Kane Waselenchuk should finish as the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) regardless of what happens next week in Chicago at the Motorola IRT Pro Nationals based on the latest IRT rankings. Waselenchuk's achievement is all the more remarkable as he was out of professional racquetball for two seasons due to a positive drug test at the 2006 Canadian National Championships.
But he's hardly missed a beat, and has lost only one match this season.
Waselenchuk is 904 points ahead of Rocky Carson, who's #2 now. The Motorola Pro Nationals is a Grand Slam event, so it's worth more points than a Tier 1 event, but only about 600-650 based on what the Denver event was worth. Thus, as long as Waselenchuk doesn't stub his toe or something, and is able to play, he should finish #1 even if Carson wins the event.
But there are some interesting ranking possibilities with one tournament to go. For example, a good showing by Alvaro Beltran, now 4th, could be enough to overcome the 349 point difference between him and Jack Huczek in third, if Huczek doesn't do well in Chicago.
Also, Jason Mannino, Shane Vanderson and Mitch Williams, in the 5th-7th spots, are within 237 points of each other, so their performances in Chicago could make the difference in their final ranking. Mannino might be most under the gun there, as he missed a tournament earlier in the season, so that takes up one of the two results that players can drop from their total ranking results.
IRT Rankings - April 27, 2009
Rank - Name - Points - Previous Rank
1 Kane WASELENCHUK, 4309 1
2 Rocky CARSON, 3405 2
3 Jack HUCZEK, 3173 3
4 Alvaro BELTRAN, 2824 4
5 Jason MANNINO, 2333 5
6 Shane VANDERSON, 2216 6
7 Mitch WILLIAMS, 2096 8
8 Ben CROFT, 1961 7
9 Chris CROWTHER, 1534 9
10 Jason THOERNER, 1440 10
11 Andy HAWTHORNE, 1290 11
12 Juan HERRERA, 1016 12
13 Alejandro HERRERA, 990 13
14 Andreas HERRERA, 803 15
15 Travis WOODBURY, 780 14
16 Hiroshi SHIMIZU, 754 16
17 Anthony HERRERA, 722 18
18 Kris ODEGARD, 634 17
19 Tony CARSON, 626 20
20 Jose ROJAS, 574 19
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Mohr and Lambert win Canadian Junior Titles
The Canadian Junior National Racquetball Championships were held last week in Regina, Saskatchewan. Hometown boy, Colin Mohr and Frédérique T. Lambert won the Boys and Girls 18 and under divisions, respectively. Complete results are available on the R2 Website.
Mohr was a surprise winner, as he was seeded 7th. But as he defeated the 2nd, 3rd and 4th seeds - Jamie Slamko, Anthony Barraco and Conrad Cole, respectively, to take the title, Mohr certainly earned it. Impressively, he won the semi-finals (against Barraco) and finals (Cole) in two straight games.
Several Boys 18 and under champs have gone on to play for the Canadian National Team, including Mike Green, Sherman Greenfeld, Simon Roy, François Viens and most recently Ryan Smith. However, for some players, such as Guy Desjardins, Andrew Kane and Jeremy Renaud, the 18 and under title was their last significant racquetball accomplishment.
Thus, the correlation between being a junior champion and a senior champion or National Team member is far from perfect. It's an open question as to which category Mohr will fall into.
That's not an open question for Lambert, as she has already appeared on the Canadian National Team in two competitions: the Pan American Championships last year and this year, when she earned a bronze medal in Cali, Colombia.
At 17, Lambert has already had more success than the previous Girls 18 and under champions - Brandi Jacobson Prentice and Denise Haynes, who were each multiple winners of the 18 and under title, but have yet to play for Canada at an international event.
Our point here is that while future racquetball champions were likely good junior players, it's not the case that being a very successful junior player will translate into being a very successful adult player.
There are multiple reasons for that, but one is that people mature at different times. This can be seen at almost any junior tournament, especially in the 12 and under or older divisions, where some kids have started - and perhaps completed - their growth spurts, while some of their contemporaries may not have even started that spurt.
Players who have their growth spurts (GS) early have an advantage over same age players as the GS player will be bigger, and able to put on more weight from training. That can translate into hitting the ball harder and being more explosive when moving to the ball, both of which are significant important aspects of racquetball.
So we congratulate Lambert and Mohr on their accomplishments last week, but recognize their futures - like those for the rest of us - are far from certain.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Mohr was a surprise winner, as he was seeded 7th. But as he defeated the 2nd, 3rd and 4th seeds - Jamie Slamko, Anthony Barraco and Conrad Cole, respectively, to take the title, Mohr certainly earned it. Impressively, he won the semi-finals (against Barraco) and finals (Cole) in two straight games.
Several Boys 18 and under champs have gone on to play for the Canadian National Team, including Mike Green, Sherman Greenfeld, Simon Roy, François Viens and most recently Ryan Smith. However, for some players, such as Guy Desjardins, Andrew Kane and Jeremy Renaud, the 18 and under title was their last significant racquetball accomplishment.
Thus, the correlation between being a junior champion and a senior champion or National Team member is far from perfect. It's an open question as to which category Mohr will fall into.
That's not an open question for Lambert, as she has already appeared on the Canadian National Team in two competitions: the Pan American Championships last year and this year, when she earned a bronze medal in Cali, Colombia.
At 17, Lambert has already had more success than the previous Girls 18 and under champions - Brandi Jacobson Prentice and Denise Haynes, who were each multiple winners of the 18 and under title, but have yet to play for Canada at an international event.
Our point here is that while future racquetball champions were likely good junior players, it's not the case that being a very successful junior player will translate into being a very successful adult player.
There are multiple reasons for that, but one is that people mature at different times. This can be seen at almost any junior tournament, especially in the 12 and under or older divisions, where some kids have started - and perhaps completed - their growth spurts, while some of their contemporaries may not have even started that spurt.
Players who have their growth spurts (GS) early have an advantage over same age players as the GS player will be bigger, and able to put on more weight from training. That can translate into hitting the ball harder and being more explosive when moving to the ball, both of which are significant important aspects of racquetball.
So we congratulate Lambert and Mohr on their accomplishments last week, but recognize their futures - like those for the rest of us - are far from certain.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Bellows & Waselenchuk win on Sunday
Kristen Bellows won the Ektelon World Championships - the last event of the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season - in Stockton, California Sunday, providing the final surprise of one of the most surprising weekends in racquetball. Bellows defeated Paola Longoria in the final, 12-10, 11-5, 7-11, 7-11, 11-7.
How surprising was Bellows's victory? Consider it was her first final of the season, and only the third tournament where she'd made it as far as the semis. Furthermore, her victory comes with wins over the current #1 player, Rhonda Rajsich in the semis on Saturday, and the soon to be #1, Longoria.
Longoria will become #1 in the next WPRO ranking run, as she performed better in Stockton than Rajsich. They have been the dominant WPRO players this season, with each winning 4 of the 8 main events.
But the 9th event went to Bellows, who may move up to the 4th spot in the rankings ahead of Kerri Wachtel, who she defeated in the quarter finals. Bellows is currently 5th.
Also in Stockton, Jennifer Saunders took the Open division by defeating Maiko Sato, 15-11, 15-8. As 3rd and 8th seeds, respectively, Saunders and Sato were surprising finalists. Saunders defeated 2nd seed Adrienne Fisher in the semi-finals, 12-15, 15-5, 11-2, while Sato took out 4th seed Krystal Csuk (scores unknown).
Ektelon WPRO World Championships
Final
Kristen Bellows d. Paola Longoria, 12-10, 11-5, 7-11, 7-11, 11-7
International Racquetball Tour
There was no surprise on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Sunday, as top seed and IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk defeated Mitch Williams, 11-3, 11-1, 8-11, 11-5, to win the Dennis Rosenberg Pro Am in Allentown, Pennsylvania, ending Williams's impressive run to the final.
Waselenchuk solidified his hold on the top spot in the IRT rankings, and Williams, currently ranked 8th, may finish in the top 5 by season's end for the first time in his career.
The last main event of the IRT season is the Motorola IRT Pro Nationals in Chicago May 5th to 9th.
Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am
Final
Kane Waselenchuk d. Mitch Williams, 11-3, 11-1, 8-11, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball....
How surprising was Bellows's victory? Consider it was her first final of the season, and only the third tournament where she'd made it as far as the semis. Furthermore, her victory comes with wins over the current #1 player, Rhonda Rajsich in the semis on Saturday, and the soon to be #1, Longoria.
Longoria will become #1 in the next WPRO ranking run, as she performed better in Stockton than Rajsich. They have been the dominant WPRO players this season, with each winning 4 of the 8 main events.
But the 9th event went to Bellows, who may move up to the 4th spot in the rankings ahead of Kerri Wachtel, who she defeated in the quarter finals. Bellows is currently 5th.
Also in Stockton, Jennifer Saunders took the Open division by defeating Maiko Sato, 15-11, 15-8. As 3rd and 8th seeds, respectively, Saunders and Sato were surprising finalists. Saunders defeated 2nd seed Adrienne Fisher in the semi-finals, 12-15, 15-5, 11-2, while Sato took out 4th seed Krystal Csuk (scores unknown).
Ektelon WPRO World Championships
Final
Kristen Bellows d. Paola Longoria, 12-10, 11-5, 7-11, 7-11, 11-7
International Racquetball Tour
There was no surprise on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Sunday, as top seed and IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk defeated Mitch Williams, 11-3, 11-1, 8-11, 11-5, to win the Dennis Rosenberg Pro Am in Allentown, Pennsylvania, ending Williams's impressive run to the final.
Waselenchuk solidified his hold on the top spot in the IRT rankings, and Williams, currently ranked 8th, may finish in the top 5 by season's end for the first time in his career.
The last main event of the IRT season is the Motorola IRT Pro Nationals in Chicago May 5th to 9th.
Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am
Final
Kane Waselenchuk d. Mitch Williams, 11-3, 11-1, 8-11, 11-5
Follow the bouncing ball....
Bellows surprise finalist at Ektelon WPRO World Championships
It's the weekend for shock upsets in racquetball, as fifth seed Kristen Bellows upset top seed Rhonda Rajsich in the semi-finals of the Ektelon Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) World Championships in Stockton, California on Saturday. Bellows took the match in five games, 12-10, 3-11, 13-11, 8-11, 11-8.
Sunday, Bellows will face second seed Paola Longoria, who defeated third seed Cheryl Gudinas Holmes in another five game match, winning 11-0, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8.
These victories ensure the WPRO will have a new #1 player next week, as Longoria will take over the top spot from Rajsich based on a better finish in this season ending event.
It will be the first time a Mexican racquetball player - male or female - will be the #1 player on the pro tour.
The WPRO final can be seen on-line via RacquetballOnline.tv beginning at noon Sunday Pacific Time.
There was a surprise in the Open division also as Maiko Sato, 8th seed, defeated top seed Veronica Sotomayor, 15-5, 15-10, in the quarter finals on Saturday. Sato will play Krystal Csuk in one semi-final Sunday, while Adrienne Fisher and Jennifer Saunders face off in the other.
Ektelon WPRO World Championships
Semi-finals
Kristen Bellows d. Rhonda Rajsich, 12-10, 3-11, 13-11, 8-11, 11-8
Paola Longoria d. Cheryl Gudinas Holmes, 11-0, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8
Final
Paola Longoria vs. Kristen Bellows
Follow the bouncing ball....
Sunday, Bellows will face second seed Paola Longoria, who defeated third seed Cheryl Gudinas Holmes in another five game match, winning 11-0, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8.
These victories ensure the WPRO will have a new #1 player next week, as Longoria will take over the top spot from Rajsich based on a better finish in this season ending event.
It will be the first time a Mexican racquetball player - male or female - will be the #1 player on the pro tour.
The WPRO final can be seen on-line via RacquetballOnline.tv beginning at noon Sunday Pacific Time.
There was a surprise in the Open division also as Maiko Sato, 8th seed, defeated top seed Veronica Sotomayor, 15-5, 15-10, in the quarter finals on Saturday. Sato will play Krystal Csuk in one semi-final Sunday, while Adrienne Fisher and Jennifer Saunders face off in the other.
Ektelon WPRO World Championships
Semi-finals
Kristen Bellows d. Rhonda Rajsich, 12-10, 3-11, 13-11, 8-11, 11-8
Paola Longoria d. Cheryl Gudinas Holmes, 11-0, 11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-8
Final
Paola Longoria vs. Kristen Bellows
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Dennis Rosenberg Pro Am - Semi Finals UPDATED
Mitch Williams again shocked the racquetball world Saturday by getting his first career victory over Jack Huczek in the semi-finals of the Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Huczek was up 2-1 in games, but Williams came back and took the final two to win 6-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9.
It's only Williams's third career victory over any of the current top five International Racquetball Tour (IRT) players, and comes the day after he beat Rocky Carson (IRT #2) for the first time. Huczek's currently ranked 3rd.
Thus, Williams will play in his first career final at a Tier 1 IRT event on Sunday.
Williams will face Kane Waselenchuk, the IRT's #1 player, in Sunday's final, as Waselenchuk defeated Shane Vanderson, 11-1, 11-8, 11-4, in the other semi-final.
Williams's victories over Carson and Huczek likely ensures that Waselenchuk will be #1 at season's end, as both Carson and Huczek needed to defend a lot of ranking points in Allentown, where Carson defeated Huczek in the final last year.
A Williams-Waselenchuk final would be very interesting, as The Racquetball Blog believes that Williams has a game style that matches up favorably against Waselenchuk. Evidence of that was their match at the US Open last October, which Waselenchuk won in four long games.
Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am
Semi-finals - Saturday
Mitch Williams d. Jack Huczek, 6-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9
Kane Waselenchuk d. Shane Vanderson, 11-1, 11-8, 11-4
Final - Sunday
Kane Waselenchuk vs. Mitch Williams
Follow the bouncing ball....
It's only Williams's third career victory over any of the current top five International Racquetball Tour (IRT) players, and comes the day after he beat Rocky Carson (IRT #2) for the first time. Huczek's currently ranked 3rd.
Thus, Williams will play in his first career final at a Tier 1 IRT event on Sunday.
Williams will face Kane Waselenchuk, the IRT's #1 player, in Sunday's final, as Waselenchuk defeated Shane Vanderson, 11-1, 11-8, 11-4, in the other semi-final.
Williams's victories over Carson and Huczek likely ensures that Waselenchuk will be #1 at season's end, as both Carson and Huczek needed to defend a lot of ranking points in Allentown, where Carson defeated Huczek in the final last year.
A Williams-Waselenchuk final would be very interesting, as The Racquetball Blog believes that Williams has a game style that matches up favorably against Waselenchuk. Evidence of that was their match at the US Open last October, which Waselenchuk won in four long games.
Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am
Semi-finals - Saturday
Mitch Williams d. Jack Huczek, 6-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9
Kane Waselenchuk d. Shane Vanderson, 11-1, 11-8, 11-4
Final - Sunday
Kane Waselenchuk vs. Mitch Williams
Follow the bouncing ball....
WPRO - Ektelon WPRO World Championships - Quarter finals
Rhonda Rajsich and Paola Longoria remain on track to face off for the #1 spot in the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) rankings, as they both won their quarter final matches Saturday at the Ektelon Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) World Championships in Stockton, California.
Rajsich defeated Angela Grisar in the quarters, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4, while Longoria beat Veronica Sotomayor, 11-0, 11-4, 11-8.
Fifth seeded Kristen Bellows had the only quarter final upset, as she defeated fourth seed Kerri Wachtel, 11-8, 11-4, 11-8. Bellows now faces Rajsich in the semis later on Saturday.
Longoria will be looking for some revenge when she plays Cheryl Gudinas Holmes in the other semi final, as Gudinas Holmes defeated Longoria earlier this month at the Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia. To reach the semis, Gudinas Holmes defeated Adrienne Fisher, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6.
Matches can be seen on-line via RacquetballOnline.tv.
Ektelon WPRO World Championships
Quarter finals
Rhonda Rajsich d. Angela Grisar, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4
Kristen Bellows d. Kerri Wachtel, 11-8, 11-4, 11-8
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes d. Adrienne Fisher, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6
Paola Longoria d. Veronica Sotomayor, 11-0, 11-4, 11-8
Semi-finals
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Kristen Bellows
Paola Longoria vs. Cheryl Gudinas Holmes
Follow the bouncing ball....
Rajsich defeated Angela Grisar in the quarters, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4, while Longoria beat Veronica Sotomayor, 11-0, 11-4, 11-8.
Fifth seeded Kristen Bellows had the only quarter final upset, as she defeated fourth seed Kerri Wachtel, 11-8, 11-4, 11-8. Bellows now faces Rajsich in the semis later on Saturday.
Longoria will be looking for some revenge when she plays Cheryl Gudinas Holmes in the other semi final, as Gudinas Holmes defeated Longoria earlier this month at the Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia. To reach the semis, Gudinas Holmes defeated Adrienne Fisher, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6.
Matches can be seen on-line via RacquetballOnline.tv.
Ektelon WPRO World Championships
Quarter finals
Rhonda Rajsich d. Angela Grisar, 11-8, 11-2, 11-4
Kristen Bellows d. Kerri Wachtel, 11-8, 11-4, 11-8
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes d. Adrienne Fisher, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-6
Paola Longoria d. Veronica Sotomayor, 11-0, 11-4, 11-8
Semi-finals
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Kristen Bellows
Paola Longoria vs. Cheryl Gudinas Holmes
Follow the bouncing ball....
Dennis Rosenberg Pro Am - Quarter Final Results
Mitch Williams finally got the breakthrough victory that many have been looking for from him on Friday at the Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Williams defeated Rocky Carson, the 2nd ranked International Racquetball Tour (IRT) player, 11-3, 10-12, 11-2, 9-11, 11-5, in the quarter finals on Friday.
It's Williams's first career victory over Carson, and only his second victory over any of the current top five IRT players.
Williams will face another player he's never beaten in the semis on the Saturday, as he'll be up against Jack Huczek. Huczek defeated Ben Croft, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-7.
Shane Vanderson had an upset of his own Friday as he defeated Jason Mannino, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9. It's only his fourth career victory over Mannino, but his second win in four meetings with Mannino this season.
Next up for Vanderson is Kane Waselenchuk, the new IRT #1, who defeated Andy Hawthorne, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 in the other quarter final match.
Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am
Quarter finals
Kane Waselenchuk d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5
Shane Vanderson d. Jason Mannino, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9
Jack Huczek d. Ben Croft, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-7
Mitch Williams d. Rocky Carson, 11-3, 10-12, 11-2, 9-11, 11-5
Semi-finals
Kane Waselenchuk vs. Shane Vanderson
Jack Huczek vs. Mitch Williams
Note: IRT statistics from www.bossconsulting.com.
Follow the bouncing ball....
It's Williams's first career victory over Carson, and only his second victory over any of the current top five IRT players.
Williams will face another player he's never beaten in the semis on the Saturday, as he'll be up against Jack Huczek. Huczek defeated Ben Croft, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-7.
Shane Vanderson had an upset of his own Friday as he defeated Jason Mannino, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9. It's only his fourth career victory over Mannino, but his second win in four meetings with Mannino this season.
Next up for Vanderson is Kane Waselenchuk, the new IRT #1, who defeated Andy Hawthorne, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 in the other quarter final match.
Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am
Quarter finals
Kane Waselenchuk d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-5, 11-4, 11-5
Shane Vanderson d. Jason Mannino, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9
Jack Huczek d. Ben Croft, 5-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-7
Mitch Williams d. Rocky Carson, 11-3, 10-12, 11-2, 9-11, 11-5
Semi-finals
Kane Waselenchuk vs. Shane Vanderson
Jack Huczek vs. Mitch Williams
Note: IRT statistics from www.bossconsulting.com.
Follow the bouncing ball....
WPRO - Ektelon WPRO World Championships - Results from 16s
As expected the closest match in the Round of 16 at the Ektelon Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) World Championships in Stockton, California was 8th seed Angela Grisar versus 9th seed Jennifer Saunders, which went the distance with Grisar coming back from two games to one down to win in the fifth, 8-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-1, 11-4. Grisar will play top seed Rhonda Rajsich in the quarter finals.
Rajsich defeated Krystal Csuk, 11-2, 11-1, 11-9, in the 16s. Most matches in the 16s were three game straight victories to the higher seed.
Notable though is Aubrey O'brien forcing fourth seed Kerri Wachtel to extra points in each of their games, as Wachtel won 12-10, 12-10, 12-10.
Matches can be seen on-line via RacquetballOnline.tv.
Ektelon WPRO World Championships
Round of 16
Rhonda Rajsich d. Krystal Csuk, 11-2, 11-1, 11-9
Angela Grisar d. Jennifer Saunders, 8-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-1, 11-4
Kristen Bellows d. Samantha Salas, 11-1, 13-11, 11-9
Kerri Wachtel d. Aubrey O'Brien, 12-10, 12-10, 12-10
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes d. T.J. Baumbaugh, 11-5, 11-6, 11-2
Adrienne Fisher d. Diane Moore, 8-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-7
Veronica Sotomayor d. Jo Shattuck, 11-4, 11-2, 11-7
Paola Longoria d. Sofia Rascon, 11-0, 11-3, 11-3
Quarter finals
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Angela Grisar
Kristen Bellows vs. Kerri Wachtel
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes vs. Adrienne Fisher
Paola Longoria vs. Veronica Sotomayor
Follow the bouncing ball....
Rajsich defeated Krystal Csuk, 11-2, 11-1, 11-9, in the 16s. Most matches in the 16s were three game straight victories to the higher seed.
Notable though is Aubrey O'brien forcing fourth seed Kerri Wachtel to extra points in each of their games, as Wachtel won 12-10, 12-10, 12-10.
Matches can be seen on-line via RacquetballOnline.tv.
Ektelon WPRO World Championships
Round of 16
Rhonda Rajsich d. Krystal Csuk, 11-2, 11-1, 11-9
Angela Grisar d. Jennifer Saunders, 8-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-1, 11-4
Kristen Bellows d. Samantha Salas, 11-1, 13-11, 11-9
Kerri Wachtel d. Aubrey O'Brien, 12-10, 12-10, 12-10
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes d. T.J. Baumbaugh, 11-5, 11-6, 11-2
Adrienne Fisher d. Diane Moore, 8-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-7
Veronica Sotomayor d. Jo Shattuck, 11-4, 11-2, 11-7
Paola Longoria d. Sofia Rascon, 11-0, 11-3, 11-3
Quarter finals
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Angela Grisar
Kristen Bellows vs. Kerri Wachtel
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes vs. Adrienne Fisher
Paola Longoria vs. Veronica Sotomayor
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, April 24, 2009
Dennis Rosenberg Pro Am - Round 16 Results
Things have gone mostly according to form so far at the Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The sole exception is Andy Hawthorne's victory over Chris Crowther in the 8-9 game. Hawthorne, the 9th seed, beat the 8th seeded Crowther 11-9, 3-11, 11-5, 11-9.
That puts Hawthorne into the quarter finals against top seed Kane Waselenchuk, who beat Ruben Gonzalez, 11-4, 11-4, 11-0. All the other matches were also won by the higher seeded player, and all in three straight games, which suggests the top players have all got their games in top shape for the end of the season.
Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am
Round of 16
Kane Waselenchuk d. Ruben Gonzalez, 11-4, 11-4, 11-0
Andy Hawthorne d. Chris Crowther, 11-9, 3-11, 11-5, 11-9
Shane Vanderson d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 11-5, 11-8, 11-9
Jason Mannino d. Jason Sylvester, 11-7, 11-2, 11-2
Jack Huczek d. Anthony Herrera, 11-3, 11-1, 11-3
Ben Croft d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5
Mitch Williams d. Juan Herrera, 11-1, 11-3, 11-6
Rocky Carson d. Mike Green, 11-9, 11-2, 11-1
Quarter finals
Kane Waselenchuk vs. Andy Hawthorne
Jason Mannino vs. Shane Vanderson
Jack Huczek vs. Ben Croft
Rocky Carson Mitch Williams
Follow the bouncing ball....
That puts Hawthorne into the quarter finals against top seed Kane Waselenchuk, who beat Ruben Gonzalez, 11-4, 11-4, 11-0. All the other matches were also won by the higher seeded player, and all in three straight games, which suggests the top players have all got their games in top shape for the end of the season.
Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am
Round of 16
Kane Waselenchuk d. Ruben Gonzalez, 11-4, 11-4, 11-0
Andy Hawthorne d. Chris Crowther, 11-9, 3-11, 11-5, 11-9
Shane Vanderson d. Hiroshi Shimizu, 11-5, 11-8, 11-9
Jason Mannino d. Jason Sylvester, 11-7, 11-2, 11-2
Jack Huczek d. Anthony Herrera, 11-3, 11-1, 11-3
Ben Croft d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5
Mitch Williams d. Juan Herrera, 11-1, 11-3, 11-6
Rocky Carson d. Mike Green, 11-9, 11-2, 11-1
Quarter finals
Kane Waselenchuk vs. Andy Hawthorne
Jason Mannino vs. Shane Vanderson
Jack Huczek vs. Ben Croft
Rocky Carson Mitch Williams
Follow the bouncing ball....
WPRO - Ektelon WPRO World Championships - Results from 32s
Two upsets in the 32s of the Ektelon Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) World Championships in Stockton, California, but neither of them major. US Junior Team member Aubrey O'brien (20th seed) defeated Keely Franks (13), 11-0, 7-11, 10-12, 11-2, 11-8. Also, Sofia Rascon (18) beat Vivian Gomez (15), 11-2, 11-8, 11-9.
The most interesting matches in the Round of 16 could be 9th seed Jennifer Saunders versus 8th seed Angela Grisar, and 5th seed Kristen Bellows versus Samantha Salas, the 12th seed.
Matches can be seen on-line via RacquetballOnline.tv.
Ektelon WPRO World Championships
Round of 32
Rhonda Rajsich vs. BYE
Krystal Csuk d. Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 8-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4
Jennifer Saunders d. Megumi Kozakai, 4-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-3
Angela Grisar d. Devon Pimentelli, 13-11, 11-3, 11-7
Kristen Bellows d. Jocelyn Loredo, 11-5, 11-0, 11-7
Samantha Salas d. Maiko Sato, 11-2, 11-3, 3-11, 3-11, 11-4
Aubrey O'Brien d. Keely Franks, 11-0, 7-11, 10-12, 11-2, 11-8
Kerri Wachtel vs. BYE
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes vs. BYE
T.J. Baumbaugh d. Laura Brandt, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3
Diane Moore d. Michelle Poage, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7
Adrienne Fisher d. Arantza Lored, 11-6, 11-1, 11-2
Veronica Sotomayor d. Danielle Emerson, 11-0, 11-1, 11-0
Jo Shattuck d. Alison Schlichemeyer, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8
Sofia Rascon d. Vivian Gomez, 11-2, 11-8, 11-9
Paola Longoria vs. BYE
Round of 16
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Krystal Csuk
Angela Grisar vs. Jennifer Saunders
Kristen Bellows vs. Samantha Salas
Kerri Wachtel vs. Aubrey O'Brien
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes vs. T.J. Baumbaugh
Adrienne Fisher vs. Diane Moore
Veronica Sotomayor vs. Jo Shattuck
Paola Longoria vs. Sofia Rascon
Follow the bouncing ball....
The most interesting matches in the Round of 16 could be 9th seed Jennifer Saunders versus 8th seed Angela Grisar, and 5th seed Kristen Bellows versus Samantha Salas, the 12th seed.
Matches can be seen on-line via RacquetballOnline.tv.
Ektelon WPRO World Championships
Round of 32
Rhonda Rajsich vs. BYE
Krystal Csuk d. Brandi Jacobson Prentice, 8-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4
Jennifer Saunders d. Megumi Kozakai, 4-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-3
Angela Grisar d. Devon Pimentelli, 13-11, 11-3, 11-7
Kristen Bellows d. Jocelyn Loredo, 11-5, 11-0, 11-7
Samantha Salas d. Maiko Sato, 11-2, 11-3, 3-11, 3-11, 11-4
Aubrey O'Brien d. Keely Franks, 11-0, 7-11, 10-12, 11-2, 11-8
Kerri Wachtel vs. BYE
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes vs. BYE
T.J. Baumbaugh d. Laura Brandt, 11-3, 11-5, 11-3
Diane Moore d. Michelle Poage, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7
Adrienne Fisher d. Arantza Lored, 11-6, 11-1, 11-2
Veronica Sotomayor d. Danielle Emerson, 11-0, 11-1, 11-0
Jo Shattuck d. Alison Schlichemeyer, 11-6, 11-4, 11-8
Sofia Rascon d. Vivian Gomez, 11-2, 11-8, 11-9
Paola Longoria vs. BYE
Round of 16
Rhonda Rajsich vs. Krystal Csuk
Angela Grisar vs. Jennifer Saunders
Kristen Bellows vs. Samantha Salas
Kerri Wachtel vs. Aubrey O'Brien
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes vs. T.J. Baumbaugh
Adrienne Fisher vs. Diane Moore
Veronica Sotomayor vs. Jo Shattuck
Paola Longoria vs. Sofia Rascon
Follow the bouncing ball....
Dennis Rosenberg Pro Am - Qualifying Round Results
Jason Sylvester was the biggest surprise qualifier on Thursday at the Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am tournament, an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Sylvester beat Travis Woodbury in qualifying, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8, to make the Round of 16 on Friday, when he'll play Jason Mannino.
Also, Ruben Gonzalez, a racquetball legend, qualified for the main draw by defeating Canadian Lee Connell, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7. Gonzalez will face top seed Kane Waselenchuk, who is becoming a racquetball legend himself.
Highlighting the other qualifiers is current Canadian champion, Mike Green, who beat former IRT #1 Cliff Swain, 11-9, 11-9, 11-0. Green's next match is against second seed Rocky Carson.
Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am
Qualifying Rounds
Round 1
Ben Drumm d. Mitch Posner, 11-4, 11-4, 11-0
Bryan Crosser d. Michael Arterburn, fft
Travis Aldinger d. Jack Pau, 11-3, 11-3, 11-8
David Austin d. Marty Hammond, 11-3, 12-10, 11-7
Round 2
Q1 : Andy Hawthorne d. Ben Drumm, 11-7, 11-0, 11-9
Q8 : Ruben Gonzalez d. Lee Connell, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7
Q5 : Jason Sylvester d. Travis Woodbury, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8
Q4 : Hiroshi Shimizu d. Bryan Crosser, 11-5, 11-1, 11-4
Q3 : Alejandro Herrera d. Travis Aldinger
Q6 : Anthony Herrera d. Keith Minor, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 8-3 injury default
Q7 : Mike Green d. Cliff Swain, 11-9, 11-9, 11-0
Q2 : Juan Herrera d. David Austin, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8
Main Draw Round of 16
Kane Waselenchuk vs. Ruben Gonzalez
Chris Crowther vs. Andy Hawthorne
Shane Vanderson vs. Hiroshi Shimizu
Jason Mannino vs. Jason Sylvester
Jack Huczek vs. Anthony Herrera
Ben Croft vs. Alejandro Herrera
Mitch Williams vs. Juan Herrera
Rocky Carson vs. Mike Green
Follow the bouncing ball....
Also, Ruben Gonzalez, a racquetball legend, qualified for the main draw by defeating Canadian Lee Connell, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7. Gonzalez will face top seed Kane Waselenchuk, who is becoming a racquetball legend himself.
Highlighting the other qualifiers is current Canadian champion, Mike Green, who beat former IRT #1 Cliff Swain, 11-9, 11-9, 11-0. Green's next match is against second seed Rocky Carson.
Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am
Qualifying Rounds
Round 1
Ben Drumm d. Mitch Posner, 11-4, 11-4, 11-0
Bryan Crosser d. Michael Arterburn, fft
Travis Aldinger d. Jack Pau, 11-3, 11-3, 11-8
David Austin d. Marty Hammond, 11-3, 12-10, 11-7
Round 2
Q1 : Andy Hawthorne d. Ben Drumm, 11-7, 11-0, 11-9
Q8 : Ruben Gonzalez d. Lee Connell, 5-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7
Q5 : Jason Sylvester d. Travis Woodbury, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8
Q4 : Hiroshi Shimizu d. Bryan Crosser, 11-5, 11-1, 11-4
Q3 : Alejandro Herrera d. Travis Aldinger
Q6 : Anthony Herrera d. Keith Minor, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 8-3 injury default
Q7 : Mike Green d. Cliff Swain, 11-9, 11-9, 11-0
Q2 : Juan Herrera d. David Austin, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8
Main Draw Round of 16
Kane Waselenchuk vs. Ruben Gonzalez
Chris Crowther vs. Andy Hawthorne
Shane Vanderson vs. Hiroshi Shimizu
Jason Mannino vs. Jason Sylvester
Jack Huczek vs. Anthony Herrera
Ben Croft vs. Alejandro Herrera
Mitch Williams vs. Juan Herrera
Rocky Carson vs. Mike Green
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Dennis Rosenberg Pro Am - Qualifying Rounds
For the first time this season, Kane Waselenchuk is ranked first at an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event. He's top seed at the Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am tournament, which kicks off later today in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The latest rankings put Waselenchuk, previously third, in the top spot, with Rocky Carson second and Jack Huczek third. Thus, Waselenchuk will have to face only one of them, and that will only happen in the finals.
A move to #1 might not be so great for Waselenchuk in other events, as he would likely have a semi-final match against the IRT's #4 player, Alvaro Beltran, who's game style The Racquetball Blog believes matches up best against Waselenchuk. Proof of that came earlier this season, as Beltran defeated Waselenchuk in the semis of the California Open. That's Waselenchuk's only loss of the season.
However, IRT Commissioner Dave Negrete has informed The Racquetball Blog that Beltran will not be in Allentown due to a stomach illness from his time in Colombia, where he won the Pan American Championships earlier this month. Thus, Waselenchuk needn't worry about facing him this week.
Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am
Qualifying Rounds
Round 1
Mitch Posner vs. Ben Drumm
Bryan Crosser vs. Michael Arterburn
Jack Pau vs. Travis Aldinger
Marty Hammond vs. David Austin
Round 2
Q1 : Andy Hawthorne vs. either Mitch Posner or Ben Drumm
Q8 : Ruben Gonzalez vs. Lee Connell
Q5 : Travis Woodbury vs. Jason Sylvester
Q4 : Hiroshi Shimizu vs. either Bryan Crosser or Michael Arterburn
Q3 : Alejandro Herrera vs. either Jack Pau or Travis Aldinger
Q6 : Keith Minor vs. Anthony Herrera
Q7 : Cliff Swain vs. Mike Green
Q2 : Juan Herrera vs. Marty Hammond or David Austin
Main Draw Round of 16
Kane Waselenchuk vs. Q8
Chris Crowther vs. Q1
Shane Vanderson vs. Q4
Jason Mannino vs. Q5
Jack Huczek vs. Q6
Ben Croft vs. Q3
Mitch Williams vs. Q2
Rocky Carson vs. Q7
Follow the bouncing ball....
The latest rankings put Waselenchuk, previously third, in the top spot, with Rocky Carson second and Jack Huczek third. Thus, Waselenchuk will have to face only one of them, and that will only happen in the finals.
A move to #1 might not be so great for Waselenchuk in other events, as he would likely have a semi-final match against the IRT's #4 player, Alvaro Beltran, who's game style The Racquetball Blog believes matches up best against Waselenchuk. Proof of that came earlier this season, as Beltran defeated Waselenchuk in the semis of the California Open. That's Waselenchuk's only loss of the season.
However, IRT Commissioner Dave Negrete has informed The Racquetball Blog that Beltran will not be in Allentown due to a stomach illness from his time in Colombia, where he won the Pan American Championships earlier this month. Thus, Waselenchuk needn't worry about facing him this week.
Dennis Rosenberg Pro-Am
Qualifying Rounds
Round 1
Mitch Posner vs. Ben Drumm
Bryan Crosser vs. Michael Arterburn
Jack Pau vs. Travis Aldinger
Marty Hammond vs. David Austin
Round 2
Q1 : Andy Hawthorne vs. either Mitch Posner or Ben Drumm
Q8 : Ruben Gonzalez vs. Lee Connell
Q5 : Travis Woodbury vs. Jason Sylvester
Q4 : Hiroshi Shimizu vs. either Bryan Crosser or Michael Arterburn
Q3 : Alejandro Herrera vs. either Jack Pau or Travis Aldinger
Q6 : Keith Minor vs. Anthony Herrera
Q7 : Cliff Swain vs. Mike Green
Q2 : Juan Herrera vs. Marty Hammond or David Austin
Main Draw Round of 16
Kane Waselenchuk vs. Q8
Chris Crowther vs. Q1
Shane Vanderson vs. Q4
Jason Mannino vs. Q5
Jack Huczek vs. Q6
Ben Croft vs. Q3
Mitch Williams vs. Q2
Rocky Carson vs. Q7
Follow the bouncing ball....
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
WPRO - Ektelon WPRO World Championships - R32
The draw for this weekend's Ektelon Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) World Championships in Stockton, California is now available. We've got it for you below.
Rhonda Rajsich, the WPRO #1, has Kerri Wachtel, Kristen Bellows and Jennifer Saunders among others on her side of the draw, while Paola Longoria, WPRO #2, has Cheryl Gudinas Holmes, Adrienne Fisher, and Veronica Sotomayor among others on her side of the draw.
By seedings, Rajsich has the easier road to the final, but both of them have reached the final for the last four consecutive events.
Once again, whether Rajsich or Longoria finish #1 at season's end will be determined in Stockton, by one of them outperforming the other.
Ektelon WPRO World Championships
Round of 32
Rhonda Rajsich vs. BYE
Krystal Csuk vs. Brandi Jacobson Prentice
Jennifer Saunders vs. Megumi Kozakai
Angela Grisar vs. Devon Pimentelli
Kristen Bellows vs. Jocelyn Loredo
Samantha Salas vs. Maiko Sato
Keely Franks vs. Aubrey O'Brien
Kerri Wachtel vs. BYE
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes vs. BYE
T.J. Baumbaugh vs. Laura Brandt
Diane Moore vs. Michelle Poage
Adrienne Fisher vs. Arantza Loredo
Veronica Sotomayor vs. Danielle Emerson
Jo Shattuck vs. Alison Schlichemeyer
Vivian Gomez vs. Sofia Rascon
Paola Longoria vs. BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
Rhonda Rajsich, the WPRO #1, has Kerri Wachtel, Kristen Bellows and Jennifer Saunders among others on her side of the draw, while Paola Longoria, WPRO #2, has Cheryl Gudinas Holmes, Adrienne Fisher, and Veronica Sotomayor among others on her side of the draw.
By seedings, Rajsich has the easier road to the final, but both of them have reached the final for the last four consecutive events.
Once again, whether Rajsich or Longoria finish #1 at season's end will be determined in Stockton, by one of them outperforming the other.
Ektelon WPRO World Championships
Round of 32
Rhonda Rajsich vs. BYE
Krystal Csuk vs. Brandi Jacobson Prentice
Jennifer Saunders vs. Megumi Kozakai
Angela Grisar vs. Devon Pimentelli
Kristen Bellows vs. Jocelyn Loredo
Samantha Salas vs. Maiko Sato
Keely Franks vs. Aubrey O'Brien
Kerri Wachtel vs. BYE
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes vs. BYE
T.J. Baumbaugh vs. Laura Brandt
Diane Moore vs. Michelle Poage
Adrienne Fisher vs. Arantza Loredo
Veronica Sotomayor vs. Danielle Emerson
Jo Shattuck vs. Alison Schlichemeyer
Vivian Gomez vs. Sofia Rascon
Paola Longoria vs. BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
A Big Week
It's a big week for racquetball, as the ultimate and penultimate pro tournaments are taking place this weekend. Sports hyperbole would say (or perhaps scream) it's "THE BIGGEST WEEK OF THE SEASON!" Probably adding a few exclamation points. But that would be discounting, if not actually ignoring, what went on before. And it's what's happened already that has made this a big week.
Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
The Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season concludes with the Ektelon WPRO World Championships in Stockton, California. On the line is the #1 position. Rhonda Rajsich is currently #1, but Paola Longoria, currently #2, could become #1 with a better performance than Rajsich in Stockton.
There are rumours that Rajsich would have to outperform Longoria by a wide margin - winning the event versus a Round of 16 loss, say - but The Racquetball Blog has it on good authority - WPRO Board Member and player, Brenda Kyzer - that Rajsich can retain the top spot by getting deeper in the tournament, or, if they both reach the final, with a victory over Longoria in the final.
The Racquetball Blog Readers aren't putting much faith in Rajsich to stay on top, as our poll is running about 3/4s in favour of Longoria being #1 this time next week.
International Racquetball Tour
The International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) second last Tier 1 event of the season also happens this weekend, but on the other side of the USA. The Dennis Rosenberg Pro Am takes place in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and it could be where Kane Waselenchuk takes over the top spot.
Waselenchuk's currently third, but Jack Huczek, who's second, and Rocky Carson, first, have a lot of points to defend in the last two events of the season. Rankings involve performances over the last 12 months, so last season as well as this season. Carson and Huczek were in the finals of the last two tournaments of last season with each winning one, so they need to do as well in those events this season or they will lose points.
Furthermore, they have points from last season's Mexico Open event, where Carson beat Huczek in the final, but that didn't happen this season, so they will lose points as a result.
Thus, it could be possible that a Waselenchuk victory could put him into the #1 position, if Huczek and Carson don't perform well in Allentown.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Women's Professional Racquetball Organization
The Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season concludes with the Ektelon WPRO World Championships in Stockton, California. On the line is the #1 position. Rhonda Rajsich is currently #1, but Paola Longoria, currently #2, could become #1 with a better performance than Rajsich in Stockton.
There are rumours that Rajsich would have to outperform Longoria by a wide margin - winning the event versus a Round of 16 loss, say - but The Racquetball Blog has it on good authority - WPRO Board Member and player, Brenda Kyzer - that Rajsich can retain the top spot by getting deeper in the tournament, or, if they both reach the final, with a victory over Longoria in the final.
The Racquetball Blog Readers aren't putting much faith in Rajsich to stay on top, as our poll is running about 3/4s in favour of Longoria being #1 this time next week.
International Racquetball Tour
The International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) second last Tier 1 event of the season also happens this weekend, but on the other side of the USA. The Dennis Rosenberg Pro Am takes place in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and it could be where Kane Waselenchuk takes over the top spot.
Waselenchuk's currently third, but Jack Huczek, who's second, and Rocky Carson, first, have a lot of points to defend in the last two events of the season. Rankings involve performances over the last 12 months, so last season as well as this season. Carson and Huczek were in the finals of the last two tournaments of last season with each winning one, so they need to do as well in those events this season or they will lose points.
Furthermore, they have points from last season's Mexico Open event, where Carson beat Huczek in the final, but that didn't happen this season, so they will lose points as a result.
Thus, it could be possible that a Waselenchuk victory could put him into the #1 position, if Huczek and Carson don't perform well in Allentown.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, April 17, 2009
This & That
New IRT Site Design
The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) has a new design to its website. It looks pretty sharp, so definitely check it out. There are several pictures from the 2008 Motorola World Championships in Denver, where the portable Lucite court was debuted.
Pan American Championships
We followed the Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia last week, but still we haven't seen official word on the team champions. Unofficially, we've heard that the USA won the overall team event, with Mexico coming second, followed by Bolivia and Canada in third and fourth, respectively.
But how teams were ordered in the men's and women's divisions and where teams out of the top four fell is unknown.
4th IRF World Senior Doubles Championships
The International Racquetball Federation's (IRF's) 4th World Senior Doubles Championship is going to be held June 10-13 in Burnaby, British Columbia, part of the Vancouver metro area. The event is open to all players aged 35 and older, with the divisions in five year increments (i.e., 35+, 40+, 45+, etc.).
It's great to see an IRF event in Canada again, as there hasn't been one in the 'Great White North' since the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg. However, the timing of the event might be problematic for Canadian players, as this event will be less than three weeks after the end of the Canadian National Championships.
Rev's Health Club is the host facility, and it's located right by a stop on the Sky Train, so it will be very easy for participants to visit downtown Vancouver when they're not playing.
Pervious World Seniors Doubles events have been in Paris, France, Hamburg, Germany, and San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Entry forms for the 2009 World Seniors Doubles can be obtained via the IRF web site.
European News
The European Championships are going to be in Paris this summer rather than Barcelona, as originally scheduled. A new facility is being built in Barcelona, but it won't be ready in time, so the European Racquetball Federation (ERF) shifted the event to Paris.
Dates for the European Championships are August 3-8. Victor Montserrat from Catalonia (Barcelona region of Spain) and Marie-Josée Collet of France won the individual championships in 2007 in Italy, and Ireland won the team titles: men's, women's and overall.
Sevens were wild at the German Open earlier this month, as Martin Kippel won his 7th men's open title, and Yvonne Kortes won her 7th women's open title.
In Ireland, Noel O'Callaghan and Patrick Hanley have faced off in the finals of the last two tournaments, winning one each. O'Callaghan took the Irish National title, while Hanley won the Castlebar Open.
Over in Italy, Alberto Serfaty from Catalonia won the Italian Open in Brembate by defeating American Timothy Hardison in the final. Consuelo Del Prato of Italy won the women's title.
Follow the bouncing ball....
The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) has a new design to its website. It looks pretty sharp, so definitely check it out. There are several pictures from the 2008 Motorola World Championships in Denver, where the portable Lucite court was debuted.
Pan American Championships
We followed the Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia last week, but still we haven't seen official word on the team champions. Unofficially, we've heard that the USA won the overall team event, with Mexico coming second, followed by Bolivia and Canada in third and fourth, respectively.
But how teams were ordered in the men's and women's divisions and where teams out of the top four fell is unknown.
4th IRF World Senior Doubles Championships
The International Racquetball Federation's (IRF's) 4th World Senior Doubles Championship is going to be held June 10-13 in Burnaby, British Columbia, part of the Vancouver metro area. The event is open to all players aged 35 and older, with the divisions in five year increments (i.e., 35+, 40+, 45+, etc.).
It's great to see an IRF event in Canada again, as there hasn't been one in the 'Great White North' since the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg. However, the timing of the event might be problematic for Canadian players, as this event will be less than three weeks after the end of the Canadian National Championships.
Rev's Health Club is the host facility, and it's located right by a stop on the Sky Train, so it will be very easy for participants to visit downtown Vancouver when they're not playing.
Pervious World Seniors Doubles events have been in Paris, France, Hamburg, Germany, and San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Entry forms for the 2009 World Seniors Doubles can be obtained via the IRF web site.
European News
The European Championships are going to be in Paris this summer rather than Barcelona, as originally scheduled. A new facility is being built in Barcelona, but it won't be ready in time, so the European Racquetball Federation (ERF) shifted the event to Paris.
Dates for the European Championships are August 3-8. Victor Montserrat from Catalonia (Barcelona region of Spain) and Marie-Josée Collet of France won the individual championships in 2007 in Italy, and Ireland won the team titles: men's, women's and overall.
Sevens were wild at the German Open earlier this month, as Martin Kippel won his 7th men's open title, and Yvonne Kortes won her 7th women's open title.
In Ireland, Noel O'Callaghan and Patrick Hanley have faced off in the finals of the last two tournaments, winning one each. O'Callaghan took the Irish National title, while Hanley won the Castlebar Open.
Over in Italy, Alberto Serfaty from Catalonia won the Italian Open in Brembate by defeating American Timothy Hardison in the final. Consuelo Del Prato of Italy won the women's title.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Pan American Championships - Doubles finals
The USA has swept the doubles events at the Pan American Championship in Cali, Colombia. Aimee Ruiz and Jackie Paraiso (USA) repeated as Pan American Champions in women's doubles defeating Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas Solis, 15-6, 15-8, in the final Saturday.
Ben Croft and Mitch Williams (USA) won the men's doubles title by defeating Jorge Zambana and Ricardo Monroy of Bolivia, 15-12, 15-9. It's Croft's first appearance on Team USA, and Williams's second. Williams has won gold medals in consecutive competitions, as he won the World Championships doubles title with Jason Thoerner last year.
The next major international event is the World Games in July in Taiwan.
Pan American Championships
Women's Doubles Final
Aimee Ruiz & Jackie Paraiso (USA) d. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico), 15-6, 15-8
Medals
Gold : Aimee Ruiz & Jackie Paraiso (USA)
Silver : Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico)
Bronze : Jenny Daza Navia & Carola Loma (Bolivia) and Josée Grand'Maître & Véronique Guillemette (Canada)
Men's Doubles final
Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (USA) d. Jorge Zambana & Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia), 15-12, 15-9
Medals
Gold : Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (USA)
Silver : Jorge Zambana & Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia)
Bronze : Danny Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) and Javier Moreno & Gilberto Mejia (Mexico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Ben Croft and Mitch Williams (USA) won the men's doubles title by defeating Jorge Zambana and Ricardo Monroy of Bolivia, 15-12, 15-9. It's Croft's first appearance on Team USA, and Williams's second. Williams has won gold medals in consecutive competitions, as he won the World Championships doubles title with Jason Thoerner last year.
The next major international event is the World Games in July in Taiwan.
Pan American Championships
Women's Doubles Final
Aimee Ruiz & Jackie Paraiso (USA) d. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico), 15-6, 15-8
Medals
Gold : Aimee Ruiz & Jackie Paraiso (USA)
Silver : Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico)
Bronze : Jenny Daza Navia & Carola Loma (Bolivia) and Josée Grand'Maître & Véronique Guillemette (Canada)
Men's Doubles final
Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (USA) d. Jorge Zambana & Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia), 15-12, 15-9
Medals
Gold : Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (USA)
Silver : Jorge Zambana & Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia)
Bronze : Danny Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) and Javier Moreno & Gilberto Mejia (Mexico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Pan American Championships - Singles finals
Repeats were the order of the day at the Pan American Championship in Cali, Colombia on Saturday, as American Cheryl Gudinas Holmes defeated Bolivian Carola Loma to win her fourth career Pan Am title (but first since 2001), and Alvaro Beltran of Mexico defeated countryman Polo Gutierrez to win his third consecutive Pan Am title.
Gudinas Holmes won in two straight games, 15-5, 15-6. They had played a closer match on Monday in the preliminary round, which Gudinas Holmes won in a tie-breaker. But a third game was not needed in the final.
Nevertheless, Loma is the first non-North American player (that is, not from Canada, Mexico or the USA) to earn a silver medal at the Pan Am Championships.
The men's final was a repeat of last year, including the result, as Beltran beat Gutierrez in two straight games, 15-9, 15-8. Beltran's never lost in the Pan American Championship finals.
Pan American Championships
Women's Singles Final
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) d. Carola Loma (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-6
Medals
Gold : Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA)
Silver : Carola Loma (Bolivia)
Bronze : Paola Longoria (Mexico) & Frédérique T. Lambert (Canada)
Men's Singles final
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Polo Gutierrez (Mexico), 15-9, 15-8
Medals
Gold : Alvaro Beltran (Mexico)
Silver : Polo Gutierrez (Mexico)
Bronze : Andy Hawthorne (USA) & Kris Odegard (Canada)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Gudinas Holmes won in two straight games, 15-5, 15-6. They had played a closer match on Monday in the preliminary round, which Gudinas Holmes won in a tie-breaker. But a third game was not needed in the final.
Nevertheless, Loma is the first non-North American player (that is, not from Canada, Mexico or the USA) to earn a silver medal at the Pan Am Championships.
The men's final was a repeat of last year, including the result, as Beltran beat Gutierrez in two straight games, 15-9, 15-8. Beltran's never lost in the Pan American Championship finals.
Pan American Championships
Women's Singles Final
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) d. Carola Loma (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-6
Medals
Gold : Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA)
Silver : Carola Loma (Bolivia)
Bronze : Paola Longoria (Mexico) & Frédérique T. Lambert (Canada)
Men's Singles final
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Polo Gutierrez (Mexico), 15-9, 15-8
Medals
Gold : Alvaro Beltran (Mexico)
Silver : Polo Gutierrez (Mexico)
Bronze : Andy Hawthorne (USA) & Kris Odegard (Canada)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, April 10, 2009
Pan American Championships - Doubles semi finals
Americans Aimee Ruiz and Jackie Paraiso will have a chance to defend their doubles title at the Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia on Saturday, but Mexicans Javier Moreno and Gilberto Mejia will not.
Ruiz and Paraiso, the reigning World Champions, defeated Canadians Josée Grand'Maître and Véronique Guillemette in the semis, 15-5, 15-10. They will play Mexicans Samantha Salas Solis and Paola Longoria in Saturday's final. Salas Solis and Longoria defeated Jenny Daza Navia and Carola Loma of Bolivia in the other semi-final, 15-8, 15-12.
A win on Saturday would be Ruiz and Paraiso's third Pan American Championship title, as they also won in 2006 as well as last year. Paraiso has won Pan Am gold on six other occasions: in 1991 and 2003 with Kim Russell, 2001 with Laura Fenton, and three consecutive years with her sister Joy MacKenzie from 1997-1999.
It's the first Pan Am doubles final for either of the Mexican women.
Men's Doubles
The American team of Ben Croft and Mitch Williams dethroned the defending champions Javier Moreno and Gilberto Mejia from Mexico, winning their semi-final match 15-11, 15-5.
Saturday, Croft and Williams will try to win the first Pan American gold medal for the USA since 2006, when Woody Clouse and Willie Tilton won. Their opponents will be Jorge Zambana and Ricardo Monroy of Bolivia who defeated Danny Maggi and Shai Manzuri of Argentina, 7-15, 15-10, 11-2 in the other semi-final.
It's the first time Bolivia has made the men's doubles final since 1993 when Juan Carlos Tapia and Leomir Sarmiento made the final in Cochabamba, Bolivia against Americans Joel Bonnett and Bill Sell, who won.
Pan American Championships
Women's Doubles Semi finals
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Jenny Daza Navia & Carola Loma (Bolivia), 15-8, 15-12
Aimee Ruiz & Jackie Paraiso (USA) d. Josée Grand'Maître & Véronique Guillemette (Canada), 15-5, 15-10
Women's Doubles final
Aimee Ruiz & Jackie Paraiso (USA) vs. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico)
Men's Doubles Semi finals
Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (USA) d. Javier Moreno & Gilberto Mejia (Mexico), 15-11, 15-5
Jorge Zambana & Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia) d. Danny Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 7-15, 15-10, 11-2
Men's Doubles final
Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (USA) vs. Jorge Zambana & Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Ruiz and Paraiso, the reigning World Champions, defeated Canadians Josée Grand'Maître and Véronique Guillemette in the semis, 15-5, 15-10. They will play Mexicans Samantha Salas Solis and Paola Longoria in Saturday's final. Salas Solis and Longoria defeated Jenny Daza Navia and Carola Loma of Bolivia in the other semi-final, 15-8, 15-12.
A win on Saturday would be Ruiz and Paraiso's third Pan American Championship title, as they also won in 2006 as well as last year. Paraiso has won Pan Am gold on six other occasions: in 1991 and 2003 with Kim Russell, 2001 with Laura Fenton, and three consecutive years with her sister Joy MacKenzie from 1997-1999.
It's the first Pan Am doubles final for either of the Mexican women.
Men's Doubles
The American team of Ben Croft and Mitch Williams dethroned the defending champions Javier Moreno and Gilberto Mejia from Mexico, winning their semi-final match 15-11, 15-5.
Saturday, Croft and Williams will try to win the first Pan American gold medal for the USA since 2006, when Woody Clouse and Willie Tilton won. Their opponents will be Jorge Zambana and Ricardo Monroy of Bolivia who defeated Danny Maggi and Shai Manzuri of Argentina, 7-15, 15-10, 11-2 in the other semi-final.
It's the first time Bolivia has made the men's doubles final since 1993 when Juan Carlos Tapia and Leomir Sarmiento made the final in Cochabamba, Bolivia against Americans Joel Bonnett and Bill Sell, who won.
Pan American Championships
Women's Doubles Semi finals
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) d. Jenny Daza Navia & Carola Loma (Bolivia), 15-8, 15-12
Aimee Ruiz & Jackie Paraiso (USA) d. Josée Grand'Maître & Véronique Guillemette (Canada), 15-5, 15-10
Women's Doubles final
Aimee Ruiz & Jackie Paraiso (USA) vs. Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico)
Men's Doubles Semi finals
Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (USA) d. Javier Moreno & Gilberto Mejia (Mexico), 15-11, 15-5
Jorge Zambana & Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia) d. Danny Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 7-15, 15-10, 11-2
Men's Doubles final
Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (USA) vs. Jorge Zambana & Ricardo Monroy (Bolivia)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Pan American Championships - Singles semi finals
It will be the expected and the unexpected in the singles finals on Saturday at the Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia. The expected are on the men's side, as Mexicans Alvaro Beltran and Polo Gutierrez will meet in the final for a second consecutive year. The unexpected are on the women's side as American Cheryl Gudinas Holmes and Bolivian Carola Loma will face off for the title. Loma has made history by reaching the finals as she's the first player not from Canada, Mexico, or the USA to be a finalist in singles at the Pan American Championships.
Gudinas Holmes reached the final by defeating top seed and defending Pan Am champion Paola Longoria (Mexico) in the semi-finals, 5-15, 15-10, 11-8. After making several errors in game one, Gudinas Holmes was able to right the ship in game two. She effectively moved Longoria around the court, and went on to win in three. It's her first victory over Longoria this season in six meetings.
In the other semi-final, Loma beat Frédérique T. Lambert of Canada, 15-3, 15-14, to reach the final of an Pan American Championship final for the first time. Lambert had a 14-8 lead in game two, but was not able to force a tie-breaker.
Previous to this, Loma has primarily been a doubles player. She played doubles with Jenny Daza Navia in the two previous Pan American Championships as well as last year's World Championships. Loma and Daza Navia were silver medalists in doubles at the 2007 Pan American Championships.
Finals are old hat to Gudinas Holmes, who will be in her 8th Pan American Championship final on Saturday. She's won 3 of the previous 7 finals, but not since 2001 when she beat Josée Grand'Maître of Canada. Gudinas Holmes's most recent finals appearance was in 2005, when she lost to fellow American Kristen Walsh.
Gudinas Holmes and Loma played on Monday in the preliminary round, and Gudinas Holmes won in a tie-breaker, 15-14, 12-15, 11-4.
Men's Divisions
Beltran has a chance to win a third consecutive Pan American title on Saturday, as he beat American Andy Hawthorne, 15-10, 13-15, 11-1, in Friday's semi-finals.
The final will be a repeat of last year, as Beltran's opponent will be team-mate Polo Gutierrez, who defeated Canadian Kris Odegard, 15-12, 13-15, 11-3 on Friday. Gutierrez was up 13-8 in game two and the match looked in well in hand. But Odegard, the 2006 Pan American Champion, fought back and ran the table to force a tie-breaker.
Unfortunately for him, that's all Odegard was able to do. He later said it felt as if Friday was the hottest day of the tournament, which may have contributed to his loss.
In 2007, Beltran defeated Odegard for his first Pan Am title in his first final. Beltran's never lost in the Pan American Championship finals.
Pan American Championships
Women's Semi finals
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) d. Paola Longoria (Mexico), 5-15, 15-10, 11-8
Carola Loma (Bolivia) d. Frédérique T. Lambert (Canada), 15-3, 15-14
Women's final
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) vs. Carola Loma (Bolivia)
Men's Semi finals
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Andy Hawthorne (USA), 15-10, 13-15, 11-1
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Kris Odegard (Canada), 15-12, 13-15, 11-3
Men's final
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) vs. Polo Gutierrez (Mexico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Gudinas Holmes reached the final by defeating top seed and defending Pan Am champion Paola Longoria (Mexico) in the semi-finals, 5-15, 15-10, 11-8. After making several errors in game one, Gudinas Holmes was able to right the ship in game two. She effectively moved Longoria around the court, and went on to win in three. It's her first victory over Longoria this season in six meetings.
In the other semi-final, Loma beat Frédérique T. Lambert of Canada, 15-3, 15-14, to reach the final of an Pan American Championship final for the first time. Lambert had a 14-8 lead in game two, but was not able to force a tie-breaker.
Previous to this, Loma has primarily been a doubles player. She played doubles with Jenny Daza Navia in the two previous Pan American Championships as well as last year's World Championships. Loma and Daza Navia were silver medalists in doubles at the 2007 Pan American Championships.
Finals are old hat to Gudinas Holmes, who will be in her 8th Pan American Championship final on Saturday. She's won 3 of the previous 7 finals, but not since 2001 when she beat Josée Grand'Maître of Canada. Gudinas Holmes's most recent finals appearance was in 2005, when she lost to fellow American Kristen Walsh.
Gudinas Holmes and Loma played on Monday in the preliminary round, and Gudinas Holmes won in a tie-breaker, 15-14, 12-15, 11-4.
Men's Divisions
Beltran has a chance to win a third consecutive Pan American title on Saturday, as he beat American Andy Hawthorne, 15-10, 13-15, 11-1, in Friday's semi-finals.
The final will be a repeat of last year, as Beltran's opponent will be team-mate Polo Gutierrez, who defeated Canadian Kris Odegard, 15-12, 13-15, 11-3 on Friday. Gutierrez was up 13-8 in game two and the match looked in well in hand. But Odegard, the 2006 Pan American Champion, fought back and ran the table to force a tie-breaker.
Unfortunately for him, that's all Odegard was able to do. He later said it felt as if Friday was the hottest day of the tournament, which may have contributed to his loss.
In 2007, Beltran defeated Odegard for his first Pan Am title in his first final. Beltran's never lost in the Pan American Championship finals.
Pan American Championships
Women's Semi finals
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) d. Paola Longoria (Mexico), 5-15, 15-10, 11-8
Carola Loma (Bolivia) d. Frédérique T. Lambert (Canada), 15-3, 15-14
Women's final
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) vs. Carola Loma (Bolivia)
Men's Semi finals
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Andy Hawthorne (USA), 15-10, 13-15, 11-1
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Kris Odegard (Canada), 15-12, 13-15, 11-3
Men's final
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) vs. Polo Gutierrez (Mexico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Pan American Championships - Quarter Final results
Another day, another set of strange circumstances at the Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia. How strange? Well, consider that one of the matches Thursday had a rain delay. No, this isn't outdoor racquetball, but nevertheless there was a 20 min rain delay in the match between Mexican Samantha Salas Solis and Frédérique T. Lambert of Canada.
The day began hot and sunny in Cali, but then turned cloudy and around 3:30 PM it started storming, thunder, lightning, the plenty of water works. And it kept up for about two hours. The club has a terracotta roof, and it wasn't up to keeping out that amount of water.
In Salas Solis and Lambert were playing the third game of their match having split the first two. Salas Solis had the early lead in the tie-breaker, 3-1, but Lambert had gone up 6-3 when water started leaking into the court.
Play was halted for 20 minutes. After drying the court, play resumed and Lambert finished off the match winning 15-6, 2-15, 11-6 to reach her first international semi-final in only her second appearance for Canada.
Lambert will play Carola Loma of Bolivia who beat compatriot Jenny Daza Navia, 15-6, 15-4.
In the other semi final are Paola Longoria (Mexico) and Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA). Longoria made short work of Claudine Garcia (Dominican Republic), winning 15-6, 15-4, and Gudinas Holmes was almost flawless in her match against Canadian Jennifer Saunders, winning 15-5, 15-10.
Gudinas Holmes admitted to not playing well earlier in the event, but that all changed Thursday. She'll need to repeat that on Friday if she's going to beat Longoria, who defeated Gudinas Holmes in each of their five meetings on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour this season.
In women's doubles, it'll be USA and Canada in one semi-final, and Bolivia and Mexico in the other. Americans Aimee Ruiz and Jackie Paraiso, the reigning World Champions, defeated Cubans Maria Regla Viera Gonzalez and Marialis Alvarez Rodriguez, 15-5, 15-6, while Canadians Josée Grand'Maître and Véronique Guillemette beat Colombians Carolina Gomez and Cristina Amaya, 15-12, 15-1.
On the other side of the draw, Loma and Daza Navia (Bolivia) defeated Ivonne Carpio and Maria Paz Munoz of Ecuador, 15-2, 15-9, and Salas Solis and Longoria teamed up to defeat Venezuelans Ishley Mariana Paredes and Silvia Agreda, 15-1, 15-2.
In earlier women's action, Rhonda Rajsich's injury default to Longoria in the Round of 16 Wednesday was due to her falling on her racquet early in game one. Medical expects on the scene feared that Rajsich may have been severely injured, so they advised that she go to a hospital for further examination. And she did.
However, reports are that Rajsich wanted to continue the match, despite the injury. Thus, apparently she appealed the match result the following day on the grounds that she wanted to continue playing and was prevented from doing so. This appeal, if made, was unsuccessful.
Men's Divisions
Top seed Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) remained on track to repeat as Pan American Champion by defeating Juan Herrera (Colombia), 15-3, 15-8. Next up for him in the semi-finals is American Andy Hawthorne who defeated Canadian Vince Gagnon in the quarters, 11-15, 15-8, 11-2.
On the bottom of the draw, Kris Odegard of Canada will have an opportunity to get reach a third Pan American final in four years on Friday, as he defeated Chris Crowther (USA), 15-9, 9-15, 11-4, in the quarter finals.
Standing in Odegard's way is Polo Gutierrez of Mexico, who beat Bolivian Felipe Mercado, 15-7, 15-10, in the other quarter final.
In doubles, the Mexican team of Javier Moreno and Gilberto Mejia were behind in game one of their match with Canadians Lee Connell and Mike Green, who was playing very well. But they came back to win it, and then the Mexicans went on to win the second game taking the match, 15-12, 15-4.
They'll next play the American team of Ben Croft and Mitch Williams, who defeated Colombians Juan Pablo Rivas and Juan Herrera, 15-13, 15-10, in a hard fought quarter final match.
On the top of the draw, the Ecudaorian team of Fernando Rios and Juan Diego Rodriguez, whose win over the Mexicans in the preliminary round put them as the top seed in the elimination draw, lost to Danny Maggi and Shai Manzuri of Argentina, 9-15, 15-12, 11-4.
Maggi and Manzuri had been fortunate to get by the Maykel Moyet Suarez and Raul Martinez Gutierrez of Cuba earlier in the day, as they needed an 11-10 tie-breaker, winning 11-15, 15-4. 11-10.
Maggi and Manzuri's next opponents will be Jorge Zambana and Ricardo Monroy of Bolivia, who defeated Santiago Canedo and Sebastian Roessler of Chile, 15-9, 15-9.
Finally, no change to World Juniors
Lastly, at the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) meeting Tuesday it was determined that there isn't a scheduling conflict between any Central American Games and the usual dates of World Junior Racquetball Championships, as had been previously believed. Thus, expect the 2009 World Juniors to be at the usual time this December.
However, The Racquetball Blog notes that the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games, which has racquetball on its sports program, will be in Puerto Rico beginning July 17, 2010 and ending August 1, 2010. As 2010 is a World Championships year, we hope that the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) will take these dates into account in scheduling next year's World Championships in Korea.
Last year's IRF World Championships began on August 1 in Ireland. The same date could made it difficult for players competing in Puerto Rico to make it to Korea.
Pan American Championships
Women's Quarter finals
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Claudine Garcia (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-4
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) d. Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-5, 15-10
Frédérique T. Lambert (Canada) d. Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico), 15-6, 2-15, 11-6
Carola Loma (Bolivia) d. Jenny Daza Navia (Bolivia), 15-6, 15-4
Women's Semi finals
Paola Longoria (Mexico) vs. Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA)
Frédérique T. Lambert (Canada) vs. Carola Loma (Bolivia)
Men's Quarter finals
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Juan Herrera (Colombia), 15-3, 15-8
Andy Hawthorne (USA) d. Vince Gagnon (Canada), 11-15, 15-8, 11-2
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Felipe Mercado (Bolivia), 15-7, 15-10
Kris Odegard (Canada) d. Chris Crowther (USA), 15-9, 9-15, 11-4
Men's Semi finals
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) vs. Andy Hawthorne (USA)
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) vs. Kris Odegard (Canada)
Follow the bouncing ball....
The day began hot and sunny in Cali, but then turned cloudy and around 3:30 PM it started storming, thunder, lightning, the plenty of water works. And it kept up for about two hours. The club has a terracotta roof, and it wasn't up to keeping out that amount of water.
In Salas Solis and Lambert were playing the third game of their match having split the first two. Salas Solis had the early lead in the tie-breaker, 3-1, but Lambert had gone up 6-3 when water started leaking into the court.
Play was halted for 20 minutes. After drying the court, play resumed and Lambert finished off the match winning 15-6, 2-15, 11-6 to reach her first international semi-final in only her second appearance for Canada.
Lambert will play Carola Loma of Bolivia who beat compatriot Jenny Daza Navia, 15-6, 15-4.
In the other semi final are Paola Longoria (Mexico) and Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA). Longoria made short work of Claudine Garcia (Dominican Republic), winning 15-6, 15-4, and Gudinas Holmes was almost flawless in her match against Canadian Jennifer Saunders, winning 15-5, 15-10.
Gudinas Holmes admitted to not playing well earlier in the event, but that all changed Thursday. She'll need to repeat that on Friday if she's going to beat Longoria, who defeated Gudinas Holmes in each of their five meetings on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) tour this season.
In women's doubles, it'll be USA and Canada in one semi-final, and Bolivia and Mexico in the other. Americans Aimee Ruiz and Jackie Paraiso, the reigning World Champions, defeated Cubans Maria Regla Viera Gonzalez and Marialis Alvarez Rodriguez, 15-5, 15-6, while Canadians Josée Grand'Maître and Véronique Guillemette beat Colombians Carolina Gomez and Cristina Amaya, 15-12, 15-1.
On the other side of the draw, Loma and Daza Navia (Bolivia) defeated Ivonne Carpio and Maria Paz Munoz of Ecuador, 15-2, 15-9, and Salas Solis and Longoria teamed up to defeat Venezuelans Ishley Mariana Paredes and Silvia Agreda, 15-1, 15-2.
In earlier women's action, Rhonda Rajsich's injury default to Longoria in the Round of 16 Wednesday was due to her falling on her racquet early in game one. Medical expects on the scene feared that Rajsich may have been severely injured, so they advised that she go to a hospital for further examination. And she did.
However, reports are that Rajsich wanted to continue the match, despite the injury. Thus, apparently she appealed the match result the following day on the grounds that she wanted to continue playing and was prevented from doing so. This appeal, if made, was unsuccessful.
Men's Divisions
Top seed Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) remained on track to repeat as Pan American Champion by defeating Juan Herrera (Colombia), 15-3, 15-8. Next up for him in the semi-finals is American Andy Hawthorne who defeated Canadian Vince Gagnon in the quarters, 11-15, 15-8, 11-2.
On the bottom of the draw, Kris Odegard of Canada will have an opportunity to get reach a third Pan American final in four years on Friday, as he defeated Chris Crowther (USA), 15-9, 9-15, 11-4, in the quarter finals.
Standing in Odegard's way is Polo Gutierrez of Mexico, who beat Bolivian Felipe Mercado, 15-7, 15-10, in the other quarter final.
In doubles, the Mexican team of Javier Moreno and Gilberto Mejia were behind in game one of their match with Canadians Lee Connell and Mike Green, who was playing very well. But they came back to win it, and then the Mexicans went on to win the second game taking the match, 15-12, 15-4.
They'll next play the American team of Ben Croft and Mitch Williams, who defeated Colombians Juan Pablo Rivas and Juan Herrera, 15-13, 15-10, in a hard fought quarter final match.
On the top of the draw, the Ecudaorian team of Fernando Rios and Juan Diego Rodriguez, whose win over the Mexicans in the preliminary round put them as the top seed in the elimination draw, lost to Danny Maggi and Shai Manzuri of Argentina, 9-15, 15-12, 11-4.
Maggi and Manzuri had been fortunate to get by the Maykel Moyet Suarez and Raul Martinez Gutierrez of Cuba earlier in the day, as they needed an 11-10 tie-breaker, winning 11-15, 15-4. 11-10.
Maggi and Manzuri's next opponents will be Jorge Zambana and Ricardo Monroy of Bolivia, who defeated Santiago Canedo and Sebastian Roessler of Chile, 15-9, 15-9.
Finally, no change to World Juniors
Lastly, at the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) meeting Tuesday it was determined that there isn't a scheduling conflict between any Central American Games and the usual dates of World Junior Racquetball Championships, as had been previously believed. Thus, expect the 2009 World Juniors to be at the usual time this December.
However, The Racquetball Blog notes that the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games, which has racquetball on its sports program, will be in Puerto Rico beginning July 17, 2010 and ending August 1, 2010. As 2010 is a World Championships year, we hope that the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) will take these dates into account in scheduling next year's World Championships in Korea.
Last year's IRF World Championships began on August 1 in Ireland. The same date could made it difficult for players competing in Puerto Rico to make it to Korea.
Pan American Championships
Women's Quarter finals
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Claudine Garcia (Dominican Republic), 15-6, 15-4
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) d. Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-5, 15-10
Frédérique T. Lambert (Canada) d. Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico), 15-6, 2-15, 11-6
Carola Loma (Bolivia) d. Jenny Daza Navia (Bolivia), 15-6, 15-4
Women's Semi finals
Paola Longoria (Mexico) vs. Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA)
Frédérique T. Lambert (Canada) vs. Carola Loma (Bolivia)
Men's Quarter finals
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Juan Herrera (Colombia), 15-3, 15-8
Andy Hawthorne (USA) d. Vince Gagnon (Canada), 11-15, 15-8, 11-2
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Felipe Mercado (Bolivia), 15-7, 15-10
Kris Odegard (Canada) d. Chris Crowther (USA), 15-9, 9-15, 11-4
Men's Semi finals
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) vs. Andy Hawthorne (USA)
Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) vs. Kris Odegard (Canada)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Pan American Championships - Reporting errors
Contrary to what The Racquetball Blog reported earlier, it now appears that Fernando Rios of Ecuador did not beat Mexican Polo Gutierrez in the Round of 16 on Wednesday at the Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia. Gutierrez won.
It's yet another example of how results have been incorrectly reported at an international racquetball event. It really calls into question the professionalism of the people running these events.
We understand that everyone is human, and humans occasionally make errors. But these errors should not happen at every event. And this isn't even the first time such an error has happened at this event, as the result for the preliminary round women's doubles match between Canada and Bolivia was incorrectly posted.
Currently, we see that the result for the match between Bolivians Jenny Daza Navia and Carola Loma is posted as Loma winning 15-6, 15-4. But we're not sure if we can believe that, because Daza Navia was the second seed having beaten Rhonda Rajsich (USA) in the preliminary round. Hence, Loma was the lower seed (as Rios was against Gutierrez), and if she won, it would be a significant upset.
Maybe Loma did win. But we feel now that we need a second source to confirm this information, and perhaps any information from Cali.
To say this state of affairs is disappointing is understatement.
Follow the bouncing ball....
It's yet another example of how results have been incorrectly reported at an international racquetball event. It really calls into question the professionalism of the people running these events.
We understand that everyone is human, and humans occasionally make errors. But these errors should not happen at every event. And this isn't even the first time such an error has happened at this event, as the result for the preliminary round women's doubles match between Canada and Bolivia was incorrectly posted.
Currently, we see that the result for the match between Bolivians Jenny Daza Navia and Carola Loma is posted as Loma winning 15-6, 15-4. But we're not sure if we can believe that, because Daza Navia was the second seed having beaten Rhonda Rajsich (USA) in the preliminary round. Hence, Loma was the lower seed (as Rios was against Gutierrez), and if she won, it would be a significant upset.
Maybe Loma did win. But we feel now that we need a second source to confirm this information, and perhaps any information from Cali.
To say this state of affairs is disappointing is understatement.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Pan American Championships - Elimination round begins
Elimination round play began in singles on Wednesday at the Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia, and there was one significant upset. The doubles competitions will resume on Thursday.
Men's Divisions
Fernando Rios, who was part of the Ecuador team that beat the Mexicans in doubles on Monday, was again the source of the main upset in men's play, as he beat Mexican Polo Gutierrez, 15-11, 15-4, in the Round of 16.
Rios will now play Felipe Mercado of Bolivia in the quarter finals.
The other results were as expected, so the other quarter final matches will be Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) versus Juan Herrera (Colombia), and two USA-Canada battles as Andy Hawthorne (USA) takes on Vince Gagnon (Canada) and Chris Crowther (USA) faces Kris Odegard (Canada).
Women's Divisions
The anticipated Round of 16 match between Mexican Paola Longoria and American Rhonda Rajsich was scheduled, as Rajsich won her Round of 32 match against Carla Munoz of Chile, 15-11, 15-4. However, Longoria won by injury default. No word on what injury Rajsich suffered.
Next up for Longoria is Claudine Garcia of the Dominican Republic, who defeated Anita Maldonado (Puerto Rico), 15-13, 15-9.
The closest match in the Round of 16 was between two junior players, as Canadian Frédérique T. Lambert defeated Maria Paz Munoz of Ecuador, 15-11, 5-15, 11-9. It was a measure of revenge for Lambert, who had lost to Munoz at last year's World Junior Championships in the Girls 16 and under division.
Lambert will now play Mexican Samantha Salas Solis in the quarter finals.
The other quarter final match-ups are Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) versus Canadian Jennifer Saunders, and an all Bolivian match between Jenny Daza Navia and Carola Loma.
A final word on the Cuban players: in women's play, Marialis Alvarez Rodriguez defeated Marie Gomar (Guatemala), but then lost to Daza Navia, while Disney Linares Barrera lost to Paz Munoz. Both Cuban men lost their Round of 32 matches, but in tie-breakers. Maykel Moyet Suarez lost to Jose Daniel Alvarez of Ecuador, 10-15, 15-8, 11-10, and Noslen Jimenez Garcia lost to Ivan Villegas of Costa Rica, 15-12, 12-15, 11-8.
Pan American Championships
Women's Quarter finals
Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Claudine Garcia (Dominican Republic)
Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA)
Samanthan Salas Solis (Mexico) v. Frédérique T. Lambert (Canada)
Carola Loma (Bolivia) v. Jenny Daza Navia (Bolivia)
Men's Quarter finals
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. Juan Herrera (Colombia)
Andy Hawthorne (USA) v. Vince Gagnon (Canada)
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) v. Felipe Mercado (Bolivia)
Chris Crowther (USA) v. Kris Odegard (Canada)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Men's Divisions
Fernando Rios, who was part of the Ecuador team that beat the Mexicans in doubles on Monday, was again the source of the main upset in men's play, as he beat Mexican Polo Gutierrez, 15-11, 15-4, in the Round of 16.
Rios will now play Felipe Mercado of Bolivia in the quarter finals.
The other results were as expected, so the other quarter final matches will be Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) versus Juan Herrera (Colombia), and two USA-Canada battles as Andy Hawthorne (USA) takes on Vince Gagnon (Canada) and Chris Crowther (USA) faces Kris Odegard (Canada).
Women's Divisions
The anticipated Round of 16 match between Mexican Paola Longoria and American Rhonda Rajsich was scheduled, as Rajsich won her Round of 32 match against Carla Munoz of Chile, 15-11, 15-4. However, Longoria won by injury default. No word on what injury Rajsich suffered.
Next up for Longoria is Claudine Garcia of the Dominican Republic, who defeated Anita Maldonado (Puerto Rico), 15-13, 15-9.
The closest match in the Round of 16 was between two junior players, as Canadian Frédérique T. Lambert defeated Maria Paz Munoz of Ecuador, 15-11, 5-15, 11-9. It was a measure of revenge for Lambert, who had lost to Munoz at last year's World Junior Championships in the Girls 16 and under division.
Lambert will now play Mexican Samantha Salas Solis in the quarter finals.
The other quarter final match-ups are Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) versus Canadian Jennifer Saunders, and an all Bolivian match between Jenny Daza Navia and Carola Loma.
A final word on the Cuban players: in women's play, Marialis Alvarez Rodriguez defeated Marie Gomar (Guatemala), but then lost to Daza Navia, while Disney Linares Barrera lost to Paz Munoz. Both Cuban men lost their Round of 32 matches, but in tie-breakers. Maykel Moyet Suarez lost to Jose Daniel Alvarez of Ecuador, 10-15, 15-8, 11-10, and Noslen Jimenez Garcia lost to Ivan Villegas of Costa Rica, 15-12, 12-15, 11-8.
Pan American Championships
Women's Quarter finals
Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Claudine Garcia (Dominican Republic)
Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA)
Samanthan Salas Solis (Mexico) v. Frédérique T. Lambert (Canada)
Carola Loma (Bolivia) v. Jenny Daza Navia (Bolivia)
Men's Quarter finals
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. Juan Herrera (Colombia)
Andy Hawthorne (USA) v. Vince Gagnon (Canada)
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) v. Felipe Mercado (Bolivia)
Chris Crowther (USA) v. Kris Odegard (Canada)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Pan American Championships - Off Day Review
Tuesday is an off day at the Pan American Championships in Cali, Colombia, but there were some surprising results from Monday's last preliminary round matches. The draws for the elimination round are out, and things definitely look interesting, but it should only be seen as tentative at this point. More on that later.
Women's Divisions
The biggest surprise on Monday was Bolivan Jenny Daza Navia's victory over American Rhonda Rajsich, 15-12, 15-9. It was the second match of the day for both players, but their first matches were not equal, as Daza Navia easily defeated Diana Ortiz (Puerto Rico), 15-0, 15-1, while Rajsich went tie-breaker with Cristina Amaya (Colombia), winning 15-8, 11-15, 11-4.
Couple that with the short period between the matches (3 hours scheduled from the start of the first matches to the start of the second ones), and perhaps you have an explanation for the upset.
Still it's a shock, and the repercussions for the elimination round are huge. With the win, Daza Navia becomes the second seed, with Rajsich seeded 16th. This makes for a potential meeting between Rajsich and Paola Longoria in the round of 16.
Furthermore, Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) is also on the top half of the draw, seeded fourth. She's had troubles of her own in the preliminary round, as she needed tie-breakers in two of her three matches.
It could be that the hot humid conditions are taking a toll on the older players.
Canadian Jennifer Saunders is also on the top of the draw and lined up to meet Gudinas Holmes in the quarters. Joining Daza Navia on the bottom of the women's draw are Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico), Frédérique T. Lambert (Canada), and Ecuador's Maria Paz Munoz, a semi-finalist in Girls 16 & under at last year's World Junior Championship.
In women's doubles, contrary to what is posted on the R2Sports.com site, the Canadian team of Josée Grand'Maître and Véronique Guillemette lost to Bolivians Daza Navia and Carola Loma. This again highlights how easy it is to make an error on R2, which is a great system, but those who are responsible for the scores on that site need to be ever vigilant to ensure that the information posted is accurate.
This is the fourth error in a high profile event that we know of regarding an incorrect score being entered on R2 (the others occurred in a recent WPRO event, last year's Canadian National Championships, and the Pan American Championships from two years ago). Professionalism in reporting racquetball results - and don't get us started on people entering the scores correctly, which is problematic also - needs to be higher. And it needs to be correct the first time it's entered!
The International Racquetball Federation's recent Strategic Planning session identified "excellence and professionalism in everything we do" at the top of their "Core Operating Principles," but it's easy to let this slip with the R2Sports site's ease of use.
Men's Divisions
The other shock upset Monday came in mens doubles, as the Ecuadorian team of Juan Diego Rodriguez and Fernando Rios beat Mexicans Gilberto Mejia and Javier Moreno, 15-8, 15-13. Reportedly, the Ecuadorians were full value for the victory.
The win could put them in the top seed spot in the draw pushing Mexico into the 5th seed spot, but that's only speculation as the elimination draw has not been released yet. If so, then there's a potential Mexico-Canada match up in the quarter finals.
Americans Ben Croft and Mitch Williams had little difficult in qualifying, winning their three matches in two straight games each, and will be the 2nd seed.
No shock results from the preliminary round of men's singles, so you may be surprised to see Americans Chris Crowther and Andy Hawthorne seeded 7th and 5th, respectively, in the elimination draw. But the seedings are based partly on how the USA did last year in the Pan American Championships, and last year's American men's singles players - John Ellis and Jose Rojas - both lost in the quarter finals, while the Canadians - Kris Odegard and Ryan Smith - made the semis, and Mexicans Alvaro Beltran and Polo Gutierrez were in the final (Beltran won).
Hence the Mexicans are the top seeds, having won their preliminary round matches and done well last year, and the Canadians are seeded 3rd and 4th, and the Americans 5th and 7th.
Other players to watch out for are Colombians Juan and Andres Herrera, who could benefit from playing in their home country. Juan Herrera could meet up with Beltran in the quarter finals, while Andres could meet Crowther in the 16s with the winner on track to meet Odegard in the quarters.
A final on court note: word is the Cuban team in Cali may have the most athletic players there. But they lack racquet skills and playing experience. But if they develop those skills and get more experience, they could definitely be a force in racquetball.
Off court issues
Any draws on R2Sports should be seen as tentative, because it was noted that one of the rules for setting up the elimination round was not being followed. The main issue is that players in the same preliminary round pool should not play each other in the first round of the elimination round. Quite sensible, but it has not been applied in all of the elimination round draws.
For example, the four players in Group 2 of men's singles - Kris Odegard (Canada), Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), Santiago Canedo (Chile), and Mauro Barbosa (Brazil) - make up two of the first round matches in the elimination draw as it currently is on R2. Thus, the draws need to be reviewed prior to the beginning of the elimination round on Wednesday.
On a longer time line, tonight's Pan American Racquetball Confederation congress is scheduled for tonight, and one of the items on the agenda is the scheduling of the World Junior Championships, because there's a conflict with the Central American Games (CAG). Racquetball is one of the sports in in the CAG, which is a good thing because it helps get racquetball in the Pan American Games.
However, this year's CAG is in mid December, which conflicts with the traditional dates for the World Juniors Racquetball Championships. This will likely necessitate a move of the dates for World Juniors, because you know CAG isn't going to accommodate racquetball. They'd more likely drop racquetball before accommodating it, and no one wants that.
Thus, don't book those flights for the Dominican Republic, where World Juniors are to be hosted, for mid-December just yet.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Women's Divisions
The biggest surprise on Monday was Bolivan Jenny Daza Navia's victory over American Rhonda Rajsich, 15-12, 15-9. It was the second match of the day for both players, but their first matches were not equal, as Daza Navia easily defeated Diana Ortiz (Puerto Rico), 15-0, 15-1, while Rajsich went tie-breaker with Cristina Amaya (Colombia), winning 15-8, 11-15, 11-4.
Couple that with the short period between the matches (3 hours scheduled from the start of the first matches to the start of the second ones), and perhaps you have an explanation for the upset.
Still it's a shock, and the repercussions for the elimination round are huge. With the win, Daza Navia becomes the second seed, with Rajsich seeded 16th. This makes for a potential meeting between Rajsich and Paola Longoria in the round of 16.
Furthermore, Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (USA) is also on the top half of the draw, seeded fourth. She's had troubles of her own in the preliminary round, as she needed tie-breakers in two of her three matches.
It could be that the hot humid conditions are taking a toll on the older players.
Canadian Jennifer Saunders is also on the top of the draw and lined up to meet Gudinas Holmes in the quarters. Joining Daza Navia on the bottom of the women's draw are Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico), Frédérique T. Lambert (Canada), and Ecuador's Maria Paz Munoz, a semi-finalist in Girls 16 & under at last year's World Junior Championship.
In women's doubles, contrary to what is posted on the R2Sports.com site, the Canadian team of Josée Grand'Maître and Véronique Guillemette lost to Bolivians Daza Navia and Carola Loma. This again highlights how easy it is to make an error on R2, which is a great system, but those who are responsible for the scores on that site need to be ever vigilant to ensure that the information posted is accurate.
This is the fourth error in a high profile event that we know of regarding an incorrect score being entered on R2 (the others occurred in a recent WPRO event, last year's Canadian National Championships, and the Pan American Championships from two years ago). Professionalism in reporting racquetball results - and don't get us started on people entering the scores correctly, which is problematic also - needs to be higher. And it needs to be correct the first time it's entered!
The International Racquetball Federation's recent Strategic Planning session identified "excellence and professionalism in everything we do" at the top of their "Core Operating Principles," but it's easy to let this slip with the R2Sports site's ease of use.
Men's Divisions
The other shock upset Monday came in mens doubles, as the Ecuadorian team of Juan Diego Rodriguez and Fernando Rios beat Mexicans Gilberto Mejia and Javier Moreno, 15-8, 15-13. Reportedly, the Ecuadorians were full value for the victory.
The win could put them in the top seed spot in the draw pushing Mexico into the 5th seed spot, but that's only speculation as the elimination draw has not been released yet. If so, then there's a potential Mexico-Canada match up in the quarter finals.
Americans Ben Croft and Mitch Williams had little difficult in qualifying, winning their three matches in two straight games each, and will be the 2nd seed.
No shock results from the preliminary round of men's singles, so you may be surprised to see Americans Chris Crowther and Andy Hawthorne seeded 7th and 5th, respectively, in the elimination draw. But the seedings are based partly on how the USA did last year in the Pan American Championships, and last year's American men's singles players - John Ellis and Jose Rojas - both lost in the quarter finals, while the Canadians - Kris Odegard and Ryan Smith - made the semis, and Mexicans Alvaro Beltran and Polo Gutierrez were in the final (Beltran won).
Hence the Mexicans are the top seeds, having won their preliminary round matches and done well last year, and the Canadians are seeded 3rd and 4th, and the Americans 5th and 7th.
Other players to watch out for are Colombians Juan and Andres Herrera, who could benefit from playing in their home country. Juan Herrera could meet up with Beltran in the quarter finals, while Andres could meet Crowther in the 16s with the winner on track to meet Odegard in the quarters.
A final on court note: word is the Cuban team in Cali may have the most athletic players there. But they lack racquet skills and playing experience. But if they develop those skills and get more experience, they could definitely be a force in racquetball.
Off court issues
Any draws on R2Sports should be seen as tentative, because it was noted that one of the rules for setting up the elimination round was not being followed. The main issue is that players in the same preliminary round pool should not play each other in the first round of the elimination round. Quite sensible, but it has not been applied in all of the elimination round draws.
For example, the four players in Group 2 of men's singles - Kris Odegard (Canada), Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), Santiago Canedo (Chile), and Mauro Barbosa (Brazil) - make up two of the first round matches in the elimination draw as it currently is on R2. Thus, the draws need to be reviewed prior to the beginning of the elimination round on Wednesday.
On a longer time line, tonight's Pan American Racquetball Confederation congress is scheduled for tonight, and one of the items on the agenda is the scheduling of the World Junior Championships, because there's a conflict with the Central American Games (CAG). Racquetball is one of the sports in in the CAG, which is a good thing because it helps get racquetball in the Pan American Games.
However, this year's CAG is in mid December, which conflicts with the traditional dates for the World Juniors Racquetball Championships. This will likely necessitate a move of the dates for World Juniors, because you know CAG isn't going to accommodate racquetball. They'd more likely drop racquetball before accommodating it, and no one wants that.
Thus, don't book those flights for the Dominican Republic, where World Juniors are to be hosted, for mid-December just yet.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Pan American Championships - What it's like there
The Pan American Championships began yesterday in Cali, Colombia, and there have been no surprises so far.
According to our sources on site, it's hot in Cali. And humid. Thus, we think conditioning will likely be a factor as the competition moves along.
The club is about 20 years old, and has six courts. It's located in the middle of nowhere. I know you might sometimes feel your club in the suburbs is in the middle of nowhere, but this club in Cali is really in the middle of nowhere, as it's surrounded by fields. It's about 20 minutes from the hotel to the club, so that's not a problem.
In playing news, Lee Connell, the late substitute for Michael Burgess, who suffered a back injury in training, on the Canadian team is playing doubles with Mike Green. Also, Mike Guidry will be coaching the American team, although we heard he's not getting to Cali until today or tomorrow.
Follow the bouncing ball....
According to our sources on site, it's hot in Cali. And humid. Thus, we think conditioning will likely be a factor as the competition moves along.
The club is about 20 years old, and has six courts. It's located in the middle of nowhere. I know you might sometimes feel your club in the suburbs is in the middle of nowhere, but this club in Cali is really in the middle of nowhere, as it's surrounded by fields. It's about 20 minutes from the hotel to the club, so that's not a problem.
In playing news, Lee Connell, the late substitute for Michael Burgess, who suffered a back injury in training, on the Canadian team is playing doubles with Mike Green. Also, Mike Guidry will be coaching the American team, although we heard he's not getting to Cali until today or tomorrow.
Follow the bouncing ball....
USAR Intercollegiates - New Champions
Jose Rojas (Delta College) and Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace College) are the new champions at the USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships, as last year's champions failed to defend their titles.
Jose Rojas took out Anthony Carson, the defending champion from Colorado State, in the semi-finals of men's #1 on Friday, 15-6, 15-4, and then defeated Allan Crockett (University of Alabama) in the final, 15-9, 13-15, 11-4.
Carson finished third with a win over Anthony Herrera (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs), 15-2, 15-3.
Jonathan Doyle, the fourth seed in men's #2, followed Rojas's path to victory, as he beat both the top two seeds to win the division. Doyle defeated top seed David Laforest (Oregon State University), 15-13, 7-15, 11-6, in the semis, and took out second seed Tyler Otto (Colorado State), 15-10, 15-8.
Ismael Aldana Jr. (Delta College) finished third by defeating Laforest, 15-6, 15-8.
Women's
Kara Mazur (University of Alabama) had a chance to defend her title in the women's #1 division, but Lotts was too much for her, easily winning 15-3, 15-3. Third place went to Ashley Willhite (Oregon State University), who defeated Teresa Diaz (Delta College), 15-11, 15-11.
In the women's #2 division, Sharon Jackson (University of Alabama) beat last year's runner up in women's #1 Sarah Hettesheimer (Baldwin Wallace) 15-7, 15-3, with Oregon State player Alyssa Asay taking third place with the narrowest of victories - 15-14, 15-14 - over Eliza Culverwell of Brigham Young University.
Doubles
Jackson did the double, as she and Mazur teamed up to win the women's doubles #1 division by defeating Hettesheimer and Lotts, 15-8, 12-15, 11-5. But Rojas was unable to do the same in men's doubles #1 as he and Aldana Jr lost to Carson and Jansen Allen 15-12, 15-6.
The competition was played on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and had individual and team components. A full team is 6 men and 6 women, so there are 6 singles categories and 3 doubles categories. The #1 seeds on each team compete against each other, as do the #2s, #3s and so on. The individual performances are added together to create the team total.
2009 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships
Results summary
Women's #1
1. Sheryl Lotts, Baldwin Wallace
2. Kara Mazer, University of Alabama
3. Ashley Willhite, Oregon State
4. Teresa Diaz, Delta College
Women's #2
1. Sharon Jackson, University of Alabama
2. Sarah Hettesheimer, Baldwin Wallace
3. Alyssa Asay, Oregon State
4. Eliza Culverwell, Brigham Young University
Women's Doubles #1
1. Sharon Jackson & Kara Mazer, University of Alabama
2. Sarah Hettesheimer & Sheryl Lotts, Baldwin Wallace
3. Alyssa Asay & Ashley Willhite, Oregon State
4. Eliza Culverwell & Charlotte Macfarlane, Brigham Young University
Men's #1
1. Jose Rojas, Delta College
2. Allan Crockett, University of Alabama
3. Anthony Carson, Colorado State
4. Anthony Herrera, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Men's #2
1. Jonathan Doyle, University of Alabama
2. Tyler Otto, Colorado State
3. Ismael Aldana Jr., Delta College
4. David Laforest, Oregon State
Men's Doubles #1
1. Tony Carson & Jansen Allen, Colorado State
2. Jose Rojas & Ismael Aldana Jr., Delta College
3. Allan Crockett & Jonathan Doyle, University of Alabama
4. Harry Matt Fuller & Zach Apperson, Baldwin Wallace
Follow the bouncing ball....
Jose Rojas took out Anthony Carson, the defending champion from Colorado State, in the semi-finals of men's #1 on Friday, 15-6, 15-4, and then defeated Allan Crockett (University of Alabama) in the final, 15-9, 13-15, 11-4.
Carson finished third with a win over Anthony Herrera (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs), 15-2, 15-3.
Jonathan Doyle, the fourth seed in men's #2, followed Rojas's path to victory, as he beat both the top two seeds to win the division. Doyle defeated top seed David Laforest (Oregon State University), 15-13, 7-15, 11-6, in the semis, and took out second seed Tyler Otto (Colorado State), 15-10, 15-8.
Ismael Aldana Jr. (Delta College) finished third by defeating Laforest, 15-6, 15-8.
Women's
Kara Mazur (University of Alabama) had a chance to defend her title in the women's #1 division, but Lotts was too much for her, easily winning 15-3, 15-3. Third place went to Ashley Willhite (Oregon State University), who defeated Teresa Diaz (Delta College), 15-11, 15-11.
In the women's #2 division, Sharon Jackson (University of Alabama) beat last year's runner up in women's #1 Sarah Hettesheimer (Baldwin Wallace) 15-7, 15-3, with Oregon State player Alyssa Asay taking third place with the narrowest of victories - 15-14, 15-14 - over Eliza Culverwell of Brigham Young University.
Doubles
Jackson did the double, as she and Mazur teamed up to win the women's doubles #1 division by defeating Hettesheimer and Lotts, 15-8, 12-15, 11-5. But Rojas was unable to do the same in men's doubles #1 as he and Aldana Jr lost to Carson and Jansen Allen 15-12, 15-6.
The competition was played on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and had individual and team components. A full team is 6 men and 6 women, so there are 6 singles categories and 3 doubles categories. The #1 seeds on each team compete against each other, as do the #2s, #3s and so on. The individual performances are added together to create the team total.
2009 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships
Results summary
Women's #1
1. Sheryl Lotts, Baldwin Wallace
2. Kara Mazer, University of Alabama
3. Ashley Willhite, Oregon State
4. Teresa Diaz, Delta College
Women's #2
1. Sharon Jackson, University of Alabama
2. Sarah Hettesheimer, Baldwin Wallace
3. Alyssa Asay, Oregon State
4. Eliza Culverwell, Brigham Young University
Women's Doubles #1
1. Sharon Jackson & Kara Mazer, University of Alabama
2. Sarah Hettesheimer & Sheryl Lotts, Baldwin Wallace
3. Alyssa Asay & Ashley Willhite, Oregon State
4. Eliza Culverwell & Charlotte Macfarlane, Brigham Young University
Men's #1
1. Jose Rojas, Delta College
2. Allan Crockett, University of Alabama
3. Anthony Carson, Colorado State
4. Anthony Herrera, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Men's #2
1. Jonathan Doyle, University of Alabama
2. Tyler Otto, Colorado State
3. Ismael Aldana Jr., Delta College
4. David Laforest, Oregon State
Men's Doubles #1
1. Tony Carson & Jansen Allen, Colorado State
2. Jose Rojas & Ismael Aldana Jr., Delta College
3. Allan Crockett & Jonathan Doyle, University of Alabama
4. Harry Matt Fuller & Zach Apperson, Baldwin Wallace
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, April 3, 2009
US Intercollegiates - Women's finals set
There will be Alabama-Baldwin Wallace finals in both the women's #1 and #2 divisions at the USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships in Tempe, Arizona on Saturday. Defending champion Kara Mazur (University of Alabama) will take on Sheryl Lotts of Baldwin Wallace College in the Women's #1 final, while last year's runner-up to Mazur, Sarah Hettesheimer (Baldwin Wallace) will play Mazur's team-mate Sharon Jackson in the women's #2 final.
All four players got to the finals with little trouble. In fact, Jackson has only given up 11 points in three matches. Hettesheimer had the most trouble in her semi-final, which she won 15-13, 15-13 over Alyssa Asay of Oregon State University.
The men's #1 semi-finals go later on Friday, and it's the top four seeds who will playoff for the spots in Saturday's final. Top seed and defending champ Anthony Carson (Colorado State) will play 4th seed Jose Rojas (Delta College) in one semi-final, while 2nd seed Anthony Herrera (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs) and 3rd seed Allan Crockett (University of Alabama) meet in the other.
Intercollegiate competitions have individual and team components. A full team is 6 men and 6 women, so there are 6 singles categories and 3 doubles categories. The #1 seeds on each team compete against each other, as do the #2s, #3s and so on. The individual performances are added together to create the team total.
Follow the bouncing ball....
All four players got to the finals with little trouble. In fact, Jackson has only given up 11 points in three matches. Hettesheimer had the most trouble in her semi-final, which she won 15-13, 15-13 over Alyssa Asay of Oregon State University.
The men's #1 semi-finals go later on Friday, and it's the top four seeds who will playoff for the spots in Saturday's final. Top seed and defending champ Anthony Carson (Colorado State) will play 4th seed Jose Rojas (Delta College) in one semi-final, while 2nd seed Anthony Herrera (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs) and 3rd seed Allan Crockett (University of Alabama) meet in the other.
Intercollegiate competitions have individual and team components. A full team is 6 men and 6 women, so there are 6 singles categories and 3 doubles categories. The #1 seeds on each team compete against each other, as do the #2s, #3s and so on. The individual performances are added together to create the team total.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Dave Ellis on coaching at international events
The Pan American Championships begin tomorrow, and The Racquetball Blog asked former US Team Coach Dave Ellis, who's now in Tempe, Arizona coaching at the US Intercollegiate Championships, about how he approached coaching at international events compared to the usual pro tour events.
He indicated that you "have to work in advance to find out what the players need to know" about where they're going to play. There are "cultural differences," Ellis said, that the coach needs to make the players aware of.
We asked him about bringing players together who generally play against each other week to week. Ellis described his approach as presenting the event as "a real opportunity that's different from other events because racquetball's an individual sport." He presented the tournaments "as something fun that the players could work together on."
"I think that [working together] means a lot," said Ellis. "I felt they bought into that." He was happy with how the players responded even though they may have had past differences.
The US Team Handbook specifies how players are selected to the team, so there's not much coach involvement in that. "It's pretty much laid out," said Ellis, including back ups if someone chooses not to go.
Asked about whether it's difficult to get players to go, Ellis indicated that the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization typically puts international events, such as the Pan Am Championships, into their schedule to avoid conflicts. But the International Racquetball Tour sometimes has conflicts because of commitments they've made to long standing events.
Also the Pan Am Championships is always the week before Easter, so it's not in the same week every year, and that can lead to conflicts.
Follow the bouncing ball....
He indicated that you "have to work in advance to find out what the players need to know" about where they're going to play. There are "cultural differences," Ellis said, that the coach needs to make the players aware of.
We asked him about bringing players together who generally play against each other week to week. Ellis described his approach as presenting the event as "a real opportunity that's different from other events because racquetball's an individual sport." He presented the tournaments "as something fun that the players could work together on."
"I think that [working together] means a lot," said Ellis. "I felt they bought into that." He was happy with how the players responded even though they may have had past differences.
The US Team Handbook specifies how players are selected to the team, so there's not much coach involvement in that. "It's pretty much laid out," said Ellis, including back ups if someone chooses not to go.
Asked about whether it's difficult to get players to go, Ellis indicated that the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization typically puts international events, such as the Pan Am Championships, into their schedule to avoid conflicts. But the International Racquetball Tour sometimes has conflicts because of commitments they've made to long standing events.
Also the Pan Am Championships is always the week before Easter, so it's not in the same week every year, and that can lead to conflicts.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, April 2, 2009
USA Intercollegiate Championships
There are many ways in which the United States differs from the rest of the world, but one of the biggest in the world of sport can be summed up in two words: college sports. The United States cares passionately about sports at the college and university level. In the rest of the world, even if they have college sports they tend not to care about them much.
As pointed out by a reader of The Racquetball Blog, the USA Racquetball National Intercollegiate Championships are going on now in Tempe, Arizona. With 332 players, it's a big event. And big players have participated in it. Rocky Carson, Jack Huczek, and Shane Vanderson have been collegiate men's champions, while Adrienne Fisher, Kristen Bellows (née Walsh) and Kerri Wachtel (née Stoffregen) have been collegiate women's champions.
In fact, Ben Croft and Mitch Williams, who will play men's doubles for the USA at the Pan American Championships starting Saturday, were the 2007 collegiate doubles champions.
Several players who've played in some of this season's pro events are playing in Tempe, including last year's champions Kara Mazer (University of Alabama) and Tony Carson (Colorado State). They'll face some stiff competition though. Ashley Willhite (Oregon State) and Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace) are the second and third seeds in the women's draw, while Anthony Herrera (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs), Allan Crockett (University of Alabama) and Jose Rojas (Delta College), are the second, third and fourth seeds.
The competition began yesterday and will continue through Saturday. No big upsets have happened so far. The competition has individual and team components, as the individual performances are added together to create the team total. A full team is 6 men and 6 women, so there are 6 singles categories and 3 doubles categories. The #1 seeds on each team compete against each other, as do the #2s, #3s and so on.
Here are the results from the last two intercollegiate championships for the #1 seeds.
2008
Women's
1. Kara Mazer, University of Alabama
2. Sarah Hettesheimer, Baldwin Wallace
3. Ashley Willhite, Oregon State
4. Sue Sublaban, Delta College
Men's
1. Tony Carson, Colorado State
2. Anthony Herrera, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
3. Bradly Rogers, Wichita
4. Allan Crockett, University of Alabama
2007
Women's
1. Kimberly Irons, Ohio University
2. Jesi Fuller, University of New Mexico
3. Da'monique Davis, University of Alabama
4. Sarah Hettesheimer, Baldwin Wallace
Men's
1. Ben Croft, Colorado State
2. Agustin Tristan, University of Alabama
3. Evan Ussery, University of New Mexico
4. Phil Matthews, University of Illinois
Follow the bouncing ball....
As pointed out by a reader of The Racquetball Blog, the USA Racquetball National Intercollegiate Championships are going on now in Tempe, Arizona. With 332 players, it's a big event. And big players have participated in it. Rocky Carson, Jack Huczek, and Shane Vanderson have been collegiate men's champions, while Adrienne Fisher, Kristen Bellows (née Walsh) and Kerri Wachtel (née Stoffregen) have been collegiate women's champions.
In fact, Ben Croft and Mitch Williams, who will play men's doubles for the USA at the Pan American Championships starting Saturday, were the 2007 collegiate doubles champions.
Several players who've played in some of this season's pro events are playing in Tempe, including last year's champions Kara Mazer (University of Alabama) and Tony Carson (Colorado State). They'll face some stiff competition though. Ashley Willhite (Oregon State) and Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace) are the second and third seeds in the women's draw, while Anthony Herrera (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs), Allan Crockett (University of Alabama) and Jose Rojas (Delta College), are the second, third and fourth seeds.
The competition began yesterday and will continue through Saturday. No big upsets have happened so far. The competition has individual and team components, as the individual performances are added together to create the team total. A full team is 6 men and 6 women, so there are 6 singles categories and 3 doubles categories. The #1 seeds on each team compete against each other, as do the #2s, #3s and so on.
Here are the results from the last two intercollegiate championships for the #1 seeds.
2008
Women's
1. Kara Mazer, University of Alabama
2. Sarah Hettesheimer, Baldwin Wallace
3. Ashley Willhite, Oregon State
4. Sue Sublaban, Delta College
Men's
1. Tony Carson, Colorado State
2. Anthony Herrera, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
3. Bradly Rogers, Wichita
4. Allan Crockett, University of Alabama
2007
Women's
1. Kimberly Irons, Ohio University
2. Jesi Fuller, University of New Mexico
3. Da'monique Davis, University of Alabama
4. Sarah Hettesheimer, Baldwin Wallace
Men's
1. Ben Croft, Colorado State
2. Agustin Tristan, University of Alabama
3. Evan Ussery, University of New Mexico
4. Phil Matthews, University of Illinois
Follow the bouncing ball....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
