Kristen Walsh Bellows
Encyclopedia
Kristen Walsh Bellows is an American racquetball
player. Wachtel was the #4 women's professional player at the end of the 2008-09 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
season. She was a three-time collegiate champion, and a four-time World Junior champion.
every season since 2001-02. Bellows earned her first WPRO tournament victory in May 2009, when she won the Ektelon
WPRO World Championships defeating Paola Longoria
in the final.
, defeating Cheryl Gudinas in the final, 15-8, 8-15, 11-8. She had a chance to defend that title in 2006, but lost in the final to Paola Longoria
, 15-4, 15-6.
Walsh Bellows played for the USA in the Pan American Championship four consecutive years from 2004 to 2007. She played both singles and doubles in both 2004, earning a bronze medal in doubles with Kersten Hallander, and 2005, getting a silver medal in doubles with Gudinas to go with the gold medal in singles. In 2006 and 2007, Walsh Bellows played singles only.
She won the USA Girls 18 and under champion in 2000 and 2001, and was the USA Racquetball's Female Junior Athlete of the Year in 2000. Walsh Bellows also won the USA Girls 16 and under title in 1999, and the 12 and under title in 1995.
Walsh Bellows won the USAR Collegiate Championship three times, in 2001 for Baldwin Wallace University and in 2003 and 2004 for the University of Utah. She was also the women's collegiate doubles champion in 2001 with Elle Summers and in 2004 with her mother Marianne Walsh, who had gone back to university at age 45. Her two titles in 2004 helped the University of Utah win the women's team title that year.
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. Wachtel was the #4 women's professional player at the end of the 2008-09 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
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....
season. She was a three-time collegiate champion, and a four-time World Junior champion.
Professional
Walsh Bellows has been a top 10 player 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....
every season since 2001-02. Bellows earned her first WPRO tournament victory in May 2009, when she won the 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...
WPRO World Championships defeating 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...
in the final.
International
Walsh Bellows won the 2005 Pan American ChampionshipsPan 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....
, defeating Cheryl Gudinas in the final, 15-8, 8-15, 11-8. She had a chance to defend that title in 2006, but lost in 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...
, 15-4, 15-6.
Walsh Bellows played for the USA in the Pan American Championship four consecutive years from 2004 to 2007. She played both singles and doubles in both 2004, earning a bronze medal in doubles with Kersten Hallander, and 2005, getting a silver medal in doubles with Gudinas to go with the gold medal in singles. In 2006 and 2007, Walsh Bellows played singles only.
Junior and collegiate
Walsh Bellows won the Girls 18 and under Junior World Championship twice, in 2000 and 2001, and also won Girls 16 and under in 1999, and Girls 14 and under in 1996. Bellows won four World Juniors doubles titles. Two were with Krystal Csuk: the 18 and under title in 2000, and 16 and under in 1998, and two with Jeni Fuller: the 14 and under title in 1996 and 12 and under in 1995.She won the USA Girls 18 and under champion in 2000 and 2001, and was the USA Racquetball's Female Junior Athlete of the Year in 2000. Walsh Bellows also won the USA Girls 16 and under title in 1999, and the 12 and under title in 1995.
Walsh Bellows won the USAR Collegiate Championship three times, in 2001 for Baldwin Wallace University and in 2003 and 2004 for the University of Utah. She was also the women's collegiate doubles champion in 2001 with Elle Summers and in 2004 with her mother Marianne Walsh, who had gone back to university at age 45. Her two titles in 2004 helped the University of Utah win the women's team title that year.