Woody Clouse
Woody Clouse’s racquetball involvement spans over 33 years. As a player Woody is the current #1 player on the Classic Professional Racquetball tour, has accumulated numerous National Championships, 8 world titles, 4 Gold Medals for Team USA and voted by his teammates 3 consecutive years as Team Captain.
As an instructor Woody is the author of Winning Racquetball which has sold over 30,000 copies worldwide. Woody provides a number of camps, clinics and private lesson’s to clubs throughout the US as well as conducts certification courses for the American Professional Racquetball Organization which he is also a board member.
As a promoter, Woody is currently hosting four one day shootouts as well as the 2011 Rocky Mountain Regionals. Woody is also involved with the manufacturing/business side of racquetball. As Director of Racquetball for Harrow Sports, Woody is responsible for developing the growth of products that the current and future players need and demand.
Woody’s biggest attribute is his desire to give back to the sport that has been such a big part of his life for so many years. Woody sees a resurgence in racquetball that is being driven by an unparalleled level of passion by his CRA Board Members.
Larry Haemmerle
Larry is a retired executive who relocated from California in 2007. He is a racquetball “nomad” with his home club listed as “all of them, everywhere, Colorado”. Larry first played racquetball in the 60’s with wooden racquets and began playing competitively in the early 70’s. During his long career, he recorded championships in every division from Novice to Open in Singles and/or Men’s/Mixed Doubles, including awards at the local, state, regional, and international levels.
Most recently, he won a silver medal at the 2011 World Senior Doubles Championships. Lately, he volunteers at many of our events, often not playing to ensure our events are successful. He has also served in the past as a coach to many young players, some who have gone on to successful competitive junior, adult, and professional careers.
Larry is also the current Vice President of USA Racquetball, our national organization. He serves on the US National Team, Ethics/HR, Finance/Accounting, Legislative, Membership, Grant Fund, and Referee Certification committees.
Larry is a sponsored player, competing for the ProKennex Team. He is also a well known “rules geek”, regularly called upon to offer opinions on rules interpretations.
Art Prott
Art Prott started playing racquetball in 1979, on outdoor courts in his home town of Rapid City, South Dakota, where he met his wife Donna, who introduced him to the sport. She later gave it up, but Art continued after they both relocated to Aurora in 1989 and the couple has been married 31 years, with 4 children: 2 boys and 2 girls.
Art is the Corporate General Sales Manager for Peerless Tire Co., and has been with the company since 1977. His career began in South Dakota, and continued in Texas for another four years (where he played his first indoor tournament in Amarillo). His territory included the states of Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota (where traveling to tournaments almost every other week was part of the fun!) before being transferred back to corporate headquarters in Denver.
He is currently sponsored by Pro Kennex and when he’s not playing racquetball, he loves to swim, snorkel, and do anything related to beach and surf. He’s also an avid motorcycle flattrack fan, who used to race in the late 60's and 70's, and he continues to follow Indy car racing. His home club is the Goodson Recreation Center, where he occasionally fills in to run shuttles and league play.
David Stone
David Stone is a recent transplant from North Carolina where he served on the state board for racquetball. He is an AMPRO certified racquetball instructor and an accomplished singles and doubles player. David is well versed in the rules of the game and routinely conducts rules clinics. He is experienced with administrating a formal referee certification program consistent with the program adopted by the USAR. David will be writing articles addressing rules of the game for future CRA newsletters.
Since moving to Colorado in 2009, he has settled with his family in Castle Rock. His full time occupation is an auditor for the Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General. His wife, Angelena, is a teacher for the Douglas County School district. His son, Tyler, is a college student at CSU Pueblo, where he represents the country’s preeminent men’s collegiate team. In addition to being a racquetball enthusiast, David enjoys camping, hiking, softball, and travelling.
Sarah Warhaftig
Sarah Warhaftig is a proud native of New Jersey, who started playing racquetball in 2006 at the Lynmar Racquet & Health Club in Colorado Springs, while she was working for the United States Olympic Committee. A couple of relocations later, and after a four-year stay in South Florida, Sarah has returned to Colorado and continues to play competitively at the local, state, regional and national levels. Sarah has taught for the last six years, and currently owns her own company called Rizing Young Starz.
Her passion is teaching and kids, and she is excited to bring racquetball to all of the young lives she encounters on a daily basis. Gearbox Racquetball as well as Zensah (www.zensah.com) clothing line currently sponsor Sarah. Sarah is AMPRO certified, and very excited to be training and competing back in Colorado, where she was first introduced to the sport.