Christie Van Hees
Van Hees at 2007 US Open, Memphis Tennessee
Personal information
NationalityCanadian
Born (1977-07-05) July 5, 1977 (age 46)
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Sport
SportRacquetball
Achievements and titles
National finals1st 1997, 1998, 2000, 2006-2008 (singles)
Highest world ranking1st 2005
Medal record
Women's Racquetball
Representing  Canada
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1998 World Championships Singles
Gold medal – first place 2006 World Championships Singles
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 1999 Winnipeg Singles

Christie Van Hees (born July 5, 1977) is a Canadian retired racquetball player. Van Hees won two World Championships in women's singles and was the number one women's professional player at the end of the 2004-2005 season.

Professional career

Van Hees's three US Open Racquetball Championships - the most prestigious pro racquetball title - are the third most by a woman behind Paola Longoria with six and Rhonda Rajsich with four. Van Hees won in 2000 and 2005, defeating Rajsich in the finals both years, and then again in 2006, when she defeated Cheryl Gudinas in the final.[1] Her 2005 victory helped Van Hees finish that season as the #1 player in the women's professional rankings.

Canadian and international career

Van Hees has won six Canadian Championships in 1997, 1998, 2000, and three consecutive years from 2006 to 2008.[2]

Van Hees has won two International Racquetball Federation (IRF)[3] World Championships in 1998 and 2006.[4] She beat Kersten Hallander (USA) in the 1998 final, and Angela Grisar (Chile) in the 2006 final.[5]

Van Hees also won the Girls 18 and under division at the IRF[3] World Junior Championships in 1995.[6]

Personal life

Van Hees had considerable success early in her career, but then retired in 2001.[7] But that turned out to be only a sabbatical, as she came back the fall of 2003, and had even greater success, reaching the final of the US Open in only her second tournament back.

In August 2009, Van Hees married Jack Huczek, an American, who is also a champion racquetball player having won three IRF World Championships. Originally from Kelowna, British Columbia, Van Hees currently resides in Dallas, Texas with Huczek and their two daughters, Evelyn and Faith.

Van Hees was inducted into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame on November 19, 2015.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ "USA Racquetball > Record Books > U.S. Open Champions". usaracquetball.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2009.
  2. ^ "Racquetball Canada website". Racquetball.ca. Archived from the original on 2019-05-11. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  3. ^ a b IRF. "internationalracquetball.com". internationalracquetball.com. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  4. ^ IRF. "IRF website". Internationalracquetball.com. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  5. ^ "RACQUETBALL - International Racquetball Federation - IRF". www.internationalracquetball.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008.
  6. ^ "RACQUETBALL - International Racquetball Federation - IRF". www.internationalracquetball.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2009.
  7. ^ "Racquetball: July-August 2001 LPRA". Lindamojer.com. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
  8. ^ "Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame names 6 new inductees". Globalnews.ca.
  9. ^ "2015 Inductee-Athlete Christi Van Hees" (PDF). kelownamuseums.ca. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
Sporting positions Preceded byCheryl Gudinas Number 1 Women's Pro Racquetball Player 2004-2005 Succeeded byRhonda Rajsich
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