COURTS SUCCESS TISINGER ALREADY A HIT IN RACQUETBALL WORLD.

Byline: Anel Laj Staff Writer

Her mom used to set her up in front of the court so she could watch.

Janel Tisinger sat there observing her mom swing away at the blue ball. Tisinger was inspired. She had seen nothing like it before and was driven by curiosity to try racquetball. The curiosity developed into love. Now, at age 17, Tisinger is at an elite level of competition achieving one of the highest goals.

Tisinger, who attends El Camino Real High but lives in Simi Valley, is the only athlete from Southern California to be named to the Junior All-American Racquetball team. It was an honor that came as a surprise at the Junior Olympic Championships at the end of June.

``Last year my goal was just to make it to the (junior national) team,'' Tisinger said. ``I wanted to make it this year on my own - you know, earn it. When they called me up for All-American, I had no clue that they gave those out. I didn't realize what a big deal it was until my mom told me.

``I'm really scared but excited too. There's a new coach and new people. I've worked hard to be where I'm at, but I know I can work 10 times harder.''

This honor earns Tisinger a trip to Colorado Springs for an elite training camp slated for Saturday through July 21 that will prepare her for the World Junior Championships in Austin, Texas, in December. Pan American athletes will be at the camp helping players improve their skills with intense training. In her two years on the junior national team, it was the first time Tisinger was named to the All-American team. Tisinger said she felt honored to be selected as an All-American.

Only the top three of each age division are selected. Tisinger competed in the Junior Olympic Racquetball Championships the last week in June in two age divisions. She finished fourth in the 18-under and won the silver in the 16-under division.

Last year Tisinger competed in the World Championships as a member of the national team and placed fourth. The team took first.

``Some athletes are born with the determination to compete,'' said Debra Tisinger, Janel's mom. ``It's been thrilling. I'm a parent and her coach, and it was fulfilling as a mother and coach to watch her. I've been impressed with her awareness of the game and knowing what to do and not always seeking my help.

``Being her coach has definitely benefited our relationship because at times I feel we're best friends. In tournaments you see a lot of parents that are coaches and their kids are like machines. I don't want to do that. It's supposed to be fun.''

Tisinger admits that playing racquetball wasn't always fun, though, and she quit for about a year or two. She said the pressure to follow in her mom's footsteps and not let her down was increasing. Tisinger said she felt like she was being made to play and it was no longer fun. She stayed away from the gym and tournaments entirely and wanted nothing to do with racquetball.

Tisinger decided to return the day she went to see her mom play in a tournament. Tisinger realized she missed the fun she used to have when playing, but most of all she missed the people. She picked up her racket and never looked back. Once she returned to the court and felt the intensity of winning, and the adrenaline pumping, quitting hasn't crossed her mind.

Tisinger is often approached by friends asking how she's remained interested in playing day in and day out. Tisinger just smiles and replies: ``It's fun.''

``It doesn't overwhelm me and I'm surprised that it hasn't,'' Tisinger said. ``I don't know why I haven't burned out. Racquetball has just grown on me. Racquetball is my life and I love it.''

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Photo: Janel Tisinger, who attends El Camino Real High but lives in Simi Valley, is a member of the Junior All-American Racquetball team.

Lexey Swall/Special to the Daily News