Bredenbeck wins 2025 IRT Shamrock Shootout

Jake Bredenbeck won his 3rd International Racquetball Tour (IRT) title on the weekend, as he defeated Eduardo Portillo, 15-11, 15-3, in the final of the 40th Annual Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois. Portillo was also in the doubles final, but he and Andree Parrilla lost to Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, 15-4, 15-7.

There were surprises throughout the tournament, as none of the top four seeds made the semi-finals. Bredenbeck, seeded 8th, beat 5th seed Parrilla, 15-11, 15-12, in one semi, while Portillo, the 10th seed, narrowly defeated 11th seed Javier Mar, 10-15, 15-9, 11-9, in the other semi-final.

In the quarterfinals, Bredenbeck won the first game against IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk, 15-8, and then Waselenchuk forfeited the match due to a nagging injury he picked up while playing last weekend in Minneapolis. Waselenchuk certainly wasn’t moving as well as we are used to seeing during game one.

In the other quarterfinals, there were two surprisingly lop-sided wins with Portillo beating 2nd seed Andrés Acuña, 15-3, 15-0, and Mar defeating Samuel Murray, 15-5, 15-1, and one close tie-breaker, as Parrilla eked out a victory over current U18 World Junior Champion Jhonathan Flores, 4-15, 15-12, 11-10.

Earlier in the tournament, Murray - playing his first IRT event since winning in Sioux Falls last year - upset 3rd seed Rodrigo Montoya, 15-11, 15-6, in the Round of 32. Also, Flores took out 4th seed Alan Natera, 15-9, 15-6, in the Round of 16. Flores and Murray teamed up in doubles and ousted Jake and Sam Bredenbeck in the 16s, 15-14, 7-15, 11-4, but lost in the quarterfinals to Acuña and Natera, 15-10, 8-15, 11-5.

Flores and Murray’s matches were two of the eight tie-breakers out of 13 doubles matches played in Lombard. However, Mar and Montoya won all their matches in two straight games - no tie-breakers needed - in winning the title. Indeed, they only gave up more than 10 points in one of the six games they played with their opponents averaging 7.3 points a game.

On a sad note, this may have been the last IRT event at the Glass Court Swim and Fitness club in Lombard, as it is up for sale, so it’s unclear what the future holds for what has been one of the premier venues for racquetball over several decades, hosting many IRT and Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour events, as well as USA Racquetball tournaments.

The next IRT main event will be the World Singles and Doubles Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, September 4-7. If you missed any of the action from Lombard, check out the IRT YouTube channel.

40th Annual Papa Nicholas IRT Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois - March 13-16, 2025

IRT Singles - Final

8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 10) Eduardo Portillo, 15-11, 15-3

Semi-finals

8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 5) Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 15-12
10) Eduardo Portillo d. 11) Javier Mar, 10-15, 15-9, 11-9

Quarterfinals

8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 1) Kane Waselenchuk, 15-8, injury forfeit
5) Andree Parrilla d. 20) Jhonathan Flores, 4-15, 15-12, 11-10

11) Javier Mar d. 35) Samuel Murray, 15-5, 15-1
10) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Andrés Acuña, 15-3, 15-0

Round of 16

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 17) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-11, 15-5
8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 9) Jaime Martell, 15-12, 15-4

5) Andree Parrilla d. 12) Thomas Carter, 15-9, 15-8
20) Jhonathan Flores d. 4) Alan Natera, 15-9, 15-6

35) Samuel Murray d. 19) Gerson Miranda Martinez, 15-5, 15-8
11) Javier Mar d. 6) Jordy Alonso, 15-6, 13-10, injury forfeit

10) Eduardo Portillo d. 7) Erick Trujillo, 15-5, 15-6
2) Andrés Acuña d. 15) Robert Collins, 15-11, 15-3

Round of 32

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 33) Jhoel Alexis Acha Portugal, 15-4, 15-6
17) Sam Bredenbeck d. 16) Cole Sendrey, 15-13, 15-6

9) Jaime Martell d. 24) David Horn, 14-15, 15-10, 11-0
8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 25) Blase Zera, 15-3, 15-8

5) Andree Parrilla d. 28) Esteban Reque, 15-6, 15-7
12) Thomas Carter d. 21) Kadim Carrasco, 15-2, 15-0

20) Jhonathan Flores d. 13) Diego Gastelum, 15-7, 15-6
4) Alan Natera d. 29) Benjamin Horner, 6-15, 15-8, 11-7

35) Samuel Murray d. 3) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-11, 15-6
19) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 14) Carlos Ramirez, 11-15, 15-0, 11-1

11) Javier Mar d. 22) Jim Douglas, 15-3, 15-1
6) Jordy Alonso d. 27) Migel Angel Arteaga Guzman, 15-3, 15-4

7) Erick Trujillo d. 26) DJ Mendoza, 15-12, 15-3
10) Eduardo Portillo d. 23) John Wolfe, 15-4, 15-13

15) Robert Collins d. 18) Diego Garcia, forfeit
2) Andrés Acuña d. 34) Santiago Castillo, 15-3, 15-1

Round of 64

32) Jhoel Alexis Acha Portugal d. 32) Jose Luis De Alba Cardenas, 15-5, 15-10
28) Esteban Reque d. 37) Grant Williams, 15-6, 15-7
29) Benjamin Horner d. 36) Juan Herrera II, 6-15, 15-8, 11-7

35) Samuel Murray d. 30) Hector Barrios, 15-5, 15-3
31) Santiago Castillo d. 34) James Black, 15-4, 15-10

IRT Doubles - Final

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 2) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo, 15-4, 15-7

Semi-finals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo, 15-12, 15-6
2) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 3) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera, 11-15, 15-10, 11-3

Quarterfinals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell, 15-9, 15-6
4) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo d. 12) Hector Barrios & Jhoel Alexis Acha Portugal, 11-15, 15-2, 11-7

3) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera d. 11) Jhonatan Flores & Samuel Murray, 15-10, 8-15, 11-5
2) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 10) Gerson Miranda Martinez & Diego Garcia, 7-15, 15-12, 11-8

Round of 16

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
9) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell d. 8) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey, 7-15, 15-5, 11-1

12) Hector Barrios & Jhoel Alexis Acha Portugal d. 5) Kadim Carrasco & David Horn, 14-15, 15-7, 11-6
4) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo d. 13) DJ Mendoza & Esteban Reque, 15-9, 15-7

3) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera d. 14) Victor Migliore & Kyle Ulliman, 15-14, 15-10
11) Jhonatan Flores & Samuel Murray d. 6) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 15-14, 7-15, 11-4

10) Gerson Miranda Martinez & Diego Garcia d. 7) Robert Collins & Carlos Ramirez, 14-15, 15-12, 11-2
2) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk wins 2025 IRT Minnesota Hall of Fame tournament

Kane Waselenchuk continues to be a dominant force on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) well into his fourth decade, as he won the Minnesota Racquetball Hall of Fame presented by KWM Gutterman in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the weekend, his 2nd win in as many IRT events this year.

On Sunday, Waselenchuk defeated surprise finalist Alan Natera in three games, 15-7, 12-15, 11-4. Natera, the 7th seed, reached the final after 3rd seed Rodrigo Montoya forfeited their semi-final match as he hurt his pectoral muscle during his quarterfinal match with Gerson Miranda Martinez.

Montoya did eke out a win over Miranda, 11-15, 15-0, 11-10, but he wasn’t able to compete against Natera.

In the other semi-final, Waselenchuk defeated 4th seed Andrés Acuña, 15-12, 15-14.

There were several upsets during the weekend, and none was bigger than 31st seed David Horn’s win over 2nd seed Conrrado Moscoso, 15-13, 15-0. They were close in game one, when Moscoso twisted his left knee. He took his injury timeout, but was clearly hampered from then on.

Moscoso didn’t forfeit the match, but he probably should have, as he clearly wasn’t able to move very well. Indeed, in game two, Moscoso hardly moved at all, as Horn served it out.

Sixth seeds Jordy Alonso and Erick Trujillo won the the doubles event, as they got a win over top seeds Javier Mar and Montoya by injury forfeit. It’s the first IRT doubles title for Alonso and the 2nd for Trujillo, who won in Canoga Park last year with Montoya.

Alonso and Trujillo also got a injury forfeit win in the semi-finals, which was over 2nd seeds Moscoso and Kadim Carrasco. In the other semi-final, Mar and Montoya beat 4th seeds Hector Barrios and Andree Parrilla, 15-6, 15-11.

The IRT is back at it this weekend when the 40th Annual Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout takes place in Lombard, Illinois, March 13-16. If you missed any of the action from Minneapolis check out the IRT YouTube channel.

Minnesota Racquetball Hall of Fame presented by KWM Gutterman
Minneapolis, Minnesota - March 3-6, 2025

IRT Singles - Final

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 7) Alan Natera, 15-7, 12-15, 11-4

Semi-finals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 4) Andrés Acuña, 15-12, 15-14
7) Alan Natera d. 3) Rodrigo Montoya, injury forfeit

Quarterfinals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 24) Diego Garcia, 15-7, 15-4
4) Andrés Acuña d. 5) Andree Parrilla, 15-7, 15-8

3) Rodrigo Montoya d. 27) Gerson Miranda Martinez, 11-15, 15-0, 11-10
7) Alan Natera d. 31) David Horn, 15-11, 15-13

Round of 16

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 16) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-4, 15-1
24) Diego Garcia d. 8) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-8, 9-15, 11-7

5) Andree Parrilla d. 21) Jhonatan Flores, 13-15, 15-13, 11-10
4) Andrés Acuña d. 13) Diego Gastelum, 15-3, 15-14

3) Rodrigo Montoya d. 19) John Goth, 15-1, 15-4
27) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 11) Thomas Carter, 15-10, 15-4

7) Alan Natera d. 10) Jaime Martell, 15-6, 15-4
31) David Horn d. 18) Cole Sendrey, 15-13, 15-6

Round of 32

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 32) Jose Caceres, 15-2, 15-1
16) Sam Bredenbeck d. 17) Kadim Carrasco, 11-15, 15-10, 11-10

24) Diego Garcia d. 9) Jordy Alonso, 15-10, 15-2
8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 25) Blase Zera, 15-1, 15-2

5) Andree Parrilla d. 28) DJ Mendoza, 15-9, 15-8
21) Jhonatan Flores d. 12) Javier Mar, 6-15, 15-14, 11-7

13) Diego Gastelum d. 20) Jim Douglas, 15-6, 15-0
4) Andrés Acuña d. 29) Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman, 15-2, 12-15, 11-0

3) Rodrigo Montoya d. 35) Set Cubillos, 15-5, 15-4
19) John Goth d. 14) Carlos Ramirez, 15-6, 15-3

11) Thomas Carter d. 22) John Wolfe, 15-1, 15-7
27) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 6) Erick Trujillo, 15-10, 2-15, 11-8

7) Alan Natera d. 26) Juan Salvatierra, 15-6, 15-7
10) Jaime Martell d. 23) Edwin Galicia, 15-12, 15-9

18) Cole Sendrey d. 15) Robert Collins, 15-8, 15-12
31) David Horn d. 2) Conrrado Moscoso, 15-13, 15-0

Round of 64

32) Jose Caceres d. 33) Benjamin Horner, 15-2, 15-6
28) DJ Mendoza d. 37) Jhoel Alexis Acha Portugal, 15-11, 15-12
29) Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman d. 36) Jose Luis De Alba Cardenas, 15-6, 15-7

35) Set Cubillos d. 30) Esteban Reque, 15-7, 15-5
27) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 38) Santiago Castillo, 15-7, 15-2
26) Juan Salvatierra d. 39) Reza Mousavi, 15-4, 15-1
31) David Horn d. 34) Lee Meinerz, 15-5, 15-5

IRT Doubles - Final

6) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo d. 1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya, injury forfeit

Semi-finals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Hector Barrios & Andree Parrilla, 15-6, 15-11
6) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo d. 2) Conrrado Moscoso & Kadim Carrasco, forfeit

Quarterfinals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell, 15-5, 15-8
4) Hector Barrios & Andree Parrilla d. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-10

6) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo d. 3) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera, 15-12, 13-15, 11-6
2) Conrrado Moscoso & Kadim Carrasco d. 10) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra, 10-15, 15-13, 11-8

Round of 16

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
9) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell d. 8) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey, 15-7, 15-9

5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 12) Jhonatan Flores & David Horn, 15-2, 15-14
4) Hector Barrios & Andree Parrilla d. 13) DJ Mendoza & Esteban Reque, 15-6, 15-10

3) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera d. 14) Lee Meinerz & Carlos Pando, 15-6, 15-2
6) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo d. 11) Diego Garcia & Gerson Miranda Martinez, 7-15, 15-5, 11-3

10) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra d. 7) Robert Collins & Carlos Ramirez, 15-9, 15-8
2) Conrrado Moscoso & Kadim Carrasco - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria comes back to win 2025 LPRT Boston Open

Paola Longoria won the 2025 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Boston Open in Marlborough, Massachusetts on the weekend, defeating Montserrat Mejia, 12-15, 15-8, 11-10, in the final. Longoria has been in all five LPRT finals this season, but this is just her second win. The win solidifies Longoria as the LPRT’s #1 player.

In the semi-finals, Longoria beat 4th seed Alexandra Herrera, 15-9, 15-0, and Mejia upset 2nd seed Maria José Vargas, 15-8, 15-9.

Longoria had to come from a game down to win the final, and she trailed for most of game three, as Mejia had leads of 5-2, 7-3 and 10-5. At that point you could be excused for thinking that Mejia was going to defeat Longoria, as she had in the Arizona Open in January.

However, Longoria had other ideas. She fought off the first match point with a great backhand pinch return off a Mejia drive serve to the left. Longoria then ran off three points to make it 10-8, so Mejia called a timeout.

On the ensuing rally, Mejia stepped up to take a shot on the volley that she hammered to the left side for a winner and her second match point opportunity. But on that rally Mejia tried to hit a forehand pinch shot from deep in the court, and skipped it.

That was the first of a few questionable shot choices that contributed to Mejia’s loss. She skipped Longoria’s next serve - another Z serve to the left - which seemed like an unforced error, making it 10-9.

Mejia again tried a pinch shot from deep - a forehand reverse pinch as she ran around her backhand, which was left up, allowing Longoria to hit a winner to make it 10-10, setting up her first match point.

That was not a great rally. Longoria hit a Z serve to the left, and Mejia returned it with a loose down the line shot. Longoria’s shot was also a loose down the line shot, which gave Mejia an opportunity at the dashed line with Longoria right behind her.

She could have hit a backhand cross court or pinch shot, putting the ball away from Longoria, but instead Mejia went back down the line, which again wasn’t a great shot, and allowed Longoria to hit it cross court.

That ball came off the back wall, so Mejia was able to get to it, hitting a cross court in return. However, her ball went wide, coming off the left wall to a waiting Longoria, who bunted it down the left side for the match winner.

Longoria’s shot was also loose, but Mejia had to go around her to get to it, and couldn’t do so in time. It seemed like it could have been a hinder, but that wasn’t called, and Mejia - perhaps surprisingly - didn’t appeal for one.

Thus, a great match with a great tie-breaker comeback didn’t have a great ending.

Notably, four of the five LPRT singles finals have gone to tie-breaker this season.

Mejia and Alexandra Herrera won the doubles final, as they beat 3rd seeds Valeria Centellas and Maria Jose Vargas, 15-12, 15-5.

The semi-finals were both close matches, as Herrera and Mejia defeated 4th seeds Angelica Barrios and Brenda Laime, 15-13, 15-14, in two close games, and Centellas and Vargas eked out a win over 2nd seeds Natalia Mendez and Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 14-15, 11-10.

The LPRT has an outdoor event - the Eve Promotions Beach Bash - scheduled for March 20-23 in Hollywood Beach, Florida, but no further indoor events, so we’re unsure if the Boston Open is the last event of the 2024-25 season, or whether there will be any further events. Nonetheless, if you missed any of the action from Massachusetts, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.

2025 LPRT Boston Open
Marlborough, Massachusetts - March 7-9, 2025

Singles Final

1) Paola Longoria d. 3) Montserrat Mejia, 12-15, 15-8, 11-10

Singles Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Alexandra Herrera, 15-9, 15-0
3) Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Maria José Vargas, 15-8, 15-9

Singles Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Natalia Mendez, 15-1, 15-10
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 5) Gabriela Martinez, 15-13, 8-15, 11-6

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Kelani Lawrence, 15-7, 15-5
2) Maria José Vargas d. 7) Brenda Laime, 15-14, 15-13

Singles Round of 16

1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Angelica Barrios, 15-13, 15-11
8) Natalia Mendez d. 24) Camila Rivero, 15-4, 15-7

5) Gabriela Martinez d. 21) Hollie Scott, 15-12, 15-2
4) Alexandra Herrera d. 20) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-12, 15-2

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 14) Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-0, 15-0
6) Kelani Lawrence d. 22) Annie Sanchez, 15-14, 15-12

7) Brenda Laime d. 10) Cristina Amaya, 15-8, 15-6
2) Maria José Vargas d. 15) Sheryl Lotts, 15-10, 13-15, 11-9

Singles Round of 32

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Angelica Barrios d. 17) Naomi Ros, 15-6, 15-4

24) Camila Rivero d. 9) Carla Muñoz, 10-15, 15-9, 11-8
8) Natalia Mendez d. 25) Jolene Sullivan, 15-4, 15-0

5) Gabriela Martinez - BYE
21) Hollie Scott d. 12) Lexi York, 15-7, 15-11

20) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 13) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-6, 15-6
4) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

3) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
14) Maria Paz Riquelme d. 19) Khyathi Velpuri, 15-5, 15-5

22) Annie Sanchez d. 11) Jessica Parrilla, 7-15, 15-10, 11-9
6) Kelani Lawrence d. 27) Ofelia Wilscam, 15-1, 15-1

7) Brenda Laime d. 26) Chloe Jauvin, 15-1, 15-1
10) Cristina Amaya d. 23) Juliette Parent, 15-6, 6-15, 11-6

15) Sheryl Lotts d. 18) Valeria Centellas, 15-11, 15-11
2) Maria José Vargas - BYE

Doubles - Final

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 3) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-12, 15-5

Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 4) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime, 15-13, 15-14
3) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 2) Natalia Mendez & Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 14-15, 11-10

Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 8) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-14, 15-13
4) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime d. 5) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott, 15-11, 15-7

3) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla, forfeit
2) Natalia Mendez & Carla Muñoz d. 7) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York, 15-4, 15-9

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
8) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 9) Juliette Parent & Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-0, 15-4

5) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 12) Camila Rivero & Annie Sanchez, 15-3, 15-3
4) Angelica Barrios & Brenda Laime d. 13) Chloe Jauvin & Ofelia Wilscam, 15-3, 15-0

3) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla d. 11) Jolene Sullivan & Khyathi Velpuri, 15-10, 15-2

7) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York d. 10) Naomi Ros & Stephanie Synhorst, 15-1, 15-12
2) Natalia Mendez & Carla Muñoz - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….