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Show Bountiful duo sweeps Masters Racquetball Tourney V ( in Mill 1 1 I lt ' C U' K - By G.BRETT HART Sports Editor SALT LAKE CITY Gary Gatherum and Terry Orchard have teamed up to become one of the most potent racquetball doubles team in the state. The Bountiful residents earned first place finishes in their respective respec-tive singles divisions and championship cham-pionship honors in the 35 and over doubles bracket during the Dec. 3-14 State Masters Racquetball Tournament at the Redwood Multi Purpose Center. Gatherum and Orchard's team was seeded first of 10 teams in the 35 and over bracket and drew a bye in first round action, meaning that only two teams stood between them and the championship. Both matches required tiebreakers tie-breakers as the Bountiful-based team came from behind twice to win the first place trophy. In singles competition, Orchard also won the 35 and older singles bracket while Gatherum claimed first place in the 40 and older division. divi-sion. Orchard, a regional manager for a t r roofing manufacturer, said he began playing racquetball 20 years ago. "I was an avid handball player. But when handball began to die out, I started playing racquetball," Orchard Or-chard said. Gatherum, a bank manager, said he caught the racquetball bug 14 years ago and has been playing ever since. "You have to make staying fit a priority ." "I started playing tennis, but that didn't work out. So I started playing racquetball two or three times a week," Gatherum said. "We have a group of four or five of us that play every day. We push and challenge each other to play harder. "Both Terry and I have played in was the first time wr had tenmej up as doubles. It's a lot different. You have four people on the court and you have to use a different strategy. ' Both Orchard and Gatherum say they play to stay in shape and because they love the competition. "You see so many older people who just let their health go. I do it basically 10 keep my heart going," Gatherum said. "We're both busy," Orchard added, "but you have to make staying stay-ing fit a priority in your life as you get older. "Racquetball is a great game. It's not as expensive as golf and doesn't take as long to get an aerobic, cardiovascular workout. Both Orchard and Gatherum will return to racquetball competition in January at the Towne and Country Racquetball Tournament. The duo's first place finishes in both singles and doubles action qualify Orchard and Gatherum to compete in April in the regional tournament featuring the top rac-qnhall rac-qnhall players from Utah, Colorado and Idaho. Bountiful racqupthall duo Terrv Orchard (left) and Gary Gatherum both claimed individual Masters Tournament titles and combined to win the 35 and older doubles championship. |