USSO 2006 Player Roster: Detailed, Geographical

Photo

Name

Rating

Home

Division

Wes Morrison

60, Retired

Rating: 1396

Record: 24th (2005)

Home: Klawock, AK

Hobbies: PIcking wild berries - making jam

Richard Ganguet

60, Retired Farmer

Rating: 1330

Record: 80th (1996), 42nd (1998), 97th (2000), 90th (2002), 58th (2004), 122nd (2005)

Home: Cuba, AL

Awards and Tournament Wins: 2004-01 Jackson, MS

Hobbies: Biking, Reading

Martin Weisskopf

Age withheld, Astrophysicist

Rating: 1582

Record: 279th (1985), 12th (1987), 162nd (1988), 137th (1992), 121st (1994), 54th (1996), 118th (1998), 50th (2000), 132nd (2004)

Home: Huntsville, AL

Awards and Tournament Wins: Goddard Prize of the SPIE (2006), Rossi Prize of the American Astronomical Society (2004), Presidentail Rank Award (2003

Hobbies: Playing Basketball, Watching Cubs Lose

Mary Ellen Weisskopf

Age withheld, Professory of Computer Science

Rating: 1458

Record: 253rd (1985), 13th (1987), 158th (1988), 122nd (1992), 128th (1994), 103th (1996), 37th (1998), 82nd (2000), 95th (2004)

Home: Huntsville, AL

Hobbies: Reading, Cooking, Watching Cubs lose

Dave Balthaser

42, occupation withheld

Rating: 1452

First-time competitor

Home: Skipperville, AL

Awards and Tournament Wins: Pigeon forge 2006 Div 3 winner , !82-84-3 overall NSA

Hobbies: Hunting, cycling, triathlons

Kaye Kiker

55, Self Employed Antique Dealer & Stained Glass Artisan

Rating: 1303

Record: 63rd (1996), 63rd (1998), 100th (2000), 79th (2002)

Home: York, AL

Awards and Tournament Wins: Presidental Medal presented by President Ronald Reagan at White House Luncheon in 1988.

Hobbies: Environmental Justice, Historic Restoration, Visual & Performing Arts

Travis Chaney

32, Fast food management

Rating: 1717

Record: 16th (2002), 46th (2004), 74th (2005)

Home: Fort Smith, AR

Awards and Tournament Wins: 2005-04 Jonesboro, AR

Hobbies: Poetry composition, collecting jazz records

Patty Camp

56, Retired

Rating: 1129

Record: 10th (2004), 17th (2005)

Home: Paragould, AR

Hobbies: gardening, traveling

Jack Howe

68, Retired

Rating: 723

Record: 87th (2005)

Home: Paragould, AR

Hobbies: gardening, travel

Jim Lamerand

59, Computer Programmer

Rating: 1661

Record: 89th (1985)

Home: Chandler, AZ

Hobbies: Chess

Larry Rand

62, retired

Rating: 1806

Record: 93rd (2002), 67th (2005)

Home: Chandler, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: Co-director of the year 2003; Dickinson College sports hall of fame

Hobbies: Travel, photography and family

Karin Somerville

62, retired

Rating: 925

First-time competitor

Home: Chandler, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: 1. place, div. 6. phoenix Feb 2006

Hobbies: Sudoku, crosswords

Barbara Van Alen

71, Retired

Rating: 1385

Record: 185th (1988), 121st (2004), 105th (2005)

Home: Chandler, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: NSA Co-DIrector of the Year 2004

Hobbies: Travel, Hiking, Reading, Photography

Paul Stabin

50, Mortgage Consultant

Rating: 863

First-time competitor

Home: Fountain Hills, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: Top Producer, Closing Proficiency, & Peer Service Awards,

Hobbies: Chess, piano, martial arts

Doug Bobkovich

Age withheld, ADMINISTRATION/ACCOUNTING

Rating: 1186

Record: 25th (2002)

Home: Gilbert, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: 1ST PLACE - DIVISION 6 - PHX - FEB, 2002 1ST PLACE - DIVISION 3 - PHX - OCT, 2001 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AT WORK, 2003

Hobbies: COLLECTING KEYCHAINS, PINT GLASSES, M&M DISPENSERS. ATTENDING SPORTING EVENTS, CONCERTS, & MOVIES. PLAYING BOARD GAMES

Edna Perry

75, Retired

Rating: 470

First-time competitor

Home: Gilbert, AZ

Hobbies: Crafts:knitting, crochet

Cathy Coking

42, Writer

Rating: 1369

First-time competitor

Home: Glendale, AZ

Hobbies: Painting, hiking, reading

Jane Geary

49, Teacher

Rating: 1357

Record: 80th (1996)

Home: Glendale, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: Teaching the game of Scrabble to my daughter and my students

Hobbies: Reading; sharing my love of words with Colleen and my students

Patrick Hodges

36, Billing Clerk

Rating: 1823

Record: 2nd (2002), 71st (2004)

Home: Glendale, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: League Champ, 2004-2005, Phoenix Scrabble Club; 2nd Place, Div. 3., 2002 Nationals

Hobbies: Golf, Bowling, Movies

Gary Smart

50, Chemist

Rating: 1416

First-time competitor

Home: Glendale, AZ

Hobbies: Photography, darts

Jacqueline Stewart

46, Communications Tech

Rating: 1247

Record: 22nd (1998), 22nd (2002)

Home: Glendale, AZ

Hobbies: Cooking, Reading, Bike Riding, Hiking, Bowling, Camping and Traveling

Susan Watrous

58, retired

Rating: 698

First-time competitor

Home: Goodyear, AZ

Hobbies: cooking, reading, movies, grandmothering

Con Downey

71, retired Geologist

Rating: 1172

First-time competitor

Home: Mesa, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: 2d place AZ senior spelling bee

Hobbies: politics, religion, philosophy, science, blue route travel

Robert Readle

70, retired

Rating: 1147

Record: 59th (2000), 52nd (2002), 14th (2004), 62nd (2005)

Home: Oro Valley, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: still breathing

Hobbies: racquetball, fishing, camping, unvesting, reading

Ed Saunders

59, Golf Course Maintenance

Rating: 1510

Record: 111th (2002), 29th (2005)

Home: Oro Valley, AZ

Hobbies: Music, Sports, Nature

Judith Whitcomb

67, Retired

Rating: 1243

First-time competitor

Home: Patagonia, AZ

Hobbies: Jewelry maker, paper arts crafter, rubber stamper

Robert Whitcomb

74, Retired scientist

Rating: 1396

First-time competitor

Home: Patagonia, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: 300 research papers; 4 oral history books; 1 poetry book

Hobbies: Oral history, scientific field research

Erik Anderson

40, Senior Engineering Techncian

Rating: 1092

First-time competitor

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: I've never received a fragile award that was indescripably beautiful to remind us of the Fourth of July.

Hobbies: Sports, Programming, Math, Science, Finance, Other strategy games

Donna Atwood

Age withheld, Graphic Designer (Currently pursuing masters in design at Arizona State)

Rating: 1051

First-time competitor

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: Four children's books in print

Hobbies: Printmaking, artists' books, gardening, reading, movies, travel

Max Avalon

73, Retired

Rating: 805

First-time competitor

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: Tennis Trophies,Chess Trophies,Scrabble award

Hobbies: Tennis,Chess,Scrabble,Dancing

Bonnie Cohn

63, social worker

Rating: 1003

First-time competitor

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Hobbies: volunteerism, travel, indie film, reading,

Robert Collins

41, freelance Musician

Rating: 919

First-time competitor

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Hobbies: Bowling

Kurt Davies

27, Travel Agent

Rating: 1441

Record: 67th (2004), 11th (2005)

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: I'm the coolest person you'll ever meet. Just ask my mom.

Hobbies: Travel, Blogging, World Conquest

Steve Desch

36, professor

Rating: 958

First-time competitor

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Hobbies: astronomy

Jim Geary

39, gambolero

Rating: 1810

Record: 1st (1992), 36th (1994), 11th (1996), 6th (1998), 18th (2000), 68th (2002), 65th (2004), 52nd (2005)

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: Western Intercollegiate Chess 1990; 20+ Scrabble Tourneys; 2nd place, Jack Rabbit Slim's Twist Contest, 1994

Hobbies: studying music, exercise, blogging: walterzuey, betting the Royals, riding bike midday past the 3-piece suits

Jeff Jacobs

26, occupation withheld

Rating: 705

First-time competitor

Home: Phoenix, AZ

James Johnson

Age withheld, Telephone Customer Service Rep

Rating: 1086

Record: 70th (2000), 84th (2002), 132nd (2004), 67th (2005)

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: Picked All the Top 5 Oscar categories for 2004 correctly

Hobbies: Scrabble, going to the movies

Jeffrey Kastner

56, Chess and Sudoku columnist

Rating: 1810

Record: 12th (1987), 55th (1988), 62nd (1989)

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: One of few ever to be rated USA-Top-50 in both chess and Scrabble

Hobbies: Movies, theater, travel, ballroom dancing

Andy Ludwig

25, retail

Rating: 714

First-time competitor

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Hobbies: music, movies

Tammy Ross

Age withheld, teacher

Rating: 848

First-time competitor

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Muriel Sparrow Reedy

63, retired

Rating: 1152

Record: 77th (1998), 110th (2002), 156th (2004)

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Hobbies: scrapbooking, swimming

James Wait

77, Retired office machine dealer

Rating: 1308

Record: 174th (1985), 10th (1987), 147th (1988), 133rd (1989)

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Hobbies: Travel Reading

Louella Wier

Age withheld, occupation withheld

Rating: 1060

First-time competitor

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Michael Wier

Age withheld, Land Surveyor

Rating: 1525

Record: 14th (2004)

Home: Phoenix, AZ

Jane Bernes

52, occupation withheld

Rating: 832

First-time competitor

Home: Scottsdale, AZ

Luther Durant

65, REAL ESTATE INVESTOR

Rating: 1082

First-time competitor

Home: Scottsdale, AZ

Hobbies: HIKING

Pat Durant

Age withheld, REAL ESTATE INVESTOR

Rating: 810

First-time competitor

Home: Scottsdale, AZ

Hobbies: INTERIOR DESIGNER

Sarah King

44, office clerk

Rating: 1317

Record: 22nd (1998), 111th (2000), 38th (2002), 35th (2004), 125th (2005)

Home: Scottsdale, AZ

Hobbies: play scrabble

Bonnie Surguine

Age withheld, realtor

Rating: 545

First-time competitor

Home: Scottsdale, AZ

Hobbies: swimming, knitting, skiing, snorkeling,scrapbooking

Laurie Cohen

Age withheld, Research Director

Rating: 1823

Record: 114th (2002), 49th (2004), 6th (2005)

Home: Tempe, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: 2003-12 Tucson, AZ

Hobbies: movies, travel

Barbara Gray

70, Retired (bluehair)

Rating: 1319

Record: 58th (2002), 167th (2004), 53rd (2005)

Home: Tempe, AZ

Naurlene Canterman

59, housewife

Rating: 1486

Record: 10th (1987), 20th (1988), 30th (1994), 120th (2005)

Home: Tucson, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: directing clubs for many years, co-directed very first club Tucson, AZ

Hobbies: writer/in the midst of mystery Scrabble book & child poetry book

Judy Carlock

46, Editor

Rating: 1093

First-time competitor

Home: Tucson, AZ

Hobbies: downill skiing, foreign movies

Karen Lundeen

66, Teacher

Rating: 1032

Record: 58th (2002), 58th (2005)

Home: Tucson, AZ

Hobbies: Tennis

Jeremiah Ramirez

25, Pharmacy Technician

Rating: 946

First-time competitor

Home: Tucson, AZ

Hobbies: Poker, soccer and reading.

Michael Rhodes

32, Professional Singer

Rating: 1109

First-time competitor

Home: Tucson, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: First place in division at Phoenix (2005), Las Vegas (2005), Pigeon Forge (2006)

Hobbies: Classical music

Lewis Saul

53, Composer

Rating: 1555

Record: 67th (1994)

Home: Tucson, AZ

Awards and Tournament Wins: Published and performed composer

Hobbies: Film

Bob Yarmchuk

55, Retired

Rating: 1591

Record: 6th (2005)

Home: Tucson, AZ

Hobbies: Gardening, numismatics

Dan Unger

54, Psychologist

Rating: 1493

Record: 71st (1985), 13th (1987), 90th (1988), 119th (1989), 77th (1990), 28th (2002), 48th (2005)

Home: Alameda, CA

Hobbies: Hiking, Folk dancing

Jim Laris

65, Retired

Rating: 512

First-time competitor

Home: Altadena, CA

Hobbies: Traveling, Golf, Reading

Scott Anderson

23, Grad Student

Rating: 1728

Record: 24th (2004)

Home: Berkeley, CA

Hobbies: Vegan cooking, reading

Leesa Berahovich

39, Gymnastics

Rating: 1034

First-time competitor

Home: Berkeley, CA

Hobbies: Art, Exercise, Kids, Reading

Whitney Gould

Age withheld, WRITER

Rating: 894

Record: 5th (2004), 71st (2005)

Home: Berkeley, CA

Hobbies: Hiking, Bicycling, Running

Nick Meyer

Age withheld, Graduate Student

Rating: 1926

Record: 50th (2004), 77th (2005)

Home: Berkeley, CA

Hobbies: Baseball, tennis, crossword puzzles

Mary Aline Stevens

54, occupation withheld

Rating: 1419

Record: 49th (2002), 37th (2005)

Home: Berkeley, CA

Mollie Braverman

77, Retired accountant & electrologist

Rating: 1271

Record: 44th (1994), 11th (1996), 62nd (1998), 62nd (2000), 73rd (2002), 89th (2004)

Home: Camarillo, CA

Hobbies: Reading, crossword puzzles, walking, dancing

Maddy Golob

Age withheld, High School Math Teacher

Rating: 1784

Record: 95th (1994), 49th (2002), 23rd (2004), 92nd (2005)

Home: Canyon Country, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Club 44 (Los Angeles) Champion for 2005-2006

Hobbies: Crossword puzzles, mahjong (takes a "g"), Jumbletime

Bruce Baginski

26, None

Rating: 731

First-time competitor

Home: Concord, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: spelling bee

Hobbies: computer games

Nancy Johnson

59, Retired Court Reporter

Rating: 1346

Record: 24th (2002)

Home: Corona, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: top 10 in state court reporting exam, celebrating 40th wedding anniversary in AZ

Hobbies: running, hiking, cycling, grandchildren!

Pat Yarnell

59, Retired Court Reporter

Rating: 1491

Record: 13th (1994), 21st (1996), 40th (1998), 48th (2000), 40th (2002), 99th (2005)

Home: Corona Del Mar, CA

Roy Kamen

51, Sales Rep/ Shuttle Driver around Disneyland

Rating: 1692

Record: 54th (1996), 114th (1998), 38th (2000), 66th (2002), 33rd (2004), 14th (2005)

Home: Covina, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Finished writing my 50,000+ flashcards this year!

Hobbies: Chess, Sudoku, Classic Rock Trivia

Lorraine Pariser

82, Retired

Rating: 923

Record: 9th (1987), 38th (1988), 48th (1994), 108th (1996), 90th (1998), 38th (2000), 65th (2002), 77th (2004), 79th (2005)

Home: Covina, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: ORT and City of Hope

Hobbies: Cards

Myrna Cohen

68, Retired

Rating: 1105

Record: 62nd (2002)

Home: Cupertino, CA

Hobbies: Bridge, Reading, Traveling

Pat Diener

Age withheld, QA Analyst

Rating: 1364

Record: 92nd (1998), 120th (2000), 44th (2002), 15th (2004), 100th (2005)

Home: Dublin, CA

Hobbies: scrabble, reading, minatures

JC Green

59, Restriction of Hazardous Substances program Manager

Rating: 923

Record: 75th (2000), 53rd (2002), 29th (2004), 78th (2005)

Home: East Palo Alto, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: World Record Holder-Roller Coaster Riding

Hobbies: None

Sam Kantimathi

Age withheld, Engineering Entrepreneur

Rating: 1791

Record: 131st (1985), 13th (1987), 31st (1989), 46th (1990), 15th (1992), 60th (1994), 82nd (1996), 46th (1998), 62nd (2000), 50th (2002), 67th (2004), 10th (2005)

Home: El Dorado Hills, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: 1994 Thai Cup; (27th) 1995 Superstars; 1997 $10,000 Manila; 2001-10 Wisconsin Dells, WI; 2001-10 Campbell, CA; 2001-12 Tucson, AZ; 2003-02 Tampa Bay, FL; (22nd) 2003 All*Stars; Guinness world record holder for highest-scoring opening move (BEZIQUE, 124)

Hobbies: Safaris, Photography, Worldwide travel, Making products for wordgame lovers, Snorkel, Hiking, Eating

Jerry Lerman

56, Risk Management Consultant

Rating: 1812

Record: 29th (1985), 14th (1987), 39th (1988), 47th (1994), 41st (1996), 16th (2000), 26th (2002), 64th (2004), 4th (2005)

Home: Foster City, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Invitee to World Scrabble Championship, 1993 and 2005

Hobbies: Reading, Local Newspaper Publishing, Chess

Lewis Martinez

Age withheld, Attorney

Rating: 1748

Record: 51st (1998)

Home: Fresno, CA

David Slavin

Age withheld, Electrical Engineer

Rating: 1303

Record: 87th (2005)

Home: Glendale, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: MSEE Stanford, 2nd place in poetry slam

Hobbies: Hiking, golf, poker

Margy Slavin

Age withheld, Retired Government Employee

Rating: 1355

Record: 22nd (1994), 25th (1996), 78th (2000), 126th (2002), 89th (2005)

Home: Glendale, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: PUBLISHED POET

Hobbies: READING, WRITING POETRY

David Poder

59, Physician

Rating: 1818

Record: 117th (1996), 105th (1998), 34th (2002), 13th (2004), 66th (2005)

Home: Huntington Beach, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: 2004-06 Mediterranean Cruise; (4th) 2004-07 Reno, NV; (13th) 2004 NSC; (2nd) 2005-07 California Seniors

Hobbies: Golf

Robin Torrance

49, teacher

Rating: 1577

Record: 49th (1998), 3rd (2000), 46th (2002), 88th (2004), 22nd (2005)

Home: Idyllwild, CA

Hobbies: drumming

Khim Clarke

30, Business Owner

Rating: 684

First-time competitor

Home: Irvine, CA

Hobbies: Spa, Yoga

Ellis Wyer

84, Retired

Rating: 1398

Record: 208th (1985), 11th (1987), 139th (1988), 97th (1990), 143rd (1992), 107th (1994), 101th (2002), 116th (2004), 37th (2005)

Home: La Jolla, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: swam the Hellespont 2 years before my 1st Scrabble tourney (1978)

Hobbies: swimming

Andre Ornish

15, student

Rating: 1386

Record: 26th (2002), 24th (2004), 16th (2005)

Home: La Mesa, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: 2nd place National School Scrabble Championship 2004, 3rd place National Scrabble Championship 2005

Hobbies: Table tennis, tennis, snowboarding, sleeping, computer games, LANs

Tom Singleton

Age withheld, Accountant

Rating: 1747

Record: 10th (1987), 54th (2002), 61st (2004), 81st (2005)

Home: Laguna Hills, CA

Mark Milan

47, Softwre QA Test Engineer

Rating: 1654

Record: 64th (1994), 63rd (1996), 81st (1998), 42nd (2000), 56th (2002), 135th (2004), 66th (2005)

Home: Laguna Niguel, CA

Hobbies: Cooking, gardening

Cecile Betts

88, Author & motivational speaker

Rating: 665

Record: 69th (1994), 76th (1996), 119th (1998), 84th (2002)

Home: Laguna Woods, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Author of RELUCTANT PIONEER

Hobbies: writing

Mark Landsberg

68, unemployed philosopher

Rating: 1862

Record: 3rd (1988), 80th (1994), 37th (1998), 8th (2002)

Home: Laguna Woods, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: 770 point game-- three times senior champion---father of Marcus

Hobbies: table tennis

Gary Moss

63, Educator

Rating: 1527

Record: 25th (1989), 59th (1990), 19th (1992), 45th (1994), 75th (1996), 74th (1998), 38th (2002), 98th (2005)

Home: Laguna Woods, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Scrabble Sn. Hall of Fame / Michigan Minuteman Award

Hobbies: Gourmet Cooking

Cindy Quinn

Age withheld, Retired

Rating: 1548

Record: 92nd (2002), 91st (2005)

Home: Laguna Woods, CA

Hobbies: Stained Glass, Opera, Theatre, Music, Travel

Jeannie J Wilson

47, Special Ed. Aide

Rating: 1439

Record: 40th (2000), 61st (2002), 158th (2004)

Home: Livermore, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: 2nd place - 4th grade spelling bee.

Hobbies: anything that has to do with art.

Alan Kait

65, Musician

Rating: 827

First-time competitor

Home: Lompoc, CA

Hobbies: Flying & Music

Esther Kisich

Age withheld, Retired Speech Pathologist

Rating: 1143

Record: 10th (1987), 76th (1988), 14th (2002), 93rd (2005)

Home: Long Beach, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: accepted graciously

Hobbies: Create rug wall hangings

David Pearl

36, Financial Planner

Rating: 1716

Record: 1st (1998), 1st (2000), 43rd (2002), 1st (2004), 79th (2005)

Home: Long Beach, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: New Orleans d2

Hobbies: Tennis, Golf, Reading, Music, Film

Gwen Bishop

84, Retired

Rating: 1268

Record: 10th (1987), 34th (1992), 35th (1994), 99th (1996), 39th (1998), 112th (2000), 29th (2002), 93rd (2004)

Home: Los Angeles, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: 1997 Director of the Year/Director Longest Running Tourney in West US 18yrs

Hobbies: bridge, community service

Ira Cohen

59, electrical contractor

Rating: 1804

Record: 13th (1987), 81st (1988), 20th (1996), 10th (1998), 23rd (2000), 15th (2002), 38th (2004), 34th (2005)

Home: Los Angeles, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: 2001-07 Denver, CO; 2001-09 Northridge, CA; 2001-10 Western Canadian Championship (E.B. and M.E.); 2002-06 Bozeman, MT; 2003-10, 2004-10 Western Canadian Championship (E.B. and M.E.); 2004-06 Bozeman, MT

Hobbies: chess,crossword puzzles,traveling,tennis,basketball

Bruce D Ambrosio

52, retired computer programmer

Rating: 1671

Record: 59th (1988), 45th (1994), 17th (1996), 55th (1998), 80th (2000), 98th (2002), 164th (2004), 49th (2005)

Home: Los Angeles, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Southern California Scrabble Hall of Fame honoree

Hobbies: movies, spectator sports

Lawren Freebody

49, Aircraft Interiors Designer

Rating: 1579

Record: 34th (1996), 4th (1998), 81st (2000), 71st (2005)

Home: Los Angeles, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: 4th Pl., Div. 2, Chicago NSC 1998

Hobbies: Digital Photography, Cooking

Margaret Hughes

76, Retired

Rating: 919

Record: 49th (2002), 49th (2004), 30th (2005)

Home: Los Angeles, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: None

Hobbies: Gardening, singing, sewing

Judy Levitt

60, retired lawyer

Rating: 1747

Record: 24th (1994), 63rd (2002), 126th (2004), 7th (2005)

Home: Los Angeles, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: 2nd highest game (after Mr. 770)-- 756; high word - 302; tied for most bingos in one game - 7

Hobbies: working on the revolution

Sandy Nang

Age withheld, Practice Support Coordinator

Rating: 1242

Record: 17th (2002), 46th (2004), 10th (2005)

Home: Los Angeles, CA

Hobbies: Crosswords, Culinary Mysteries

Elizabeth Ralston

61, Software Developer

Rating: 1219

Record: 21st (2005)

Home: Los Angeles, CA

Fred III Rible

30, Teacher

Rating: 1072

Record: 41st (2004)

Home: Los Angeles, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Getting married 8/14/2004

Hobbies: Movies, Comic Books, Computers, Balloon Art

Peter Skaggs

Age withheld, Editor

Rating: 1574

Record: 51st (1985)

Home: Los Angeles, CA

Pamela Stubblefield

48, Substitute Teacher

Rating: 1334

Record: 26th (2004), 14th (2005)

Home: Los Angeles, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: First place, Division I, West Los Angeles Tourney, May 2004

Hobbies: Word games, puzzles

Alan Whitman

60, Software developer

Rating: 1543

Record: 72nd (1998), 100th (2002), 108th (2005)

Home: Los Gatos, CA

Hobbies: Model trains

Mitch Bayersdorfer

44, Director, Program Management

Rating: 1570

Record: 6th (2004)

Home: Menlo Park, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Co-Director, Palo Alto Scrabble Club

Hobbies: Home Automation, Cooking

Jeremy Hall

28, Copy Editor

Rating: 870

First-time competitor

Home: Menlo Park, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Valedictorian of my high school class of one

Hobbies: Yahoo! Word Racer, travel, movies

Emely Weissman

Age withheld, Realtor

Rating: 1560

Record: 37th (1978), 26th (2002), 8th (2005)

Home: Menlo Park, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Phi Beta Kappa, lotsa college Greek and Latin prizes

Hobbies: Opera, ancient history

Bennett Jacobstein

49, Systems Manager

Rating: 1428

Record: 75th (2000), 135th (2002), 127th (2005)

Home: Milpitas, CA

Hobbies: Visiting County Courthouses

Lynn Gunn

56, Information Tech support and trainer

Rating: 1222

Record: 54th (1994), 13th (1996), 56th (2000), 95th (2002), 82nd (2005)

Home: Mission Viejo, CA

Hobbies: movies, dogs, reading

Conrad Bassett-Bouchard

16, Student

Rating: 1740

Record: 28th (2005)

Home: Moraga, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Surviving 4 simultaneous AP classes

Hobbies: Drums, Ultimate/Disc golf

Jeff Widergren

44, Software Engineer

Rating: 1786

Record: 14th (1987), 54th (1988), 56th (1989), 21st (1992), 34th (1994), 32nd (1996), 40th (1998), 37th (2000), 76th (2002), 39th (2004), 35th (2005)

Home: Morgan Hill, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: 95 WSC Team, 2nd 95 Reno, 20+ local wins, highest US play 338 pts

Hobbies: Golf, Children

Paula Catanese

Age withheld, Human Resources

Rating: 1510

Record: 83rd (2000), 126th (2002), 46th (2004), 92nd (2005)

Home: Mountain View, CA

Hobbies: Travel

S Spencer Sun

33, computer programmer

Rating: 1482

Record: 43rd (2005)

Home: Novato, CA

Hobbies: poker, hockey, astronomy

Charlotte Bremond

57, Elem. Teacher

Rating: 721

Record: 115th (1998), 44th (2002), 66th (2004)

Home: Oakland, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Teacher of the Year

Hobbies: Sports fan

Joan Mocine

64, Paralegal/Editor

Rating: 1440

Record: 7th (1987), 62nd (1988), 14th (1989), 134th (1990), 116th (1992), 36th (1994), 7th (1996), 101th (1998), 27th (2000), 86th (2002), 115th (2005)

Home: Oakland, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Combo Nobel Prize for Literature and Physics, Person Who Remembers to Get Coffee Award

Hobbies: Painting, singing and traveling

Cynthia Pughsley

58, Computer Programmer/Customer Service Rep

Rating: 1602

Record: 109th (1985), 12th (1987), 98th (1988), 38th (1989), 35th (1994), 60th (1996), 115th (1998), 93rd (2000), 117th (2002), 117th (2004), 67th (2005)

Home: Oakland, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Just living is my award & achievement

Hobbies: Games - Board & Electronic

Lester Schonbrun

70, Legal Assistant/Computers

Rating: 1882

Record: 16th (1980), 9th (1985), 15th (1987), 34th (1988), 75th (1989), 2nd (1990), 4th (1992), 54th (1994), 6th (1996), 16th (1998), 41st (2000), 61st (2002), 69th (2004), 14th (2005)

Home: Oakland, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Best supporting actor, 1927 in Birth of a Nation; runner-up in NSC Wash, DC, winner West Coast Chmp., numerous others

Hobbies: Bird watching and stamp collecting - or watching birds collect stamps.

Mike Carlson

Age withheld, occupation withheld

Rating: 915

First-time competitor

Home: Ontario, CA

Eric Johnston

16, high school student

Rating: 1288

First-time competitor

Home: Palo Alto, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: 2004 National School SCRABBLE champion, 1st place team

Hobbies: soccer, skiing, golf

Felix Kwok

26, Graduate Student

Rating: 1584

First-time competitor

Home: Palo Alto, CA

Susie Page

74, Writer

Rating: 1279

Record: 11th (1994), 104th (1996), 76th (1998), 15th (2000), 66th (2002), 137th (2004), 109th (2005)

Home: Panorama City, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Authored two books

Hobbies: Docent at LA ZOO

Cesar Del Solar

22, Engineer

Rating: 1647

First-time competitor

Home: Pasadena, CA

Hobbies: Guitar, music, programming, making awkward conversation-stopping comments

Fred Rible

52, Project Manager, US Navy

Rating: 1387

Record: 13th (2004)

Home: Poway, CA

Hobbies: Sudoku, Crosswords, Spiritual Endeavors

Kevin Burbridge

38, C.O.O.

Rating: 1376

Record: 27th (2005)

Home: Roseville, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: collegiate soccer all-american

Hobbies: watching sports, wrestling with my kids, taking my wife on dates

John Ortman

45, Financial Analyst

Rating: 1490

Record: 71st (2005)

Home: Roseville, CA

Hobbies: Doubles Volleyball and guitar

Amnon Igra

59, researcher

Rating: 1415

Record: 11th (2004), 84th (2005)

Home: Sacramento, CA

Gretchen Cowan

71, RETIRED TEACHER

Rating: 1341

Record: 9th (1987), 52nd (1996), 31st (2002), 79th (2005)

Home: San Clemente, CA

Hobbies: political activist'reading'travel

Carol Kaplan

59, Paralegal

Rating: 1657

Record: 113th (1994), 84th (1996), 80th (1998), 54th (2000), 70th (2002), 65th (2004), 13th (2005)

Home: San Diego, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Director of San Diego Scrabble Club #76 since 1992

Hobbies: Travel,Reading,Gardening

Cason Lane

36, Writer & communications manager

Rating: 1549

Record: 10th (1996), 56th (2002), 64th (2004)

Home: San Diego, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: placed in regional scrabble tourneys; 10th in division at 1996 Nationals; professional awards for journalism/communications

Hobbies: Hiking, dining, piano composition

Rusty Peltz

33, Software engineer

Rating: 1854

Record: 4th (2000), 43rd (2002), 96th (2004), 36th (2005)

Home: San Diego, CA

Hobbies: baseball, golf

Andrea Michaels

46, NAMER, PUZZLE WRITER, FILM REVIEWER

Rating: 1407

Record: 29th (1994), 44th (1996), 119th (1998), 63rd (2000), 27th (2002), 22nd (2004), 62nd (2005)

Home: San Francisco, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: WHEEL OF FORTUNE MOTORHOME WINNER; SHOWTIME'S FUNNIEST PERSON IN CALIFORNIA WINNER 1986

Hobbies: FILM, TRAVEL

Marina A Villena

Age withheld, Secretary

Rating: 1100

Record: 55th (2004), 28th (2005)

Home: San Francisco, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Accessibility Employee of the Quarter, Employee of the Quarter

Hobbies: Listening to Music, watching tv

Jim Barker

59, Sr. Staff, Psy. Social Worker, Retired

Rating: 945

Record: 188th (1988), 24th (2002), 34th (2004), 47th (2005)

Home: San José, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: former Olympic Trials Qualifier-Marathon, Best 50 Mile Race in USA,1977

Hobbies: Long distance running,cycling,tennis, writing,church work

Bryan Goolsby

62, Retired

Rating: 1452

Record: 86th (1992), 61st (2005)

Home: San Jose, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: none

Hobbies: hiking, bicycling, fishing

John Karris

43, Attorney

Rating: 1600

Record: 14th (1996), 66th (1998), 16th (2000), 128th (2002), 30th (2004)

Home: San Jose, CA

Hobbies: Landscaping, koi ponds, cats, dogs

Kar-mun Wong

Age withheld, occupation withheld

Rating: 944

First-time competitor

Home: San Jose, CA

Rick Wong

Age withheld, Web Development

Rating: 1715

Record: 42nd (1994), 109th (1998), 19th (2000), 29th (2002), 7th (2004), 12th (2005)

Home: San Jose, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: NSA AB member since 2003

Hobbies: Geocaching

T C Houlgate-West

68, Retired; part-time bridge teacher

Rating: 1391

Record: 50th (1994), 26th (1996), 51st (1998), 76th (2000), 102th (2002), 31st (2005)

Home: San Luis Obispo, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: Many awards for poetry

Hobbies: Bridge, writing, poetry, ESOL tutoring, travel

Bruce M Halverson

Age withheld, retired

Rating: 1123

Record: 89th (2002), 110th (2005)

Home: Santa Barbara, CA

Hobbies: breakfasts, baseball, gardening, music, travel

Jeanne Freebody

46, Retired Chiropractor. Now it's about Healing Me.

Rating: 1450

Record: 96th (2002), 18th (2005)

Home: Santa Cruz, CA

Awards and Tournament Wins: a few 3rds (including Danbury), a few 2nds, + one first (san fran)

Hobbies: meditation, singing, dance, dharma, & california dreamin'!

Helen Burns

Age withheld, Retired

Rating: 866

Record: 7th (1987), 102th (1988), 60th (1994), 54th (1996), 87th (2000), 97th (2002), 144th (2004), 72nd (2005)

Home: Santa Monica, CA

Kevin Rickhoff

Age withheld, Student

Rating: 1659

Record: 52nd (2004), 19th (2005)

Home: Saugus, CA

Hobbies: Go

Laura Rickhoff

Age withheld, MATH TUTOR

Rating: 832

First-time competitor

Home: Saugus, CA