2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsRacquetball finds success in anonymity
Kevin Price
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Few people may know about it, but there is a racquetball team at Missouri State. And a good one at that.
There are four members of the racquetball team that show up to practice regularly. The team practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Hammons Student Center.
Four years ago, the team had 18 members. Of those, 16 members left.
"The team is open to anyone who wants to play racquetball," said David Sims, the racquetball team's head coach and a small business owner in Springfield. "Anyone who wants to join should show up to practice and talk with me."
Racquetball is not for everyone. It takes strong athletes to perform at the level that the team does.
"I can teach the basics and the strategy of the game but not the physical skill," Sims said.
Racquetball was created in the '70s by combining tennis and squash. The Bears' racquetball team has been around since the '80s when the school started up the club team.
"In the early '90s, the Missouri State raquetball team was the national champions for four years in a row," Sims said. "Back then, the president of the school actually generated scholarships for racquetball players."
The team trains for tournaments that are held in St. Louis throughout the year. In the early spring, the team participates in a national collegiate tournament in which colleges from all over the United States send their teams to compete.
This year's national tournament will be in Colorado.
"We are usually in the top 10," Jessica Benson, the racquetball team's president said. "We finished in 10th last year."
Benson is a sophomore at Missouri State and has been playing raquetball for four years.
There are also tournaments held in Springfield. The Missouri Winter Games are held each year and have events such as gymnastics, volleyball, basketball and racquetball.
Every team member is required to pay $50 dues to the Student Organization Funding Allocation Council. Also, each member participates in a fundraiser to pay for the trip to the national tournament and also a demonstartion that the team puts on for P.E. classes and other activities.
There are four members of the racquetball team that show up to practice regularly. The team practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Hammons Student Center.
Four years ago, the team had 18 members. Of those, 16 members left.
"The team is open to anyone who wants to play racquetball," said David Sims, the racquetball team's head coach and a small business owner in Springfield. "Anyone who wants to join should show up to practice and talk with me."
Racquetball is not for everyone. It takes strong athletes to perform at the level that the team does.
"I can teach the basics and the strategy of the game but not the physical skill," Sims said.
Racquetball was created in the '70s by combining tennis and squash. The Bears' racquetball team has been around since the '80s when the school started up the club team.
"In the early '90s, the Missouri State raquetball team was the national champions for four years in a row," Sims said. "Back then, the president of the school actually generated scholarships for racquetball players."
The team trains for tournaments that are held in St. Louis throughout the year. In the early spring, the team participates in a national collegiate tournament in which colleges from all over the United States send their teams to compete.
This year's national tournament will be in Colorado.
"We are usually in the top 10," Jessica Benson, the racquetball team's president said. "We finished in 10th last year."
Benson is a sophomore at Missouri State and has been playing raquetball for four years.
There are also tournaments held in Springfield. The Missouri Winter Games are held each year and have events such as gymnastics, volleyball, basketball and racquetball.
Every team member is required to pay $50 dues to the Student Organization Funding Allocation Council. Also, each member participates in a fundraiser to pay for the trip to the national tournament and also a demonstartion that the team puts on for P.E. classes and other activities.
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