Garrett Edmonds of Bowling Green (left) battles Ruben Gonzalez during the finals of the Splat Shot Classic held at Western Kentuckys Preston Center. Gonzalez won the match in straight sets 15-9, 15-5. Photo by Joe Imel

Ruben Gonzalez knows racquetball. The Long Island, N.Y., native has been touring the professional circuit for almost 25 years and is respected as one of the best players in the game. Earlier this year, Gonzalez was elected to the sports hall of fame. I wouldnt trade anything in the world for that honor, Gonzalez said. People tell me I could have been a baseball player, a great running back or whatever, but if I would have done that I would have never made the hall of fame. Its a great feeling. Its something I worked hard for. So it was no surprise Gonzalez breezed through Sundays Splat Shot Classic at Western Kentucky Universitys Preston Center. Gonzalez took down Bowling Greens Garrett Edmonds in straight sets 15-9, 15-5.But for Gonzalez, Sunday was not about adding another championship. It was about helping to revive the game he loves in Bowling Green. The Splat Shot Classic served as a chance for tournament director Wayne Hoffman and his associates to showcase to the nation that racquetball is indeed alive and well in Bowling Green. Hoffman said he hopes to have a stop on the pro racquetball tour in Bowling Green next March. Thats one of the reasons that were glad Ruben is down here, Hoffman said. He can see what type of facility we have and what we have to offer. There are very few places set up in the country like this one. According to Edmonds, racquetball peaked in this area in the 1980s when the Lovers Lane Racquetball Club provided a state of the art facility for enthusiasts to use. We used to have huge racquetball tournaments there, Edmonds said. Bowling Green was known to have some of the largest racquetball tournaments in the south. Hoffman said that changed as places like Lovers Lane became unavailable for use. Unfortunately, places to play racquetball during the year in Warren County is diminishing, Hoffman said. We hope to get a club around here sometime and having a national tour stop could help speed up that timetable. While racquetball has trailed off locally, Gonzalez said he thinks the sport is still gaining recognition on a national level and he believes its his responsibility to sell the game in any city that is willing to listen. Thats part of my job to do whatever it takes to come out and play some racquetball, Gonzalez said. That way new players can come out and say Gosh, if they can do it, I can do it too. Gonzalez said he was impressed with Prestons facilities and thinks Bowling Green would make a nice stop for the pro tour. Edmonds, who has competed on the tour for the past five years, agreed that Bowling Green should host a tournament for the pros. The local guys are really pushing racquetball here in Western Kentucky, Edmonds said. This is a perfect facility for a pro stop. I think within the next year youre going to see a good pro stop here in Bowling Green. And if that happens, Edmonds plans to be right there on the main court leading the renaissance. After all, its not every day you can have a home court advantage. I travel everywhere, Edmonds said. Im always playing people the caliber of Ruben Gonzalez all the time, but its always on the road. Theres a big advantage to playing at home. Id enjoy any opportunity to get to play the top players at home.