In the national finals of 1971, when he was losing the third game 14-3 to defending champion Craig Finger, he turned it around, serving well and shooting at every opportunity, and ran off 18 straight points to win the title.
the courts. Possessed of an almost insatiable desire to win and a vast knowledge of the game, this superbly conditioned athlete first burst upon the racquetball scene by winning the Canadian nationals in 1973 with victories over Hilecher and Serot. Later that year he had to qualify for racquetball's pro tour. Did he ever qualify! He upset Brumfield in the quarter·finals to stop Charlie's 20·tournament winning streak. Although Strandemo didn't win the event, he was ranked in the top four for the next four years, and the top six until 1980. Almost as remarkable was Strandemo's ability to adjust his shotmaking from the slower ball of the mid-'70s to the livelier ball of the late '70s and early '80s. 8. Bill Schmidtke: Age 41, Apple Valley, MN.
His 1974 win was even more remarkable. Although he was still one of the top players in the country, he was given very little chance of winning the nationals. But he proved all the experts wrong by responding with the greatest effort I have ever seen. On successive days, he defeated Strandemo, Brumfield and Serot. Although Schmidtke's success never went to his clothes, he will always be remembered as an all-time great. 9. Steve Keeley: Age 34. Haslett, MI.
coverage, adrenalin, confidence, and awesome forehand pinch shot were too much for Hogan or anyone else to overcome that day. A consistent top eight finisher for a number of years, he ranks with Richard Wagner as one of the two fastest players in the top 10. 10. (Tie) Richard Wagner: Age 26, San
Diego, CA.
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A seasoned veteran, who ranked consistently in the top six for a number of years, Wagner plummeted out of the top 10 two years ago as a result of personal problems.
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Although Keeley never won a national championship, he won many pro tournaments and he also won four national paddleball championships. His all-court shooting ability combined with his effortless movement on court enabled him to remain one of the top four racquetball players from 1972 to 1975. He continued to play well for a couple of years after that, but his branching out into other areas of racquetball such as writing, teaching and lecturing adversely affected his game.
Winner of the nationals in 1971 and 1974, Schmidtke was generally regarded as having perhaps the greatest forehand the game has ever seen. In addition, he was as fair a competitor as has ever played racquetball. However, Schmidtke is best remembered for his fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude. 18
DECEMBER
Known as the eccentric of racquetball, Keeley has bicycled from San Diego to St. Louis for the nationals, run 10 miles in 10-below-zero weather, and worn two different colored sneakers wherever he has played. 10. (Tie) Davey Bledsoe: Age 31, Mem-
phis, TN. Bledsoe's 21-19, 21-20 win over Marty Hogan in the 1977 nationals must rank as one of the greatest upsets in racquetball history. Bledsoe's court
This past year, he's risen to number six again. If he hadn't injured himself in his semi-finals match against Dave Peck in the DP Leach nationals, he might have ranked even higher. Nicknamed "the Cockroach" because of his amazing ability to get almost any shot, he's also equipped with shotmaking ability that strikes fear into his competitors. Honorable Mention: Craig McCoy, Mike Zeitman, Don Thomas, Ron Rubenstein, Craig Finger. e