By Heather Zadra
Special to the Herald Times
RANGELY | Rangely’s annual racquetball tournament saw participant numbers up from last year as players from Colorado Springs, the Denver area, Grand Junction, Montrose and Vernal joined local athletes to compete, among them several Colorado Northwestern Community College students and faculty. Locals who placed in the tournament included long-time player and event organizer Shirley Parsons and partner Jason Krueger, who took home second-place trophies in the mixed A/B doubles event. Matt Harwood won the men’s C event. CNCC aviation technology student Hiro Maruyama took first in the men’s B division while Maruyama and doubles partner Heather Zadra took first in the mixed C/D doubles category. Zadra placed first in the women’s B division, with friend and competitor Lysa Hixson placing second, the two playing within three points in a close tiebreaker.
As usual, the weekend was hosted at the Western Rio Blanco Metropolitan District Recreation Center and featured a weekend of food, door prizes, handmade trophy mugs, and access to the Rec Center’s many amenities. Special thanks to the WRBM Rec District staff for their work in making the tournament possible and to Jeanne Smith for collecting all the door prizes. Anyone interested in learning how to play racquetball can contact Parsons at 675-5360 about a free first lesson or the Rec Center at 675-8211 about regular group playing times.
Men’s Open 1st: Matt Dockter (Colorado Springs) 2nd: Rob Hauck (Montrose)
Men’s A 1st: Jesse Stanford (Grand Junction) 2nd: Ed Roffey (Grand Junction)
Men’s B 1st: Hiro Maruyama (CNCC) 2nd: Nick Rubba (Denver)
Men’s C 1st: Matt Harwood (CNCC) 2nd: Ian Prichard (Grand Junction)
Women’s Open/A 1st: Michelle Dockter (Colorado Springs) 2nd: Lisa Brutosky (Grand Junction)
Women’s B 1st: Heather Zadra (Rangely) 2nd: Lysa Hixson (Rangely)
A/B Doubles 1st: Michelle Dockter/Matt Dockter (Colo. Springs)
2nd: Shirley Parsons/Jason Krueger (Rangely)
C/D Doubles 1st:Hiro Maruyama/Heather Zadra (CNCC/Rangely)
2nd: Matt Harwood/Ian Prichard (CNCC/GJ)