Intramural racquetball championships underway

Published March 12, 2008
By Walt Johnson
The Peterson Sports Guy

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- It was one of the best seasons of intramural racquetball at the Peterson Fitness and Sports Center. Four teams were left standing after the final games to decide who would be this year's champions.

The top four teams in the league, 21st Services Squadron, U.S. Northern Command, United States Air Force Academy Band and Detachment 4, Air Force Operation and Test Evaluation Center made the playoffs and began the process of determining the base champion March 4.

The tournament is being played in five divisions. The league has an A and B singles division, A/B and C/D doubles division and a C and D singles division. According to Vic McCoy, a member of the Det.4 team, the separate divisions gives everyone who wants to play racquetball a chance to compete.

"Racquetball is a sport that allows you to play no matter what level player you are. We have the A and B level and the C and D level, so everyone can play this game at a competitive level. Even a novice player has a great opportunity to compete if they play at the correct level," McCoy said.

McCoy said the league is very successful because of what it offers the people on base.

"Racquetball is a very good sport. It's an indoor sport which is what we need in this part of the country to keep up our physical fitness. In the cold months you still have to find some sort of recreation to keep you in shape and that is why this is a good sport. I like the idea that participating in the league gives you a chance to support your unit and helps the esprit de corps in the unit," McCoy said.

Mike Coats, Peterson intramural sports director said this year was a very competitive season.

"This was one of the most enjoyable seasons the racquetball program has had. The players seemed to enjoy the season and we had some very competitive matches and some very evenly matched teams. Coming into the playoffs, any one of the teams could win it, the competition is that close," Coats said.

The tournament began with the 21st Services Squadron team meeting USNORTHCOM. Services won the match against USNORTHCOM and moved into the second round of the playoffs March 5. In the other first round matchup the USAFA Band defeated Det. 4 AFOTEC to move into a second round winner's bracket contest with 21st Services.

The Services team continued its outstanding season by defeating the USAFA Band team and moved into the championship round which was scheduled to be played Tuesday.
After Services wrapped up its trip to the championship round all that was left was to find out which of the other three teams would survive the loser's bracket round and meet Services for a chance at the title.

In the first round of the loser's bracket division, USNORTHCOM met Det. 4, AFOTEC Thursday. USNORTHCOM defeated Det. 4 to move into the finals of the loser's bracket contest where it met the USAFA Band team that lost to Services Monday.

The winner of the USAFA Band and USNORTHCOM matchup faced the task of beating the Services team Tuesday to force an if-necessary contest today at the Center (at press time the results of the match was not available). If Services won the contest on Tuesday it would be the new intramural champions.

What's all the racquet?