The injuries I sustained that day included a 100% tear of my right pectoral a 100% rupture of my right pectoral tendon, torn glenoid labrum (right shoulder), torn rotator cuff (right shoulder), broken right shoulder, severe cervical bulges at C-4 C-5 C-6, All disks in my back are compress and a bulge at T-10. The injuries are getting worse as time goes on and everyday is becoming more challenging."

The CPRT, GP's fellow pros, and all racquetball fans wish Price a continued recovery and hopefully a return to his place on the court in the near future.

CPRT and RacquetballOnline.tv Reach Agreement for 2009-2010 Events

The CPRT has reached an agreement with RacquetballOnline.tv for the internet broadcast of all 2009-10 CPRT events. RacquetballOnline.tv has confirmed that they will schedule all CPRT events for broadcast at each venue where filming is possible based upon the layout of the championship court. RacquetballOnline.tv has worked with the CPRT at the Pro Nationals each of the last two seasons and RacquetballOnline.tv is very pleased to expand this relationship and help advance the visibility for the tour and these great players.

CPRT to support Military Racquetball Federation

CPRT & its players are proud to support the servicemen & women of our country this season in conjunction with MRF. The CPRT pros will be wearing the MRF patch at all events throughout the 2009-10 season.
MRF is a non-profit organization created to organize, promote, serve, and grow racquetball & fitness throughout all branches of the military worldwide. MRF is dedicated to the men & women who are currrently or have served our country here and aboard.

2009 WOR Racquetball Warehouse Championships

Kevin Booth & Mike Peters repeat as WOR CPRT Doubles champions with a 15-4, 15-7 win over Gabriel Medina & Mike Beltran. Booth & Peters also took out Swain & Mannino in Pro Doubles semi-finals 15-10, 9-15, 11-9 and went on to add that title as well for an amazing weekend double!

Mike Ray Inducted into Racquetball Hall of Fame

Former IRT #1 & current CPRT star Mike Ray was inducted into the Racquetball Hall of Fame in Houston at the National Singles in May. Ray, who was considered one of the greatest control players in the history of the sport combined this style with a devastating forehand. Ray was introduced by long time friend & Hall of Fame himself, Andy "The King" Roberts. Ray joins a growing list of CPRT players in the Hall of Fame including Ruben Gonzalez & Cliff Swain. Congratulations Mike!