Apologies to all the bouncing ball followers for our infrequent posting this week. The Racquetball Blog is on the road, and the internet connection in our room has been poor. However, they can't keep a good blog down, but enough about us.
Wilson Tour of Hope
The Wilson Tour of Hope tournament in Cincinnati is following form. On the men's side, the two top seeds will meet in Sunday's final with first seed Andy Hawthorne taking on second seed Juan Herrera. Hawthorne beat Allan Crockett in one semi-final, 3-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6, while Herrera defeated Mike Dennison, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8. This is a Tier 4 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event.
It's also a satellite event on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO), and hometown veteran Kerri Wachtel, the 2nd seed, booked a place in Sunday's final by defeating Adrienne Fisher, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9. Wachtel will play the winner of top seed Cheryl Gudinas Holmes and Krystal Csuk, which goes later on Saturday.
Racquetball Canada Singles Selection Event
The top men's and women's seeds made it to the final four at Racquetball Canada's National Team Singles Selection event in Brossard, Quebec. On the men's side, it's Vincent Gagnon, Kris Odegard, Michael Burgess and Ryan Smith, as Mike Green is not in Brossard due to injury.
However, in the first round of the final four, Smith, the 4th seed, upset 1st seed Gagnon, 16-14, 4-15, 11-6, while Odegard defeated Burgess, 15-13, 15-13. Odegard had a big lead in game one, but Burgess came back only to fall short. Then in game two it was Burgess who was ahead only to have Odegard come back and take the game and match.
On the women's side, third seed Véronique Guillemette lost a close match to top seed Jennifer Saunders, 17-15, 15-9, and then beat second seed Josée Grand'Maître, 15-6, 15-5. If Guillemette wins her last match against Frédérique T. Lambert on Sunday, she'll finish second.
Saunders defeated Lambert Saturday, 15-11, 15-1, and her last match is against Grand'Maître on Sunday. Saunders will finish first even if she loses Sunday and Guillemette wins, as they would both have 2-1 records and the first tie-breaker is head to head, which Saunders won.
The format of the event is not a straight draw. Initial matches will sort players into groups of four, and then there will be a round robin within those groups. Racquetball Canada adopted this format a few years ago for selection events so that all players have to play each other. Without doing so it was felt there was some uncertainty about which players were better.
This event is the final qualifying event for the Racquetball Canada's Pan American Championships team. Results from this weekend will be combined with results from last year's Nationals to select the singles players who will represent Canada at the Pan Ams in Columbia in April.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Real Big Events this weekend
Super Bowl, sch-mooper bowl, these two racquetball tournaments will be the really the big events this weekend.
Wilson Tour of Hope
The 2009 Wilson Tour of Hope event happens in Cincinnati this weekend, and it's a Tier 4 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event and a satellite event on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO). The men's line up is highlighted by Andy Hawthorne, Juan Herrera and Mike Dennison, while the women's side features three top 10 WPRO players in Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (#2), Kerri Wachtel (#4) and Adrienne Fisher (#7).
The event is in support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Racquetball Canada Singles Selection Event
Racquetball Canada's National Team Singles Selection event begins Friday in Brossard, Quebec just outside Montreal. This event is the final qualifying event for the Racquetball Canada's Pan American Championships team. Results from this weekend will be combined with results from last year's Nationals to select the singles players who will represent Canada at the Pan Ams in Columbia in April.
Rumours are that Mike Green will not be in Brossard due to injury. This would make the top four seeds, in order, Vincent Gagnon, Kris Odegard, Michael Burgess and Ryan Smith. Burgess broke through to the top 5 after defeating Smith at last year's Canadian Championships, when Smith had to retire after losing game one as he suffered a broken nose from a follow through by Burgess. Smith's nose would not stop bleeding even after 15 minutes of injury time.
Also looking to do well will be Eric Desrochers, who won the Doubles Selection event with Green earlier this month in Burnaby, British Columbia. A good showing in Brossard may get Desrochers his first Team Canada appearance.
On the women's side, Jennifer Saunders is clearly the one to beat. Christie Van Hees, who did win last year's Canadian Championships yet did not qualify for Canada's World Championship team in part because she didn't play in this event last year, is not entered. Van Hees hasn't played this event since 1999.
Saunders's main competition this weekend will come from her doubles partner, veteran Josée Grand'Maître, as well as Véronique Guillemette. But another player to watch is junior Frédérique T. Lambert, who at 15 was the youngest player to earn a spot on Team Canada when she qualified for last year's Pan Am Championships. Now 16, she'll be looking do that again.
The format of the event is not a straight draw. Initial matches will sort players into groups of four, and then there will be a round robin within those groups. Racquetball Canada adopted this format a few years ago for selection events so that all players have to play each other. Without doing so it was felt there was some uncertainty about which players were better.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Wilson Tour of Hope
The 2009 Wilson Tour of Hope event happens in Cincinnati this weekend, and it's a Tier 4 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event and a satellite event on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO). The men's line up is highlighted by Andy Hawthorne, Juan Herrera and Mike Dennison, while the women's side features three top 10 WPRO players in Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (#2), Kerri Wachtel (#4) and Adrienne Fisher (#7).
The event is in support of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Racquetball Canada Singles Selection Event
Racquetball Canada's National Team Singles Selection event begins Friday in Brossard, Quebec just outside Montreal. This event is the final qualifying event for the Racquetball Canada's Pan American Championships team. Results from this weekend will be combined with results from last year's Nationals to select the singles players who will represent Canada at the Pan Ams in Columbia in April.
Rumours are that Mike Green will not be in Brossard due to injury. This would make the top four seeds, in order, Vincent Gagnon, Kris Odegard, Michael Burgess and Ryan Smith. Burgess broke through to the top 5 after defeating Smith at last year's Canadian Championships, when Smith had to retire after losing game one as he suffered a broken nose from a follow through by Burgess. Smith's nose would not stop bleeding even after 15 minutes of injury time.
Also looking to do well will be Eric Desrochers, who won the Doubles Selection event with Green earlier this month in Burnaby, British Columbia. A good showing in Brossard may get Desrochers his first Team Canada appearance.
On the women's side, Jennifer Saunders is clearly the one to beat. Christie Van Hees, who did win last year's Canadian Championships yet did not qualify for Canada's World Championship team in part because she didn't play in this event last year, is not entered. Van Hees hasn't played this event since 1999.
Saunders's main competition this weekend will come from her doubles partner, veteran Josée Grand'Maître, as well as Véronique Guillemette. But another player to watch is junior Frédérique T. Lambert, who at 15 was the youngest player to earn a spot on Team Canada when she qualified for last year's Pan Am Championships. Now 16, she'll be looking do that again.
The format of the event is not a straight draw. Initial matches will sort players into groups of four, and then there will be a round robin within those groups. Racquetball Canada adopted this format a few years ago for selection events so that all players have to play each other. Without doing so it was felt there was some uncertainty about which players were better.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, January 26, 2009
Weekend Round Up
Concord Classic
Ruben Gonzalez won the Concord Classic in California on the Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT) by defeating Woody Clouse in the final, 10-8, 9-5, 4-9, 9-5.
In the Concord Classic women's open division, Veronica Sotomayor, #11 on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization's (WPRO's) defeated Aubrey O'brien, WPRO #20, 15-2, 15-9, in a battle of sixteen year olds.
Garden State Open
Eric Muller won the the Garden State Open, a Tier 4 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) in Fairfield, New Jersey. Muller, #79 on the IRT, defeated Travis Aldinger (IRT #37) in the final, 3-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-7 on Sunday.
Earlier Sunday, Aldinger beat Sanjay Laforest, 5-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8, in one semi-final, while Muller took out 17 year old US Junior Team member Bradley Kirch, 11-1, 11-7, 12-10, in the other.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Ruben Gonzalez won the Concord Classic in California on the Classic Pro Racquetball Tour (CPRT) by defeating Woody Clouse in the final, 10-8, 9-5, 4-9, 9-5.
In the Concord Classic women's open division, Veronica Sotomayor, #11 on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization's (WPRO's) defeated Aubrey O'brien, WPRO #20, 15-2, 15-9, in a battle of sixteen year olds.
Garden State Open
Eric Muller won the the Garden State Open, a Tier 4 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) in Fairfield, New Jersey. Muller, #79 on the IRT, defeated Travis Aldinger (IRT #37) in the final, 3-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-7 on Sunday.
Earlier Sunday, Aldinger beat Sanjay Laforest, 5-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8, in one semi-final, while Muller took out 17 year old US Junior Team member Bradley Kirch, 11-1, 11-7, 12-10, in the other.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Of Concords and Garden States - UPDATED
Concord Classic
The Classic Pro Racquetball Tour's (CPRT's) Concord Classic is working out as expected as the semi-finalists are Woody Clouse, Ruben Gonzalez, Cliff Swain and reigning US Open Champion Jimmy Lowe, who was seeded 5th behind 4th seeded Gerry Price. But Lowe handily beat Price in the quarter finals 9-1, 9-2, 9-2. In fact, the semi-finalists collectively gave up only 26 points in their 12 quarter final games; an average of 2.17 per game.
In the semi-finals, Clouse defeated Lowe in three straight games, 9-3, 9-4, 9-7, avenging his loss to Lowe in the US Open last October, while Gonzalez beat Swain in four games, 9-4, 4-9, 9-5, 9-5, to set up a #1 versus #2 battle on Sunday. Clouse was seeded first and Gonzalez second.
Another interesting final Sunday will be in Women's Open, where two 16 year olds will face each other. Veronica Sotomayor, #11 on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization's (WPRO's) rankings will play Aubrey O'brien, #20 on the WPRO.
Garden State Open
Across the USA in Fairfield, New Jersey, the Garden State Open, a Tier 4 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is also going along as expected.
There the semi-finalists are Travis Aldinger and Sanjay Laforest on the top of the draw with 17 year old US Junior Team member Bradley Kirch and former US National Team member Eric Muller on the bottom half. The semi-finals and finals will be played Sunday.
Follow the bouncing ball....
The Classic Pro Racquetball Tour's (CPRT's) Concord Classic is working out as expected as the semi-finalists are Woody Clouse, Ruben Gonzalez, Cliff Swain and reigning US Open Champion Jimmy Lowe, who was seeded 5th behind 4th seeded Gerry Price. But Lowe handily beat Price in the quarter finals 9-1, 9-2, 9-2. In fact, the semi-finalists collectively gave up only 26 points in their 12 quarter final games; an average of 2.17 per game.
In the semi-finals, Clouse defeated Lowe in three straight games, 9-3, 9-4, 9-7, avenging his loss to Lowe in the US Open last October, while Gonzalez beat Swain in four games, 9-4, 4-9, 9-5, 9-5, to set up a #1 versus #2 battle on Sunday. Clouse was seeded first and Gonzalez second.
Another interesting final Sunday will be in Women's Open, where two 16 year olds will face each other. Veronica Sotomayor, #11 on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization's (WPRO's) rankings will play Aubrey O'brien, #20 on the WPRO.
Garden State Open
Across the USA in Fairfield, New Jersey, the Garden State Open, a Tier 4 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is also going along as expected.
There the semi-finalists are Travis Aldinger and Sanjay Laforest on the top of the draw with 17 year old US Junior Team member Bradley Kirch and former US National Team member Eric Muller on the bottom half. The semi-finals and finals will be played Sunday.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, January 19, 2009
Scheduling
Kane Waselenchuk got back on the winning track in New York City on the weekend, and this week we'll see if his streak can cont--... wait, there isn't a Tier 1 event on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) this week. There's a Tier 4 event in Fairfield, New Jersey, but the next Tier 1 event isn't for a month, when the Seattle Open happens February 19-22.
The scheduling of IRT events is not entirely in the tour's control, as some events have long histories, and aren't going to change them, or are reluctant to do so, simply to suit the IRT. Moreover, there aren't climate conditions influencing tournament scheduling, as happens in golf for example. Thus, you can have an IRT event in California one week and New York City the next.
It's a bit of the tail wagging the dog, but racquetball isn't the only sport to suffer this way. Tennis people have wondered if the staging of Wimbledon just a couple of weeks after the conclusion of the French Open is optimal. We think it's obviously not optimal, but do you think that Wimbledon going to change? We don't.
Similarly, people have wondered if the Australian Open could be moved further into the calendar year so that it's closer to the other tennis Grand Slam events. But seasonally the Australian Open happens at the same time as the US Open: the end of summer. They did move the Aussie Open from December to January a few years back, but that's not a substantial change.
So until racquetball is the big sport we all want it to be, the stops and starts of the season - kicking off the season with 5 tournaments in 6 weeks followed by only one tournament in over two months - is just something we're going to have to live with.
This Week
The Garden State Open, a Tier 4 IRT event, is this weekend in Fairfield, New Jersey, but the big action is in Concord, California, where the Classic Pro Racquetball Tour's (CPRT's) Concord Classic will be held featuring US Open Champion Jimmy Lowe, as well as Woody Clouse, Ruben Gonzalez and Cliff Swain.
Speaking of funky scheduling, Swain was in California two weeks ago for the IRT's California Open, but he didn't hang about Cali waiting for the Concord event. No, not Mr. Swain. He went to the French Open in Paris (where he won, defeating Canadian Patrick Jauvin in the final, 15-2, 15-9).
It's a 9 hour time zone difference between California and France, so Swain could be experiencing some big jet lag this week. Unless he was able to keep himself on California time. But that would have been difficult, although if you had to stay up all night to do that, Paris would be a good place to do it.
Follow the bouncing ball....
The scheduling of IRT events is not entirely in the tour's control, as some events have long histories, and aren't going to change them, or are reluctant to do so, simply to suit the IRT. Moreover, there aren't climate conditions influencing tournament scheduling, as happens in golf for example. Thus, you can have an IRT event in California one week and New York City the next.
It's a bit of the tail wagging the dog, but racquetball isn't the only sport to suffer this way. Tennis people have wondered if the staging of Wimbledon just a couple of weeks after the conclusion of the French Open is optimal. We think it's obviously not optimal, but do you think that Wimbledon going to change? We don't.
Similarly, people have wondered if the Australian Open could be moved further into the calendar year so that it's closer to the other tennis Grand Slam events. But seasonally the Australian Open happens at the same time as the US Open: the end of summer. They did move the Aussie Open from December to January a few years back, but that's not a substantial change.
So until racquetball is the big sport we all want it to be, the stops and starts of the season - kicking off the season with 5 tournaments in 6 weeks followed by only one tournament in over two months - is just something we're going to have to live with.
This Week
The Garden State Open, a Tier 4 IRT event, is this weekend in Fairfield, New Jersey, but the big action is in Concord, California, where the Classic Pro Racquetball Tour's (CPRT's) Concord Classic will be held featuring US Open Champion Jimmy Lowe, as well as Woody Clouse, Ruben Gonzalez and Cliff Swain.
Speaking of funky scheduling, Swain was in California two weeks ago for the IRT's California Open, but he didn't hang about Cali waiting for the Concord event. No, not Mr. Swain. He went to the French Open in Paris (where he won, defeating Canadian Patrick Jauvin in the final, 15-2, 15-9).
It's a 9 hour time zone difference between California and France, so Swain could be experiencing some big jet lag this week. Unless he was able to keep himself on California time. But that would have been difficult, although if you had to stay up all night to do that, Paris would be a good place to do it.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Sunday, January 18, 2009
IRT - NYC Pro Am Final Result
Kane Waselenchuk got back on track and took another step closer to regaining his place at the top of professional racquetball, as he defeated Jack Huczek, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7, in the final of the New York City Pro Am on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).
It was Waselenchuk's fifth win of the season in six tournaments, and the second time he's defeated Huczek in a final. Waselenchuk is ranked 7th on the IRT, but should rise further up the rankings with this victory.
New York City Pro Am
Final
Kane Waselenchuk d. Jack Huczek, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7
Follow the bouncing ball....
It was Waselenchuk's fifth win of the season in six tournaments, and the second time he's defeated Huczek in a final. Waselenchuk is ranked 7th on the IRT, but should rise further up the rankings with this victory.
New York City Pro Am
Final
Kane Waselenchuk d. Jack Huczek, 11-4, 11-4, 11-7
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, January 17, 2009
IRT - NYC Pro Am SF Results
Jack Huczek, playing four days after his 26th birthday, defeated Alvaro Beltran, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7, to reach the final of the New York City Pro Am on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). On Sunday, Huczek will play in his fourth final of the season.
Kane Waselenchuk will be Huczek's opponent, as he beat IRT #1 Rocky Carson in the other semi-final, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2. Carson's defeat ended his tournament winning streak at two, as he won the California Open last week and the Juarez Open in November.
Waselenchuk has won their three meetings this season, including the final of the Kansas event. However, last week at the California Open Huczek had a 2-1 lead in games before Waselenchuk came back to win in a fifth game tie-breaker 11-9.
New York City Pro Am
Semi-finals
Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2
Jack Huczek d. Alvaro Beltran, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7
Finals
Jack Huczek v. Kane Waselenchuk
Follow the bouncing ball....
Kane Waselenchuk will be Huczek's opponent, as he beat IRT #1 Rocky Carson in the other semi-final, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2. Carson's defeat ended his tournament winning streak at two, as he won the California Open last week and the Juarez Open in November.
Waselenchuk has won their three meetings this season, including the final of the Kansas event. However, last week at the California Open Huczek had a 2-1 lead in games before Waselenchuk came back to win in a fifth game tie-breaker 11-9.
New York City Pro Am
Semi-finals
Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 11-8, 11-4, 11-2
Jack Huczek d. Alvaro Beltran, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7
Finals
Jack Huczek v. Kane Waselenchuk
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, January 16, 2009
IRT - NYC Pro Am QF Results
The final four have been determined at the New York City Pro Am on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), and there are no surprises, as it's the top three ranked IRT players - Rocky Carson, Jack Huczek and Alvaro Beltran - along with former #1 and four time event winner this season Kane Waselenchuk.
Beltran had the most difficulty in the quarter finals, as he went the distance with Mitch Williams, winning in five games, 12-10, 2-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4. Carson and Waselenchuk won in three straight, while Huczek needed four games to dispense with Shane Vanderson, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8.
In one semi-final on Saturday, Carson faces off with Waselenchuk with hopes to do better than the last time they met in the US Open final, when Carson got only 8 points over three games.
In the other semi-final, Beltran will try to get to his second straight final, but Huczek has a 5-23 record against Beltran over their careers. However, Beltran won their only meeting this season.
New York City Pro Am
Quarter Finals
Rocky Carson d. Ben Croft, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4,
Kane Waselenchuk d. Jason Mannino, 11-6, 11-2, 11-7
Alvaro Beltran d. Mitch Williams, 12-10, 2-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4
Jack Huczek d. Shane Vanderson, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8
Semi-finals
Rocky Carson v. Kane Waselenchuk
Jack Huczek v. Alvaro Beltran
Round of 16
Rocky Carson d. Andres Herrera, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
Ben Croft d. Chris Crowther, 1-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8
Kane Waselenchuk d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-5, 12-14, 11-4, 11-1
Jason Mannino d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-9, 11-6, 11-2
Alvaro Beltran d. Eric Muller, default
Mitch Williams d. Alejandro Landa, 9-11, 11-6, 11-1, 13-11
Shane Vanderson d. Jason Thoerner, 11-7, 11-7, 11-1
Jack Huczek d. Anthony Herrera, 11-2, 11-2, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball....
Beltran had the most difficulty in the quarter finals, as he went the distance with Mitch Williams, winning in five games, 12-10, 2-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4. Carson and Waselenchuk won in three straight, while Huczek needed four games to dispense with Shane Vanderson, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8.
In one semi-final on Saturday, Carson faces off with Waselenchuk with hopes to do better than the last time they met in the US Open final, when Carson got only 8 points over three games.
In the other semi-final, Beltran will try to get to his second straight final, but Huczek has a 5-23 record against Beltran over their careers. However, Beltran won their only meeting this season.
New York City Pro Am
Quarter Finals
Rocky Carson d. Ben Croft, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4,
Kane Waselenchuk d. Jason Mannino, 11-6, 11-2, 11-7
Alvaro Beltran d. Mitch Williams, 12-10, 2-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-4
Jack Huczek d. Shane Vanderson, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8
Semi-finals
Rocky Carson v. Kane Waselenchuk
Jack Huczek v. Alvaro Beltran
Round of 16
Rocky Carson d. Andres Herrera, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
Ben Croft d. Chris Crowther, 1-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8
Kane Waselenchuk d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-5, 12-14, 11-4, 11-1
Jason Mannino d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-9, 11-6, 11-2
Alvaro Beltran d. Eric Muller, default
Mitch Williams d. Alejandro Landa, 9-11, 11-6, 11-1, 13-11
Shane Vanderson d. Jason Thoerner, 11-7, 11-7, 11-1
Jack Huczek d. Anthony Herrera, 11-2, 11-2, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball....
IRT - NYC Pro Am Round of 16 Results
Full Round of 16 results are in for the New York City Pro Am on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), and the only surprise was Andy Hawthorne taking a game off of Kane Waselenchuk, although Waselenchuk took the match in four games, 11-5, 12-14, 11-4, 11-1. Also, Ben Croft and Mitch Williams had slow starts in their matches, each losing the first game, but both came back and won in four games.
The trend of the higher seeds winning continues in the quarter finals, as Rocky Carson has defeated Croft in three straight games, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4, and Jack Huczek took out Shane Vanderson in four games, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8.
Other two quarter finals go later on Friday.
New York City Pro Am
Quarter Finals
Rocky Carson v. Ben Croft, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4
Jason Mannino v. Kane Waselenchuk
Alvaro Beltran v. Mitch Williams
Jack Huczek v. Shane Vanderson, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8
Round of 16
Rocky Carson d. Andres Herrera, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
Ben Croft d. Chris Crowther, 1-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8
Kane Waselenchuk d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-5, 12-14, 11-4, 11-1
Jason Mannino d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-9, 11-6, 11-2
Alvaro Beltran d. Eric Muller, default
Mitch Williams d. Alejandro Landa, 9-11, 11-6, 11-1, 13-11
Shane Vanderson d. Jason Thoerner, 11-7, 11-7, 11-1
Jack Huczek d. Anthony Herrera, 11-2, 11-2, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball....
The trend of the higher seeds winning continues in the quarter finals, as Rocky Carson has defeated Croft in three straight games, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4, and Jack Huczek took out Shane Vanderson in four games, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8.
Other two quarter finals go later on Friday.
New York City Pro Am
Quarter Finals
Rocky Carson v. Ben Croft, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4
Jason Mannino v. Kane Waselenchuk
Alvaro Beltran v. Mitch Williams
Jack Huczek v. Shane Vanderson, 11-3, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8
Round of 16
Rocky Carson d. Andres Herrera, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
Ben Croft d. Chris Crowther, 1-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8
Kane Waselenchuk d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-5, 12-14, 11-4, 11-1
Jason Mannino d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-9, 11-6, 11-2
Alvaro Beltran d. Eric Muller, default
Mitch Williams d. Alejandro Landa, 9-11, 11-6, 11-1, 13-11
Shane Vanderson d. Jason Thoerner, 11-7, 11-7, 11-1
Jack Huczek d. Anthony Herrera, 11-2, 11-2, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball....
TRB's Prediction for the New York City Pro-Am
Look what a win can do. Last week, readers of The Racquetball Blog were almost unanimous in their opinion that Kane Waselenchuk would win the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) California Open, with only one reader each going for Alvaro Beltran and Jason Mannino.
But in California, Beltran beat Waselenchuk in the semi-finals, and then lost to Rocky Carson in the final. Moreover, Waselenchuk only squeaked by Jack Huczek in the quarters with an 11-9 tie-breaker win after being down two games to one.
This week readers' opinions are still solidly with Waselenchuk to win the New York City Pro-Am, but that's not a unanimous or even a majority view. Several people have also voted for Beltran, Huczek, and Carson, as well as a single vote for Mannino. And three people are saying "Another player" will win it. We wonder who they have in mind? Former doubles World Champion Eric Muller perhaps?
Waselenchuk is on the top half of the draw this week with Mannino and Carson, who he'll likely have to face in the quarters and semis, respectively, prior to the finals. Beltran and Huczek are on the bottom, which will make it hard for Beltran.
We judge Beltran to have the best chance against Waselenchuk, but his record against Huczek isn't good at 5-23 lifetime on the IRT. However, he did win their only meeting this season - a five game match in the semi-finals of the Kentucky Open. Also, people have spoken of Beltran being in better shape this season, which may be a contributing factor to his increased success. Thus, it's certainly possible that Beltran will get by Huczek and get to the final in NYC.
But that's not what we're predicting, because we want to be controversial too! We went with what we thought was the safe bet last week, picking Waselenchuk to win in California, and look what that got us!
So this week we're picking the birthday boy, Jack Huczek to give himself a belated birthday gift and win in New York City.
Our prediction record's not great, so Huczek shouldn't be too chuffed about this. But we're saying he's learned something from his losses to Waselenchuk, as he was reportedly drive serving to him in California, which we think is the right strategy.
Regardless, Beltran's win last week has made the rest of the season more uncertain and therefore more interesting, and we're looking forward to it.
Follow the bouncing ball....
But in California, Beltran beat Waselenchuk in the semi-finals, and then lost to Rocky Carson in the final. Moreover, Waselenchuk only squeaked by Jack Huczek in the quarters with an 11-9 tie-breaker win after being down two games to one.
This week readers' opinions are still solidly with Waselenchuk to win the New York City Pro-Am, but that's not a unanimous or even a majority view. Several people have also voted for Beltran, Huczek, and Carson, as well as a single vote for Mannino. And three people are saying "Another player" will win it. We wonder who they have in mind? Former doubles World Champion Eric Muller perhaps?
Waselenchuk is on the top half of the draw this week with Mannino and Carson, who he'll likely have to face in the quarters and semis, respectively, prior to the finals. Beltran and Huczek are on the bottom, which will make it hard for Beltran.
We judge Beltran to have the best chance against Waselenchuk, but his record against Huczek isn't good at 5-23 lifetime on the IRT. However, he did win their only meeting this season - a five game match in the semi-finals of the Kentucky Open. Also, people have spoken of Beltran being in better shape this season, which may be a contributing factor to his increased success. Thus, it's certainly possible that Beltran will get by Huczek and get to the final in NYC.
But that's not what we're predicting, because we want to be controversial too! We went with what we thought was the safe bet last week, picking Waselenchuk to win in California, and look what that got us!
So this week we're picking the birthday boy, Jack Huczek to give himself a belated birthday gift and win in New York City.
Our prediction record's not great, so Huczek shouldn't be too chuffed about this. But we're saying he's learned something from his losses to Waselenchuk, as he was reportedly drive serving to him in California, which we think is the right strategy.
Regardless, Beltran's win last week has made the rest of the season more uncertain and therefore more interesting, and we're looking forward to it.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, January 15, 2009
IRT - NYC Pro Am Qualifying Results
Here are the complete results from the qualifying rounds of New York City Pro Am on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).
Three of the top 8 seeded qualifiers failed to make the main draw: Juan Herrera lost to Alejandro Landa; Hiroshi Shimizu was beaten by Eric Muller, and Anthony Herrera took out Travis Woodbury.
None of the final 8 qualifying matches went five games, although Andy Hawthorne's win over Jason Sylvester couldn't have been closer over four games, as the winning margin was the minimum 2 points in each game. Hawthorne's reward is a match up with Kane Waselenchuk on Friday in the Round of 16.
New York City Pro Am
Qualifying Round Three
Q1 = Chris Crowther d. Tim Landeryou, 11-7, 11-1, 12-10
Q8 = Andres Herrera d. Lee Connell, 11-7, 11-7, 11-4
Q5 = Alejandro Herrera d. Rafael Filippini, 11-3, 11-4, 11-6
Q4 = Andy Hawthorne d. Jason Sylvester, 11-9, 13-15, 11-9, 11-9
Q3 = Alejandro Landa d. Juan Herrera, 11-4, 11-4, 11-8
Q6 = Eric Muller d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 11-8, 11-6, 11-1
Q7 = Anthony Herrera d. Travis Woodbury, 11-2, 11-4, 11-3
Q2 = Jason Thoerner d. Mike Burgess, 8-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-1
Qualifying Round Two
Tim Landeryou d. Armando Landa, 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5
Lee Connell d. Bryan Crosser, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10
Rafael Filippini d. Joe Palazzo, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-2
Jason Sylvester d. Dan Fowler, 11-7, 8-11, 5-11, 4-1 - injury fft
Alejandro Landa d. Gil De Los Rios, 11-9, 4-11, 12-10, 11-6
Eric Muller d. Ruben Gonzalez, 11-7, 11-1, 8-11, 10-12, 11-3
Anthony Herrera d. Chris Purington, 11-0, 11-1, 11-3
Mike Burgess d. Akipo Shimizu, 17-15, 11-8, 11-6
Qualifying Round One
Armando Landa d. Vince Creazzo 11-3, 5-11, 11-3, 14-12
Tim Landeryou d. Roland Keller, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
Lee Connell d. Jorge Luis Michel, 5-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-0
Bryan Crosser d. Jose Flores, 11-2, 11-3, 3-11, 11-0
Joe Palazzo d. Rich Sledzik, 10-12, 12-10, 11-4, 11-6
Rafael Filippini d. Carlos Keller Vargas, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-2
Jason Sylvester d. Chad Laforest, 11-5, 11-0, 11-1
Dan Fowler d. Brad Kirch, fft
Gil De Los Rios d. Tim Kirch, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
Alejandro Landa d. Keichiro Saito, 11-6, 11-4, 11-2
Ruben Gonzalez d. Garin Meguerditchian, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7
Eric Muller d. Marty Hammond, 11-6, 11-1, 11-0
Chris Purington d. Mitch Posner, 15-13, 11-6, 11-4
Anthony Herrera d. Paul Smith, 11-4, 11-7, 11-5
Mike Burgess d. Alex Zamudio, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
Akipo Shimizu d. Mauricio Zelada, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9
Main Draw
Rocky Carson v. Andres Herrera
Ben Croft v. Chris Crowther
Kane Waselenchuk v. Andy Hawthorne
Jason Mannino v. Alejandro Herrera
Alvaro Beltran v. Eric Muller
Mitch Williams v. Alejandro Landa
Shane Vanderson v. Jason Thoerner
Jack Huczek v. Anthony Herrera
Follow the bouncing ball....
Three of the top 8 seeded qualifiers failed to make the main draw: Juan Herrera lost to Alejandro Landa; Hiroshi Shimizu was beaten by Eric Muller, and Anthony Herrera took out Travis Woodbury.
None of the final 8 qualifying matches went five games, although Andy Hawthorne's win over Jason Sylvester couldn't have been closer over four games, as the winning margin was the minimum 2 points in each game. Hawthorne's reward is a match up with Kane Waselenchuk on Friday in the Round of 16.
New York City Pro Am
Qualifying Round Three
Q1 = Chris Crowther d. Tim Landeryou, 11-7, 11-1, 12-10
Q8 = Andres Herrera d. Lee Connell, 11-7, 11-7, 11-4
Q5 = Alejandro Herrera d. Rafael Filippini, 11-3, 11-4, 11-6
Q4 = Andy Hawthorne d. Jason Sylvester, 11-9, 13-15, 11-9, 11-9
Q3 = Alejandro Landa d. Juan Herrera, 11-4, 11-4, 11-8
Q6 = Eric Muller d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 11-8, 11-6, 11-1
Q7 = Anthony Herrera d. Travis Woodbury, 11-2, 11-4, 11-3
Q2 = Jason Thoerner d. Mike Burgess, 8-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-1
Qualifying Round Two
Tim Landeryou d. Armando Landa, 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5
Lee Connell d. Bryan Crosser, 11-8, 11-7, 12-10
Rafael Filippini d. Joe Palazzo, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-2
Jason Sylvester d. Dan Fowler, 11-7, 8-11, 5-11, 4-1 - injury fft
Alejandro Landa d. Gil De Los Rios, 11-9, 4-11, 12-10, 11-6
Eric Muller d. Ruben Gonzalez, 11-7, 11-1, 8-11, 10-12, 11-3
Anthony Herrera d. Chris Purington, 11-0, 11-1, 11-3
Mike Burgess d. Akipo Shimizu, 17-15, 11-8, 11-6
Qualifying Round One
Armando Landa d. Vince Creazzo 11-3, 5-11, 11-3, 14-12
Tim Landeryou d. Roland Keller, 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
Lee Connell d. Jorge Luis Michel, 5-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-0
Bryan Crosser d. Jose Flores, 11-2, 11-3, 3-11, 11-0
Joe Palazzo d. Rich Sledzik, 10-12, 12-10, 11-4, 11-6
Rafael Filippini d. Carlos Keller Vargas, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-2
Jason Sylvester d. Chad Laforest, 11-5, 11-0, 11-1
Dan Fowler d. Brad Kirch, fft
Gil De Los Rios d. Tim Kirch, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
Alejandro Landa d. Keichiro Saito, 11-6, 11-4, 11-2
Ruben Gonzalez d. Garin Meguerditchian, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7
Eric Muller d. Marty Hammond, 11-6, 11-1, 11-0
Chris Purington d. Mitch Posner, 15-13, 11-6, 11-4
Anthony Herrera d. Paul Smith, 11-4, 11-7, 11-5
Mike Burgess d. Alex Zamudio, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7
Akipo Shimizu d. Mauricio Zelada, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9
Main Draw
Rocky Carson v. Andres Herrera
Ben Croft v. Chris Crowther
Kane Waselenchuk v. Andy Hawthorne
Jason Mannino v. Alejandro Herrera
Alvaro Beltran v. Eric Muller
Mitch Williams v. Alejandro Landa
Shane Vanderson v. Jason Thoerner
Jack Huczek v. Anthony Herrera
Follow the bouncing ball....
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
IRT - New York City Pro Am Qualifying Rounds
It's going to be some tournament on Long Island this weekend, where the New York City Pro Am will happen. Two hundred and ninety participants will be playing. Wow!
There are 40 players in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) qualifying rounds. The sizable draw will benefit the top 8, who are seeded into the last round of qualifying, as they'll be facing off against players who will be playing their third match of the day.
We've set up the first rounds underneath who those players are playing into. Thus, the winner of the match between Armando Landa and Vince Creazzo and the winner of the match between Roland Keller and Tim Landeryou will play off and that winner will play Chris Crowther to be qualifier 1 (Q1).
In the main draw, Kane Waslenchuk and Jason Mannino may face off for the first time this season if they both win their Round of 16 matches, as Waselenchuk is on the top half of the draw this time. Thus, there's also potentially a Waselenchuk-Carson semi-final. A repeat of last weekend's Beltran-Waselenchuk match can only happen in the final.
New York City Pro Am
Qualifying
Q1 - Chris Crowther
Armando Landa v. Vince Creazzo
Roland Keller v. Tim Landeryou
Q8 - Andres Herrera
Lee Connell v. Jorge Luis Michel
Jose Flores v. Bryan Crosser
Q5 - Alejandro Herrera
Joe Palazzo v. Rich Sledzik
Rafael Filippini v. Carlos Keller Vargas
Q4 - Andy Hawthorne
Jason Sylvester v. Chad Laforest
Dan Fowler v. Brad Kirch
Q3 - Juan Herrera
Gil De Los Rios v. Tim Kirch
Alejandro Landa v. Keichiro Saito
Q6 - Hiroshi Shimizu
Ruben Gonzalez v. Garin Meguerditchian
Marty Hammond v. Eric Muller
Q7 - Travis Woodbury
Mitch Posner v. Chris Purington
Paul Smith v. Anthony Herrera
Q2 - Jason Thoerner
Mike Burgess v. Alex Zamudio
Akipo Shimizu v. Mauricio Zelada
Main Draw
Rocky Carson v. Q8
Ben Croft v. Q1
Kane Waselenchuk v. Q4
Jason Mannino v. Q5
Alvaro Beltran v. Q6
Mitch Williams v. Q3
Shane Vanderson v. Q2
Jack Huczek v. Q7
Follow the bouncing ball....
There are 40 players in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) qualifying rounds. The sizable draw will benefit the top 8, who are seeded into the last round of qualifying, as they'll be facing off against players who will be playing their third match of the day.
We've set up the first rounds underneath who those players are playing into. Thus, the winner of the match between Armando Landa and Vince Creazzo and the winner of the match between Roland Keller and Tim Landeryou will play off and that winner will play Chris Crowther to be qualifier 1 (Q1).
In the main draw, Kane Waslenchuk and Jason Mannino may face off for the first time this season if they both win their Round of 16 matches, as Waselenchuk is on the top half of the draw this time. Thus, there's also potentially a Waselenchuk-Carson semi-final. A repeat of last weekend's Beltran-Waselenchuk match can only happen in the final.
New York City Pro Am
Qualifying
Q1 - Chris Crowther
Armando Landa v. Vince Creazzo
Roland Keller v. Tim Landeryou
Q8 - Andres Herrera
Lee Connell v. Jorge Luis Michel
Jose Flores v. Bryan Crosser
Q5 - Alejandro Herrera
Joe Palazzo v. Rich Sledzik
Rafael Filippini v. Carlos Keller Vargas
Q4 - Andy Hawthorne
Jason Sylvester v. Chad Laforest
Dan Fowler v. Brad Kirch
Q3 - Juan Herrera
Gil De Los Rios v. Tim Kirch
Alejandro Landa v. Keichiro Saito
Q6 - Hiroshi Shimizu
Ruben Gonzalez v. Garin Meguerditchian
Marty Hammond v. Eric Muller
Q7 - Travis Woodbury
Mitch Posner v. Chris Purington
Paul Smith v. Anthony Herrera
Q2 - Jason Thoerner
Mike Burgess v. Alex Zamudio
Akipo Shimizu v. Mauricio Zelada
Main Draw
Rocky Carson v. Q8
Ben Croft v. Q1
Kane Waselenchuk v. Q4
Jason Mannino v. Q5
Alvaro Beltran v. Q6
Mitch Williams v. Q3
Shane Vanderson v. Q2
Jack Huczek v. Q7
Follow the bouncing ball....
What's the deal with the IRT and ESPN360.com?
This season Dave Negrete, commissioner of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), lined up a deal to have IRT Grand Slam and Tier 1 events broadcast on ESPN360.com. Thus, there was coverage for the first three events of the IRT season: the Motorola Racquetball World Championships in Denver, Ghost of Georgetown in Kansas City and Kentucky Pro Am Open in Bowling Green.
However, there hasn't been coverage since. The Racquetball Blog talked to Negrete about this today, and the reason for the halt is the ultimate bottom line: money. It costs money to produce the coverage, and also to put it on the network. Negrete had a great deal with ESPN360.com, who "was great" to work with. ESPN is not the problem.
The problem is the IRT still needs to cover the production costs, which include beaming the signal from the site back to the main ESPN location via satellite. Preseason Negrete had sponsors lined up to do that. However, you may have noticed that we're not in the same economic climate as we were six months ago, and that's led to a loss of the sponsorships that was going to cover those production costs.
No one's more frustrated by this than Negrete. "It's killing me," he said, because Negrete had everything lined up only to have it torpedoed by something outside of his control.
Negrete's goal is to grow the game, and he saw ESPN360.com as a way to do this by potentially reaching millions as well as linking racquetball up to a great sports brand: ESPN itself. Also, the broadcasts would be (and have been) professionally done, which is key for Negrete as he works to attract further sponsors, because a more professional product will be more attractive to sponsors.
The economic climate is a concern for Negrete looking forward to next season, as already one of the Tier 1 events (South Carolina) scheduled later this season will not happen due to lack of funding.
"Next year could be scary," he said.
p.s. an article on sports and the economy appeared today on CBC.ca.
Follow the bouncing ball....
However, there hasn't been coverage since. The Racquetball Blog talked to Negrete about this today, and the reason for the halt is the ultimate bottom line: money. It costs money to produce the coverage, and also to put it on the network. Negrete had a great deal with ESPN360.com, who "was great" to work with. ESPN is not the problem.
The problem is the IRT still needs to cover the production costs, which include beaming the signal from the site back to the main ESPN location via satellite. Preseason Negrete had sponsors lined up to do that. However, you may have noticed that we're not in the same economic climate as we were six months ago, and that's led to a loss of the sponsorships that was going to cover those production costs.
No one's more frustrated by this than Negrete. "It's killing me," he said, because Negrete had everything lined up only to have it torpedoed by something outside of his control.
Negrete's goal is to grow the game, and he saw ESPN360.com as a way to do this by potentially reaching millions as well as linking racquetball up to a great sports brand: ESPN itself. Also, the broadcasts would be (and have been) professionally done, which is key for Negrete as he works to attract further sponsors, because a more professional product will be more attractive to sponsors.
The economic climate is a concern for Negrete looking forward to next season, as already one of the Tier 1 events (South Carolina) scheduled later this season will not happen due to lack of funding.
"Next year could be scary," he said.
p.s. an article on sports and the economy appeared today on CBC.ca.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Happy 26th Birthday Jack Huczek!
You've built one of the strongest career records in racquetball. In years to come, when people talk about the best players of all time, they will have to consider you in the discussion.
Your start was auspicious, as you won the Boys 8 and under World Junior title in 1992. That was followed by 10 consecutive World Junior titles, two in each age division until 2002. It's a remarkable record that's unlikely to be broken or even equaled.
By then you'd turned your attention to the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and professional racquetball. You were 17 when you made your first IRT appearance in 2000 and 19 when you got your first IRT tournament title. Only five players have won a men's pro tour tournament at a younger age*: Steve Serot (at 17), Marty Hogan (17), Brett Harnett (17), Tim Sweeney (18), and Cliff Swain (18).
That win came in your first full season on the tour, and helped you finish 5th in the year end rankings. The next season, 2002-2003, you were 4th, and then 2nd for three straight seasons behind Kane Waselenchuk.
When Waselenchuk was suspended for two seasons, you naturally rose to the top and finished #1 at the end of the 2006-2007 season. Then last year you were 2nd, as Rocky Carson just beat you out for top spot, so for the first time in your career, your season ending ranking was lower than it had been the season before.
Of the 97 IRT Tier 1 or Grand Slam tournaments you've been in, you've been a finalist more often than not, as you've won 28 of those tournaments and finished runner up 25 times. In fact, you have a winning career record against all other regular tour players except for Sudsy Monchik and Waselenchuk.
Playing for your country
As good as your pro career has been, your record has been better playing internationally on Team USA. In eight appearances, you have won six gold medals in singles as well as a silver and bronze.
Your first appearance with Team USA was at the 2002 Tournament of the Americas (now Pan Am Championships), when you lost in the semi-finals to Javier Moreno. You then went on a gold medal streak, winning three straight IRF World Championships in 2002, 2004 and 2006, two Pan Am Championships in 2003 and 2005, and the 2003 Pan Am Games.
That streak ended last year when you lost an 11-10 tie-breaker in the World Championship final to Rocky Carson, who's been your doubles partner in recent years. The two of you were silver medalists in doubles at the 2006 World Championships.
Yes, it's been some career. And given that you're only 26 today, there should be many more good years ahead.
We look forward to them.
*Note: Statistics from the Boss Consulting IRT statistics website, which notes that the birth dates for Serot, Harnett and Sweeney are estimates.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Your start was auspicious, as you won the Boys 8 and under World Junior title in 1992. That was followed by 10 consecutive World Junior titles, two in each age division until 2002. It's a remarkable record that's unlikely to be broken or even equaled.
By then you'd turned your attention to the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and professional racquetball. You were 17 when you made your first IRT appearance in 2000 and 19 when you got your first IRT tournament title. Only five players have won a men's pro tour tournament at a younger age*: Steve Serot (at 17), Marty Hogan (17), Brett Harnett (17), Tim Sweeney (18), and Cliff Swain (18).
That win came in your first full season on the tour, and helped you finish 5th in the year end rankings. The next season, 2002-2003, you were 4th, and then 2nd for three straight seasons behind Kane Waselenchuk.
When Waselenchuk was suspended for two seasons, you naturally rose to the top and finished #1 at the end of the 2006-2007 season. Then last year you were 2nd, as Rocky Carson just beat you out for top spot, so for the first time in your career, your season ending ranking was lower than it had been the season before.
Of the 97 IRT Tier 1 or Grand Slam tournaments you've been in, you've been a finalist more often than not, as you've won 28 of those tournaments and finished runner up 25 times. In fact, you have a winning career record against all other regular tour players except for Sudsy Monchik and Waselenchuk.
Playing for your country
As good as your pro career has been, your record has been better playing internationally on Team USA. In eight appearances, you have won six gold medals in singles as well as a silver and bronze.
Your first appearance with Team USA was at the 2002 Tournament of the Americas (now Pan Am Championships), when you lost in the semi-finals to Javier Moreno. You then went on a gold medal streak, winning three straight IRF World Championships in 2002, 2004 and 2006, two Pan Am Championships in 2003 and 2005, and the 2003 Pan Am Games.
That streak ended last year when you lost an 11-10 tie-breaker in the World Championship final to Rocky Carson, who's been your doubles partner in recent years. The two of you were silver medalists in doubles at the 2006 World Championships.
Yes, it's been some career. And given that you're only 26 today, there should be many more good years ahead.
We look forward to them.
*Note: Statistics from the Boss Consulting IRT statistics website, which notes that the birth dates for Serot, Harnett and Sweeney are estimates.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, January 12, 2009
WPRO - Harrisburg Shootout
Sixteen year old phenom Veronica Sotomayor won another satellite event on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour this past weekend, as she beat Doreen Fowler in the final of the Harrisburg Shootout, 11-1, 11-0, 11-2 (results courtesy tournament director Khanh Holtslander). Sotomayor won the New Jersey Open in November.
As she did in New Jersey, Sotomayor defeated two top 10 WPRO players in taking the title. In fact, it was the same two players, but in reverse order. This weekend she beat WPRO #1 Rhonda Rajsich in the semi-finals and then Fowler in the final, while in New Jersey, Sotomayor beat Fowler in the semi-finals and Rajsich in the final.
Sotomayor probably won't get enough points to raise her ranking from 11th, as it was a satellite event and she's 40 points behind Jo Shattuck in 10th.
Nonetheless, it does speak well for Sotomayor's development and demonstrates that she'll be a threat at the next full WPRO stop: the Great Balls of Fire event in Miami, Florida at the end of February.
Harrisburg Shootout 2009
First Round
Khanh Holtslander d. Tammy DelSol, 11-2, 11-8, 11-6
Karen Morton d. Kim Zemenski, 11-0, 11-2, 11-6
Dolly Watson d. Christine Vandeling, 6-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-2, 11-1
Quarter finals
Rhonda Rajsich d. Khanh Holtslander, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2
Veronica Sotomayer d. TJ Baumbagh, 11-0, 11-2, 11-7
Jo Shattuck d. Karen Morton, 13-11, 11-2, 11-7
Doreen Fowler d. Dolly Watson, 11-2, 11-0, 11-2
Semi finals
Veronica Sotomayer d. Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 (?*)
Doreen Fowler d. Jo Shattuck, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8
Finals
Veronica Sotomayer d. Doreen Fowler, 11-1, 11-0, 11-2
*Note: "?" was in the message from Ms. Holtslander.
Follow the bouncing ball....
As she did in New Jersey, Sotomayor defeated two top 10 WPRO players in taking the title. In fact, it was the same two players, but in reverse order. This weekend she beat WPRO #1 Rhonda Rajsich in the semi-finals and then Fowler in the final, while in New Jersey, Sotomayor beat Fowler in the semi-finals and Rajsich in the final.
Sotomayor probably won't get enough points to raise her ranking from 11th, as it was a satellite event and she's 40 points behind Jo Shattuck in 10th.
Nonetheless, it does speak well for Sotomayor's development and demonstrates that she'll be a threat at the next full WPRO stop: the Great Balls of Fire event in Miami, Florida at the end of February.
Harrisburg Shootout 2009
First Round
Khanh Holtslander d. Tammy DelSol, 11-2, 11-8, 11-6
Karen Morton d. Kim Zemenski, 11-0, 11-2, 11-6
Dolly Watson d. Christine Vandeling, 6-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-2, 11-1
Quarter finals
Rhonda Rajsich d. Khanh Holtslander, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2
Veronica Sotomayer d. TJ Baumbagh, 11-0, 11-2, 11-7
Jo Shattuck d. Karen Morton, 13-11, 11-2, 11-7
Doreen Fowler d. Dolly Watson, 11-2, 11-0, 11-2
Semi finals
Veronica Sotomayer d. Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 (?*)
Doreen Fowler d. Jo Shattuck, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-8
Finals
Veronica Sotomayer d. Doreen Fowler, 11-1, 11-0, 11-2
*Note: "?" was in the message from Ms. Holtslander.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Weekend Review
Often people are reluctant to say "we told you so," but not us here at The Racquetball Blog. No, no, no. We're happy to remind you that we told you Alvaro Beltran was the player most likely to beat Kane Waselenchuk.
Thus, when Beltran handed Waselenchuk his first defeat of the season at the California Open on Saturday, we weren't entirely surprised. Somewhat surprised, yes, as we did pick Waselenchuk to win the event, but less surprised than if he had lost to another player.
Jack Huczek almost beat him on Friday, as he and Waselenchuk went five games with Huczek being up 2 games to 1 before Waselenchuk came back and won 11-9 in the fifth. Playing such a tough match, which was the second of the day for Waselenchuk as there are two rounds of competition on Fridays of IRT events (Round of 16 and quarter finals), likely played a part in Waselenchuk's loss to Beltran.
Sadly for Beltran, he wasn't able to follow up what must have been an emotional win over Waselenchuk with a victory in the final. Thus, Rocky Carson successfully defended his California Open title. Since losing badly to Waselenchuk at the US Open, Carson has rebounded with two straight tournament wins in IRT Tier 1 events as well as a win in a Tier 4 event. So, no worries for Carson.
Tough times for Mannino
Who you might be worried for is Jason Mannino, who lost in the Round of 16 of the California Open, to Jose Rojas, current 18 & under World Junior champion. Mannino began the season with a strong performance in Denver, where he lost to Carson in the semi-finals in five games.
Since then, however, things haven't gone well for Mannino, as he's lost again to Carson, twice to Huczek, as well as to Shane Vanderson, winning only one game in those four matches. Moreover, he hasn't won an event in well over a year; the 2006 Kansas City event is Mannino's last victory.
Mannino's game style is very physically demanding. On the 28th, he'll be 34 years old, and he's asked a lot of his body in those 34 years. Also, Mannino's service game of precise half lobs doesn't lend itself to a lot of easy points.
Cliff Swain was competitive into his late 30s, because he had a drive serve that could win matches for him. Of course, it takes a lot of energy to drive serve well, but given a choice between expending a lot of energy either drive serving (à la Swain) or playing long rallies (à la Mannino), we know which we'd choose.
Far be it for us to say Mannino's never going to win another pro stop, as he's one of the fiercest IRT competitors, but we will say that after losing to a player barely half his age the signs aren't good.
Winning on a technical, not technicality
Quiz time, folks. Can you win a game on a technical? Technicals result in a point being taken away from the player or doubles team that is assessed the technical. As a point is taken away, it seems impossible to win a game after one is assessed, although if your opponent(s) is (are) assessed three technicals, he/she/they would lose the match, so you'd win the match that way.
But not a game.
However, if you are playing to win by two points - as they do on the IRT and WPRO as well as in Canada, then it is possible to win after a technical. In fact, it happened this weekend in the first game of the doubles match between Kris Odegard and Ryan Smith on one side and Francis Guillemette and Corey Osborne on the other at Racquetball Canada's National Team Doubles Selection event.
They were tied at 14, and then Odegard and Smith got the 15th point, so they were up 15-14. But Guillemette wasn't happy with the referee's call, and said as much. After some back and forth between them, the referee assessed Guillemette a technical, which decreased his side's score by one to 13.
That made the score 15-13 for Odegard and Smith, so they won game one. Sadly for them, they lost the match in a tie-breaker, but nevertheless they may have made racquetball history by being the first side to win a racquetball game on a technical.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thus, when Beltran handed Waselenchuk his first defeat of the season at the California Open on Saturday, we weren't entirely surprised. Somewhat surprised, yes, as we did pick Waselenchuk to win the event, but less surprised than if he had lost to another player.
Jack Huczek almost beat him on Friday, as he and Waselenchuk went five games with Huczek being up 2 games to 1 before Waselenchuk came back and won 11-9 in the fifth. Playing such a tough match, which was the second of the day for Waselenchuk as there are two rounds of competition on Fridays of IRT events (Round of 16 and quarter finals), likely played a part in Waselenchuk's loss to Beltran.
Sadly for Beltran, he wasn't able to follow up what must have been an emotional win over Waselenchuk with a victory in the final. Thus, Rocky Carson successfully defended his California Open title. Since losing badly to Waselenchuk at the US Open, Carson has rebounded with two straight tournament wins in IRT Tier 1 events as well as a win in a Tier 4 event. So, no worries for Carson.
Tough times for Mannino
Who you might be worried for is Jason Mannino, who lost in the Round of 16 of the California Open, to Jose Rojas, current 18 & under World Junior champion. Mannino began the season with a strong performance in Denver, where he lost to Carson in the semi-finals in five games.
Since then, however, things haven't gone well for Mannino, as he's lost again to Carson, twice to Huczek, as well as to Shane Vanderson, winning only one game in those four matches. Moreover, he hasn't won an event in well over a year; the 2006 Kansas City event is Mannino's last victory.
Mannino's game style is very physically demanding. On the 28th, he'll be 34 years old, and he's asked a lot of his body in those 34 years. Also, Mannino's service game of precise half lobs doesn't lend itself to a lot of easy points.
Cliff Swain was competitive into his late 30s, because he had a drive serve that could win matches for him. Of course, it takes a lot of energy to drive serve well, but given a choice between expending a lot of energy either drive serving (à la Swain) or playing long rallies (à la Mannino), we know which we'd choose.
Far be it for us to say Mannino's never going to win another pro stop, as he's one of the fiercest IRT competitors, but we will say that after losing to a player barely half his age the signs aren't good.
Winning on a technical, not technicality
Quiz time, folks. Can you win a game on a technical? Technicals result in a point being taken away from the player or doubles team that is assessed the technical. As a point is taken away, it seems impossible to win a game after one is assessed, although if your opponent(s) is (are) assessed three technicals, he/she/they would lose the match, so you'd win the match that way.
But not a game.
However, if you are playing to win by two points - as they do on the IRT and WPRO as well as in Canada, then it is possible to win after a technical. In fact, it happened this weekend in the first game of the doubles match between Kris Odegard and Ryan Smith on one side and Francis Guillemette and Corey Osborne on the other at Racquetball Canada's National Team Doubles Selection event.
They were tied at 14, and then Odegard and Smith got the 15th point, so they were up 15-14. But Guillemette wasn't happy with the referee's call, and said as much. After some back and forth between them, the referee assessed Guillemette a technical, which decreased his side's score by one to 13.
That made the score 15-13 for Odegard and Smith, so they won game one. Sadly for them, they lost the match in a tie-breaker, but nevertheless they may have made racquetball history by being the first side to win a racquetball game on a technical.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Sunday, January 11, 2009
IRT - California Open: Carson wins 2nd in a row
Racquetball's #1 player, Rocky Carson won his second tournament in a row on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) by defeating Alvaro Beltran in the final of the California Open on Sunday, 6-11, 6-11, 11-0, 11-3, 11-6.
Beltran was trying to follow up his victory over Kane Waselenchuk on Saturday, which was Waselenchuk's first loss of the IRT season.
Carson's victory will make it more difficult for Waselenchuk to achieve his stated goal of regaining his #1 IRT ranking by season's end in his return to the pro tour after a two year absence.
For Beltran, he'll have to wait a little longer for his first IRT tournament victory. In 17 finals, he's yet to win one.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
Finals
(1) Rocky Carson d. (3) Alvaro Beltran, 6-11, 6-11, 11-0, 11-3, 11-6
Follow the bouncing ball....
Beltran was trying to follow up his victory over Kane Waselenchuk on Saturday, which was Waselenchuk's first loss of the IRT season.
Carson's victory will make it more difficult for Waselenchuk to achieve his stated goal of regaining his #1 IRT ranking by season's end in his return to the pro tour after a two year absence.
For Beltran, he'll have to wait a little longer for his first IRT tournament victory. In 17 finals, he's yet to win one.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
Finals
(1) Rocky Carson d. (3) Alvaro Beltran, 6-11, 6-11, 11-0, 11-3, 11-6
Follow the bouncing ball....
Racquetball Canada's Doubles Selection Event Final Standings
Mike Green won again at Racquetball Canada's National Team Doubles Selection event in Burnaby, British Columbia, but this time he had a new partner, Eric Desrochers. They finished on top after beating Francis Guillemette and Corey Osborne, 15-12, 15-8, on Sunday.
The last four seasons Green had played with Brian Istace, but Istace retired following their loss in the final of last year's Canadian Championship to Vincent Gagnon and François Viens. Thus, Green recruited Desrochers to be his partner this season.
Gagnon and Viens finished second after defeating James and Tim Landeryou, 15-13, 15-7.
The format of the men's side was not a straight draw. Initial matches sorted teams into groups of four, who are playing off in a round robin format. Racquetball Canada adopted this format a few years ago for selection events so that all players, or teams in doubles, have to play each other. Without doing so it was felt there was some uncertainty about which players were better.
Women's Matches
Jennifer Saunders and Josée Grand'Maître gained a measure of revenge Sunday by defeating Geneviève Brodeur and Véronique Guillemette, 15-8, 3-15, 11-6. Brodeur and Guillemette stopped Saunders and Grand'Maître's streak of Canadian doubles titles at 5 last year, when they won their first Canadian Championship.
Also on Sunday, Denise Haynes and Frédérique Lambert defeated Brigitte Richard and Christine Richardson, 15-2, 10-15, 11-3, to finish third. Alison Schlichemeyer and Brandi Jacobson Prentice finished fourth with Richard and Richardson fifth.
These results likely throw up for grabs the selection of the doubles players for the Pan American Championships in April, and makes the Singles Selection event coming up in three weeks in Brossard, Quebec all the more important.
Racquetball Canada National Team Doubles Selection 2009
Burnaby, British Columbia
Men (W-L in RR)
1. Eric Desrochers & Mike Green (3-0)
2. Vincent Gagnon & François Viens (2-1)
3. Francis Guillemette & Corey Osborne (1-2)
4. James Landeryou & Tim Landeryou (0-3)
Women (W-L)
1. Jennifer Saunders & Josée Grand'Maître (4-0)
2. Geneviève Brodeur & Véronique Guillemette (3-1)
3. Denise Haynes & Frédérique Lambert (2-2)
4. Alison Schlichemeyer & Brandi Jacobson Prentice (1-3)
5. Brigitte Richard & Christine Richardson (0-4)
Follow the bouncing ball....
The last four seasons Green had played with Brian Istace, but Istace retired following their loss in the final of last year's Canadian Championship to Vincent Gagnon and François Viens. Thus, Green recruited Desrochers to be his partner this season.
Gagnon and Viens finished second after defeating James and Tim Landeryou, 15-13, 15-7.
The format of the men's side was not a straight draw. Initial matches sorted teams into groups of four, who are playing off in a round robin format. Racquetball Canada adopted this format a few years ago for selection events so that all players, or teams in doubles, have to play each other. Without doing so it was felt there was some uncertainty about which players were better.
Women's Matches
Jennifer Saunders and Josée Grand'Maître gained a measure of revenge Sunday by defeating Geneviève Brodeur and Véronique Guillemette, 15-8, 3-15, 11-6. Brodeur and Guillemette stopped Saunders and Grand'Maître's streak of Canadian doubles titles at 5 last year, when they won their first Canadian Championship.
Also on Sunday, Denise Haynes and Frédérique Lambert defeated Brigitte Richard and Christine Richardson, 15-2, 10-15, 11-3, to finish third. Alison Schlichemeyer and Brandi Jacobson Prentice finished fourth with Richard and Richardson fifth.
These results likely throw up for grabs the selection of the doubles players for the Pan American Championships in April, and makes the Singles Selection event coming up in three weeks in Brossard, Quebec all the more important.
Racquetball Canada National Team Doubles Selection 2009
Burnaby, British Columbia
Men (W-L in RR)
1. Eric Desrochers & Mike Green (3-0)
2. Vincent Gagnon & François Viens (2-1)
3. Francis Guillemette & Corey Osborne (1-2)
4. James Landeryou & Tim Landeryou (0-3)
Women (W-L)
1. Jennifer Saunders & Josée Grand'Maître (4-0)
2. Geneviève Brodeur & Véronique Guillemette (3-1)
3. Denise Haynes & Frédérique Lambert (2-2)
4. Alison Schlichemeyer & Brandi Jacobson Prentice (1-3)
5. Brigitte Richard & Christine Richardson (0-4)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Racquetball Canada's Doubles Selection Event - Saturday results
There have been some surprises on the men's side of Racquetball Canada's National Team Doubles Selection event in Burnaby, British Columbia. It started on Friday, when fourth seeds Kris Odegard and Ryan Smith were upset by the fifth seeds Francis Guillemette and Corey Osborne, 13-15, 15-11, 11-5. Both those teams are new for this season, as Guillemette and Odegard had been partners in the last few seasons.
Then on Saturday, Guillemette and Osborne almost repeated the trick against the top seeds and reigning Canadian Champions Vincent Gagnon and François Viens losing a tie-breaker after trading 16-14 games. Gagnon and Viens took it, 14-16, 16-14, 11-3.
But Gagnon and Viens weren't so lucky against Mike Green and his new partner Eric Desrochers, as Green and Desrochers won their match, 17-15, 11-15, 12-10. On Sunday Green and Desrochers will face off with Guillemette and Osborne.
These results likely throw up for grabs the selection of the doubles players for the Pan American Championships in April, and makes the Singles Selection event coming up in three weeks in Brossard, Quebec all the more important.
The team that hasn't done well in Burnaby is the second seeds James and Tim Landeryou, who lost both of their games on Saturday.
The format of the men's side is not a straight draw. Initial matches sorted the teams into groups of four, who are playing off in a round robin format. Racquetball Canada adopted this format a few years ago for selection events so that all players, or teams in doubles, have to play each other. Without doing so it was felt there was some uncertainty about which players were better.
On the women's side, the results are mostly as expected, as both the top seeds are Geneviève Brodeur and Véronique Guillemette and second seeds Jennifer Saunders and Josée Grand'Maître have won all their matches. They will face off on Sunday.
The unexpected result came from the pair of Denise Haynes and Frédérique Lambert, seeded fourth, who upset the third seeds Alison Schlichemeyer and Brandi Jacobson Prentice on Friday.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Then on Saturday, Guillemette and Osborne almost repeated the trick against the top seeds and reigning Canadian Champions Vincent Gagnon and François Viens losing a tie-breaker after trading 16-14 games. Gagnon and Viens took it, 14-16, 16-14, 11-3.
But Gagnon and Viens weren't so lucky against Mike Green and his new partner Eric Desrochers, as Green and Desrochers won their match, 17-15, 11-15, 12-10. On Sunday Green and Desrochers will face off with Guillemette and Osborne.
These results likely throw up for grabs the selection of the doubles players for the Pan American Championships in April, and makes the Singles Selection event coming up in three weeks in Brossard, Quebec all the more important.
The team that hasn't done well in Burnaby is the second seeds James and Tim Landeryou, who lost both of their games on Saturday.
The format of the men's side is not a straight draw. Initial matches sorted the teams into groups of four, who are playing off in a round robin format. Racquetball Canada adopted this format a few years ago for selection events so that all players, or teams in doubles, have to play each other. Without doing so it was felt there was some uncertainty about which players were better.
On the women's side, the results are mostly as expected, as both the top seeds are Geneviève Brodeur and Véronique Guillemette and second seeds Jennifer Saunders and Josée Grand'Maître have won all their matches. They will face off on Sunday.
The unexpected result came from the pair of Denise Haynes and Frédérique Lambert, seeded fourth, who upset the third seeds Alison Schlichemeyer and Brandi Jacobson Prentice on Friday.
Follow the bouncing ball....
IRT - California Open: Semi finals
Alvaro Beltran did what many thought wouldn't be done this International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season. He beat Kane Waselenchuk at the California Open, 2-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7. It's Waselenchuk's first loss of the season.
Waselenchuk has been so dominant in his return to the IRT, winning four IRT events including the US Open, after a two year absence that people were talking of an undefeated season. But that talk ended Saturday.
Beltran will play in his 18th IRT final on Sunday, but his only win came in 2003 when the event was played under duress, as the courts were wet and the players agreed to split the points. Hence, Beltran is still looking for his first 'real' IRT tournament win.
Although Beltran hasn't won the IRT, he was the IRF World Champion in 2000, and is the reigning Pan American Champion having won that title in 2008 and 2007.
Beltran's opponent in the finals with be the IRT's #1 player Rocky Carson who ended 18 year old Jose Rojas's great run in California by winning their semi-final 11-2, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
Semi finals
(1) Rocky Carson d. Jose Rojas, 11-2, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9
(3) Alvaro Beltran d. (8) Kane Waselenchuk, 2-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7
Final
(1) Rocky Carson v. (3) Alvaro Beltran
Follow the bouncing ball....
Waselenchuk has been so dominant in his return to the IRT, winning four IRT events including the US Open, after a two year absence that people were talking of an undefeated season. But that talk ended Saturday.
Beltran will play in his 18th IRT final on Sunday, but his only win came in 2003 when the event was played under duress, as the courts were wet and the players agreed to split the points. Hence, Beltran is still looking for his first 'real' IRT tournament win.
Although Beltran hasn't won the IRT, he was the IRF World Champion in 2000, and is the reigning Pan American Champion having won that title in 2008 and 2007.
Beltran's opponent in the finals with be the IRT's #1 player Rocky Carson who ended 18 year old Jose Rojas's great run in California by winning their semi-final 11-2, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
Semi finals
(1) Rocky Carson d. Jose Rojas, 11-2, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9
(3) Alvaro Beltran d. (8) Kane Waselenchuk, 2-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-7
Final
(1) Rocky Carson v. (3) Alvaro Beltran
Follow the bouncing ball....
IRT - California Open: Quarter final results
Jose Rojas is continuing the excellent play that saw him win a World Junior title last month, and it's got him into the semi-finals of the California Open on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Friday, he defeated sixth seed Shane Vanderson in the quarter finals, 11-6, 11-3, 10-12, 11-6, and earlier beat fourth seed Jason Mannino in the Round of 16.
Rojas had to qualify for the main draw, and it's the first time a qualifier (not named Kane Waselenchuk) has made the semi-finals of an IRT event since the 2007 Motorola World Racquetball Championships, when Javier Moreno and Polo Gutierrez both got to the semi-finals.
Rojas will now play the IRT's #1 player and a fellow Californian, Rocky Carson, who defeated Ben Croft, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5, in the quarter finals.
Kane Waselenchuk, the former IRT #1, is playing his first tournament without having to go through the qualifying rounds, and his success this season continued on Friday, as he defeated Jack Huczek, another former IRT #1, 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 11-3, 11-9, in the quarter finals, and earlier beat Andres Herrera in the Round of 16.
Alvaro Beltran will be Waselenchuk's opponent in the semis, as he beat Mitch Williams in the quarter finals, 11-2, 11-8, 11-1.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
Quarter finals (IRT rank)
(1) Rocky Carson d. (5) Ben Croft, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5
Jose Rojas d. (6) Shane Vanderson, 11-6, 11-3, 10-12, 11-6
(3) Alvaro Beltran d. (7) Mitch Williams, 11-2, 11-8, 11-1
(8) Kane Waselenchuk d. (2) Jack Huczek, 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 11-3, 11-9
Semi finals
(1) Rocky Carson v. Jose Rojas
(3) Alvaro Beltran v. (8) Kane Waselenchuk
Round of 16
(1) Rocky Carson d. Gil Mejia, 11-8, 11-4, 11-8
(5) Ben Croft d. Chris Crowther, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6, 11-5
(6) Shane Vanderson d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6
Jose Rojas d. (4) Jason Mannino, 11-7, 7-11, 11-1, 4-11, 11-4
(3) Alvaro Beltran d. David Horn, 11-6, 13-11, 11-3
(7) Mitch Williams d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8
(8) Kane Waselenchuk d. Juan Herrera, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6
(2) Jack Huczek d. Andres Herrera, 11-1, 11-3, 11-0
Follow the bouncing ball....
Rojas had to qualify for the main draw, and it's the first time a qualifier (not named Kane Waselenchuk) has made the semi-finals of an IRT event since the 2007 Motorola World Racquetball Championships, when Javier Moreno and Polo Gutierrez both got to the semi-finals.
Rojas will now play the IRT's #1 player and a fellow Californian, Rocky Carson, who defeated Ben Croft, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5, in the quarter finals.
Kane Waselenchuk, the former IRT #1, is playing his first tournament without having to go through the qualifying rounds, and his success this season continued on Friday, as he defeated Jack Huczek, another former IRT #1, 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 11-3, 11-9, in the quarter finals, and earlier beat Andres Herrera in the Round of 16.
Alvaro Beltran will be Waselenchuk's opponent in the semis, as he beat Mitch Williams in the quarter finals, 11-2, 11-8, 11-1.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
Quarter finals (IRT rank)
(1) Rocky Carson d. (5) Ben Croft, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5
Jose Rojas d. (6) Shane Vanderson, 11-6, 11-3, 10-12, 11-6
(3) Alvaro Beltran d. (7) Mitch Williams, 11-2, 11-8, 11-1
(8) Kane Waselenchuk d. (2) Jack Huczek, 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 11-3, 11-9
Semi finals
(1) Rocky Carson v. Jose Rojas
(3) Alvaro Beltran v. (8) Kane Waselenchuk
Round of 16
(1) Rocky Carson d. Gil Mejia, 11-8, 11-4, 11-8
(5) Ben Croft d. Chris Crowther, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6, 11-5
(6) Shane Vanderson d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6
Jose Rojas d. (4) Jason Mannino, 11-7, 7-11, 11-1, 4-11, 11-4
(3) Alvaro Beltran d. David Horn, 11-6, 13-11, 11-3
(7) Mitch Williams d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8
(8) Kane Waselenchuk d. Juan Herrera, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6
(2) Jack Huczek d. Andres Herrera, 11-1, 11-3, 11-0
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, January 9, 2009
Racquetball Canada's Doubles Selection Event
Racquetball Canada's National Team Doubles Selection event is going on this weekend in Burnaby, British Columbia near Vancouver. The top men's seeds are reigning Canadian Champions Vincent Gagnon and François Viens. Gagnon and Viens defeated Mike Green and Brian Istace to win the title last year, and Istace retired afterwards.
But Mike Green didn't, and he's in Burnaby with a new partner: Eric Desrochers, a former Canadian and World Junior Champion. Green won this event a few years ago with veteran Brian Valin, so you know that he and Desrochers will be a threat to win. They're seeded third.
The second seeds are brothers James and Tim Landeryou, and fourth seeds are Kris Odegard and Ryan Smith.
The format of the event is not a straight draw. Initial matches will sort the teams into groups of four, and then there will be a round robin within those groups. Racquetball Canada adopted this format a few years ago for selection events so that all players, or teams in doubles, have to play each other. Without doing so it was felt there was some uncertainty about which players were better.
On the women's side, the top seeds are Geneviève Brodeur and Véronique Guillemette, who are also the reigning Canadian Champions. Their main competition will come from Jennifer Saunders and Josée Grand'Maître, who won five consecutive Canadian doubles titles before being beaten by Brodeur and Guillemette last year. However, word is that Grand'Maître is not 100%, so she and Saunders may have a tougher time of it than usual.
The other teams are third seeds Alison Schlichemeyer and Brandi Jacobson Prentice as well as two teams of up and coming junior players: Denise Haynes and Frédérique Lambert, seeded fourth, and fifth seeds Christine Richardson and Brigitte Richard.
This event will serve as the final qualifying event for the Racquetball Canada's Pan American Championships team. Results from this weekend will be combined with results from last year's Nationals to select the doubles teams for that event.
However, word is that this will be the last season for a separate doubles selection event. Next season Racquetball Canada will only have singles selection events, and the doubles players - as well as the singles players - will be selected based on results from those events.
Racquetball Canada's National Team Singles Selection event will be in three weeks in Brossard, Quebec near Montreal.
Follow the bouncing ball....
But Mike Green didn't, and he's in Burnaby with a new partner: Eric Desrochers, a former Canadian and World Junior Champion. Green won this event a few years ago with veteran Brian Valin, so you know that he and Desrochers will be a threat to win. They're seeded third.
The second seeds are brothers James and Tim Landeryou, and fourth seeds are Kris Odegard and Ryan Smith.
The format of the event is not a straight draw. Initial matches will sort the teams into groups of four, and then there will be a round robin within those groups. Racquetball Canada adopted this format a few years ago for selection events so that all players, or teams in doubles, have to play each other. Without doing so it was felt there was some uncertainty about which players were better.
On the women's side, the top seeds are Geneviève Brodeur and Véronique Guillemette, who are also the reigning Canadian Champions. Their main competition will come from Jennifer Saunders and Josée Grand'Maître, who won five consecutive Canadian doubles titles before being beaten by Brodeur and Guillemette last year. However, word is that Grand'Maître is not 100%, so she and Saunders may have a tougher time of it than usual.
The other teams are third seeds Alison Schlichemeyer and Brandi Jacobson Prentice as well as two teams of up and coming junior players: Denise Haynes and Frédérique Lambert, seeded fourth, and fifth seeds Christine Richardson and Brigitte Richard.
This event will serve as the final qualifying event for the Racquetball Canada's Pan American Championships team. Results from this weekend will be combined with results from last year's Nationals to select the doubles teams for that event.
However, word is that this will be the last season for a separate doubles selection event. Next season Racquetball Canada will only have singles selection events, and the doubles players - as well as the singles players - will be selected based on results from those events.
Racquetball Canada's National Team Singles Selection event will be in three weeks in Brossard, Quebec near Montreal.
Follow the bouncing ball....
IRT - California Open: Prediction
The Round of 16 in the International Racquetball Tour's (IRT) California Open in Canoga Park, California begins on Friday, so it's time that The Racquetball Blog chimes in with its opinion on who's going to win. Our readers have voted strongly for Kane Waselenchuk to continue his unbeaten streak this season, and win again in California.
It's difficult to argue against Waselenchuk, as he was very strong in his last time out when he won the US Open in October. However, his likely matches will be against Jack Huczek in the quarter finals and in the semi-finals, Alvaro Beltran, who we believe has the game style that best matches up against Waselenchuk.
Nonetheless, the smart money would be on Waselenchuk this weekend, and our prediction record hasn't been so great this season, so we going with the smart money (sure, sure, when you're behind you have to pick upsets, but you have to pick those upsets correctly) and are predicting Waselenchuk will win again this weekend.
If he does, it could start earnest talk about an undefeated season, which has never happened. A few years ago, Waselenchuk was close to an undefeated season, and many years ago Marty Hogan was also. But they still lost some matches.
It would be an amazing feat if Waselenchuk did pull it off, especially as this season is his first after serving a two year suspension for a positive drug test. Still there would have to be an asterisk beside the record, as Waselenchuk hasn't played in all the IRT events, missing the Canadian Classic and Juarez Open.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
Main Draw - Round of 16
(1) Rocky Carson - Gil Mejia
(5) Ben Croft - Chris Crowther
(6) Shane Vanderson - Alejandro Herrera
(4) Jason Mannino - Jose Rojas
(3) Alvaro Beltran - David Horn
(7) Mitch Williams - Andy Hawthorne
(8) Kane Waselenchuk - Juan Herrera
(2) Jack Huczek - Andres Herrera
Follow the bouncing ball....
It's difficult to argue against Waselenchuk, as he was very strong in his last time out when he won the US Open in October. However, his likely matches will be against Jack Huczek in the quarter finals and in the semi-finals, Alvaro Beltran, who we believe has the game style that best matches up against Waselenchuk.
Nonetheless, the smart money would be on Waselenchuk this weekend, and our prediction record hasn't been so great this season, so we going with the smart money (sure, sure, when you're behind you have to pick upsets, but you have to pick those upsets correctly) and are predicting Waselenchuk will win again this weekend.
If he does, it could start earnest talk about an undefeated season, which has never happened. A few years ago, Waselenchuk was close to an undefeated season, and many years ago Marty Hogan was also. But they still lost some matches.
It would be an amazing feat if Waselenchuk did pull it off, especially as this season is his first after serving a two year suspension for a positive drug test. Still there would have to be an asterisk beside the record, as Waselenchuk hasn't played in all the IRT events, missing the Canadian Classic and Juarez Open.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
Main Draw - Round of 16
(1) Rocky Carson - Gil Mejia
(5) Ben Croft - Chris Crowther
(6) Shane Vanderson - Alejandro Herrera
(4) Jason Mannino - Jose Rojas
(3) Alvaro Beltran - David Horn
(7) Mitch Williams - Andy Hawthorne
(8) Kane Waselenchuk - Juan Herrera
(2) Jack Huczek - Andres Herrera
Follow the bouncing ball....
IRT - California Open: Qualifying Results
David Horn was the most surprising survivor after the qualifying rounds were over for the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) California Open in Canoga Park, California. Horn, who's unranked on the IRT, won three matches including victories over Rafael Filippini and Travis Woodbury to make the main draw, where he'll face Alvaro Beltran.
Three of the four Herreras made the main draw with only Anthony missing out after losing to Gil Mejia, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8.
The two closest matches in qualifying were Chris Crowther outlasting Josh Tucker in five games, 11-7, 1-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, and Andres Herrera coming back from two games down to defeat former IRT #1 Cliff Swain, 8-11, 7-11, 11- 11-9, 11-7.
Full results are below along with the main draw.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
First qualifying round
Jason Conway d. Matthew Barserian, 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4
Akio Shimizu d. Johnnie Molinari, 11-0, 11-6, 11-4
David Horn d. Majeed Shahin, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5
Tom Durham d. Darrell Baricuatro, 11-4, 11-2, 11-6
Second qualifying round (IRT rank)
Josh Tucker d. Tony Jammal, 11-1, 11-2, 11-0
Gil Mejia d. Jason Conway, 11-7, 11-4, 11-1
Jose Rojas d. Akio Shimizu, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 11-0
Mike Orr d. Bryce Milakovich, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6
Dawoud Ghafarshad d. Felipe Munoz, 11-5, 0-11, 11-3, 13-15, 11-7
David Horn d. Rafael Filippini, 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8
Cliff Swain d. Tom Durham, 11-3, 11-0, 11-7
Jason Geis d. Terry Durham, 11-6, 11-8, 11-0
Third qualifying round
Q1 - Chris Crowther d. Josh Tucker, 11-7, 1-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4
Q8 - Gil Mejia d. Anthony Herrera, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8
Q5 - Jose Rojas d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-3
Q4 - Alejandro Herrera d. Mike Orr, 11-7, 11-1, 3-11, 11-4
Q3 - Andy Hawthorne d. Dawoud Ghafarshad, 12-10, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6
Q6 - David Horn d. Travis Woodbury, 8-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6
Q7 - Andres Herrera d. Cliff Swain, 8-11, 7-11, 11- 11-9, 11-7
Q2 - Juan Herrera d. Jason Geis, 15-13, 12-10, 11-5
Main Draw - Round of 16
(1) Rocky Carson v. Gil Mejia
(5) Ben Croft v. Chris Crowther
(6) Shane Vanderson v. Alejandro Herrera
(4) Jason Mannino v. Jose Rojas
(3) Alvaro Beltran v. David Horn
(7) Mitch Williams v. Andy Hawthorne
(8) Kane Waselenchuk v. Juan Herrera
(2) Jack Huczek v. Andres Herrera
Follow the bouncing ball....
Three of the four Herreras made the main draw with only Anthony missing out after losing to Gil Mejia, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8.
The two closest matches in qualifying were Chris Crowther outlasting Josh Tucker in five games, 11-7, 1-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, and Andres Herrera coming back from two games down to defeat former IRT #1 Cliff Swain, 8-11, 7-11, 11- 11-9, 11-7.
Full results are below along with the main draw.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
First qualifying round
Jason Conway d. Matthew Barserian, 11-5, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4
Akio Shimizu d. Johnnie Molinari, 11-0, 11-6, 11-4
David Horn d. Majeed Shahin, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5
Tom Durham d. Darrell Baricuatro, 11-4, 11-2, 11-6
Second qualifying round (IRT rank)
Josh Tucker d. Tony Jammal, 11-1, 11-2, 11-0
Gil Mejia d. Jason Conway, 11-7, 11-4, 11-1
Jose Rojas d. Akio Shimizu, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 11-0
Mike Orr d. Bryce Milakovich, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6
Dawoud Ghafarshad d. Felipe Munoz, 11-5, 0-11, 11-3, 13-15, 11-7
David Horn d. Rafael Filippini, 11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8
Cliff Swain d. Tom Durham, 11-3, 11-0, 11-7
Jason Geis d. Terry Durham, 11-6, 11-8, 11-0
Third qualifying round
Q1 - Chris Crowther d. Josh Tucker, 11-7, 1-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4
Q8 - Gil Mejia d. Anthony Herrera, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7, 11-8
Q5 - Jose Rojas d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-3
Q4 - Alejandro Herrera d. Mike Orr, 11-7, 11-1, 3-11, 11-4
Q3 - Andy Hawthorne d. Dawoud Ghafarshad, 12-10, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6
Q6 - David Horn d. Travis Woodbury, 8-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-6
Q7 - Andres Herrera d. Cliff Swain, 8-11, 7-11, 11- 11-9, 11-7
Q2 - Juan Herrera d. Jason Geis, 15-13, 12-10, 11-5
Main Draw - Round of 16
(1) Rocky Carson v. Gil Mejia
(5) Ben Croft v. Chris Crowther
(6) Shane Vanderson v. Alejandro Herrera
(4) Jason Mannino v. Jose Rojas
(3) Alvaro Beltran v. David Horn
(7) Mitch Williams v. Andy Hawthorne
(8) Kane Waselenchuk v. Juan Herrera
(2) Jack Huczek v. Andres Herrera
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, January 8, 2009
New WPRO rankings
There are new rankings for the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO), which take into account results from last month's Christmas Classic in Arlington, Virginia. There's no changes in the top 10. Rhonda Rajsich, winner of the Christmas Classic, is still #1 followed by Cheryl Gudinas Holmes and Paola Longoria, although Longoria's point total has increased based on her runner up placing in Virginia.
In the second 10, T.J. Baumbaugh and Jennifer Saunders have both moved up, to 14th and 15th respectively, with Samantha Salas falling back to 16th.
Here's the new top 20 WPRO players as of January 7, 2009.
Rank - Name - Points
1 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1689.28
2 Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) 1336.20
3 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 921.50
4 Kerri Wachtel (USA) 770.70
5 Angela Grisar (Chile) 632.50
6 Kristen Bellows (USA) 584.50
7 Adrienne Fisher (USA) 449.44
8 Brenda Kyzer (USA) 371.50
9 Doreen Fowler (USA) 333.40
10 Jo Shattuck (USA) 288.25
11 Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) 248.70
12 Diane Moore (USA) 182.00
13 Vivian Gomez (USA) 178.50
14 T.J. Baumbaugh (USA) 177.66
15 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 171.50
16 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 161.00
17 Keely Franks (USA) 155.00
18 Kimi Ferina (USA) 148.58
19 Christie Van Hees (Canada) 102.00
20 Aubrey O'Brien (USA) 81.50
Follow the bouncing ball....
In the second 10, T.J. Baumbaugh and Jennifer Saunders have both moved up, to 14th and 15th respectively, with Samantha Salas falling back to 16th.
Here's the new top 20 WPRO players as of January 7, 2009.
Rank - Name - Points
1 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1689.28
2 Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) 1336.20
3 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 921.50
4 Kerri Wachtel (USA) 770.70
5 Angela Grisar (Chile) 632.50
6 Kristen Bellows (USA) 584.50
7 Adrienne Fisher (USA) 449.44
8 Brenda Kyzer (USA) 371.50
9 Doreen Fowler (USA) 333.40
10 Jo Shattuck (USA) 288.25
11 Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) 248.70
12 Diane Moore (USA) 182.00
13 Vivian Gomez (USA) 178.50
14 T.J. Baumbaugh (USA) 177.66
15 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 171.50
16 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 161.00
17 Keely Franks (USA) 155.00
18 Kimi Ferina (USA) 148.58
19 Christie Van Hees (Canada) 102.00
20 Aubrey O'Brien (USA) 81.50
Follow the bouncing ball....
IRT - California Open: Qualifying Draws
There were a few more qualifiers than we thought there would be in this weekend's California Open in Canoga Park, California, which is a Tier 1 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event. There are 28 rather than 22, so the qualifying draw isn't exactly what we laid out for you on Monday. However, we've got the official draw below.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
First qualifying round
Matthew Barserian v. Jason Conway
Akio Shimizu v. Johnnie Molinari
Majeed Shahin v. David Horn
Tom Durham v. Darrell Baricuatro
Second qualifying round (IRT rank)
Josh Tucker v. Tony Jammal
Gil Mejia v. winner of Matthew Barserian v. Jason Conway
Jose Rojas v. Akio Shimizu or Johnnie Molinari
Mike Orr v. Bryce Milakovich
Dawoud Ghafarshad v. Felipe Munoz
Rafael Filippini v. Majeed Shahin v. David Horn
Cliff Swain v. Tom Durham or Darrell Baricuatro
Jason Geis v. Terry Durham
Third qualifying round
Q1 - Chris Crowther v. Josh Tucker or Tony Jammal
Q8 - Anthony Herrera v. Gil Mejia or Matthew Barserian or Jason Conway
Q5 - Hiroshi Shimizu v. Jose Rojas or Akio Shimizu or Johnnie Molinari
Q4 - Alejandro Herrera v. Mike Orr or Bryce Milakovich
Q3 - Andy Hawthorne v. Dawoud Ghafarshad or Felipe Munoz
Q6 - Travis Woodbury v. Rafael Filippini or Majeed Shahin or David Horn
Q7 - Andres Herrera v. Cliff Swain or Tom Durham or Darrell Baricuatro
Q2 - Juan Herrera v. Jason Geis or Terry Durham
Also, here's the main draw. The IRT shuffles the 4 to 8 players at regular Tier 1 events, so that the eighth seed doesn't always play into the first seed, for example. For the California Open, Kane Waselenchuk, now the eighth seed but undefeated this season, is in the bottom bracket, so he plays into Jack Huczek, the second seed.
Main Draw - Round of 16
(1) Rocky Carson - Q8
(5) Ben Croft - Q1
(6) Shane Vanderson - Q4
(4) Jason Mannino - Q5
(3) Alvaro Beltran - Q6
(7) Mitch Williams - Q3
(8) Kane Waselenchuk - Q2
(2) Jack Huczek - Q7
Follow the bouncing ball....
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
First qualifying round
Matthew Barserian v. Jason Conway
Akio Shimizu v. Johnnie Molinari
Majeed Shahin v. David Horn
Tom Durham v. Darrell Baricuatro
Second qualifying round (IRT rank)
Josh Tucker v. Tony Jammal
Gil Mejia v. winner of Matthew Barserian v. Jason Conway
Jose Rojas v. Akio Shimizu or Johnnie Molinari
Mike Orr v. Bryce Milakovich
Dawoud Ghafarshad v. Felipe Munoz
Rafael Filippini v. Majeed Shahin v. David Horn
Cliff Swain v. Tom Durham or Darrell Baricuatro
Jason Geis v. Terry Durham
Third qualifying round
Q1 - Chris Crowther v. Josh Tucker or Tony Jammal
Q8 - Anthony Herrera v. Gil Mejia or Matthew Barserian or Jason Conway
Q5 - Hiroshi Shimizu v. Jose Rojas or Akio Shimizu or Johnnie Molinari
Q4 - Alejandro Herrera v. Mike Orr or Bryce Milakovich
Q3 - Andy Hawthorne v. Dawoud Ghafarshad or Felipe Munoz
Q6 - Travis Woodbury v. Rafael Filippini or Majeed Shahin or David Horn
Q7 - Andres Herrera v. Cliff Swain or Tom Durham or Darrell Baricuatro
Q2 - Juan Herrera v. Jason Geis or Terry Durham
Also, here's the main draw. The IRT shuffles the 4 to 8 players at regular Tier 1 events, so that the eighth seed doesn't always play into the first seed, for example. For the California Open, Kane Waselenchuk, now the eighth seed but undefeated this season, is in the bottom bracket, so he plays into Jack Huczek, the second seed.
Main Draw - Round of 16
(1) Rocky Carson - Q8
(5) Ben Croft - Q1
(6) Shane Vanderson - Q4
(4) Jason Mannino - Q5
(3) Alvaro Beltran - Q6
(7) Mitch Williams - Q3
(8) Kane Waselenchuk - Q2
(2) Jack Huczek - Q7
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, January 5, 2009
IRT - California Open: Expected Qualifying Draws
The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is back in action this coming weekend with the California Open in Canoga Park, California. It's a Tier 1 event, so the top 8 players are entered. The California Open is the first event that Kane Waselenchuk does not have to qualify for, as he's now ranked 8th. Players ranked 9th and higher need to qualify for the main draw.
Highlighting the qualifying draw are tour veteran and former #1 Cliff Swain, who'll be appearing at the French Open in Paris next week, Jose Rojas - fresh off his World Juniors title last month in Boys 18 & under, as well as IRT regulars Chris Crowther, Andy Hawthorne and a four - count 'em! - four Herreras: Alejandro, Andres, Anthony and Juan.
There are 22 players in the pro qualifier, and on-line registration has closed. We've put together what we expect the qualifying draws to look like based on players' IRT rankings. Some players have the same ranking - in a few cases that's no ranking, so there's some uncertainty as the exact match ups, and the following is unofficial, but here's what we expect.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
First qualifying round (IRT rank)
Q8a - (24) Cliff Swain v. BYE
Q7a - (29) Jose Rojas v. BYE
Q6a - (35) Mike Orr v. (-) Tom Durham / (-) Matthew Barserian / (-) David Horn
Q5a - (58) Jason Geis v. (-) Tom Durham / (-) Matthew Barserian / (-) David Horn
Q4a - (90) Josh Tucker v. (-) Tom Durham / (-) Matthew Barserian / (-) David Horn
Q3a - (93) Terry Durham v. (349) Johnnie Molinari / (349) Darrell Baricuatro
Q2a - (126) Dawoud Ghafarshad v. (349) Johnnie Molinari / (349) Darrell Baricuatro
Q1a - (291) Majeed Shahin v. (291) Akio Shimizu
Second qualifying round (IRT rank)
Q1 - (9) Chris Crowther v. Q1a
Q2 - (11) Juan Herrera v. Q2a
Q3 - (12) Andy Hawthorne v. Q3a
Q4 - (13) Alejandro Herrera v. Q4a
Q5 - (15) Hiroshi Shimizu v. Q5a
Q6 - (17) Travis Woodbury v. Q6a
Q7 - (18) Andres Herrera v. Q7a - Jose Rojas
Q8 - (21) Anthony Herrera v. Q8a - Cliff Swain
Follow the bouncing ball....
Highlighting the qualifying draw are tour veteran and former #1 Cliff Swain, who'll be appearing at the French Open in Paris next week, Jose Rojas - fresh off his World Juniors title last month in Boys 18 & under, as well as IRT regulars Chris Crowther, Andy Hawthorne and a four - count 'em! - four Herreras: Alejandro, Andres, Anthony and Juan.
There are 22 players in the pro qualifier, and on-line registration has closed. We've put together what we expect the qualifying draws to look like based on players' IRT rankings. Some players have the same ranking - in a few cases that's no ranking, so there's some uncertainty as the exact match ups, and the following is unofficial, but here's what we expect.
IRT 2009 California Open, Canoga Park, Calif.
First qualifying round (IRT rank)
Q8a - (24) Cliff Swain v. BYE
Q7a - (29) Jose Rojas v. BYE
Q6a - (35) Mike Orr v. (-) Tom Durham / (-) Matthew Barserian / (-) David Horn
Q5a - (58) Jason Geis v. (-) Tom Durham / (-) Matthew Barserian / (-) David Horn
Q4a - (90) Josh Tucker v. (-) Tom Durham / (-) Matthew Barserian / (-) David Horn
Q3a - (93) Terry Durham v. (349) Johnnie Molinari / (349) Darrell Baricuatro
Q2a - (126) Dawoud Ghafarshad v. (349) Johnnie Molinari / (349) Darrell Baricuatro
Q1a - (291) Majeed Shahin v. (291) Akio Shimizu
Second qualifying round (IRT rank)
Q1 - (9) Chris Crowther v. Q1a
Q2 - (11) Juan Herrera v. Q2a
Q3 - (12) Andy Hawthorne v. Q3a
Q4 - (13) Alejandro Herrera v. Q4a
Q5 - (15) Hiroshi Shimizu v. Q5a
Q6 - (17) Travis Woodbury v. Q6a
Q7 - (18) Andres Herrera v. Q7a - Jose Rojas
Q8 - (21) Anthony Herrera v. Q8a - Cliff Swain
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Happy 40th Birthday Tim Doyle!
Twenty years ago you won the first of two consecutive US Nationals titles (1989 & 1990). That led to three appearances with Team USA: twice at the Tournament of the Americas (now Pan American Championships) in 1990 and 1991, when you won gold in Santiago, Chile and in the 1990 IRF World Championships in Caracas, Venezuela, where you came second to fellow American Egan Inoue.
On the pro tour, you won five titles and were runner up 13 times. You were in the season ending top 6 five straight seasons from 1990-91 to 1994-95, including twice at #2 (in 1990-91 behind Mike Ray & 1993-94 behind Cliff Swain) and twice at #3.
Then after two seasons when you played fewer than half the events, you returned to the tour full time in 1998-99 and finished with a 23-13 match record and at #6 at season's end. You followed that with three more top 10 seasons.
You last played on the pro tour in 2002-03, but now that you're 40 maybe you could pick up your racquet again and play on the Classic Professional Racquetball Tour (CPRT).
All in all, you had a fine career, and we wish you a happy 40th birthday.
Follow the bouncing ball....
*Note - pro record from Boss Consulting, which notes that records are incomplete from the early 1990s, when Doyle was in his prime so he may have won more tournaments than listed above.
On the pro tour, you won five titles and were runner up 13 times. You were in the season ending top 6 five straight seasons from 1990-91 to 1994-95, including twice at #2 (in 1990-91 behind Mike Ray & 1993-94 behind Cliff Swain) and twice at #3.
Then after two seasons when you played fewer than half the events, you returned to the tour full time in 1998-99 and finished with a 23-13 match record and at #6 at season's end. You followed that with three more top 10 seasons.
You last played on the pro tour in 2002-03, but now that you're 40 maybe you could pick up your racquet again and play on the Classic Professional Racquetball Tour (CPRT).
All in all, you had a fine career, and we wish you a happy 40th birthday.
Follow the bouncing ball....
*Note - pro record from Boss Consulting, which notes that records are incomplete from the early 1990s, when Doyle was in his prime so he may have won more tournaments than listed above.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Top 10 Racquetball Stories of 2008
We hope you were all in fine voice when you were belting out Auld Lang Syne last night. Now that it's a new year, The Racquetball Blog thought it best to kick off 2009 with a run down of The 10 Best Racquetball Stories of 2008.
11) The Racquetball Blog began. Yes, this top 10 list goes to 11, and in an act of shameless self-promotion, we're putting ourselves at number 11, because we think the beginning of The Racquetball Blog was a significant thing, and it shouldn't be overlooked. No, it shouldn't.
10) Brenda Kyzer defeated Rhonda Rajsich at the US Open. Kyzer's "greatest moment" in racquetball happened on center court in Memphis late on Friday in the quarter finals, where facing an opponent who's been the most dominant player for the last three years, as well as current World Champion, Kyzer played fabulously. Despite losing the first game, Kyzer won the next three and caused one of the biggest upsets in US Open history. Often at a tournament the best matches happen before the finals, and for us, this was the best match in Memphis in 2008.
9) USA's gold medal sweep at the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Ireland in August. Americans won men's singles (Rocky Carson) and doubles (Jason Thoerner & Mitch Williams) as well as women's singles (Rhonda Rajsich) and doubles (Jackie Paraiso & Aimee Ruiz). Perhaps we're putting this a little low on the list, but racquetball's not really a team sport. Moreover, given that the US team had the number 1 and 2 men's and women's pro players (resulting in two all American finals in singles), the achievement - while great - was entirely predictable.
8) Veronica Sotomayor. Only 16, Sotomayor has been playing all the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) events with great results including winning the New Jersey Open, a WPRO satellite event, where she defeated doubles World Champion Aimee Ruiz, WPRO #9 Doreen Fowler and WPRO #1 Rhonda Rajsich. Nicknamed "pipsqueak," Sotomayor is almost more remarkable off the court than on, as she's just a little girl. But Sotomayor hits with plenty of power and great accuracy, and has a completely calm demeanor on the court. Currently coached by Dave Ellis, who was the USA team coach in Ireland, things could go from good to great for her in 2009.
7) Lucite Court. Discussed for years, the Lucite portable court that Dave Negrete, commissioner of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) had been planning debuted at the Pro Nationals event in Chicago in April. It has since been used twice more: at the Motorola World Racquetball Championships, when it was set up outdoors on the mall in downtown Denver, and at the US Open in Memphis. Easier to set up and move around than the previous portable court, it's a big step forward in helping to bring racquetball to the public.
6) Rocky Carson wins the IRT 2007-08 season title. Consider that Carson was #3 the season before, and #6 the season before that. Consider that Carson's career IRT title total is 11, but 7 of those came last season. With those thoughts in mind, you can better understand how remarkable it was that Carson finished number 1 in 2008.
5) IRT matches web-cast via ESPN360.com. The IRT made an agreement with ESPN360.com for live broadcasting of semi-final and final matches from their Tier 1 events bringing racquetball to potentially millions of people across the USA via the internet. To date, the Denver, Kansas City and Kentucky events have been broadcast on ESPN360.com with the added benefit of the Denver event being shown on regular cable TV on ESPN Classic on a tape delayed basis.
4) US Junior Team. In December, the USA junior team won the overall title at the 20th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships in Tempe, Arizona for the first time since 2001 by winning both boys and girls team titles, which was partly due to gold medal performances by Jose Rojas (Boys 18 & under), Danielle Key (Girls 16) and Jose Diaz (Boys 14), as well as a gold medal sweep in boys doubles and two of three gold medals in girls doubles.
3) Paola Longoria wins 2008 US Open. Longoria becomes the first Mexican - man or woman - to take top prize in Memphis. It's her 3rd career title, and as she's only 19, bodes well for her future. Two months later she successfully defends her 18 & under World Junior title.
2) Rhonda Rajsich wins her first World Championship two months after being assaulted. Reports of Rajsich's injuries caused when two men assaulted her near her home in California and left her hospitalized suggested that her career was in jeopardy. Yet a little over a month later she was competing in the World Outdoor Racquetball Championships, and then winning at Worlds in Ireland. To perform that well after a serious injury is remarkable.
1) Kane Waselenchuk's undefeated return to the IRT. There was a great deal of speculation as to how Waselenchuk would perform when he returned to the men's pro tour after his two year ban from racquetball for a positive drug test. A hint came in June at the South Carolina Open, where he met Rocky Carson in the final, and defeated him. Then the real test at the Motorola World Racquetball Championships in Denver, where Waselenchuk won three qualifying matches to make the main draw and proceeded to work his way to the final, including a victory over Jack Huczek, where he had a re-match with Carson.
That final went to a tie-breaker, and Waselenchuk was again victorious. This added fuel to the speculation that he could win all the IRT tournaments this season, and Waselenchuk stoked the fire by reeling off victories in Kansas City and Bowling Green, Kentucky. Yet despite winning the US Open, where he again defeated Carson in the final, Waselenchuk will not win all the IRT tournaments, because he's failed to play in two of them (the Canadian Classic and the Juarez Open).
That failure is the only shadow on a remarkable return to the pro game. It's difficult to think of parallels in other sports, although perhaps Christie Van Hees's return to the WPRO in 2003 and earlier Cliff Swain's return to racquetball after efforts to crack professional tennis are the most similar experiences.
That's our top 10. If you think we've overlooked something - your tie-breaking victory over an arch-nemisis at a local tourny perhaps? - let us know by leaving a comment on the blog.
Or on Facebook. That's right, folks, The Racquetball Blog has its own Facebook page, so you can become a fan of TRB on Facebook and help spread the word about TRB. Search for "The Racquetball Blog" when you're logged on to Facebook and join up.
We hope that 2009 will be as great a year for racquetball as 2008 was. There are certainly things to look forward to: more matches on the new Lucite court and on ESPN360.com, finding out whether Waselenchuk can continue to be undefeated this season, and racquetball's return to the World Games for the first time since 1993.
Happy New Year everyone!
Follow the bouncing ball....
11) The Racquetball Blog began. Yes, this top 10 list goes to 11, and in an act of shameless self-promotion, we're putting ourselves at number 11, because we think the beginning of The Racquetball Blog was a significant thing, and it shouldn't be overlooked. No, it shouldn't.
10) Brenda Kyzer defeated Rhonda Rajsich at the US Open. Kyzer's "greatest moment" in racquetball happened on center court in Memphis late on Friday in the quarter finals, where facing an opponent who's been the most dominant player for the last three years, as well as current World Champion, Kyzer played fabulously. Despite losing the first game, Kyzer won the next three and caused one of the biggest upsets in US Open history. Often at a tournament the best matches happen before the finals, and for us, this was the best match in Memphis in 2008.
9) USA's gold medal sweep at the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Ireland in August. Americans won men's singles (Rocky Carson) and doubles (Jason Thoerner & Mitch Williams) as well as women's singles (Rhonda Rajsich) and doubles (Jackie Paraiso & Aimee Ruiz). Perhaps we're putting this a little low on the list, but racquetball's not really a team sport. Moreover, given that the US team had the number 1 and 2 men's and women's pro players (resulting in two all American finals in singles), the achievement - while great - was entirely predictable.
8) Veronica Sotomayor. Only 16, Sotomayor has been playing all the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) events with great results including winning the New Jersey Open, a WPRO satellite event, where she defeated doubles World Champion Aimee Ruiz, WPRO #9 Doreen Fowler and WPRO #1 Rhonda Rajsich. Nicknamed "pipsqueak," Sotomayor is almost more remarkable off the court than on, as she's just a little girl. But Sotomayor hits with plenty of power and great accuracy, and has a completely calm demeanor on the court. Currently coached by Dave Ellis, who was the USA team coach in Ireland, things could go from good to great for her in 2009.
7) Lucite Court. Discussed for years, the Lucite portable court that Dave Negrete, commissioner of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) had been planning debuted at the Pro Nationals event in Chicago in April. It has since been used twice more: at the Motorola World Racquetball Championships, when it was set up outdoors on the mall in downtown Denver, and at the US Open in Memphis. Easier to set up and move around than the previous portable court, it's a big step forward in helping to bring racquetball to the public.
6) Rocky Carson wins the IRT 2007-08 season title. Consider that Carson was #3 the season before, and #6 the season before that. Consider that Carson's career IRT title total is 11, but 7 of those came last season. With those thoughts in mind, you can better understand how remarkable it was that Carson finished number 1 in 2008.
5) IRT matches web-cast via ESPN360.com. The IRT made an agreement with ESPN360.com for live broadcasting of semi-final and final matches from their Tier 1 events bringing racquetball to potentially millions of people across the USA via the internet. To date, the Denver, Kansas City and Kentucky events have been broadcast on ESPN360.com with the added benefit of the Denver event being shown on regular cable TV on ESPN Classic on a tape delayed basis.
4) US Junior Team. In December, the USA junior team won the overall title at the 20th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships in Tempe, Arizona for the first time since 2001 by winning both boys and girls team titles, which was partly due to gold medal performances by Jose Rojas (Boys 18 & under), Danielle Key (Girls 16) and Jose Diaz (Boys 14), as well as a gold medal sweep in boys doubles and two of three gold medals in girls doubles.
3) Paola Longoria wins 2008 US Open. Longoria becomes the first Mexican - man or woman - to take top prize in Memphis. It's her 3rd career title, and as she's only 19, bodes well for her future. Two months later she successfully defends her 18 & under World Junior title.
2) Rhonda Rajsich wins her first World Championship two months after being assaulted. Reports of Rajsich's injuries caused when two men assaulted her near her home in California and left her hospitalized suggested that her career was in jeopardy. Yet a little over a month later she was competing in the World Outdoor Racquetball Championships, and then winning at Worlds in Ireland. To perform that well after a serious injury is remarkable.
1) Kane Waselenchuk's undefeated return to the IRT. There was a great deal of speculation as to how Waselenchuk would perform when he returned to the men's pro tour after his two year ban from racquetball for a positive drug test. A hint came in June at the South Carolina Open, where he met Rocky Carson in the final, and defeated him. Then the real test at the Motorola World Racquetball Championships in Denver, where Waselenchuk won three qualifying matches to make the main draw and proceeded to work his way to the final, including a victory over Jack Huczek, where he had a re-match with Carson.
That final went to a tie-breaker, and Waselenchuk was again victorious. This added fuel to the speculation that he could win all the IRT tournaments this season, and Waselenchuk stoked the fire by reeling off victories in Kansas City and Bowling Green, Kentucky. Yet despite winning the US Open, where he again defeated Carson in the final, Waselenchuk will not win all the IRT tournaments, because he's failed to play in two of them (the Canadian Classic and the Juarez Open).
That failure is the only shadow on a remarkable return to the pro game. It's difficult to think of parallels in other sports, although perhaps Christie Van Hees's return to the WPRO in 2003 and earlier Cliff Swain's return to racquetball after efforts to crack professional tennis are the most similar experiences.
That's our top 10. If you think we've overlooked something - your tie-breaking victory over an arch-nemisis at a local tourny perhaps? - let us know by leaving a comment on the blog.
Or on Facebook. That's right, folks, The Racquetball Blog has its own Facebook page, so you can become a fan of TRB on Facebook and help spread the word about TRB. Search for "The Racquetball Blog" when you're logged on to Facebook and join up.
We hope that 2009 will be as great a year for racquetball as 2008 was. There are certainly things to look forward to: more matches on the new Lucite court and on ESPN360.com, finding out whether Waselenchuk can continue to be undefeated this season, and racquetball's return to the World Games for the first time since 1993.
Happy New Year everyone!
Follow the bouncing ball....
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