Leamington hosts junior racquetball

There has been a spike in local racquetball interest over the last year since Leamington was awarded the 2017 Canadian Junior National Racquetball Championships.

When play gets underway Wednesday at the Sherk Complex, 17 of the 57 competitors (29.8 per cent) will be from Windsor-Essex. That’s a vast jump from last year when just three local players competed at the event in Kelowna, B.C.

“Having it local, numbers for our junior and beginner programs more than doubled the number of kids that wanted to come out,” said Andrew Dick, of the host committee. “That was one of the goals of hosting the event.

But competition in the fourday event will be tough for local athletes. The top two finishers in 18-and-under, 16-and-under and 14-and-under will earn a spot on Canada’s team for the world championships in November in Minneapolis, Minn.

“It’ll be tough, but if play my best, I can make a run,” said Kyle Dick, who’ll compete in the boys’ 16-and-under division.

Unlike many area players, Kyle Dick is a racquetball veteran. He began playing at age 11 and this will be his fourth trip to nationals.

“I plan on making the podium top three,” said Dick, who finished fourth a year ago. “The key

is to stay positive. When you get down a point, don’t get too mad at yourself.

“I just have to take it point by point.”

With five playing courts, Leamington actually has the secondlargest facility for the sport next to Burlington, which has six courts, and Dick is excited to be playing at home.

“You’re so used to travelling and it’s cool that we get it here,” he said.