News: Gold Racquetball - Week 1

Date Published	Author
1/27/2026 12:00:00 AM	Zeke Churchill

Ladies and Gentlemen… Just as you have been training diligently for the first week of the spring 2026 gold league racquetball season, I too have been training to find adequate words to describe the poetry we are bound to witness on the court this year. I assure you I hold no bias, even though you all will face me inside the famed square room at some point this season I am committed to honoring not only the racquets, balls, and four white walls, but also the truth..

So let us begin

Match 1: Doyle v. Brad
At 5pm Alaskan time the spring league began. Doyle Brueckner has been a long time member of our established racquetball community and has swung his strings all the way to last season's silver league championship, which he won with authority and style. Doyle entered the cube with anticipation and eagerness, he hadn’t seen his opponent yet, but he had heard he was a newcomer to the league. Earlier that day a lone rider had appeared on the horizon to the west. His steed ambled slowly, but consistently towards town and he kept his wide brimmed Stetson hat low so the town folk couldn’t quite see his eyes or discern his intentions. By the time the stranger reached 4th Avenue a small crowd had gathered, peeking out of windows and door frames. The rider dismounted in front of AVTEC, tied his mount to the front bumper of my Toyota, and walked inside, his spurs clinking with each deliberate step. The rider opened the glass door of the cube, “Doyle” he said, “The name’s Brad, I’ve been lookin’ for you”.
Brad unholstered his racquet and game one was underway. Doyle began with gusto, showing the stranger why he had been crowned sharp shooter of the silver league, but Brad had that big iron on his hip, and it was immediately obvious that he had come to town to take down the silver league champion. Serves and volleys traded hands and both men stood tall in the fading mid winter light. Both men’s aim was true, but the mysterious rider’s was truer, Brad wins game one 15-9. By the start of game two all commerce in our small town had stopped. shopkeeps and tavern maids alike had gathered to watch the final duel. In the final moments before sundown both men drew their steel and fired a final serve. Smoke filled the court and the townsfolk gasped. The unthinkable had happened, the champion had fallen. Brad wins game two 15-3. Brad walked slowly out of the court, eyes low and breath steady. He picked up his Stetson and set it low over his eyes, rolled a long thin stalk of wheat grass between his fingers before setting it in the corner of his mouth, and walked out of the gym door. 

Match 2: Izzy v. Zeke
Guys I was so excited to play Izzy this week. I had spent long hours in previous seasons watching through the glass wondering if I’d ever be worthy of joining him on the court, I even thought about growing my hair out and dying it blonde. Monday began and I woke up early. At 4:30am I began practicing my backhand, 5am was killshots and low angles, at 5:30 I moved on to theory and court vision practice, I was in the middle of a deep hamstring stretch while juggling 3 racquets when my phone buzzed, it was a text from Izzy and the arrival of my worst fear: He wouldn’t be able to make the game because he was out of town. Zeke wins week one by forfeit.



Match 3: Melanie v. Francisco
Francisco begins league play by serving up an email to SPRD staff announcing that he will be out of town until week three. Week one scores pending makeup game.

Match 4: Fred v. Jamie
The final showdown of week one saw familiar combatants take the court. Fred “how does he move like that” Georges and Jamie “I work here too” Fredrickson have battled many times in our competitive leagues. On Monday night the two faced off to set the tone for the rest of the competitors. It was well understood that these two gargantuans would battle for the right to wear the gold crown. The racquetball community is well aware of Fred, his court spacing is legendary but nothing in his game quite compares to his kill shot. Jamie knew she was in for a long battle. During game one Jamie’s nerves were quiet yet alert, she jumps out quickly to a 3-0 lead before conceding the serve. Unfortunately Fred takes full advantage, scrapping to a 12-6 lead. Fred reaches into his deep bag of tricks to finish game one, his kill shot comes on and Jamie can’t quite keep up. Fred wins game one 15-8. Game two saw Jamie come alive, Fred was able to hang a couple of points on her with a wicked serve to her backhand but she held strong and after reclaiming the box, ties the game at 6-6. During the middle of the game neither player could get the upper hand, both of them trading serves back and forth. Finally Jamie’s endurance wins out and she takes game two 15-12. There was a fire under Jamie after game two, all of the sudden she couldn’t miss. Passing shots, kill shots, it didn’t matter, her hand was soft and accurate. Fred lunges at passes and fights valiantly but just can’t keep his head above water. Like a surge of sweeping ocean Jamie engulfs him and shuts him out, winning the overtime game 11-0.

Thank you for spending your time with me reminiscing about this glorious first week of play. I look forward to facing you all soon, and to echoing the tales of your greatness down the halls of the AVTEC gym. 

- Zeke “Zekey Babey” Churchill

These are your standings after week one:

Standings W1
Place	Player	Wins-Losses	GW	Point Differential APG
1	Zekey Babey	1-0	2	15.0
2	Brad	1-0	2	9.0
3	Jamie	1-0	2	2.3
4	Mel	0-0	0	0.0
5	Francisco	0-0	0	0.0
6	Fred	0-1	1	-2.3
7	Doyle	0-1	0	-9.0
8	Izzy	0-1	0	-15.0