Jackie Paraiso
Encyclopedia
Jackie Paraiso (born September 14, 1966) is an American racquetball
player. Paraiso was the #1 player on the women's pro racquetball tour
at the end of the 1991-92, 1998–99, and 1999-2000 seasons. She has been World Champion
in women's doubles seven times, more than any other player.
16 times between 1986–87 and 2003–04, including her three #1 finishes. Paraiso's best pro season was '98-'99, when she was in the finals of all seven events, winning six of them, including the 1998 US Open Racquetball Championships
beating Christie Van Hees
in three straight games, to finish at #1. That success carried over to the 1999-2000 season, when Paraiso won four of the five tournaments and a second US Open
and again was #1 at season's end. Paraiso was inducted into the Racquetball Hall of Fame in 2009.
playing doubles with Malia Bailey, and most recently at the 2010 World Championships
again in doubles (with Aimee Ruiz).
Perhaps the highlights of Paraiso's international career are the gold medals she won playing doubles with her twin sister Joy MacKenzie at the 1995 Pan American Games
in Argentina
, and the 1999 Pan American Games
in Winnipeg
. Paraiso and MacKenzie played together for Team USA seven times, and won gold each time.
In fact, Paraiso has won gold in 23 of her 25 Team USA appearances. The only blemishes have been at the 2003 Pan American Games
, when she and Kim Russell lost 11-9 in the tie-breaker of the finals to the Mexican team of Susana Acosta and Rosy Torres, and at the 2010 World Championships
, when she and Ruiz lost to Mexicans Paola Longoria
and Samantha Salas Solis also in a tie-breaker.
(1990 & 1991), and one with Laura Fenton (2000).
Paraiso's also won four mixed doubles titles with Jimmy Lowe (in 1997), Rocky Carson
(1998) and twice with Joe Paraiso, in 1996 and 1999.
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
player. Paraiso was the #1 player on the women's pro racquetball tour
Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
The Women's Professional Racquetball Organization is the latest name for the women's professional racquetball tour. It features the world's best players and several events each season - running from September to May - that are mostly played in the USA....
at the end of the 1991-92, 1998–99, and 1999-2000 seasons. She has been World Champion
Racquetball World Championships
The World Racquetball Championships, organized by the International Racquetball Federation , were first held in 1981. The second World Championships were in 1984, and have been held every two years since.The World Championships have two parts...
in women's doubles seven times, more than any other player.
Professional career
Paraiso finished in the top 10 at season's end on the women's pro tourWomen's Professional Racquetball Organization
The Women's Professional Racquetball Organization is the latest name for the women's professional racquetball tour. It features the world's best players and several events each season - running from September to May - that are mostly played in the USA....
16 times between 1986–87 and 2003–04, including her three #1 finishes. Paraiso's best pro season was '98-'99, when she was in the finals of all seven events, winning six of them, including the 1998 US Open Racquetball Championships
US Open Racquetball Championships
The US Open racquetball championship is widely acknowledged as the premier professional racquetball event. It is a Grand Slam event with men and women competing from the International Racquetball Tour and Women's Professional Racquetball Organization, respectively. It also includes divisions for...
beating Christie Van Hees
Christie Van Hees
Christie Van Hees is a Canadian racquetball player. Van Hees was the number one women's professional player at the end of the 2004-2005, but after playing only two events in the 2008-09 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization , fell to #19.- Professional career :Van Hees's three US Open...
in three straight games, to finish at #1. That success carried over to the 1999-2000 season, when Paraiso won four of the five tournaments and a second US Open
US Open Racquetball Championships
The US Open racquetball championship is widely acknowledged as the premier professional racquetball event. It is a Grand Slam event with men and women competing from the International Racquetball Tour and Women's Professional Racquetball Organization, respectively. It also includes divisions for...
and again was #1 at season's end. Paraiso was inducted into the Racquetball Hall of Fame in 2009.
International career
Paraiso has made more appearances on Team USA than any other racquetball player - man or woman - with 25 appearances over 20 years. The first was at the 1990 World ChampionshipsRacquetball World Championships
The World Racquetball Championships, organized by the International Racquetball Federation , were first held in 1981. The second World Championships were in 1984, and have been held every two years since.The World Championships have two parts...
playing doubles with Malia Bailey, and most recently at the 2010 World Championships
Racquetball World Championships
The World Racquetball Championships, organized by the International Racquetball Federation , were first held in 1981. The second World Championships were in 1984, and have been held every two years since.The World Championships have two parts...
again in doubles (with Aimee Ruiz).
Perhaps the highlights of Paraiso's international career are the gold medals she won playing doubles with her twin sister Joy MacKenzie at the 1995 Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and the 1999 Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. Paraiso and MacKenzie played together for Team USA seven times, and won gold each time.
In fact, Paraiso has won gold in 23 of her 25 Team USA appearances. The only blemishes have been at the 2003 Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
, when she and Kim Russell lost 11-9 in the tie-breaker of the finals to the Mexican team of Susana Acosta and Rosy Torres, and at the 2010 World Championships
Racquetball World Championships
The World Racquetball Championships, organized by the International Racquetball Federation , were first held in 1981. The second World Championships were in 1984, and have been held every two years since.The World Championships have two parts...
, when she and Ruiz lost to Mexicans Paola Longoria
Paola Longoria
Paola Michelle Longoria López is a Mexican racquetball player. She is the first Mexican woman to attain the #1 ranking on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization tour, doing so at the end of the 2008-09 season and at the end of 2009-2010 season as well...
and Samantha Salas Solis also in a tie-breaker.
US championships
Paraiso has won 13 U.S. doubles women's titles. Three of those titles were with sister Joy (in 1994, 1997 & 1998), four with Aimee Ruiz (2007–2010), three with Kim Russell (2002–2004), two with Michelle Gould (née Gilman)Michelle Gould (racquetball player)
Michelle Gould , born December 22, 1970, was an American racquetball player. She was the dominant player in women's racquetball in the 1990s based on a strong drive serve game...
(1990 & 1991), and one with Laura Fenton (2000).
Paraiso's also won four mixed doubles titles with Jimmy Lowe (in 1997), Rocky Carson
Rocky Carson
Rocky Carson is an American professional racquetball player . Carson is the current racquetball World Champion, a title he also won in 2008. Carson was the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour at the end of the 2007-08 season., and finished ranked 3rd at the end of the 2009-10 season...
(1998) and twice with Joe Paraiso, in 1996 and 1999.