From world champion racquetball player to the creator of a transformative project for Rosarito’s youth, Rosy Torres has channeled her drive into the Club de Niños y Niñas (Boys and Girls Club).
After securing top titles in racquetball, Torres transitioned in 2012 to a new passion: rescuing Rosarito’s children from crime, addiction, and school dropout.
With the support of her late father, Hugo Eduardo Torres, she began laying the foundation for the Club de Niños y Niñas de Playas de Rosarito in July 2012.
Initially, the organization operated in a borrowed space provided by Rosarito Shores through the Rosarito Beach Hotel.
Later, through donations from volunteers and local businesses, the club acquired land in the Lucio Blanco neighborhood, where construction of its permanent headquarters began.
Brick by brick, wall by wall, and room by room, the club grew with contributions from the community, volunteers, companies, and altruistic individuals who left their mark on the project.
Nearly 13 years later, the Club de Niños y Niñas has served over 5,000 children, offering academic, recreational, educational, athletic, artistic, and cultural activities that foster their development.
Many of these children have excelled in various disciplines, while others have expressed gratitude by returning as volunteers to support the next generation.
Today, the club stands as a vital resource for prevention and for nurturing values and academic, athletic, and cultural development.
Ms. Torres recalled that the idea for the club emerged after retiring from her illustrious racquetball career while her late father served as Rosarito’s mayor.
“I was stepping away from racquetball, my first great passion, and at the time, my dad was mayor. A man from Tijuana, Enrique Gamboa, had built a club and invited Baja California’s five mayors to visit.
“My dad said, ‘Since you’ve just retired, why don’t you check it out?’ It was like walking into Disneyland—seeing children learning and having fun at the same time. I thought, this is exactly what Rosarito needs before our kids are lost to drugs, crime, and dropping out of school.
“But we’re not just a prevention center; we develop and save kids,” Ms.Torres explained.
A Stellar Racquetball Career
Ms. Torres discovered her passion for racquetball at age 11, crediting her natural affinity for the sport.
“I think I was born to love racquetball. My mom introduced me to every sport, but once I tried racquetball, I said goodbye to the rest. It’s a high-speed, high-concentration sport that demands agility and incredible competitiveness. I knew it was for me.”
At 15, Torres competed in her first national championship, earning third place. Her crowning achievement came in 2003 at the Pan American Championships, where she and her partner, Susana Acosta, ended the U.S. team’s dominance.
In 2004, they clinched the World Championship in South Korea, solidifying their status as Mexico’s greatest racquetball representatives.
Ms. Torres attributes her success to a blend of physical and mental training.
“The key was mental preparation. Physical training is essential, but mental training—visualizing and setting goals—is even more critical. In 1991, we set our sights on winning the Pan American Championships, and after a decade of rigorous physical and mental preparation, we achieved it. From then on, we won everything,” she concluded.