Monday, February 16, 2009

USAR 2009 Doubles Championships

Repeat was the order of the day as the USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships concluded on Sunday in Tempe, Arizona, because the 2008 men's and women's champions won again.

Rocky Carson and Jack Huczek successfully defended their doubles title but it was a more difficult task this year, as the final match went to a tie-breaker with Carson and Huczek defeating Ben Croft and Mitch Williams by the slimmest of margins, 15-9, 7-15, 11-10. Williams was also on the runner up side last year, when Jason Thoerner was his partner.

The 2009 Championship is Carson and Huczek's fifth US doubles title together. Croft and Williams were the 2007 champions.

The story on the women's side was similar, with Jackie Paraiso and Aimee Ruiz defeating Rhonda Rajsich and Janel Tisinger, 15-11, 15-13, for their third consecutive title. It's Ruiz's fourth in a row. She won the 2006 title with Laura Fenton. But more remarkable is that this was Paraiso's 12th US women's doubles championship.

In mixed doubles, Kane Waselenchuk and Kim Russell-Waselenchuk defeated top seeds Andy Hawthorne and Diane Moore, 15-8, 15-6. Hawthorne and Moore were also runners up last year, when Ruiz and Mike Dennison took the title.

2009 USAR National Doubles Championships
Men's Final


Rocky Carson & Jack Huczek d. Ben Croft & Mitch Williams, 15-9, 7-15, 11-10

Semi-finals
Rocky Carson & Jack Huczek d. Chris Crowther & Tim Doyle, 8-15, 15-6, 11-5
Ben Croft & Mitch Williams d. Jason Thoerner & Shane Vanderson, 15-12, 3-15, 11-9

Women's Final

Jackie Paraiso & Aimee Ruiz d. Rhonda Rajsich & Janel Tisinger, 15-11, 15-13

Semi finals
Jackie Paraiso & Aimee Ruiz d. Krystal Csuk & Cheryl Gudinas Holmes, 15-8, 15-7
Rhonda Rajsich & Janel Tisinger d. Kristen Bellows & Kim Russell-Waselenchuk, 15-4, 15-12

Mixed Final
Kane Waselenchuk & Kim Russell-Waselenchuk d. Andy Hawthorne and Diane Moore, 15-8, 15-6

Semi-finals
Andy Hawthorne & Diane Moore d. Greg Solis & Janel Tisinger, 14-15, 15-14, 11-5
Kane Waselenchuk & Kim Russell-Waselenchuk d. Aimee Ruiz & Jason Thoerner, 12-15, 15-14, 11-10

Follow the bouncing ball....

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