Aimee Ruiz

Aimee Ruiz
Personal information
Birth name Aimee Roehler
Nationality American
Born February 12, 1975
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Height 5'4"
Sport
Sport Racquetball
Achievements and titles
World finals 1st 2006, 2008 (doubles)
National finals 1st 2009 (singles) 1st 2005-2011 (doubles)

Aimee Ruiz (born February 12, 1975) is a left handed American racquetball player. She is a two time World Champion in doubles, winning the title in 2006 and 2008.

International career

Ruiz has competed for the USA nine times, reaching the podium each time. She's won two International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Women's Doubles. Her first World Championship was in 2006 with Laura Fenton, when they defeated the Chilean team of Angela Grisar and Fabiola Marquez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.[1] Ruiz repeated as World Champion in 2008 with Jackie Paraiso, as they defeated Canadians Geneviève Brodeur and Véronique Guillemette in Kingscourt, Ireland.[2]

But in 2010, Ruiz and Paraiso lost to Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas in the final of the World Championships in Seoul, South Korea.[3] Then in 2012, Ruiz was a late substitution for Kim Waselenchuk in doubles at Worlds, and she played with Rhonda Rajsich. They lost to Chileans Angela Grisar and Carla Muñoz, 15-14, 2-15, 11-10, in the semi-finals,[4] which was the USA's first ever semi-final loss at Worlds in women's doubles. In 2014, Ruiz and Janel Tisinger were silver medalists in Women's Doubles at the World Championships losing to Longoria and Salas in the final, 15-4, 15-12.[5]

Ruiz has won three Pan American Racquetball Championships in doubles, all with Paraiso as her partner. They first won in 2006, and then again in 2008 and 2009.

Ruiz played in the 2012 Pan American Games, playing doubles with Rhonda Rajsich and earned silver medals in the individual and team events.

US Championships

Ruiz won seven US National Doubles Championships from 2005 to 2011. Her first two were with Laura Fenton - in 2005[6] and 2006,[7] and then the following five were with Jackie Paraiso: 2007,[8] 2008,[9] 2009,[10] 2010,[11] and 2011.[12] Their streak ended in 2012,[13] when they lost in the semi-finals to Rhonda Rajsich and Kim Russell-Waselenchuk. But they did win the 3rd place match versus Marci Drexler and Laura Fenton.

Although Ruiz is a doubles specialist, she won the US National Singles championship in 2009.[14] Ruiz won the title by defeating Kristen Walsh Bellows in the quarter finals, Rhonda Rajsich in the semi-final, and Cheryl Gudinas in the final.[15]

Professional career

Ruiz hasn't played professional racquetball very much, so she's never been ranked in the top 10 of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization. She was ranked 20th at the end of the 2011-12 WPRO season.[16]

Personal

Ruiz works as Ektelon's Promotion Manager.

See also

References

  1. ↑ IRF. "IRF Final Match Results". IRF. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  2. ↑ IRF. "IRF Final Match Results". IRF. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  3. ↑ Racquetball Canada. "Press Release". SIRC. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  4. ↑ Racquetball Canada. "Press Release". SIRC. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  5. ↑ http://www.sirc.ca/news_view.cfm?id=60123
  6. ↑ USA Racquetball. "2005 US Doubles Championship". USA Racquetball. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  7. ↑ USA Racquetball. "2006 US Doubles Championship Results". R2 Sports. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  8. ↑ USA Racquetball. "2007 US Doubles Championship Results". R2 Sports. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  9. ↑ USA Racquetball. "2008 US Doubles Championship Results". R2 Sports. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  10. ↑ USA Racquetball. "2009 US Doubles Championship Results". R2 Sports. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  11. ↑ USA Racquetball. "2010 US Doubles Championship Results". R2 Sports. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  12. ↑ USA Racquetball. "2009 US Doubles Championship Results". R2 Sports. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  13. ↑ USA Racquetball. "2012 US Doubles Championship Results". R2 Sports. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  14. ↑ USA Racquetball. "National Champions". USA Racquetball. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  15. ↑ USA Racquetball. "US Team Qualifying Division Results". R2 Sports. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  16. ↑ WPRO. "WPRO Rankings". WPRO. Retrieved 22 June 2012.