Laura Fenton

Laura Fenton (born June 28, 1962) is an American racquetball player. She won two World Championships in doubles, and finished in the top 10 on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization rankings seven times in her career.

Laura Fenton
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1962-06-28) June 28, 1962
Lincoln, Nebraska
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Sport
SportRacquetball
Achievements and titles
Highest world rankingNo. 4 (1996-07, 2001-02)
Medal record
Racquetball World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1994 Mexico Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2006 Santo Domingo Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2002 San Juan Singles
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2003 Santo Domingo Singles
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Winnipeg Singles
Pan American Racquetball Championships
Gold medal – first place 2001 San Pedro Sula Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2002 Cochabamba Singles
Gold medal – first place Santo Domingo Singles

Professional career

Fenton did not play professional racquetball until age 30,[1] but she finished in the top 10 of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization rankings seven times in her career, first in 1993-94 and last in 2005-06. She was ranked #4 twice in 1996-97 and 2000-01.

Fenton was a WPRO finalist three times but never won an event.[2]

International career

Fenton won the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in women's doubles twice. In 1994, Fenton and Jackie Paraiso won the title in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, defeating Canadians Vicki Shanks and Debbie Ward in the final. Then twelve years later in 2006, Fenton and Aimee Ruiz won the title in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, beating Angela Grisar and Fabiola Marquez of Chile in the final.[3]

Fenton and Paraiso also won doubles at the Pan Am Championships in 2001.

Fenton twice won the Pan Am Championships in 2002 and 2003. In 2002, she defeated Canadian Josée Grand'Maître in the final.[4]

Fenton played in two Pan American Games. In 1999, she was bronze medalist in women's singles, and in 2003 she was silver medalist in women's singles, losing a tie-breaker to Cheryl Gudinas in the final.[5]

Fenton was also a member of Team USA at the 2002 World Championships and got a bronze medal in singles, losing to Jennifer Saunders in the semi-finals.[6]

US Championships

Fenton won the US National Championships in doubles four times: in 2006 and 2005 with Aimee Ruiz, 2000 with Jackie Paraiso, and 1993 with Michelle Gould.[7]

Fenton was second in singles at the 2003 US National Singles Championships, which qualified her for the 2003 Pan Am Games team.[8]

Personal life

Fenton was raised as a Seventh Day Adventist, so she was not allowed to compete in sports on the weekends, when tournaments are usually held.[1]

Fenton has a B.A. from Union College and a master's degree from Western Michigan University in biomechanics, kinesiology and exercise physicology. Currently, she is an Associate Professor of Health and Exercise Science at La Sierra University in Riverside, Califorinia.[9]

Fenton has one daughter, Jennifer.

See also

References
  1. Queen of the court Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Cody Howard, 2000-06-08. Pitch.com
  2. "Fenton Bio". USRA.
  3. International Racquetball Federation. "IRF Recordbook". Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  4. Racquetball Canada (April 2, 2002). "Canadian Women are #1". SIRC. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  5. "Pan Am Capsules". August 11, 2003. The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  6. "Results Summary". Racquetball Canada. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  7. "USA Racquetball Records". USA Racquetball. Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  8. "Two earn Pan Am racquetball bids". Houston Chronicle News Services. May 25, 2003. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  9. "La Sierra Health & Exercise Faculty". La Sierra University. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
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