Racquetball: Good for your mind and your body

Published Dec. 5, 2011
By 1st Lt. Marshel Slater
618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center)

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Senior Master Sgt. Jerry Turley is the 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center) logistics readiness superintendent. On a day-to-day basis he is busy providing maintenance recovery support to all Air Mobility Command's tasked aircraft that require repairs while they are away from their home station, on flightlines around the globe. Closer to home, and in his spare time, Turley prefers to help individuals on the racquetball court.

Turley first picked up a racquet at age 14 and he hasn't put it down since. Shortly after learning the basics, he started competing and he has spent the last 30 years constantly playing in tournaments around the nation. His most recent accomplishments include a first place finish in both the 40+ open singles and the 35+ Open Doubles Divisions at the Military Racquetball Federation National Tournament in San Diego, Oct. 28 to 30.

"Racquetball is a relatively easy sport to break into and with a little bit of hard work there are lots of opportunities to excel," said Turley. "You don't need to be rich, or know anybody to get started, but through practice and training, you will not only develop quickly and grow as a player, you will also grow as an individual, and in some cases, as a team."

Although it is most commonly known as a singles game, racquetball can be played in pairs. Turley and his racquetball partner, retired Master Sgt. Yee Cheng, met on the base racquetball courts while practicing. Cheng is no stranger to the game. He won the 45+ Open Singles Division and was Turley's partner when they won the 35+ Open Doubles Division at the Military Racquetball Federation National Tournament. Together, the two have been wildly successful both on and off the court.

Turley and Cheng founded the Scott Chapter of the Military Racquetball Federation on Nov. 1. The MRF is an organization dedicated to providing opportunities for military, racquetball enthusiasts to participate in organized events, tournaments and programs both in the U.S. and abroad. MRF memberships are free to all who have served in the military, and MRF sanctioned tournaments include competitors from all military branches.

"The new Scott Chapter of MRF will help bring more racquetball events to people in this area," Turley said. "Our first chapter event will be a clinic scheduled for January 2012."

January's clinic consists of four one-hour sessions, offered once a week, for a four-week period at the James Gym. The curriculum includes everything from basic instruction to court position and strategy, and is offered at no cost to anybody who wants to attend. Information and flyers are available at the gym's front desk.

"As we continue to grow, we hope to get involved with the base youth as well as MRF's new Racquetball Rehabilitation Clinic program for wounded warriors," Turley said. "Our goal is to get the RRC program going either here at Scott, or at Fort Lenardwood, Mo."

Racquetball has proven to be a great rehabilitation tool for injured military members. The MRF's newest program, RRC, offers racquetball clinics to help with both the physical and mental challenges suffered by service members in combat.

"Racquetball knows no boundaries, you work both your mind and your body while you play" Turley said. "I am very grateful for what racquetball has done for me - physically and mentally. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share the benefits of the sport with as many people as I can."

For more information about the MRF Scott Chapter, visit http://www.militaryracquetball.com/base_chapters/Scott_AFB_IL/scott_afb.html