Hello everyone, my name is Joel Barshaw. I started to play racquetball as a freshman in high school and for the last four years have devoted a huge part of my life to honing my skills and becoming the best I can be. I started to play racquetball late in my life compared to most of my peers who had been playing since they were very young. However, my late start didn't discourage me. I made it a goal my freshman year of high school to one day be one of the best players in the state, a goal I accomplished and exceeded this last year when I was named to the All-American team. I love this game, and it has changed my life in more ways than even I can imagine.

Now that I am out of high school, I am looking to take my game to the next level and compete on the professional racquetball tour. However, doing so requires the financial flexibility to play between 30-35 tournaments a year across the country costing anywhere from $300-800 per tournament depending on factors such as location and splitting hotel costs.

Fortunately, I have two wonderful sponsors in Gleukos All-Natural Sports Drink and Gearbox Racquetball. Gleukos has graciously offered to help me as much as possible for the west coast tournaments, for which I am incredibly grateful. Gearbox, as a newer racquet brand company, did not have the flexibility to pay for these tournament expenses, but they were able to provide me with top line playing equipment.

The racquetball demographic is a large group of people that is virtually untouched by a large majority of companies. As a player, there are many different ways I can promote a company throughout the span of a four or five day tournament that would make it worth the cost of getting myself to that tournament. If anyone has an “in” at the marketing branch of a company or is an entrepreneur and believes they can help me out in any way possible, it would be greatly appreciated. This is my dream and I will do whatever it takes for both sides to feel like they are receiving a fair deal in the partnership. Thank you so much.

And also, donations graciously accepted.