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KARA MAZUR: THE COLLEGE SENSATION BY FRAN DAVIS
Representing the University of Alabama, Kara Mazur recently won the 2008 National Intercollegiate Racquetball Championships in Overland Park, KS. The tournament featured nearly 300 of the country’s best collegiate racquetball players from 46 colleges and universities across the country. Kara came out on top with a Gold medal….she is truly “The College Sensation”. I have had the opportunity to watch Kara come through the junior ranks and win many titles. I witnessed what a fierce competitor she was then and there is no doubt she used that same competitive attitude at this tournament to capture the Gold Medal. I asked Kara how she has accomplished so much in the sport of racquetball and what led to her to become the National Intercollegiate Champion. After reading this interview, you will see why, in my eyes, she is “The College Sensation”! |
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Q&A with Kara Mazur
Fran: When, how and why did you start playing?
Kara: I started playing racquetball when I was 7 years old. My dad was President of the Connecticut Racquetball Association and very involved in running the Association, as well as running all the local tournaments. He got my brother and I interested in the sport at a very young age.
Fran: Who was and is your mentor?
Kara: My dad has always played a major role in my game. From coaching me, to traveling with me, I would definitely say he has been and still is my main mentor. Additionally, Jim Winterton has played a major role in my racquetball career. He has taught me so much about the game and helped me keep my focus over the years. I continually return to both Coach Winterton and my Dad to fine tune stroke mechanics and review court strategy.
Fran: Why did you decide to pursue racquetball?
Kara: Racquetball was always something I played for fun, but when I was 14 I went to the USA Junior Racquetball Team training camp in Colorado Springs as an alternate for my first time. That week spent at the Olympic Training Center had a 360 effect on my game. It motivated me so much to make the team the next year, not as an alternate but a point earner. From that point on, I never missed a year on the team.
Fran: When you are playing junior racquetball do you dream of turning pro and is that a goal you are pursuing in your life?
Kara: With the demands of college, I have found it very hard to travel constantly and play the pro tour full-time. Last year I was able to make several of the Pro Stops and had a fairly successful first year as a Woman’s Pro. This year is harder, as my course load has increased at the University of Alabama. I make my best effort to get to as many stops as I can and still keep up with my schoolwork, but it’s very difficult to fit it all in. I am not sure what my plans for the future hold, but I do know that I love playing racquetball, and will continue to pursue it, once I am finished with school.
Fran: Traveling the country and world playing racquetball is expensive…how do you do it financially, physically and mentally?
Kara: Traveling has been one of the greatest side benefits of playing racquetball. Of course it gets expensive, but with the help of my parents and my sponsor, HEAD, I have managed to make it work. Traveling has never had a negative effect on my game where it distracts me and I am not playing my game. I find being somewhere else in the world exciting and motivating, all the more reason to play great.
Fran: Tell us your road to winning your first Intercollegiate National Championship and how do you plan on obtaining the highest ranking you can achieve?
Kara: It has been a long year preparing for this tournament with my eye on the gold. With the help of other tournaments and hard training, I have been preparing for this major event all year. I plan on continuing my training at a high level and to reach for even greater achievements, including defending my title next year.
Fran: Have you been a LONG time member of the National Jr. Racquetball Team…how long and why do you continue to play?
Kara: Yes, I played on the junior team for 5 years and ended my last year as co-captain. As I mentioned earlier, ever since my experience as an alternate on the team, I never wanted anything short of being a member from then on. Playing racquetball and representing your Country is a tremendous experience. Whether we were in Mexico, the USA, or Bolivia, there’s a feeling of great pride when they play your National anthem. Go USA!!
Fran: What is your record both in the Jr. and Adult Amateurs (Nationals and Worlds) as well as anything else?
Kara: In regards to juniors, I have 1 National Championship singles title, 3 girl’s National Championship doubles titles, and 1 mixed doubles title. Additionally, I have won both National High Schools and the National Intercollegiate Title at the number one spot.
Fran: How do you maintain your competitive edge?
Kara: I am naturally a competitive person. Whenever I come up short at a tournament, I use that as my motivation to go home and work harder so that next time, I will come out on top.
Fran: You are one of the YOUNGEST players out there. How does that feel as you are the voice of the young talent coming up?
Kara: I really don’t feel like I’m something special, though I know others look up to my level of play. I just want to play fair, compete at the highest level, and perform my very best, each and every time I play. If that includes helping my Sponsor, Team HEAD, develop the collegiate level of racquetball, I’m all for it! Racquetball is a great game, a great workout, and can be played your entire life.
Fran: How do you prepare for matches and for tournaments?
Kara: Preparing for tournaments is the hardest part of my training. During training, I push myself to my extreme limits, which helps build my confidence so I can excel under the pressure. When it’s “tournament time”, knowing I have trained as hard as humanly possible, I have an edge. Tournaments serve as the easiest part of training because all I have to do is go out, relax, and play my game.
Fran: How was it when you captured your FIRST ever National Championship …how’d you do it…how did it feel?
Kara: Winning girl’s 16 and under National Championship opened my eyes to my potential in racquetball. I now knew I could play as well as everyone else and that I had something to offer this sport. It gave me the confidence and determination I needed to succeed. Following this win, I would go on to win High Schools that same year. These two wins built the foundation of my belief in myself and my game.
Fran: I know your Father and Mother are very supportive and were an instrumental part of your racquetball career…tell us about that if you’d like.
Kara: I couldn’t ask for anything more from my parents. They have always been there to take me to any tournament I wanted to compete in, drive me to practice, or anything else I needed. Without their support, I would not be in the same position that I am today. I remember Mom driving me 7 hours to work with Coach Winterton, in Syracuse, NY, or the countless court hours my Dad spent with me, the drilling and drilling. Ugh!
Fran: Is racquetball your only sport or do you do other things? If so what?
Kara: Right now in my life, racquetball would definitely be the sport I am focused on the most. However, I have always been active in soccer and squash. I played both for my high school and was captain of both teams. Currently, I still use squash for cross training in my racquetball game.
Fran: What advice would you give other “young girls” coming up through the junior ranks?
Kara: My advice to other young girls would be to never get down on yourself after a tough loss. I have had my fair share, but I use that as fuel to come back the next year hungrier for the gold. If you look at my record before I won 16 and under singles, you can see that each year I came closer and closer to winning. I went from making the semis, to making the finals, and finally winning. You cannot define yourself by your losses, but how you react to that loss.
Fran: What has motivated you to be the best you can be?
Kara: Like I have said, I am so motivated by my losses. I absolutely hate losing and I always try and figure out what I could have done better. Then, I go home and work on it over and over.
Fran: Who is your sponsor?
Kara: I play for Team HEAD racquetball.
Fran: Kara, is there anything else you would like to share with readers?
Kara: I guess I’ve been lucky to have supportive parents and a great cast of characters that have revolved around my life in racquetball. At risk of forgetting someone I have to mention my brother, Coach Winterton, Juliet Campbell, Natalie Crockett, and on and on. Team Head has just been the best experience for me, so thank you Doug Ganim for everything you have done. I love all sports and in particular racquetball. Let’s work together to keep the sport alive and well.
CONGRATULATIONS to Kara who was an integral part of the University of Alabama’s racquetball team which just finished #2 at the 2008 National Intercollegiate Championships held in Overland Park, KS March 26-29, 2008. Who knows…maybe Kara will be the player that helps Alabama finish #1 next year. ONLY time will tell.
Thanks, Kara, for taking the time to speak with me. Even though I knew you from living on the East Coast and I have heard many things from your father, Ed, about you, I learned ALOT more about you as a player and as a person that I didn’t know before. I am even more impressed now than I have ever been. I am glad we can share your success with the racquetball community as you are an inspiration to all those girls and women out there that play this WONDERFUL sport. Enjoy being the 2008 National Intercollegiate Champion. You earned it and you deserve it. See you at the US Open!
ABOUT FRAN DAVIS - RACQUETBALL INSTRUCTOR
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Fran Davis is regarded as one of the finest racquetball instructors available anywhere in the game today. She has been intimately involved in racquetball for the past 25 years. Fran’s passion for the sport is surpassed only by her energy and knowledge of the game. As a competitor, she has been a National Champion, U.S. National Coach and U.S. Olympic Coach. Her 1990, 92, 94, 96, and 2002 teams won World Championships. Go to www.FranDavisRacquetball.com for information about |