News

TXRA is proud to announce the recipients of the 2023 TXRA awards. All TXRA members were given a chance to vote/nominate their favorite athlete for any award they felt necessary. After counting the votes/nominations, here are your winners!!!! Congratulations. Bob Sullins Outstanding Contributor Peter Sarantidis Tournament Director of the Year Mike Sorensen Gregg Peck's Spirit Award Sabath Trejo Junior Male Athlete of the Year Age 13-18 Nathaniel Rosa Junior Female Athlete of the Year Age 13-18 Leah Trejo Junior Male Athlete of the Year Age 13 & Under Chris Nelson

Dear friends, family and racquetball enthusiasts, As you know, we lost my husband Gregg and father to Chandler and Allie suddenly from a heart attack May 4, 2020. Since that time, our family has spent much time thinking of how to honor and remember his spirit in a way that would be meaningful.   We are pleased to announce the Gregg Peck Memorial Fund has been established at The Dallas Foundation (a philanthropic support organization) in his memory. The purpose of the fund is to award annual scholarships to aspiring, high-level junior racquetball players to aide with the costs associated with tournament travel and entry fees, lessons, and racquetball equipment. The awardees will be those who exhibit heart, generosity, competitiveness and the desire to pay success forward as Gregg did.  Many may not be aware that one of the things that brought Gregg much joy was his role as the coach for the USA Junior World Championship Teams. He loved coaching and mentoring kids and cham...

TXRA is proud to announce the recipients of the 2022 TXRA awards. All TXRA members were given a chance to vote/nominate their favorite athlete for any award they felt necessary. After counting the votes/nominations, here are your winners!!!! Congratulations. Bob Sullins Outstanding Contributor Mike Sorensen Ann Gibbons Memorial Sportsmanship Award George Bustos Tournament Director of the Year Jody Morris Gregg Peck's Spirit Award Cole Sendrey Male Athlete of the Year Craig Clement Jr. Female Athlete of the Year Naomi Ros Junior Male Athlete of the Year Age 13-18 DJ Mendoza Junior Female Athlete of the Year Age 13-18 Leah Trejo Junior Male Athlete of the Year Age 13 & Under Anshu Archarya Junior Female Athlete of the Year Age 13 & Under Yana Alegria

Please join us in congratulating San Antonio’s own Tyrone Gilmore who was awarded Male Athlete of the Year at the recent USAR Hall of Fame ceremony held during the 2022 US National Championships in College Station. Tyrone is known nationally as one of the best and toughest players, and this award confirms that belief.  He holds multiple national titles both with the National Master Racquetball Association and the US Racquetball Association.  He added to that total by taking silver in the Men’s 60+ division with long time partner Glenn Martineau, and gold in the Mega-Centurion with Jim Durham last week.  Besides being one of the best on the court he is also known as being a fair and honest player, as well as one of the nicest men you will ever have the pleasure to know.  He is also an ardent supporter of both our Jrs program as well as the LPRT.  Please join me in saying “Congrats Tyrone!”

John Casey, San Antonio, TX The very first time I decided to buy a plane ticket, to really travel to a racquetball tournament, it was for this year’s U.S. Open in Minneapolis, MN. I’d been told by several friends that if I’d ever wanted to, this was the year I should go. After all, it was the 25 th Anniversary of the event and the main sponsor, United Healthcare, would not be guaranteed to return after 2021. Throw in the fact that Covid had pretty much decimated the tournament schedule the entire year prior, and it was a no-brainer. I expected the Open to be amazing—I’d heard so many stories—and it exceeded my expectations. To be fully immersed in the world of racquetball, and at such a scale, was eye-opening. The atmosphere was Olympics-esque. But what made it truly worthwhile and that much more enjoyable was the massive contingent of players from Texas, many of whom I know and am friends with, who also attended. All the usual suspects from the whole state were there... Of the 707 p...

Great News! Voting for the 2021 TXRA Board of Directors Election was scheduled to begin today through the end of the month via the 2021 TXRA Election Event on R2Sports.com.  This year, there were four open board positions. Four highly-motivated and qualified candidates answered the call to fill those positions.  Given an equal number of openings and qualified candidates, voting will not be necessary this year. The TXRA Election Committee would like to introduce you to your new 2021 Board of Directors listed below. Please congratulate them and thank them for dedicating their time and energy to serving you for next three years! Sean Duffy Little Elm, Texas First and foremost, I'm a racquetball fan. Fan of the Pros, Amateurs, and anyone willing to pick up a racquet and hit a ball. I first picked up a racquet many years ago and fell in love with the sport. I've played off and on through the years, but about 5 years ago I was encouraged to enter a tournament at The Maverick and sin...

Year 2020 Retrospective Texas has enjoyed the privilege and honor of hosting amazing tournaments right at the start of each year with the nationally renowned Longhorn Open (our longest-running tournament), the Tornado Alley Championships, and our beloved Texas State Seniors.  No one could foresee what was to follow: a pandemic spreading globally leading to the cancellation of all future tournaments for the next several months due to the shutdowns for safety reasons. For months, patiently we waited and waited and still wait for the return to some form of normalcy to our everyday lives at work, school, and in our social communities. Although, it sometimes felt like the “world” was coming to an end last year , it did not. However, many of us did not leave 2020 unscathed. We continue to mourn and honor the memory of our friends who lost their lives due to COVID-19 as well as other illness and circumstances. The new year began without the spectacular Longhorn Open, which had to be postp...

Well, the 2019 Fall Splat Tournament is a wrap!!!! Congrats to Shane Diaz and her incredible family as Shane was surprised with a $4,000 scholarship . I can't tell you how incredible this young lady is as she works harder than any racquetball player I have ever known. I wanted to verbally express this at the tournament while I was presenting the Scholarship to Shane but my emotions got to me....again....and couldn't get the words out. Okay, I admit, I'm a delicate flower when it comes to things close to my heart. Shane is an amazing young lady and this is only the beginning for her. And a huge shout out to Shane's coach, George Bustos . George, keep up the awesome work with Shane as we all know you love doing what you do. I wanted to thank all the players for participating in the tournament as all your entry fees went straight into Shane's Scholarship. I also wanted to thank those of you who donated money towards this scholarship. It wouldn't hav...

Each year in the past, the TXRA presented the Annual Awards in April at the regional tournament, the Battle of the Alamo. The Last Annual Awards held in April 2019 This past reception was very memorable for me especially, as we honored winners with fancy awards and delicious cake that even Paola Longoria enjoyed. I was so I excited, that I literately went head over heels when I trip over a metal post! Later, I photo-bombed Howard Walker's moment with Mike Cantu, which more than made up for nearly fracturing my foot, but I digress. At the next TXRA Annual Awards in 2020, we want to express our gratitude to outstanding players and contributors of our sport in a bigger and grander fashion! Annual Awards to be held at the 2020 Longhorn Open Award winners are guaranteed entry into the Longhorn Open! The TXRA Board has arranged to present the next Annual Awards at the upcoming Longhorn Open January 18, 2020.  Due to the tournament's popularity and demand, the Longhorn implemented a n...