Congratulations to the East Side Athletic Club team!  They beat out three other teams to win this year's ORA Club Challenge Trophy. Each team member received a nylon backpack bag with "Club Champions 2006" on it. The bag also sports the debut of ORA’s new logo!

"Read More .." for the complete wrap-up!

The OJRA has cancelled the 2006 Northwest Junior Regional Championships. Unfortunately, the timing of the tournament coincided with other events occurring at the OJRA host clubs. Also, terms at an alternate location were not conducive to our ability to host a high quality tournament that the OJRA's members deserve.

Players planning on attending Junior Nationals in Lansing, Michigan this June, should enter the Oregon Junior State Championships this weekend (April 26-30 / Entry Form) at East Side Athletic Club. To qualify for Junior Nationals, players MUST play in the State Championships.

The 2007 Northwest Junior Regional Championships will be hosted at Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland.

The Mike Griffith Award will be awarded to the male and female OJRA players who possess such a high degree of skill that they are respected for such skills by players both older and younger. The award winner also will be someone who serves as an inspiration to junior and adult players alike, all the while conducting themselves in a manner consistent with the OJRA and USRA codes of conduct.

The specific criteria for the award include results of competing in the OJRA Junior Tour and/or Oregon High School League.  Other bonus criteria include results of competing in regional, national, world and high school national competitions, receiving other awards for achievements in the sport of racquetball, representing the OJRA on a local and national level,  and demonstrating a willingness to give something back to the sport of racquetball and to the OJRA.

Note that no nominee can be expected to possess all of the characteristics set forth in the criteria above. The OJRA Board’s objective is to select the candidates that best fit the criteria listed.  No person may win the Mike Griffith Award in two consecutive years.

Download the Mike Griffith Award application and submit it by Wednesday, May 24, 2006.

February has been a busy month for Oregon racquetball, and what better way to end it than with a great OJRA tournament at Sunset AC. The Sunset tour stop served as a great tuneup for the high school players that would be playing in the High School National Championships the following weekend. Many high school players limited their play to one division to hone their skills, but not burn out their arms and legs.

Help Wanted!

The Oregon Racquetball Website Team is looking for some roving reporters and news editors to help keep local players up to date on current events.

Volunteers will use their Oregon Racquetball website login to directly post news items to the home page. Some samples of desired material are (ORA, OJRA, OHSRL):

- Tournament Notices / Summaries (local and national coverage)
- Pro Exhibition Notice / Summary
- Demo Night Notices (for demos open to the public)
- Club Challenge Information / Summary
- Any other racquetball information for Oregonians
- Photos!

Volunteer Positions Open:
- News Editor(s)
- Reporter(s)

Requirements:
- Email account
- Oregon RB Website Login

If you are interested, please contact Geoff Thomsen

The 2006 OJRA Tournament at the Griffith Park YMCA was completed this year in cooperation with Mother Nature (last year's GPYMCA tourney was cancelled when a ice storm hit the Portland area after the first day of the event).

This year 84 kids participated, including 21 new high school players getting their first OJRA Tour Stop experience. Lots of tired legs and arms by the end of the day Sunday. Also lots of highlights to the tournament, including tremendous play by Cruz Rivera, Elizabeth Brenner (Age 12) winning Girls 16/18, and Billy Wainwright's dramatic victory over Taylor Knoth in Elite Skill division. Taylor made amends, however, by winning Boys 18.

It was also a big weekend for siblings, as Amanda & John Lindsay finished 1-2 in Intermediate Skill, Taylor & Casey Finney finished 1st in Intermediate Doubles, Kyle & Josh Lebow finished 1-2 in Intermediate Skill Blue, Alicia & Victoria Fladstol finished 1-2 in Girls 10 and Ryan & Rick Charbonneau finished 3-4 in Boys 12 not far behind the top US players in their age group (Sam Reid and John Lindsay).

Thanks to Dave Azuma and the Griffith Park YMCA staff for the use of their facility!!

Tournament Results / Updated OJRA Rankings

The 2004-2005 Oregon Team Elite awards were presented at the Start of Year party at the Eastside Athletic Club OJRA Tournament last weekend. The top two finishers in each age division were rewarded for their outstanding play, with a stylish custom athletic shirt.

Results for the OJRA Tour Stop at Sunset Athletic Club can be found here.

Thanks to all the players, families and the staff at Sunset Athletic Club for making the tournament a success.

An article in today's Oregonian featured the junior racquetball program at East Side Athletic Club.

You may read the article here.

The application for the 2004 Mike Griffith Award is now available. The Mike Griffith Award is given each year by the OJRA to the top male and female player in the state of Oregon. The award winners must possess such a high degree of racquetball skill that they are respected for such skills by players both older and younger, and who serve as an inspiration to junior and adult players alike, all the while conducting themselves in a manner consistent with the OJRA and USRA codes of conduct.

Please refer to the application form, as well as the OJRA Handbook (posted below on the OJRA website) for specific criteria for this award. Each winner will earn a $500 award. Nominees must submit their applications by May 28, 2004. Fax or mail applications to Bruce Reid (info on the application form).