For Brandon product Kurtis Cullen, the area near the stairwell at the south entrance of a local sporting complex was where his love for racquetball began.

At the ripe young age of four, Cullen would follow his older sisters Samantha and Lindsay to the racquetball courts at the Sportsplex but because he was so young at the time, he was not allowed to participate. Cullen had to create his own court to play on and happened to find an area where he would spend hours practising. Thirteen years later, Cullen, 17, a Vincent Massey Grade 12 student, is the No. 2 ranked junior-aged player in Manitoba.

“If you asked people that have played at the Sportsplex, they'd tell you that was Kurtis's court,” said Cullen. “People would always be walking up the stairs during tournaments and I'd always be in their way.”

Cullen has an extensive resume in racquetball. He was a junior provincial winner when he was younger and has won back-to-back junior national titles. He even took part in a world junior championship in Florida.

This year, Cullen has made a dramatic move up the national racquetball rankings and is now the No. 23 ranked junior-aged player in Canada. He was ranked No. 64 in the country just a few months ago.

Cullen says the sport of racquetball is physically demanding and in order to make noise nationally, persistence is key.

“When you do get up to this level it's not just practising, it's preparing for a three-day tournament,” said Cullen. “I've been going to the gym to help with that because you can't just play racquetball and expect to last. Especially when the tournament is seven days long.

“When you can last a full week-long tournament and not get sore, you know you're in pretty good shape.”

Cullen's ultimate goal is to make Team Canada for the PanAm Games and world racquetball championships.

“I want to make Team Canada. It means you get carded and you get paid every month,” said Cullen. “I definitely think I can make the team at some point but I'm only 17. I'm moving up the ranks faster than anyone so I'm happy with where I'm at right now.”

Cullen says when he's not at racquetball tournaments or practising, he's at school, studying at home, at work or with his friends.

“School is a big priority for me,” said Cullen. “So I don't have much free time for anything.

Cullen's doubles partner is Jen Saunders from Winnipeg, the No.1 ranked female player in Canada and No. 8 in the entire world.

Cullen says Michael Burgess, another well-known racquetball player in Brandon, is a friend of his and has helped him along the way. Burgess, the No. 5 ranked player in Canada, is currently injured and is out indefinitely.

Cullen's next big racquetball tournament is the Canadian senior nationals, which will take place May 24-29 in Burnaby, B.C.