2003 Wilson 16th USRA National High School Racquetball Championships
Presented by Penn Racquet Sports

The Concord Club
St. Louis, Missouri: Feb.27- March 2, 2003
Admission is free -- Spectators are welcome

Adrienne Fisher

Jesi Fuller

Adrienne Fisher (Centerville H.S., Centerville, Ohio) and Dan Sheppick (Rex Putnam H.S., Portland, Ore.) each captured singles titles at the 2003 Wilson 16th U.S. Racquetball Association [USRA] National High School Championships presented by Penn Racquet Sports. The tournament, which concluded Sunday, drew nearly 300 of the top high school racquetball players representing over 50 high schools from across the country.

Fisher set a record with her fourth straight national high school singles title by defeating No. 6 Jesi Fuller (Manzano H.S., Albuquerque, N.M.), but it wasn't easy. "I'm so glad that it's over," a relieved Fisher said after the match. "Jesi was playing really well all week and she came out playing really well in our match."

Fuller actually defeated Fisher in the first game 15-12 marking Fisher's only lost game of the tournament. Fuller's momentum continued into the second game where she built a 7-4 lead before Fisher turned the tide. "I was being very tentative and when Jesi had opportunities she wasn't missing," Fisher explained. "I just decided that I was going to play like I am capable of and go for my shots when I had them."

Fisher went on to score 11 straight points to win the second game 15-7. She continued to play inspired racquetball in the tiebreaker and jumped out to a 6-0 lead before finally winning the match 11-4.

Dan Sheppick

Ben Croft

The boy's final match up was what everyone was anticipating as No. 1 Sheppick and No. 2 Ben Croft (Lake Forest H.S., Lake Bluff, Ill.) squared off for the title. After a thrilling first game, in which Croft won 15-12, the players started out the second game neck and neck. Tied at 2-2 Croft rolled over on his ankle while trying to retrieve a ball. After taking the full-allotted 15-minute injury timeout he attempted to continue the match.

Sheppick went on to win game two 15-8, as Croft hobbled around the court in a valiant effort to continue to play. With both players tied at 5-5 in the tiebreaker, Croft went to the floor while trying to retrieve a passed ball. He then took off his shoe, unwrapped his ankle, and declared that he was finished with the match.

Always a great sportsman, Sheppick had mixed feelings after the match. "It is hard to feel too good about a match that you win because the other guy got hurt," he explained. "I think that I had the momentum in the second game. I just wish that Ben wouldn't have got hurt."

Sheppick does feel good about securing a spot on the U.S. Junior National Team for another year. "I am glad that the spot on the team is locked up," Sheppick said. "It does feel good to win for that reason." Both Sheppick and Fisher earned one-year appointments to the U.S. Junior National Team for their wins.

In boy’s singles action Dan Sheppick (Rex Putnam H.S., Portland, Ore.) continued his trek towards his first national high school championship. Sheppick has been dominating and has not yet let an opponent reach double-digits. Just as dominating has been No. 2 Ben Croft (Lake Forest H.S., Lake Bluff, Ill.) who also has not allowed an opponent in double-digits. The only upset on the boy’s side heading into the quarterfinals was No. 9 Chris Crockett (Oak Mountain H.S., Birmingham, Ala.) over current U.S. Junior team member No. 8 Mike Keddie (Memorial H.S., Manchester, N.H.) 15-12, 15-11.

Adrienne Fisher (Centerville H.S., Centerville, Ohio) stayed on track to become the first player to win four U.S. National High School titles. Fisher, showing why she is currently ranked No. 7 on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Association [LPRA] Tour, has not allowed an opponent to score more than 5 combined points in an entire match. No. 2 Elise Wilson (Bristol Central H.S., Bristol, Conn.) is on a similar pace and keeps advancing through the draw towards a showdown with Fisher. Just as in the boy’s division the only upset occurred when No. 9 Sarah Hettesheimer (Mercy H.S., Cincinnati, Ohio) downed No. 8 Kimberly Walsh (Skyline H.S., Salt Lake City, Utah) in the round of 16.

In the first unofficial results released Saturday evening Kirkwood had a slim 18 point lead heading into the quarterfinals over Beaverton H.S. (Beaverton, Ore.). They were followed by Catlin Gabel H.S. (Portland, Ore.), who were just 21 points off the lead. Other St. Louis Schools in the top 10 were Parkway West H.S. (7), MICDS (8), and St. Louis University (9).

Leading the boy’s team title points was St. Louis University, who had a 24 point lead over second place Kirkwood H.S. In third place was Sunset H.S. (Portland, Ore.). St. John Vianney (4), MICDS (5), and DeSmet (7) rounded out other St. Louis area schools within striking distance.

Missouri state girls team champs Nerinx Hall (St. Louis, Mo.) lead the girl’ s team competition. They have a 20 point lead over Catlin Gabel H.S. and a 36 point lead over defending national girl’s team champion Centerville H.S. (Centerville, Ohio). Four more St. Louis area schools are listed in the top 10. They are Kirkwood H.S. (5), Parkway West H.S. (6), Villa Duchesne (9), and Villa Duchesne (10).

Based on results reported prior to Saturday night's quarterfinal matches, the official complete results won’t be available until after the tournament concludes on Sunday afternoon. Division semifinals and finals will be played throughout the day Sunday.

Top seed Dan Sheppick (Rex Putnam H.S., Milwaukie, Ore.) cruised through his opening match against Mike Youngstrom (Kirkwood H.S., Kirkwood, Mo.) 15-1; 15-2. He also advanced easily in the round of 64 over Matt Bell (DeSmet Jesuit, St. Louis, Mo.), 15-1, 15-0.

“Right now I am playing good,” said Sheppick. “I just need to stay focused and I need to stay positive.”

All other top seeds advanced to Saturday’s rounds as well. Players will need to make it through three rounds on Saturday in order to play into the semifinals which are slated for 11:30am Sunday. The finals will be played at 2:30pm.

No. 1 Adrienne Fisher (Centerville H.S., Centerville, Ohio) stayed on track to become the first player to capture four straight U.S. National High School singles titles by defeating Kelley Spaete (Kirkwood H.S., Kirkwood, Mo.), 15-1 15-4, in the round of 64.

“I am trying not to think about it, but sometimes it’s hard,” Fisher said of the impending record. “If I think about it I get nervous and I don’t play well nervous.”

All other top girl’s seeds also played to form, but things promise to get tougher Saturday, as the girl’s must also play through three rounds to make it into the semifinals on Sunday. Semifinals are scheduled for 10:00am Sunday followed by the finals at 1:30pm.

Michael Von Gerichten (St. Louis, Mo.) innocently began a racquetball program at Kirkwood High School when his son Andrew was looking for a sport to compete in during the winter months. Now, eight years later, Von Gerichten is still at the helm and the Kirkwood Pioneers are vying for their third straight national racquetball championship.

“It started eight years ago when my son Andrew was a freshman,” Von Gerichten explained. “He wasn’t big enough to play basketball, but he wanted something to do in the winter in between cross-country and track.”

That’s when Von Gerichten started a racquetball club at Kirkwood that began competing in the tough St. Louis area racquetball league. “Little did we realize that we would end up competing for a national championship and then win them back-to-back.”

Kirkwood began its quest for a third straight national championship Thursday at the 2003 Wilson 16th U.S. Racquetball Association [USRA] National High School Championships presented by Penn Racquet Sports. The tournament takes place at the Concord Athletic Club in St. Louis. Only one other school has been able to string together at least three national championships. Lafayette High School (St. Louis, Mo.) won four in a row between 1991 and 1994.

“It’s going to be tough for us this year,” he said. “We graduated 24 of our 38 players from last year. We are still competitive, though not as deep as before.” Kirkwood still comes into the tournament with the largest squad at 36, although only 5 are seniors.

Von Gerichten has accomplished all of this as a volunteer. Racquetball is not recognized as an official sport of the Missouri State High School Activities Association [MSHSAA], therefore they receive no monetary help with their racquetball program. Each team member must pay $250 to help cover expenses and various sponsors help out with the rest. Often times Von Gerichten has had to use some of his own money to keep the program alive.

Von Gerichten, who turns 50 in April, is self-employed and the owner of MVG Painting and Decorating. He puts in 60+ hours a week with his business before spending another 15-20 hours on the racquetball program. Von Gerichten’s staff of Paul Gordon, John Kleinschmidt, and Chris Scheer volunteer their time as well.

“We do it for the love of the game and for the kids,” Von Gerichten said. “We are so fortunate to have had such great groups of kids.”

The USRA National High School Championships begin Thursday and continue through Sunday at the Concord Athletic Club in St. Louis, Missouri. There is no charge for spectators to view the action.

Dan Sheppick (Rex Putnam H.S, Milwaukie, Ore.) has earned the top seed in the boy’s singles division. He is the current U.S. National 16-and-under champion and finished in the semifinals at the 2002 World Junior Championships. Sheppick finished second at last year’s event to Steven Klaiman (Houston, Texas), who has since moved on to the college ranks.

Earning the No. 2 seed was Ben Croft (Lake Forest H.S., Lake Bluff, Ill.). Croft finished second in both the boy’s 16-and-under and 18-and-under singles at the U.S. National Junior Championships. Croft is followed by No. 3 Joey Lakowske (Crescent Valley H.S., Corvallis, Ore.), who finished in the semifinals at last year’s high school tournament, and No. 4 David Chirban (Rolla Home School Group, Rolla, Mo.). Chirban placed third in boy’s 18-and-under at the U.S. National Junior Championships.

It was no surprise that Adrienne Fisher (Centerville H.S., Centerville, Ohio) was named the No. 1 seed for the girl’s singles division. Fisher is attempting to become the only player in history to capture four U.S. National High School singles titles. Fisher is the current 18-and-under and 16-and-under national and world singles champion. She is also the youngest full-time player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Association [LPRA] Tour where she is currently ranked No. 7.

Last year’s runner-up Elise Wilson (Bristol Central High, Bristol, Conn.) was named the No. 2 seed. Wilson earned third at the 2002 U.S. National Junior Championships in girl’s 16-and-under singles. She is followed by Adrienne’s younger sister Kelley Fisher (Centerville H.S., Centerville, Ohio), who finished second to her older sibling at the U.S. National Junior Championships in the girl’s 16-and-under. Earning the No. 4 spot is Ashley Willhite (Klamath Union High, Klamath Falls, Ore.), who is the reigning girl ’s 14-and-under national and world champion.

Boy’s Top Seeds, Singles
1. Dan Sheppick (Rex Putnam H.S., Milwaukie, Ore.)
2. Ben Croft (Lake Forest H.S., Lake Bluff, Ill)
3. Joey Lakowske (Crescent Valley H.S., Corvallis, Ore.)
4. David Chirban (Rolla Home School Group, Rolla, Mo.)
5. Charlie Pratt (Sunset H.S., Portland, Ore.)
6. Shane Karmelin (Dacula H.S., Dacula, Ga.)
7. Anthony Herrera (Fruita H.S., Grand Junction, Colo.)
8. Mike Keddie (Memorial, H.S., Manchester, N.H.)

Girl’s Top Seeds, Singles
1. Adrienne Fisher (Centerville H.S., Centerville, Ohio)
2. Elise Wilson (Bristol Central H.S., Bristol, Conn.)
3. Kelley Fisher (Centerville, H.S., Centerville, Ohio)
4. Ashley Willhite (Klamath Union H.S., Klamath Falls, Ore.)
5. Da’ Monique Davis (Comm. Arts H.S., San Antonio, Texas)
6. Jesi Fuller (Manzano H.S., Albuquerque, N.M.)
7. Katie Ferguson (Catlin Gabel H.S., Portland, Ore.)
8. Kimberly Walsh (Skyline H.S., Salt Lake City, Utah)

The Wilson 16th U.S. Racquetball Association [USRA] National High School Racquetball Championships, presented by Penn Racquet Sports, takes place February 27-March 2 at the Concord Athletic Club in St. Louis, Missouri.

Although prepared going into the tournament, Fisher is careful not to be overconfident. “I have total confidence in myself because I have been playing really, really well lately,” she said. “But I only know what I am doing. There could be somebody else out there working just as hard.”

Her caution may be well founded. When Fisher was a freshman she spoiled then-senior Kristen Walsh’s (Salt Lake City, Utah) try to repeat as national high school champion. “It was Kristen’s senior year and she was the defending champ,” Fisher explained. “I wasn’t supposed to have any chance against her, but I beat her. It just goes to show that anyone can beat anyone.”

That may be true, but if anyone is to defeat Fisher this year, they are going to have to pull off a major upset. Fisher just won both the girls 18-and-under and 16-and-under world singles championships this past December. She was the only girl to win two gold medals in singles competition at the event.

Fisher is also the youngest full-time player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Association [LPRA] Tour, which she feels gives her an advantage against other girls her age. “I think it gives me a big advantage. Every other week I am playing against people so much better than me.” She explained further, “It helps to bring my level of play up and it’s given me a lot of confidence in my abilities.” Fisher is currently ranked No. 7 on the tour.

Fisher is not only trying for her fourth straight singles title, but also attempting to earn her third straight doubles title with younger sister Kelly. Although they are the only two girls competing for Centerville High, they have managed to capture back-to-back girls national team championships for their school.