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2007 Sponsors Pro Quote "Preparation is the key. You'll wish you worked harder while you were young once you get passed 25 years of age." -John Ellis

East Valley Victories: Gilbert's Keys Members of National Racquetball Team December 27, 2006 By Billye Jill Paulson Tribune Michelle Key has always played racquetball with the heart of a champion. Now the 18-year-old Arizona State freshman has the hardware that says she is a world champion. Key won the individual title of her age group at the International Racquetball World Junior Championships on Thursday at the ASU Recreation Center. More than 300 youths competed in the six-day event, which began Dec. 15 with an Olympic style parade of nations at Tempe Diablo Statium. Competition got started the following day. "It was really exciting," Michelle's father, Darold Key, said. "She had home-court advantage so to speak but the competition was fierce." Michelle wasn't the only one in the family with something to brag about. Her sister Danielle, a sophomore at Gilbert High School, finished third in the girls doubles division for 14 and under. Both girls have been eligible to compete in the world junior championships for the past three years and are members of the United States Junior national team. Neither really plays any other sport. Michelle played badminton her senior year in high school and came close to knocking off the No. 1 player in state. Michelle didn't lose a match in round-robin or elimination play last week and faced very stiff international competition to earn her title. "In other countries racquetball is part of the curriculum at school, with some kids playing three hours a day," Darold said. "Their governments have recognized that sports is a money maker and push the kids more along that line instead of academically." The girls' participation with the national team is limited to their qualification tournament each June and one other team meeting during the year. So the rest of the time they are on their own to improve their skills without the benefit of the national team coaches. For the tournament, however, Michelle and Danielle were coached by their parents and national team coach Shane Wood. During the year, their dad and mom Karen are the mentors. With the World Championships behind them the girls will now concentrate on remaining qualified for the U.S. team and playing at nationals in June 2007, which will also be at ASU and then on to Bolivia in the fall where the next international competition is tentatively scheduled to be played. Top 12 Reasons to Play Racquetball 12. You can't play racquetball and smoke at the same time. 11. Racquetball offers skill-building opportunities. 10. Racquetball can be played any hour of the day. 9. Racquetball is a game that can be played by same sex or mixed sex on somewhat equal terms-it's a real friendship maker. 8. People of all ages, 6 to 90 can play the game-and do so competitively. 7. Racquetball takes just one other person to play and have a great workout. 6. Being an indoor game, racquetball can be played year around, so fitness maintenance does not need to be interrupted. 5. Racquetball develops or maintains motor skills of agility, balance, flexibility, hand/eye coordination and reaction time-skills important to health and safety in the senior years. 4. Racquetball develops cardiovascular and muscle endurance. 3. Racquetball is a high calorie burner and staves off obesity and osteoporosis. 2. Racquetball is easy to learn. No special skill level is required in order to reap most of the values of playing racquetball. 1. PLAYING RACQUETBALL IS FUN! Make it your lifetime activity! -this message brought to you by National Masters Racquetball Association NMRA website

About Key Racquetball Welcome! We are pleased you have chosen KEY RACQUETBALL for all of your racquetball needs. Key Racquetball offers more than just racquets and racquetball equipment; we can provide you with everything to get you on the court, to keeping you in the game, to increasing your chances to walk off as a winner. We are your one stop racquetball shop. Contact us today so we can serve all your racquetball needs. We have racquet demos from all manufactures, we can answer your questions about strings and tensions that best fit your game style , answer your many rule questions, help you find someone to play, analyzing your game, it really doesn’t matter, WE CAN DO IT. Take the time right now and ask yourself one question. "If I am to do business with a company that is going to support my racquetball wants and needs, or do I want someone that just slaps a racquet in my hands for cash and does not give back to our sport? Or do I want a quality company that takes "CO-OWNERSHIP" of my ENTIRE game and our SPORT and offers the quality that I most desire on and off the court? I think the answer is an obvious one. I leave that final decision in your hands, but would like to urge you and your friends to let us be the ones to serve you, and get to know us better. Racquetball is a way of life for our family and you are invited to be part of it. Together we can make racquetball strong. Thanks for choosing KEY RACQUETBALL. -- Karen Key, Owner -- Did you know? COUNTING CALORIES • Running (9-minute mile) - 858 calories • Racquetball - 792 calories • Cycling (racing) - 750 calories • Running (11:30 mile) - 600 calories • Swimming - 570 calories • Tennis - 486 calories - SOURCE: Fitness magazine Pro-Shop ~ 480.545.1363 The Pro-Shop is located in Tempe, Arizona within the Tempe LA Fitness sports club. Find more about the stores services, product, sales, and hottest items. Please call first.