Christie Huczek | Rochester, MI
Professional Athlete | Class of 2025

Christie Huczek (nee Van Hees) becomes just the second non-American ever to be named to the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of another top professional who played out of Canada in Heather McCay. 

Huczek played on the Ladies Professional tour in parts of 13 different seasons, spanning the mid-1990s to the late 2010s.  She played full-time for just eight seasons but had an out-sized impact during that span. In each of her 8 full time seasons she finished in the top 10 and spent most of her full-time touring career in the top three of the sport. 

Her professional record, and her historical ranks as of this writing in January 2025, include:

  • The 2004-05 Year End #1 Pro Title winner
  • 16 Career Pro wins (9th of all time)
  • 129-34 W/L record, 79.1% career W/L percentage (6th of all time)
  • Three US Open Titles (2000, 2005, 2006)
  • Winning career Head-to-Head records against her two main career Adversaries Gudinas (16-10) and Rajsich (14-5).

Huczek exploded onto the women’s pro scene in 1998, winning the October 1998 Baltimore pro stop at the age of 21 in just her 7th career pro appearance, topping Paraiso in the final. She then went on to make the finals of the four more events that season, losing each to Paraiso to finish 3rd in her first full season of touring. After finishing 3rd again in the next season, Huczek suddenly retired in August 2001, citing illness and a change in priorities at the time. She “un-retired” in the Fall of 2003 and dominated the tour throughout the 2004-05 season, culminating in her first year-end title.   Huczek won the first three events in dominant fashion in the 2005-06 season, including the US Open, then missed the rest of the season (she still ended up ranked 3rd for the season). After one last US Open title in 2006, she continued to play the tour part time for years and played her final professional match in May of 2011.   

In addition to her Pro accomplishments, Huczek holds many Amateur and International accolades:

  • Six (6) Canadian National Singles titles (spanning from 1997- 2008)
  • Eleven (11) Canadian National Teams, medaling at all 11 IRF events
  • Two (2) IRF World Singles titles (1998, 2006)
  • Four (4) Career Canadian Junior National Singles titles (1991-94)
  • Four (4) Career Canadian Junior National Doubles titles (1991-94)

In her native Canada, Christie was inducted in the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. She was the recipient of the Racquetball Canada’s Women’s Award in 1999. Lastly, she was inducted into Canada Racquetball’s Hall of Fame in 2018.

And now, she’s officially recognized by the USAR for her career accomplishments. Congratulations!