{{Short description|American racquetball player}} {{Infobox sportsperson | headercolor = | name = Aimee Ruiz | image = | image_size = <!--Only for images narrower than 220 pixels.--> | caption = | birth_name = Aimee Roehler | fullname = | nickname = | nationality = American | residence = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|2|12}} | birth_place = Allentown, Pennsylvania | death_date = | death_place = | height = 5'4" <!-- {{convert|}} (yyyy) --> | weight = <!-- {{convert|}} (yyyy) --> | website = | country = | sport = Racquetball | event = | collegeteam = | plays = | team = | turnedpro = | coach = | retired = | coaching = | titles = | finals = | highestranking = | worlds = 1st 2006, 2008, 2016 (doubles) | regionals = | nationals = 1st 2009 (singles), 1st 2005-2011, 2013-2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 (doubles) | olympics = | pb = | medaltemplates = {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalGold | 2006 World Championships | Doubles}} {{MedalGold | 2008 World Championships | Doubles}} {{MedalSilver | 2010 World Championships | Doubles}} {{MedalBronze | 2012 World Championships | Doubles}} {{MedalSilver | 2014 World Championships | Doubles}} {{MedalGold | 2016 World Championships | Doubles}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan Am Championships}} {{MedalGold | 2006 Pan Am Championships | Doubles}} {{MedalGold | 2008 Pan Am Championships | Doubles}} {{MedalGold | 2009 Pan Am Championships | Doubles}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}} {{MedalSilver| 2011 Guadalajara | Doubles}} {{MedalSilver| 2011 Guadalajara | Team}} | show-medals = }}
'''Aimee Ruiz''' (born February 12, 1975) is a left-handed American racquetball player. She is a three time Women's Doubles World Champion, and a 13 time [https://web.archive.org/web/20130615070523/http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Racquetball USA Racquetball] Champion in Women's Doubles, most recently winning the title in 2020 with Erika Manilla.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 National Doubles Racquetball Championships Conclude |author=Renee Isherwood |url=https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Racquetball/Features/2020/February/10/2020-National-Doubles-Wrap-Up |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221175726/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Racquetball/Features/2020/February/10/2020-National-Doubles-Wrap-Up |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 21, 2020 |publisher=USA Racquetball |accessdate=21 February 2020}}</ref> In addition to her USA doubles titles, Ruiz has one USA National Women's Singles title. Ruiz was named to the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=2021 |url=https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Racquetball/Programs/Hall-of-Fame/Inductees/2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025171204/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Racquetball/Programs/Hall-of-Fame/Inductees/2021 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |website=USA Racquetball |publisher=Team USA |access-date=25 October 2021}}</ref>
== International career ==
Ruiz has competed for the USA ten times, reaching the podium each time. She has won three [http://www.internationalracquetball.com International Racquetball Federation (IRF)] World Championships in Women's Doubles. Her first World Championship was in 2006 with Laura Fenton, when they defeated the Chilean team of Angela Grisar and Fabiola Marquez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalracquetball.com/racquetball/recordbook/irf-recordsbooks/match-results.aspx |title=IRF Final Match Results |author=IRF |publisher=IRF |accessdate=22 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606112356/http://www.internationalracquetball.com/racquetball/recordbook/irf-recordsbooks/match-results.aspx |archivedate=6 June 2012 }}</ref> Ruiz repeated as World Champion in 2008 with Jackie Paraiso, as they defeated Canadians Geneviève Brodeur and Véronique Guillemette in Kingscourt, Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalracquetball.com/racquetball/recordbook/irf-recordsbooks/match-results.aspx |title=IRF Final Match Results |author=IRF |publisher=IRF |accessdate=22 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606112356/http://www.internationalracquetball.com/racquetball/recordbook/irf-recordsbooks/match-results.aspx |archivedate=6 June 2012 }}</ref>
But in 2010, Ruiz and Paraiso lost to Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas in the final of the World Championships in Seoul, South Korea.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sirc.ca/news_view.cfm?id=36791 |title=Press Release |author=Racquetball Canada |date= |publisher=SIRC |accessdate=22 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303232547/http://www.sirc.ca/news_view.cfm?id=36791 |archive-date=3 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Then in 2012, Ruiz was a late substitution for Kim Waselenchuk in doubles at Worlds, and she played with Rhonda Rajsich. They lost to Chileans Angela Grisar and Carla Muñoz, 15-14, 2-15, 11-10, in the semi-finals,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sirc.ca/news_view.cfm?id=27601 |title=Press Release |author=Racquetball Canada |date= |publisher=SIRC |accessdate=13 August 2012}}</ref> which was the USA's first ever semi-final loss at Worlds in women's doubles. In 2014, Ruiz and Janel Tisinger were silver medalists in Women's Doubles at the World Championships losing to Longoria and Salas in the final, 15-4, 15-12.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sirc.ca/news_view.cfm?id=60123 |title=Press Release Service {{!}} Press Releases {{!}} SIRC |website=www.sirc.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714150254/http://www.sirc.ca/news_view.cfm?id=60123 |archive-date=2014-07-14}} </ref>
However, in 2016, Ruiz and Tisinger won the Women's Doubles World Championships by upsetting the Mexican team of Longoria and Salas, who were three-time defending champions, 11-15, 15-9, 11-8, in the final. The win made Ruiz a World Champion for a third time.
Ruiz has won three Pan American Racquetball Championships in doubles, all with Paraiso as her partner. They first won in 2006, and then again in 2008 and 2009.
Ruiz played in the 2011 Pan American Games, playing doubles with Rhonda Rajsich and earned silver medals in the individual and team events.
== US Championships ==
Ruiz has 12 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships. Her first two were with Laura Fenton - in 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usaracquetball.com/AboutUSAR/RecordBooks/DoublesChampions.aspx |title=2005 US Doubles Championship |author=USA Racquetball |date= |publisher=USA Racquetball |accessdate=21 June 2012 |archive-date=19 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619014355/http://www.usaracquetball.com/AboutUSAR/RecordBooks/DoublesChampions.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> and 2006,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/viewResults.asp?TID=1295 |title=2006 US Doubles Championship Results |author=USA Racquetball |date= |publisher=R2 Sports |accessdate=21 June 2012}}</ref> and then the following five were with Jackie Paraiso: 2007,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/viewResults.asp?TID=2092 |title=2007 US Doubles Championship Results |author=USA Racquetball |date= |publisher=R2 Sports |accessdate=21 June 2012}}</ref> 2008,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/viewResults.asp?TID=2459 |title=2008 US Doubles Championship Results |author=USA Racquetball |date= |publisher=R2 Sports |accessdate=21 June 2012}}</ref> 2009,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/viewResults.asp?TID=4352 |title=2009 US Doubles Championship Results |author=USA Racquetball |date= |publisher=R2 Sports |accessdate=21 June 2012}}</ref> 2010,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/viewResults.asp?TID=5824 |title=2010 US Doubles Championship Results |author=USA Racquetball |date= |publisher=R2 Sports |accessdate=21 June 2012}}</ref> and 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/viewResults.asp?TID=7194 |title=2009 US Doubles Championship Results |author=USA Racquetball |date= |publisher=R2 Sports |accessdate=21 June 2012}}</ref> Their streak ended in 2012,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/drawsOut/drawOut.asp?TID=8614&divID=1417&combinedID=0 |title=2012 US Doubles Championship Results |author=USA Racquetball |date= |publisher=R2 Sports |accessdate=21 June 2012}}</ref> when they lost in the semi-finals to Rhonda Rajsich and Kim Russell-Waselenchuk. But they did win the 3rd place match versus Marci Drexler and Laura Fenton.
Ruiz won five US National titles with Janel Tisinger as her partner.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newjerseyhills.com/hunterdon_review/sports/local-woman-captures-women-s-u-s-national-doubles-racquetball/article_cbfc0ddc-cf62-53e3-af5c-fe0ea1a1775e.html |title= Local woman captures Women's U.S. National Doubles Racquetball Championship |author=Walter O'Brien |date=February 17, 2016 |publisher=Hunterdon Review |accessdate=22 February 2016}}</ref> They won in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019. In 2016, they defeated Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts in the final, 15-12, 12-15, 11-10.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.r2sports.com/tourney/drawsOut/view-bracket.asp?leftFrame=&TID=14383&divID=1417&combinedID=0&print=&fromPage=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message=|title=Women's Doubles US Team Qualifying Single Elimination - Racquetball - 2016 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships|website=www.r2sports.com|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref> In 2017, they defeated Da'monique Davis and Jackie Paraiso, 15-5, 15-5, in the final.<ref>{{cite web |last1=USA Racquetball |title=2017 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships - Women's Doubles |url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/drawsOut/view-bracket.asp?TID=18724&divID=1417&combinedID=0&print=&fromPage=&leftFrame=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message= |publisher=R2 Sports |accessdate=12 February 2019}}</ref> In 2019, they defeated Michelle De La Rosa and Danielle Maddux in the final, 15-7, 15-7.<ref>{{cite web |last1=USA Racquetball |title=2019 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships - Women's Doubles |url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/drawsOut/view-bracket.asp?TID=30098&divID=1417&combinedID=0&print=&fromPage=&leftFrame=&highlightMatchNum=&drawVar=&message= |publisher=R2 Sports |accessdate=12 February 2019}}</ref>
In 2020, she played with Erika Manilla for the first time at the USA National Doubles Championships, and they defeated Hollie Scott and Lexi York in the final, 15-6, 15-9.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 National Doubles Racquetball Championships Conclude |author=Renee Isherwood |url=https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Racquetball/Features/2020/February/10/2020-National-Doubles-Wrap-Up |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221175726/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Racquetball/Features/2020/February/10/2020-National-Doubles-Wrap-Up |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 21, 2020 |publisher=USA Racquetball |accessdate=21 February 2020}}</ref>
Although Ruiz is a doubles specialist, she won the US National Singles championship in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usaracquetball.com/AboutUSAR/RecordBooks/SinglesChampions/USTeamQualifying.aspx |title=National Champions |author=USA Racquetball |date= |publisher=USA Racquetball |accessdate=21 June 2012 |archive-date=19 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619014107/http://www.usaracquetball.com/AboutUSAR/RecordBooks/SinglesChampions/USTeamQualifying.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> That win is especially impressive, because Ruiz won the title by defeating Kristen Walsh Bellows in the quarter finals, Rhonda Rajsich in the semi-final, and Cheryl Gudinas in the final,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/drawsOut/drawOut.asp?TID=4357&divID=1321&combinedID=0 |title=US Team Qualifying Division Results |author=USA Racquetball |date= |publisher=R2 Sports |accessdate=21 June 2012}}</ref> and those three players were all in the top 4 of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour that season.
== Professional career ==
Ruiz hasn't played professional racquetball very often, so she's never been ranked in the top 10 of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour.
== Personal life ==
Ruiz works in communications with ABR Communications. Born Aimee Roehler, she is married to Felix Ruiz, and they live in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newjerseyhills.com/hunterdon_review/sports/local-woman-captures-women-s-u-s-national-doubles-racquetball/article_cbfc0ddc-cf62-53e3-af5c-fe0ea1a1775e.html |title= Local woman captures Women's U.S. National Doubles Racquetball Championship |author=Walter O'Brien |date=February 17, 2016 |publisher=Hunterdon Review |accessdate=22 February 2016}}</ref> She serves as the Social Media Director for the International Racquetball Tour.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet the Team |url=https://www.irttour.com/meet-the-team/ |website=IRT |accessdate=21 February 2020 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016193422/https://www.irttour.com/meet-the-team/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2021, Ruiz announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and wrote about the experience "with hopes of raising awareness for others."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roehler Ruiz |first1=Aimee |title=A Life-Saving Message from Aimee Roehler Ruiz |url=https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Racquetball/Features/2021/April/12/A-Life-Saving-Message-from-Aimee-Roehler-Ruiz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415163823/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Racquetball/Features/2021/April/12/A-Life-Saving-Message-from-Aimee-Roehler-Ruiz |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |website=USA Racquetball |publisher=Team USA |access-date=25 October 2021}}</ref>
== See also ==
* List of racquetball players * [http://www.abrcomm.com Aimee Ruiz's company web page] * [https://twitter.com/RballDiva Aimee Ruiz's Twitter page]
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruiz, Aimee}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:American racquetball players Category:Sportspeople from Allentown, Pennsylvania Category:Racquetball players at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in racquetball