Jennifer Saunders (racquetball)
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Saunders is a Canadian racquetball
player from Thompson, Manitoba
. Saunders is the current Canadian Women's Champion, winning her 5th title in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
in May 2011. Saunders was the 2010 Manitoba
Female Athlete of the Year as voted by the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
(WPRO) season, which was a career high. Her career best WPRO tournament finish was in the semi-finals of the 2010 Texas Open, when she defeated Kerri Wachtel
in the quarter finals.
Saunders has competed for Canada on 15 occasions, highlighted by her silver medal at the 2002 Racquetball World Championships
when she lost in the final to American Cheryl Gudinas, 15-13, 15-13. Saunders was also a silver medalist at the 2010 Pan American Racquetball Championships
, losing the final to Paola Longoria
.
She also reached the podium on five other occasions. She's had two medals in doubles: a silver at the 2004 Pan American Championships
and later that year a bronze at Worlds
. Both were won with Grand'Maître, and both times they lost to the Mexican team of Susana Acosta and Rosy Torres.
In 2008, Saunders earned bronze medals at both the Pan American Championships
and the Worlds
, and in 2006 she was a bronze medalist at Worlds
.
Finally, Saunders also represented Canada at the 2009 World Games
and 2003 Pan American Games
, and will do so at the 2011 Pan American Games
.
, where she is the Executive Director for Racquetball Manitoba. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Winnipeg
. Saunders is sponsored by Ektelon
racquet sports.
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 from Thompson, Manitoba
Thompson, Manitoba
Thompson is a city in northern Manitoba. As the "Hub of the North" it serves as the regional trade and service centre of northern Manitoba. Thompson is located north of the Canada – United States border, north of the provincial capital of Winnipeg, and is northeast of Flin Flon...
. Saunders is the current Canadian Women's Champion, winning her 5th title in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
in May 2011. Saunders was the 2010 Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
Female Athlete of the Year as voted by the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
Professional career
Saunders was ranked 7th at the end of the 2010-11 Women's Professional Racquetball OrganizationWomen'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....
(WPRO) season, which was a career high. Her career best WPRO tournament finish was in the semi-finals of the 2010 Texas Open, when she defeated Kerri Wachtel
Kerri Wachtel
Kerri Wachtel is an American racquetball player. Wachtel was the #2 women's professional player at the end of the 2006-2007, and was #5 at the end of the 2008-09 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization season...
in the quarter finals.
Domestic and international career
Saunders has been Canadian Women's Singles Champion five times: in 2002, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2011. She's also been the Canadian Women's Doubles Champion on seven occasions: from 2003 to 2007 and again in 2009 and 2011. Her partner for all six championships was Josée Grand'Maître.Saunders has competed for Canada on 15 occasions, highlighted by her silver medal at the 2002 Racquetball 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 lost in the final to American Cheryl Gudinas, 15-13, 15-13. Saunders was also a silver medalist at the 2010 Pan American Racquetball Championships
Pan American Racquetball Championships
The Pan American Racquetball Championships are held annually in the spring with play ending on the day before Easter. Originally called the Tournament of the Americas, the Pan American Championships are hosted by the Pan American Racquetball Confederation....
, losing the final to 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...
.
She also reached the podium on five other occasions. She's had two medals in doubles: a silver at the 2004 Pan American Championships
Pan American Racquetball Championships
The Pan American Racquetball Championships are held annually in the spring with play ending on the day before Easter. Originally called the Tournament of the Americas, the Pan American Championships are hosted by the Pan American Racquetball Confederation....
and later that year a bronze at Worlds
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...
. Both were won with Grand'Maître, and both times they lost to the Mexican team of Susana Acosta and Rosy Torres.
In 2008, Saunders earned bronze medals at both the Pan American Championships
Pan American Racquetball Championships
The Pan American Racquetball Championships are held annually in the spring with play ending on the day before Easter. Originally called the Tournament of the Americas, the Pan American Championships are hosted by the Pan American Racquetball Confederation....
and the Worlds
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...
, and in 2006 she was a bronze medalist at Worlds
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...
.
Finally, Saunders also represented Canada at the 2009 World Games
World Games
The World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event, meant for sports, or disciplines or events within a sport, that are not contested in the Olympic Games...
and 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...
, and will do so at the 2011 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...
.
Personal
Saunders now lives in WinnipegWinnipeg
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...
, where she is the Executive Director for Racquetball Manitoba. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Winnipeg
University of Winnipeg
The University of Winnipeg is a public university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and theology as well as graduate programs. The U of W's founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged...
. Saunders is sponsored by Ektelon
Ektelon
Ektelon, Inc. is an American manufacturer of equipment for racquetball.Currently based in Bordentown, New Jersey, Ektelon was founded by Franklin W. "Bud" Held in 1964 as the first company to manufacture racquetball racquets and stringing machines, not long after the development of the sport of...
racquet sports.