Daily Racquetball’s Women Crush Wednesday Racquetball Influencers!
AKA Women Making Racquetball History Now!
We will feature another woman making racquetball history every Wednesday. Do you know someone else we should be celebrating with this interview and feature process? Drop us a line on Facebook!
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Name: Adrienne Haynes
Are you a pro player, coach, association board member, tournament organizer, or racquetball broadcaster AKA why do racquetball players know you?
I am currently a professional player and serve as the LPRT Player Rep.
Where do you promote racquetball on social media and the web?
Twitter
Instagram
Country of Origin: USA
Place you consider home: Memphis, Tennessee
Have you ever been on your country’s national team? When?:
I was on the US Junior National Team six times and was elected captain three of those six years. I have also been on the US Adult National team several times.
Did you play as a junior? When & how where you introduced to the competitive side of racquetball?
I have been playing racquetball since I was six or seven years old. My parents met at a racquetball club, and they ran a racquetball club when I was young; my sister and I started playing because my dad would pick us up from school and take us to the club- we could either play racquetball or clean/fold towels…not a difficult choice!
Playing hand: Right
Year you started playing racquetball: 1995 I think? A long time ago!
First female mentor or idol in racquetball:
My mom got me into the game-she taught me everything about stroke mechanics and how to hit shots. Kelley Beane is hands-down the best coach I have ever had.
Favorite racquetball shot: Backhand splat, preferably from shoulder height 🙂
Motivation for the game (what keeps you playing):
Right now, it’s equal parts my daughter Olivia and my desire to represent the US again in international competition. Olivia loves coming to tournaments and going to the gym with me, and it’s important to me that she knows the value of hard work-even though you don’t always get what you worked for.
Love most about racquetball:
Competition – I love it. Training and traveling is also my me-time, which I don’t get too much of.
Preferred equipment:
I have been sponsored by Head/Penn my entire racquetball career.
Favorite event:
I don’t have a favorite- every tournament offers something different and unique, but any tournament my family can come to is a great one!
Best results at tournaments you’ve played in:
First player to win high school nationals as a freshman, and the first player to win high school nationals all four years. My sister and I also won the Girl’s High School National Championship for our school (Centerville High School) three times and we made up the entire team! As a pro, my best result was as a finalist in Seattle in November 2012; as an amateur, I won the Women’s Open Singles division at the US Open in 2005.
Day job:
Revenue Management Support Specialist for Hilton Worldwide
Family shoutout:
I could not do any of what I do without my husband-he is so incredibly supportive and makes it so easy for me to be able to keep working toward my goals.
Other sports played in addition to racquetball:
I played travel and varsity volleyball in high school, but now it’s just racquetball. I have added weightlifting to my training regimen, and I LOVE it.
What can we do to activate more female players?
I think it depends on the stage they are in life- as a junior, I needed more competition but frequently wasn’t allowed to play Men’s divisions. When Olivia was coming with me to tournaments, childcare was a big concern. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer.
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Do you know someone else we should be celebrating with this interview and feature process? Drop us a line on Facebook!