The draws for the elimination rounds of the XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic have been released, and we have them for you below. The elimination round begins Wednesday. Tuesday is an off day for the tournament.
The top four seeds in Women's Singles are 1) Paola Longoria (Mexico), 2) Rhonda Rajsich (USA), 3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) and 4) María José Vargas (Argentina). The Mexicans - by virtue of winning their respective groups - won't face each other unless it's in the final.
Da'monique Davis - the other American player in Women's Singles - didn't win her group, and is on the same side of the draw as Rajsich. In fact, they will meet in the Round of 16, if Davis wins her first match against Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo of the Dominican Republic.
In Men's Singles, the top four seeds are 1) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico), 2) Andres Ramirez (Colombia), 3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) and 4) Sebastian Franco (Colombia). The Americans are seeded 5th - Jake Bredenbeck - and 7th - Jose Diaz, and the Bolivians are 6th - Carlos Keller - and 8th - Conrado Moscoso.
Mexicans Longoria and Salas are the top team in Women's Doubles. Bolivians Carola Loma and Adriana Riveros are 2nd seeds, with Americans Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts 3rd and Colombians Cristina Amaya and Carolina Gomez 4th.
Mexico is also the top seed in Men's Doubles with Beltran and Javier Moreno in the top spot. Americans Anthony Herrera and David Horn are seeded 8th, so they play into Mexico in the quarterfinals, but first have to beat a solid team from Ecuador: Fernando Rios and Jose Daniel Alvarez.
Colombians Sebastian Franco and Juan Carlos Torres are 4th seeds, so could meet Mexico in the semi-finals, although if Luis Perez and Ramon De Leon of the Dominican Republic play like they did yesterday against Bolivia, they could be playing in the semis, not Colombia.
On the bottom half of the draw, Canadians Vincent Gagnon and Mike Green play Bolivians Kadim Carrasco and Roland Keller in the first round with winner likely to face Costa Ricans Felipe Camacho and Teobaldo Fumero.
Cesar Castro and Jorge Hirsekorn of Venezuela are the 2nd seeds, and will face the winner of Daniel Maggi and Shai Manzuri of Argentina and Francisco Troncoso and Santiago Canedo of Chile.
There will be live streaming of matches Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Look for the link on the International Racquetball Federation website.
XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - March 28-April 4, 2015
Women's Singles - Round of 32
1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
16) Angela Grisar (Chile) v. 17) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
9) Carolina Gomez (Colombia) v. 24) Jennifer Saunders (Canada)
8) Carola Loma (Bolivia) v. 25) Adriana Ramierez (Puerto Rico)
5) Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) v. 28) Pamela Sierra (Honduras)
12) Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) v. 21) Maria Regia Viera Gonzales (Cuba)
13) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. 20) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.)
4) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 29) Paula Padilla (Honduras)
3) Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
14) Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. 19) Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina)
11) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) v. 22) Michèle Morissette (Canada)
6) Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. 27) Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico)
7) Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) v. 26) Naomi Sasso (Costa Rica)
10) Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. 23) Melania Sauma (Costa Rica)
15) Da'monique Davis (USA) v. 18) Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.)
2) Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Men's Singles - Round of 32
1) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) - BYE
16) Pedro Castro (Canada) v. 17) Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina)
9) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. 24) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala)
8) Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. 25) Rodrigo Salgado (Chile)
5) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) v. 28) Alejandro Santos (Venezuela)
12) Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) v. 21) Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
13) Luis Perez (Dominican Rep.) v. 20) Cesar Castillo (Venezuela)
4) Sebastian Franco (Colombia) - BYE
3) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) - BYE
14) Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 19) Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina)
11) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) v. 22) Christian Wer (Guatemala)
6) Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. 27) Carlos Medrano (Honduras)
7) Jose Diaz (USA) v. 26) Selvin Cruz (Honduras)
10) Fernando Rios (Ecuador) v. 23) Jayson Jordan (Puerto Rico)
15) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) v. 18) Noslen Jimenez (Cuba)
2) Andres Ramirez (Colombia) - BYE
Women's Doubles - Round of 16
1) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
8) Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) v. 9) Christine Richardson & Jennifer Saunders (Canada)
5) Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. 12) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.)
4) Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia) v. 13) Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras)
3) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts (USA) v. 14) Adriana Ramirez & Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico)
6) Maria Jose Vargas & Véronique Guillemette (Argentina) v. 11) Mariana Tobon & Mariana Paredes (Venezula)
7) Maria Renee Rodriguez & Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. 10) Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica)
2) Carola Loma & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) - BYE
Men's Doubles - Round of 16
1) Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) - BYE
8) Anthony Herrera & David Horn (USA) v. 9) Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador)
5) Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) v. 12) Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala)
4) Sebastian Franco & Juan Carlos Torres (Colombia) v. 13) Selvin Cruz & Raul Banegas (Honduras)
3) Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) v. 14) Jayson Jordan & Antonio Delgado (Puerto Rico)
6) Vincent Gagnon & Mike Green (Canada) v. 11) Kadim Carrasco & Roland Keller (Bolivia)
7) Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. 10) Francisco Troncoso & Santiago Canedo (Chile)
2) Cesar Castro & Jorge Hirsekorn (Venezuela) - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
2015 Pan American Championships - Day 3
Few surprises Monday at the the XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, as the group stage of play came to a close. The group stage results will be used to seed players for an elimination round that will begin on Wednesday. Tuesday is an off day for the tournament.
One exception was in Men's Doubles as the host country team of Luis Perez and Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) defeated Bolivians Kadim Carrasco and Roland Keller in two straight games, 15-12, 15-8. This after the Dominicans lost to Venezuela on Sunday. Their group was three teams, so each team had a win. On points, Venezuela won the group, and secured the 2nd seed for the elimination round.
Another surprise win came in Women's Singles as Venezuelan Mariana Tobon beat Canadian Jennifer Saunders, 8-15, 15-8, 11-6. With the win, Tobon finishes second in the group, and Saunders third. Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador won that group.
There will be live streaming of matches Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Look for the link on the International Racquetball Federation website.
XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - March 28-April 4, 2015
Women's Singles
Group A
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.), 15-3, 15-1
Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-5
Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina) - BYE
Group C
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.), 15-5, 15-1
Angela Grisar (Chile) - BYE
Group D
María José Vargas (Argentina) d. Paula Padilla (Honduras), 15-5, 15-1
Da'monique Davis (USA) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-14, 15-10
Group E
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-1
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. 8-15, 15-8, 11-6
Group F
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-8, 15-12
Carolina Gomez (Colombia) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-6, 15-9
Group G
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Adriana Ramierez (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-0
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-14, 15-5
Group H
Carola Loma (Bolivia) d. Naomi Sasso (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-10
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maria Regia Viera Gonzales (Cuba), 15-5, 15-0
Men's Singles
Group A
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 6-15, 15-6, 11-2
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group B
Pedro Castro (Canada) d. Cesar Castillo (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-12
Andres Ramirez (Colombia) - BYE
Group C
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-4, 15-5
Luis Perez (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group D
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Noslen Jimenez (Cuba), 15-5, 15-13
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-3
Group E
Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Jayson Jordan (Puerto Rico), 15-3, 15-9
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-7, 15-5
Group F
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Selvin Cruz (Honduras), 15-4, 15-4
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-11, 15-10
Group G
Jose Diaz (USA) d. Jared Torres (Puerto Rico), 15-0, 15-0, NS
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-10, 15-12
Group H
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-4, 15-2
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-14
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maria Jose Vargas & Véronique Guillemette (Argentina), 15-5, 15-4
Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group B
Carola Loma & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Mariana Tobon & Mariana Paredes (Venezula), 15-8, 15-9
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
Group C
Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras), 15-3, 15-3
Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts (USA) d. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-2
Group D
Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia) d. Adriana Ramirez & Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-4
Maria Renee Rodriguez & Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Christine Richardson & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-7, 15-12
Men's Doubles
Group A
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-10, 15-6
Vincent Gagnon & Mike Green (Canada) - BYE
Group B
Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) d. Kadim Carrasco & Roland Keller (Bolivia), 15-12, 15-8
Cesar Castro & Jorge Hirsekorn (Venezuela) - BYE
Group C
Anthony Herrera & David Horn (USA) d. Francisco Troncoso & Santiago Canedo (Chile), 15-7, 15-1
Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) d. Selvin Cruz & Raul Banegas (Honduras), 15-7, 15-4
Group D
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador), 15-3, 15-14
Sebastian Franco & Juan Carlos Torres (Colombia) d. Jayson Jordan & Antonio Delgado (Puerto Rico), 15-3, 15-4
Follow the bouncing ball....
One exception was in Men's Doubles as the host country team of Luis Perez and Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) defeated Bolivians Kadim Carrasco and Roland Keller in two straight games, 15-12, 15-8. This after the Dominicans lost to Venezuela on Sunday. Their group was three teams, so each team had a win. On points, Venezuela won the group, and secured the 2nd seed for the elimination round.
Another surprise win came in Women's Singles as Venezuelan Mariana Tobon beat Canadian Jennifer Saunders, 8-15, 15-8, 11-6. With the win, Tobon finishes second in the group, and Saunders third. Maria Paz Muñoz of Ecuador won that group.
There will be live streaming of matches Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Look for the link on the International Racquetball Federation website.
XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - March 28-April 4, 2015
Women's Singles
Group A
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.), 15-3, 15-1
Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-5
Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina) - BYE
Group C
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.), 15-5, 15-1
Angela Grisar (Chile) - BYE
Group D
María José Vargas (Argentina) d. Paula Padilla (Honduras), 15-5, 15-1
Da'monique Davis (USA) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-14, 15-10
Group E
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-1
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. 8-15, 15-8, 11-6
Group F
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-8, 15-12
Carolina Gomez (Colombia) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-6, 15-9
Group G
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Adriana Ramierez (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-0
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-14, 15-5
Group H
Carola Loma (Bolivia) d. Naomi Sasso (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-10
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Maria Regia Viera Gonzales (Cuba), 15-5, 15-0
Men's Singles
Group A
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 6-15, 15-6, 11-2
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group B
Pedro Castro (Canada) d. Cesar Castillo (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-12
Andres Ramirez (Colombia) - BYE
Group C
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-4, 15-5
Luis Perez (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group D
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Noslen Jimenez (Cuba), 15-5, 15-13
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-3, 15-3
Group E
Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Jayson Jordan (Puerto Rico), 15-3, 15-9
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-7, 15-5
Group F
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Selvin Cruz (Honduras), 15-4, 15-4
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-11, 15-10
Group G
Jose Diaz (USA) d. Jared Torres (Puerto Rico), 15-0, 15-0, NS
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-10, 15-12
Group H
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-4, 15-2
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-4, 15-14
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maria Jose Vargas & Véronique Guillemette (Argentina), 15-5, 15-4
Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group B
Carola Loma & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Mariana Tobon & Mariana Paredes (Venezula), 15-8, 15-9
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - BYE
Group C
Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras), 15-3, 15-3
Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts (USA) d. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-2
Group D
Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia) d. Adriana Ramirez & Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-4
Maria Renee Rodriguez & Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Christine Richardson & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-7, 15-12
Men's Doubles
Group A
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-10, 15-6
Vincent Gagnon & Mike Green (Canada) - BYE
Group B
Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) d. Kadim Carrasco & Roland Keller (Bolivia), 15-12, 15-8
Cesar Castro & Jorge Hirsekorn (Venezuela) - BYE
Group C
Anthony Herrera & David Horn (USA) d. Francisco Troncoso & Santiago Canedo (Chile), 15-7, 15-1
Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) d. Selvin Cruz & Raul Banegas (Honduras), 15-7, 15-4
Group D
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador), 15-3, 15-14
Sebastian Franco & Juan Carlos Torres (Colombia) d. Jayson Jordan & Antonio Delgado (Puerto Rico), 15-3, 15-4
Follow the bouncing ball....
Sunday, March 29, 2015
2015 Pan American Championships - Day 2
There was much less drama Sunday at the the XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It was the second day of the preliminary group matches. Results from the group play will be used to seed players for an elimination round that will begin on Wednesday.
Perhaps the most notable result Sunday was Colombian Andres Ramirez's win over Cesar Castillo of Venezuela, 7-15, 15-11, 11-5, as that means he'll win his group, because he defeated Pedro Castro of Canada on Saturday. Castro was seeded second in the event, based on Canada's best showing in two of the last three Pan Am Championships.
By virtue of winning the group and defeating the 2nd seed, Ramirez will now be seeded 2nd in the elimination round.
Group play concludes Monday in Santo Domingo with Tuesday as an off day and then the elimination round will begin Wednesday.
There will be live streaming of some matches Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Look for the link on the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) website.
XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - March 28-April 4, 2015
Women's Singles
Group A
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.), 15-7, 15-10
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina), 15-9, 15-7
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Group C
Angela Grisar (Chile) d. Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.), 15-1, 15-1
Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Group D
María José Vargas (Argentina) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-0
Da'monique Davis (USA) d. Paula Padilla (Honduras), 15-4, 15-1
Group E
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-12, 15-12
Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-1
Group F
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-0, 15-7
Carolina Gomez (Colombia) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-9
Group G
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-1
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Adriana Ramierez (Puerto Rico), 15-4, 15-0
Group H
Carola Loma (Bolivia) d. Maria Regia Viera Gonzales (Cuba), 15-10, 15-6
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Naomi Sasso (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-6
Men's Singles
Group A
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 14-15, 15-11, 11-8
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Andres Ramirez (Colombia) d. Cesar Castillo (Venezuela), 7-15, 15-11, 11-5
Pedro Castro (Canada) - BYE
Group C
Luis Perez (Dominican Rep.) d. Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-6, 15-13
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) - BYE
Group D
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-8, 15-1
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Noslen Jimenez (Cuba), 15-11, 15-13
Group E
Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-7, 15-4
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Jayson Jordan (Puerto Rico), 15-3, 15-1
Group F
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-10, 15-9
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Selvin Cruz (Honduras), 13-15, 15-5, 11-5
Group G
Jose Diaz (USA) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-4, 15-9
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Jared Torres (Puerto Rico), 15-0, 15-0, NS
Group H
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-1, 15-4
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-2, 15-2
Women's Doubles
Group A
Maria Jose Vargas & Véronique Guillemette (Argentina) d. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.), 15-1, 15-8
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Mariana Tobon & Mariana Paredes (Venezula), 15-13, 15-14
Carola Loma & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) - BYE
Group C
Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts (USA) d. Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras), 15-5, 15-10
Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-1
Group D
Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-14, 15-7
Christine Richardson & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Adriana Ramirez & Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-1
Men's Doubles
Group A
Vincent Gagnon & Mike Green (Canada) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-4, 10-15, 11-7
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Cesar Castro & Jorge Hirsekorn (Venezuela) d. Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.), 15-11, 15-10
Kadim Carrasco & Roland Keller (Bolivia) - BYE
Group C
Anthony Herrera & David Horn (USA) d. Selvin Cruz & Raul Banegas (Honduras), 15-8, 15-3
Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) v. Francisco Troncoso & Santiago Canedo (Chile)
Group D
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Jayson Jordan & Antonio Delgado (Puerto Rico), 15-3, 15-4
Sebastian Franco & Juan Carlos Torres (Colombia) v. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Perhaps the most notable result Sunday was Colombian Andres Ramirez's win over Cesar Castillo of Venezuela, 7-15, 15-11, 11-5, as that means he'll win his group, because he defeated Pedro Castro of Canada on Saturday. Castro was seeded second in the event, based on Canada's best showing in two of the last three Pan Am Championships.
By virtue of winning the group and defeating the 2nd seed, Ramirez will now be seeded 2nd in the elimination round.
Group play concludes Monday in Santo Domingo with Tuesday as an off day and then the elimination round will begin Wednesday.
There will be live streaming of some matches Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Look for the link on the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) website.
XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - March 28-April 4, 2015
Women's Singles
Group A
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.), 15-7, 15-10
Paola Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina), 15-9, 15-7
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) - BYE
Group C
Angela Grisar (Chile) d. Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.), 15-1, 15-1
Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Group D
María José Vargas (Argentina) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-0
Da'monique Davis (USA) d. Paula Padilla (Honduras), 15-4, 15-1
Group E
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Mariana Tobon (Venezuela), 15-12, 15-12
Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-1
Group F
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-0, 15-7
Carolina Gomez (Colombia) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-9
Group G
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Mariana Paredes (Venezuela), 15-0, 15-1
Michèle Morissette (Canada) d. Adriana Ramierez (Puerto Rico), 15-4, 15-0
Group H
Carola Loma (Bolivia) d. Maria Regia Viera Gonzales (Cuba), 15-10, 15-6
Cristina Amaya (Colombia) d. Naomi Sasso (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-6
Men's Singles
Group A
Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) d. Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina), 14-15, 15-11, 11-8
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Andres Ramirez (Colombia) d. Cesar Castillo (Venezuela), 7-15, 15-11, 11-5
Pedro Castro (Canada) - BYE
Group C
Luis Perez (Dominican Rep.) d. Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina), 15-6, 15-13
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) - BYE
Group D
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-8, 15-1
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Noslen Jimenez (Cuba), 15-11, 15-13
Group E
Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-7, 15-4
Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Jayson Jordan (Puerto Rico), 15-3, 15-1
Group F
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 15-10, 15-9
Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) d. Selvin Cruz (Honduras), 13-15, 15-5, 11-5
Group G
Jose Diaz (USA) d. Francisco Troncoso (Chile), 15-4, 15-9
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) d. Jared Torres (Puerto Rico), 15-0, 15-0, NS
Group H
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-1, 15-4
Fernando Rios (Ecuador) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-2, 15-2
Women's Doubles
Group A
Maria Jose Vargas & Véronique Guillemette (Argentina) d. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.), 15-1, 15-8
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Mariana Tobon & Mariana Paredes (Venezula), 15-13, 15-14
Carola Loma & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) - BYE
Group C
Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts (USA) d. Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras), 15-5, 15-10
Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica), 15-3, 15-1
Group D
Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia) d. Maria Renee Rodriguez & Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 15-14, 15-7
Christine Richardson & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) d. Adriana Ramirez & Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-1
Men's Doubles
Group A
Vincent Gagnon & Mike Green (Canada) d. Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala), 15-4, 10-15, 11-7
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) - BYE
Group B
Cesar Castro & Jorge Hirsekorn (Venezuela) d. Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.), 15-11, 15-10
Kadim Carrasco & Roland Keller (Bolivia) - BYE
Group C
Anthony Herrera & David Horn (USA) d. Selvin Cruz & Raul Banegas (Honduras), 15-8, 15-3
Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) v. Francisco Troncoso & Santiago Canedo (Chile)
Group D
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) d. Jayson Jordan & Antonio Delgado (Puerto Rico), 15-3, 15-4
Sebastian Franco & Juan Carlos Torres (Colombia) v. Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, March 28, 2015
2015 Pan American Championships - Day 1 Results
Plenty of drama Saturday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, as the XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships began. The tournament format is three days of preliminary group play followed by an elimination round, but unlike past years the first day matches pitted the top seeds of each group against each other, so there were several matches that were close and several that went tie-breaker.
There were two dramatic comebacks in doubles. In Women's Doubles, Bolivians Carola Loma and Adriana Riveros lost the first game to Chileans Angela Grisar and Carla Muñoz, but forced a tie-breaker. Yet in the breaker is was Chile up 8-0 only to have Bolivia score eleven unanswered points to win the game and match, 8-15, 15-11, 11-8.
In Men's Doubles, Felipe Camacho and Teobaldo Fumero of Costa Rica won the first game against Americans Anthony Herrera and David Horn, 15-8, but then got down 13-1 in game two, but got some momentum going, as they fought back to 15-8. However, the Americans took the early lead in the breaker at 6-0, and looked like they would cruise home. However, the Costa Ricans came back and won it, 11-8.
In what would have been a big upset, Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic went tie-breaker with Daniel De La Rosa of Mexico, but lost 3-15, 15-8, 11-1.
Two comebacks that fell short both involved Canadians. In Men's Singles Samuel Murray dropped game one to Sebastian Franco of Colombia, but then forced a tie-breaker. Murray was up 10-8 in the breaker, when Franco successfully dove for a shot but cut one of his fingers in the process requiring him to take injury time to stop the bleeding and wrap his finger. He came back and won the next two points to win the game 11-10 and match, 15-12, 9-15, 11-10.
In Men's Doubles, Canada and Mexico faced off. Javier Moreno and Alvaro Beltran were up in game one, but Vincent Gagnon and Mike Green came back, and thought they had tied the score when the referee called a skip on Beltran's return of serve at 12-13.
Beltran believed he should have got a hinder, or even an avoidable, as he thought Green's position in front of him hampered his shot. The referee didn't agree with Beltran, and at that point, Mexico asked to have line judges brought in.
After the line judges were installed, the score was still 12-13, when it should have been 13-13, as the referee had called a skip on Beltran's return of serve at 12-13. In the ensuing argument about that, Green was assessed a technical - the second of the game, as Moreno had received one earlier for arguing another call - making the score 11 serve 13.
Canada tied the game at 13-13, although the two points they scored going from 11 to 13 would have won it, if they had been at 13-13 when the line judges were installed. But Mexico prevailed winning game one, 15-13.
In game two, Canada took a big lead with some great shots and gets by Gagnon. Canada went up 10-0, as they served everything to the left-handed Moreno, who had some trouble returning serve perhaps in part because the court they were had a left side glass wall, which was the side that Moreno was returning serve on. Canada won game two, 15-6, to force a tie-breaker.
In the breaker, Canada led for most of the game with leads of 3-0, 5-4, and 9-6. Mexico only led at 5-4, and then most crucially at 10-9 and 11-9, as they won it with their first match point opportunity, when Moreno hit a forehand reverse pinch to the front right corner.
Group play continues Sunday and Monday with Tuesday as an off day and then the elimination round will begin Wednesday in Santo Domingo.
There will be live streaming of some matches Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Look for the link on the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) website.
XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - March 28-April 4, 2015
Women's Singles
Group A
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-6, 15-7
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina), 15-9, 15-5
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Group C
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Angela Grisar (Chile), 15-5, 15-5
Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group D
María José Vargas (Argentina) d. Da'monique Davis (USA), 15-6, 15-8
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Paula Padilla (Honduras), 15-11, 15-3
Group E
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-12, 15-12
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-0
Group F
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Carolina Gomez (Colombia), 15-5, 15-11
Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-3, 15-14
Group G
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-5, 15-3
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) d. Adriana Ramierez (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-3
Group H
Carola Loma (Bolivia) d. Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 15-14, 15-13
Maria Regia Viera Gonzales (Cuba) d. Naomi Sasso (Costa Rica), 14-15, 15-7, 11-1
Men's Singles
Group A
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.), 15-10, 15-12
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - BYE
Group B
Andres Ramirez (Colombia) d. Pedro Castro (Canada), 15-9, 14-15, 11-2
Cesar Castillo (Venezuela) - BYE
Group C
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Luis Perez (Dominican Rep.), 3-15, 15-8, 11-1
Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina) - BYE
Group D
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-12, 9-15, 11-10
Noslen Jimenez (Cuba) d. Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-2
Group E
Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica), 15-13, 15-9
Jayson Jordan (Puerto Rico) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-10, 15-11
Group F
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 9-15, 15-11, 11-6
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Selvin Cruz (Honduras), 15-7, 15-10
Group G
Jose Diaz (USA) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-11, 15-13
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. Jared Torres (Puerto Rico), 15-0, 15-0, NS
Group H
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Fernando Rios (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-7
Christian Wer (Guatemala) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-9, 15-5
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.), 15-4, 15-4
Maria Jose Vargas & Véronique Guillemette (Argentina) - BYE
Group B
Carola Loma & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 8-15, 15-11, 11-8
Mariana Tobon & Mariana Paredes (Venezula) - BYE
Group C
Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts (USA) d. Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 7-15, 15-11, 11-0
Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) d. Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras), 15-7, 15-9
Group D
Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia) d. Christine Richardson & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 12-15, 15-8, 11-5
Maria Renee Rodriguez & Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Adriana Ramirez & Fraces Vasquez (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-4
Men's Doubles
Group A
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. Vincent Gagnon & Mike Green (Canada), 15-13, 6-15, 11-9
Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) - BYE
Group B
Kadim Carrasco & Roland Keller (Bolivia) d. Cesar Castro & Jorge Hirsekorn (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-13
Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group C
Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) d. Anthony Herrera & David Horn (USA), 8-15, 15-8, 11-8
Francisco Troncoso & Santiago Canedo (Chile) d. Selvin Cruz & Raul Banegas (Honduras), 15-7, 9-15, 11-6
Group D
Sebastian Franco & Juan Carlos Torres (Colombia) d. Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-13, 15-4
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador) d. Jayson Jordan & Antonio Delgado (Puerto Rico), 15-6, 15-1
Follow the bouncing ball....
There were two dramatic comebacks in doubles. In Women's Doubles, Bolivians Carola Loma and Adriana Riveros lost the first game to Chileans Angela Grisar and Carla Muñoz, but forced a tie-breaker. Yet in the breaker is was Chile up 8-0 only to have Bolivia score eleven unanswered points to win the game and match, 8-15, 15-11, 11-8.
In Men's Doubles, Felipe Camacho and Teobaldo Fumero of Costa Rica won the first game against Americans Anthony Herrera and David Horn, 15-8, but then got down 13-1 in game two, but got some momentum going, as they fought back to 15-8. However, the Americans took the early lead in the breaker at 6-0, and looked like they would cruise home. However, the Costa Ricans came back and won it, 11-8.
In what would have been a big upset, Luis Perez of the Dominican Republic went tie-breaker with Daniel De La Rosa of Mexico, but lost 3-15, 15-8, 11-1.
Two comebacks that fell short both involved Canadians. In Men's Singles Samuel Murray dropped game one to Sebastian Franco of Colombia, but then forced a tie-breaker. Murray was up 10-8 in the breaker, when Franco successfully dove for a shot but cut one of his fingers in the process requiring him to take injury time to stop the bleeding and wrap his finger. He came back and won the next two points to win the game 11-10 and match, 15-12, 9-15, 11-10.
In Men's Doubles, Canada and Mexico faced off. Javier Moreno and Alvaro Beltran were up in game one, but Vincent Gagnon and Mike Green came back, and thought they had tied the score when the referee called a skip on Beltran's return of serve at 12-13.
Beltran believed he should have got a hinder, or even an avoidable, as he thought Green's position in front of him hampered his shot. The referee didn't agree with Beltran, and at that point, Mexico asked to have line judges brought in.
After the line judges were installed, the score was still 12-13, when it should have been 13-13, as the referee had called a skip on Beltran's return of serve at 12-13. In the ensuing argument about that, Green was assessed a technical - the second of the game, as Moreno had received one earlier for arguing another call - making the score 11 serve 13.
Canada tied the game at 13-13, although the two points they scored going from 11 to 13 would have won it, if they had been at 13-13 when the line judges were installed. But Mexico prevailed winning game one, 15-13.
In game two, Canada took a big lead with some great shots and gets by Gagnon. Canada went up 10-0, as they served everything to the left-handed Moreno, who had some trouble returning serve perhaps in part because the court they were had a left side glass wall, which was the side that Moreno was returning serve on. Canada won game two, 15-6, to force a tie-breaker.
In the breaker, Canada led for most of the game with leads of 3-0, 5-4, and 9-6. Mexico only led at 5-4, and then most crucially at 10-9 and 11-9, as they won it with their first match point opportunity, when Moreno hit a forehand reverse pinch to the front right corner.
Group play continues Sunday and Monday with Tuesday as an off day and then the elimination round will begin Wednesday in Santo Domingo.
There will be live streaming of some matches Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Look for the link on the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) website.
XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - March 28-April 4, 2015
Women's Singles
Group A
Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Carla Muñoz (Chile), 15-6, 15-7
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) d. Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina), 15-9, 15-5
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Group C
Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Angela Grisar (Chile), 15-5, 15-5
Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group D
María José Vargas (Argentina) d. Da'monique Davis (USA), 15-6, 15-8
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) d. Paula Padilla (Honduras), 15-11, 15-3
Group E
Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) d. Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 15-12, 15-12
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) d. Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-0
Group F
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Carolina Gomez (Colombia), 15-5, 15-11
Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. Pamela Sierra (Honduras), 15-3, 15-14
Group G
Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) d. Michèle Morissette (Canada), 15-5, 15-3
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) d. Adriana Ramierez (Puerto Rico), 15-2, 15-3
Group H
Carola Loma (Bolivia) d. Cristina Amaya (Colombia), 15-14, 15-13
Maria Regia Viera Gonzales (Cuba) d. Naomi Sasso (Costa Rica), 14-15, 15-7, 11-1
Men's Singles
Group A
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.), 15-10, 15-12
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - BYE
Group B
Andres Ramirez (Colombia) d. Pedro Castro (Canada), 15-9, 14-15, 11-2
Cesar Castillo (Venezuela) - BYE
Group C
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) d. Luis Perez (Dominican Rep.), 3-15, 15-8, 11-1
Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina) - BYE
Group D
Sebastian Franco (Colombia) d. Samuel Murray (Canada), 15-12, 9-15, 11-10
Noslen Jimenez (Cuba) d. Alejandro Santos (Venezuela), 15-5, 15-2
Group E
Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica), 15-13, 15-9
Jayson Jordan (Puerto Rico) d. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile), 15-10, 15-11
Group F
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) d. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador), 9-15, 15-11, 11-6
Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Selvin Cruz (Honduras), 15-7, 15-10
Group G
Jose Diaz (USA) d. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica), 15-11, 15-13
Francisco Troncoso (Chile) d. Jared Torres (Puerto Rico), 15-0, 15-0, NS
Group H
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) d. Fernando Rios (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-7
Christian Wer (Guatemala) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-9, 15-5
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) d. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.), 15-4, 15-4
Maria Jose Vargas & Véronique Guillemette (Argentina) - BYE
Group B
Carola Loma & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) d. Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 8-15, 15-11, 11-8
Mariana Tobon & Mariana Paredes (Venezula) - BYE
Group C
Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts (USA) d. Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), 7-15, 15-11, 11-0
Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) d. Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras), 15-7, 15-9
Group D
Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia) d. Christine Richardson & Jennifer Saunders (Canada), 12-15, 15-8, 11-5
Maria Renee Rodriguez & Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Adriana Ramirez & Fraces Vasquez (Puerto Rico), 15-1, 15-4
Men's Doubles
Group A
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) d. Vincent Gagnon & Mike Green (Canada), 15-13, 6-15, 11-9
Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) - BYE
Group B
Kadim Carrasco & Roland Keller (Bolivia) d. Cesar Castro & Jorge Hirsekorn (Venezuela), 15-10, 15-13
Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group C
Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica) d. Anthony Herrera & David Horn (USA), 8-15, 15-8, 11-8
Francisco Troncoso & Santiago Canedo (Chile) d. Selvin Cruz & Raul Banegas (Honduras), 15-7, 9-15, 11-6
Group D
Sebastian Franco & Juan Carlos Torres (Colombia) d. Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina), 15-13, 15-4
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador) d. Jayson Jordan & Antonio Delgado (Puerto Rico), 15-6, 15-1
Follow the bouncing ball....
2015 USAR Intercollegiate Finals
Elizabeth Simmons and Lindsay Rasmussen of the University of Arizona successfully defended their Women's Doubles title at the 2015 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona by defeating Rachel Creel and Sarah Lewis of Oregon State, 15-11, 15-1, in the final.
But in Women's Singles, Kelani Bailey of Shenandoah University got the better of Simmons in the final, winning 15-5, 15-7, for her second Women's Singles title in the last three years, as she also won it in 2013. Simmons did finish one place better in Women's Singles than she had last year, when she was third.
Of note, 19th seed Hannah Shnurman of Northern Colorado, who lost to Bailey in the semi-finals, finished her great run in the tournament by winning the 3rd place match against Creel, 15-10, 14-15, 11-2.
Adam Manilla of the University of Colorado - Boulder captured the Men's Singles title by defeating 3rd seed Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific) in the final, 15-9, 7-15, 11-9. It's an impressive victory for Manilla, as Rojas is the 8th ranked player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).
Manilla was a double winner Tempe, as he and Nick Riffel won the Men's Doubles title, improving on the runner-up finish last year, as beat 3rd seeds Jacob Matthews and Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo), 15-8, 15-4, in the final. Schopieray and Felipe Camacho got the better of Manilla and Riffel last year, so the win this year is a measure of revenge for the Colorado-Boulder players.
2015 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
(with seedings)
Women's Singles - Final
2) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah) d. 1) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona), 15-5, 15-7
Women's Singles - 3rd place
19) Hannah Shnurman (Northern Colorado) d. 5) Rachel Creel (Oregon State), 15-10, 14-15, 11-2
Women's Doubles - Final
1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona) d. 2) Rachel Creel & Sarah Lewis (Oregon State), 15-11, 15-1
Women's Doubles - 3rd place
5) Anna Schwartz & Madeline Gauch (Missouri) d. 3) Stefanie Nissley & Kerry Ryan (Pennsylvania State), 15-1, 8-15, 11-2
Men's Singles - Final
1) Adam Manilla (Colorado) d. 3) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific), 15-9, 7-15, 11-9
Men's Singles - 3rd place
10) Dylan Reid (Washington University) d. 4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State), forfeit
Men's Doubles - Final
1) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) d. 3) Jacob Matthews & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo), 15-8, 15-4
Men's Doubles - 3rd place
2) Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State) d. 5) Jon Lanford & Alex Howard (Texas), 7-15, 15-11, 11-1
Follow the bouncing ball....
But in Women's Singles, Kelani Bailey of Shenandoah University got the better of Simmons in the final, winning 15-5, 15-7, for her second Women's Singles title in the last three years, as she also won it in 2013. Simmons did finish one place better in Women's Singles than she had last year, when she was third.
Of note, 19th seed Hannah Shnurman of Northern Colorado, who lost to Bailey in the semi-finals, finished her great run in the tournament by winning the 3rd place match against Creel, 15-10, 14-15, 11-2.
Adam Manilla of the University of Colorado - Boulder captured the Men's Singles title by defeating 3rd seed Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific) in the final, 15-9, 7-15, 11-9. It's an impressive victory for Manilla, as Rojas is the 8th ranked player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT).
Manilla was a double winner Tempe, as he and Nick Riffel won the Men's Doubles title, improving on the runner-up finish last year, as beat 3rd seeds Jacob Matthews and Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo), 15-8, 15-4, in the final. Schopieray and Felipe Camacho got the better of Manilla and Riffel last year, so the win this year is a measure of revenge for the Colorado-Boulder players.
2015 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
(with seedings)
Women's Singles - Final
2) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah) d. 1) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona), 15-5, 15-7
Women's Singles - 3rd place
19) Hannah Shnurman (Northern Colorado) d. 5) Rachel Creel (Oregon State), 15-10, 14-15, 11-2
Women's Doubles - Final
1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona) d. 2) Rachel Creel & Sarah Lewis (Oregon State), 15-11, 15-1
Women's Doubles - 3rd place
5) Anna Schwartz & Madeline Gauch (Missouri) d. 3) Stefanie Nissley & Kerry Ryan (Pennsylvania State), 15-1, 8-15, 11-2
Men's Singles - Final
1) Adam Manilla (Colorado) d. 3) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific), 15-9, 7-15, 11-9
Men's Singles - 3rd place
10) Dylan Reid (Washington University) d. 4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State), forfeit
Men's Doubles - Final
1) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) d. 3) Jacob Matthews & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo), 15-8, 15-4
Men's Doubles - 3rd place
2) Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State) d. 5) Jon Lanford & Alex Howard (Texas), 7-15, 15-11, 11-1
Follow the bouncing ball....
2015 Pan American Championships Day 1
The XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships begin Saturday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The tournament format is three days of preliminary group play followed by an elimination round. Action begins Saturday.
In a twist from past events Saturday's matches are going to be between the #1 and #2 seeds in each group. In previous years, the #1 and #2 seeds would have played on the 3rd day, but this year they are playing on the 1st day.
There are eight groups in Men's and Women's Singles and four in each of Men's and Women's Doubles.
XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - March 28-April 4, 2015
Women's Singles
Group A
Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Carla Muñoz (Chile)
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina)
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Group C
Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Angela Grisar (Chile)
Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group D
Da'monique Davis (USA) v. María José Vargas (Argentina)
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Paula Padilla (Honduras)
Group E
Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico)
Group F
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. Carolina Gomez (Colombia)
Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) v. Pamela Sierra (Honduras)
Group G
Michèle Morissette (Canada) v. Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador)
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) v. Adriana Ramierez (Puerto Rico)
Group H
Carola Loma (Bolivia) v. Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
Naomi Sasso (Costa Rica) v. Maria Regia Viera Gonzales (Cuba)
Men's Singles
Group A
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.)
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - BYE
Group B
Pedro Castro (Canada) v. Andres Ramirez (Colombia)
Cesar Castillo (Venezuela) - BYE
Group C
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. Luis Perez (Dominican Rep.)
Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina) - BYE
Group D
Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
Alejandro Santos (Venezuela) v. Noslen Jimenez (Cuba)
Group E
Jake Bredenbeck (USA) v. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica)
Jayson Jordan (Puerto Rico) v. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile)
Group F
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Selvin Cruz (Honduras) v. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala)
Group G
Jose Diaz (USA) v. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica)
Jared Torres (Puerto Rico) v. Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
Group H
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. Fernando Rios (Ecuador)
Carlos Medrano (Honduras) v. Christian Wer (Guatemala)
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.)
Maria Jose Vargas & Véronique Guillemette (Argentina) - BYE
Group B
Carola Loma & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile)
Mariana Tobon & Mariana Paredes (Venezula) - BYE
Group C
Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts (USA) v. Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)
Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) v. Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras)
Group D
Christine Richardson & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia)
Maria Renee Rodriguez & Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Adriana Ramirez & Fraces Vasquez (Puerto Rico)
Men's Doubles
Group A
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) v. Vincent Gagnon & Mike Green (Canada)
Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) - BYE
Group B
Kadim Carrasco & Roland Keller (Bolivia) v. Cesar Castro & Jorge Hirsekorn (Venezuela)
Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group C
Anthony Herrera & David Horn (USA) v. Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica)
Francisco Troncoso & Santiago Canedo (Chile) v. Selvin Cruz & Raul Banegas (Honduras)
Group D
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. Sebastian Franco & Juan Carlos Torres (Colombia)
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador) v. Jayson Jordan & Antonio Delgado (Puerto Rico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
In a twist from past events Saturday's matches are going to be between the #1 and #2 seeds in each group. In previous years, the #1 and #2 seeds would have played on the 3rd day, but this year they are playing on the 1st day.
There are eight groups in Men's and Women's Singles and four in each of Men's and Women's Doubles.
XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - March 28-April 4, 2015
Women's Singles
Group A
Paola Longoria (Mexico) v. Carla Muñoz (Chile)
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group B
Rhonda Rajsich (USA) v. Cecilia Cerquetti (Argentina)
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE
Group C
Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Angela Grisar (Chile)
Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group D
Da'monique Davis (USA) v. María José Vargas (Argentina)
Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Paula Padilla (Honduras)
Group E
Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)
Mariana Tobon (Venezuela) v. Frances Vasquez (Puerto Rico)
Group F
Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. Carolina Gomez (Colombia)
Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) v. Pamela Sierra (Honduras)
Group G
Michèle Morissette (Canada) v. Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador)
Mariana Paredes (Venezuela) v. Adriana Ramierez (Puerto Rico)
Group H
Carola Loma (Bolivia) v. Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
Naomi Sasso (Costa Rica) v. Maria Regia Viera Gonzales (Cuba)
Men's Singles
Group A
Alvaro Beltran (Mexico) v. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.)
Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina) - BYE
Group B
Pedro Castro (Canada) v. Andres Ramirez (Colombia)
Cesar Castillo (Venezuela) - BYE
Group C
Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico) v. Luis Perez (Dominican Rep.)
Pablo Kurzbard (Argentina) - BYE
Group D
Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Sebastian Franco (Colombia)
Alejandro Santos (Venezuela) v. Noslen Jimenez (Cuba)
Group E
Jake Bredenbeck (USA) v. Andres Acuña (Costa Rica)
Jayson Jordan (Puerto Rico) v. Rodrigo Salgado (Chile)
Group F
Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Selvin Cruz (Honduras) v. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala)
Group G
Jose Diaz (USA) v. Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica)
Jared Torres (Puerto Rico) v. Francisco Troncoso (Chile)
Group H
Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. Fernando Rios (Ecuador)
Carlos Medrano (Honduras) v. Christian Wer (Guatemala)
Women's Doubles
Group A
Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (Dominican Rep.)
Maria Jose Vargas & Véronique Guillemette (Argentina) - BYE
Group B
Carola Loma & Adriana Riveros (Bolivia) v. Angela Grisar & Carla Muñoz (Chile)
Mariana Tobon & Mariana Paredes (Venezula) - BYE
Group C
Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts (USA) v. Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)
Melania Sauma Masis & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) v. Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras)
Group D
Christine Richardson & Jennifer Saunders (Canada) v. Cristina Amaya & Carolina Gomez (Colombia)
Maria Renee Rodriguez & Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Adriana Ramirez & Fraces Vasquez (Puerto Rico)
Men's Doubles
Group A
Alvaro Beltran & Javier Moreno (Mexico) v. Vincent Gagnon & Mike Green (Canada)
Edwin Galicia & Christian Wer (Guatemala) - BYE
Group B
Kadim Carrasco & Roland Keller (Bolivia) v. Cesar Castro & Jorge Hirsekorn (Venezuela)
Luis Perez & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Group C
Anthony Herrera & David Horn (USA) v. Felipe Camacho & Teobaldo Fumero (Costa Rica)
Francisco Troncoso & Santiago Canedo (Chile) v. Selvin Cruz & Raul Banegas (Honduras)
Group D
Daniel Maggi & Shai Manzuri (Argentina) v. Sebastian Franco & Juan Carlos Torres (Colombia)
Fernando Rios & Jose Daniel Alvarez (Ecuador) v. Jayson Jordan & Antonio Delgado (Puerto Rico)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, March 27, 2015
2015 USAR Intercollegiate Semi-finals
One team will have a chance to defend their title at the 2015 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and the 2014 Women's Doubles Champions from the University of Arizona Elizabeth Simmons Lindsay Rasmussen reached the final with a win over Anna Schwartz and Madeline Gauch (Missouri) in the semi-finals, 15-7, 15-5.
Simmons and Rasmussen will play a team from Oregon State in the final, just as they did last year, but it'll be two different players this year. Rachel Creel and Sarah Lewis (Oregon State) defeated Stefanie Nissley and Kerry Ryan of Pennsylvania State, 13-15, 15-4, 11-2, in the other semi-final.
Simmons is also in the Women's Singles final, as she defeated 5th seed Creel, 15-6, 15-7, in the semi-finals. Simmons will the 2013 Women's Singles Champion Kelani Bailey of Shenandoah University, who was seeded 2nd this year, and ended the magical run of 19th seed Hannah Shnurman of Northern Colorado, the other semi, with scores of 15-7, 15-3.
In Men's Singles, 3rd seed Marco Rojas ended 10th seed Dylan Reid's (Washington University) impressive run through the draw in the semi-finals, winning 15-5, 15-9. Rojas will play the winner of top seed Adam Manilla (University of Colorado - Boulder) and 4th seed Brad Schopieray (Colorado State) in the final.
2015 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
(with seedings)
Women's Singles - Semi-finals
1) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona) d. 5) Rachel Creel (Oregon State), 15-6, 15-7
2) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah) d. 19) Hannah Shnurman (Northern Colorado), 15-7, 15-3
Women's Singles - Final
1) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona) v. 2) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah)
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona) d. 5) Anna Schwartz & Madeline Gauch (Missouri), 15-7, 15-5
2) Rachel Creel & Sarah Lewis (Oregon State) d. 3) Stefanie Nissley & Kerry Ryan (Pennsylvania State), 13-15, 15-4, 11-2
Women's Doubles - Final
1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona) v. 2) Rachel Creel & Sarah Lewis (Oregon State)
Men's Singles - Semi-finals
1) Adam Manilla (Colorado) d. 4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State), 15-13, 15-3
3) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific) d. 10) Dylan Reid (Washington University), 15-5, 15-9
Men's Singles - Final
1) Adam Manilla (Colorado) v. 3) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific)
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) d. 5) Jon Lanford & Alex Howard (Texas), 15-5, 15-7
3) Jacob Matthews & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo) d. 2) Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State), 15-6, 9-15, 11-5
Men's Doubles - Final
1) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) v. 3) Jacob Matthews & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Simmons and Rasmussen will play a team from Oregon State in the final, just as they did last year, but it'll be two different players this year. Rachel Creel and Sarah Lewis (Oregon State) defeated Stefanie Nissley and Kerry Ryan of Pennsylvania State, 13-15, 15-4, 11-2, in the other semi-final.
Simmons is also in the Women's Singles final, as she defeated 5th seed Creel, 15-6, 15-7, in the semi-finals. Simmons will the 2013 Women's Singles Champion Kelani Bailey of Shenandoah University, who was seeded 2nd this year, and ended the magical run of 19th seed Hannah Shnurman of Northern Colorado, the other semi, with scores of 15-7, 15-3.
In Men's Singles, 3rd seed Marco Rojas ended 10th seed Dylan Reid's (Washington University) impressive run through the draw in the semi-finals, winning 15-5, 15-9. Rojas will play the winner of top seed Adam Manilla (University of Colorado - Boulder) and 4th seed Brad Schopieray (Colorado State) in the final.
2015 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
(with seedings)
Women's Singles - Semi-finals
1) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona) d. 5) Rachel Creel (Oregon State), 15-6, 15-7
2) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah) d. 19) Hannah Shnurman (Northern Colorado), 15-7, 15-3
Women's Singles - Final
1) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona) v. 2) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah)
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona) d. 5) Anna Schwartz & Madeline Gauch (Missouri), 15-7, 15-5
2) Rachel Creel & Sarah Lewis (Oregon State) d. 3) Stefanie Nissley & Kerry Ryan (Pennsylvania State), 13-15, 15-4, 11-2
Women's Doubles - Final
1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona) v. 2) Rachel Creel & Sarah Lewis (Oregon State)
Men's Singles - Semi-finals
1) Adam Manilla (Colorado) d. 4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State), 15-13, 15-3
3) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific) d. 10) Dylan Reid (Washington University), 15-5, 15-9
Men's Singles - Final
1) Adam Manilla (Colorado) v. 3) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific)
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) d. 5) Jon Lanford & Alex Howard (Texas), 15-5, 15-7
3) Jacob Matthews & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo) d. 2) Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State), 15-6, 9-15, 11-5
Men's Doubles - Final
1) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) v. 3) Jacob Matthews & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, March 26, 2015
2015 Pan American Championships - Preview
The XXVIII Pan American Racquetball Championships begin Saturday in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and will be used as one of the seeding events for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto this July. Thus, it's an important event, and the defending team champions from Mexico have brought all their big guns.
The Mexican team will be Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas playing both Women's Singles and Women's Doubles, and Daniel De La Rosa playing Men's Singles with Alvaro Beltran playing both Men's Singles and Men's Doubles and Javier Moreno playing Men's Doubles.
In contrast the USA Racquetball has sent a younger team with David Horn, Anthony Herrera playing Men's Doubles, Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz Men's Singles, and veteran Rhonda Rajsich playing Women's Singles with Da'monique Davis and Women's Doubles with Sheryl Lotts.
The Canadian team is mixture of veterans and young players. Representing Canada are Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon in Men's Doubles, Pedro Castro and Samuel Murray in Men's Singles with Michèle Morissette playing Women's Singles, Jennifer Saunders playing both Women's Singles and Doubles and Christine Richardson playing Women's Doubles.
Other players in Santo Domingo include Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), Cristina Amaya (Colombia) and Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia).
Tournament format is three days of preliminary group play followed by an elimination round. Tournament action begins on Saturday.
Here's a rundown of who won last year.
XXVII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Santa Cruz, Bolivia - April 12-19, 2014
Women's Singles
GOLD - Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
SILVER - Susana Acosta (Mexico)
BRONZE - Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) and Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
Women's Doubles
GOLD - Susana Acosta & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico)
SILVER - Maria Jose Vargas & Véronique Guillemette (Argentina)
BRONZE - Frédérique Lambert & Josée Grand'Maître (Canada) and Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)
Men's Singles
GOLD - Jose Rojas (USA)
SILVER - Andree Parrilla (Mexico)
BRONZE - Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) and Vincent Gagnon (Canada)
Men's Doubles
GOLD - Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez (Mexico)
SILVER - Jose Rojas & David Horn (USA)
BRONZE - Ricardo Monroy & Roland Keller (Bolivia) and Daniel Maggi & Shai Mazuri (Argentina)
Women's Team
GOLD - Mexico
SILVER - Argentina
BRONZE - Canada
4th - Ecuador
Men's Team
GOLD - Mexico
SILVER - USA
BRONZE - Bolivia
4th - Canada
Combined Team
GOLD - Mexico
SILVER - USA
BRONZE - Argentina
4th - Canada
Follow the bouncing ball....
The Mexican team will be Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas playing both Women's Singles and Women's Doubles, and Daniel De La Rosa playing Men's Singles with Alvaro Beltran playing both Men's Singles and Men's Doubles and Javier Moreno playing Men's Doubles.
In contrast the USA Racquetball has sent a younger team with David Horn, Anthony Herrera playing Men's Doubles, Jake Bredenbeck and Jose Diaz Men's Singles, and veteran Rhonda Rajsich playing Women's Singles with Da'monique Davis and Women's Doubles with Sheryl Lotts.
The Canadian team is mixture of veterans and young players. Representing Canada are Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon in Men's Doubles, Pedro Castro and Samuel Murray in Men's Singles with Michèle Morissette playing Women's Singles, Jennifer Saunders playing both Women's Singles and Doubles and Christine Richardson playing Women's Doubles.
Other players in Santo Domingo include Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), Cristina Amaya (Colombia) and Conrado Moscoso (Bolivia).
Tournament format is three days of preliminary group play followed by an elimination round. Tournament action begins on Saturday.
Here's a rundown of who won last year.
XXVII Pan American Racquetball Championships
Santa Cruz, Bolivia - April 12-19, 2014
Women's Singles
GOLD - Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
SILVER - Susana Acosta (Mexico)
BRONZE - Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico) and Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
Women's Doubles
GOLD - Susana Acosta & Samantha Salas Solis (Mexico)
SILVER - Maria Jose Vargas & Véronique Guillemette (Argentina)
BRONZE - Frédérique Lambert & Josée Grand'Maître (Canada) and Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)
Men's Singles
GOLD - Jose Rojas (USA)
SILVER - Andree Parrilla (Mexico)
BRONZE - Polo Gutierrez (Mexico) and Vincent Gagnon (Canada)
Men's Doubles
GOLD - Daniel De La Rosa & Edson Martinez (Mexico)
SILVER - Jose Rojas & David Horn (USA)
BRONZE - Ricardo Monroy & Roland Keller (Bolivia) and Daniel Maggi & Shai Mazuri (Argentina)
Women's Team
GOLD - Mexico
SILVER - Argentina
BRONZE - Canada
4th - Ecuador
Men's Team
GOLD - Mexico
SILVER - USA
BRONZE - Bolivia
4th - Canada
Combined Team
GOLD - Mexico
SILVER - USA
BRONZE - Argentina
4th - Canada
Follow the bouncing ball....
2015 USAR Intercollegiate Championships - Quarterfinals
A couple of significant upsets in the quarterfinals of Men's and Women's Singles at the 2015 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.
The largest upset happened in Women's Singles, as 19th seed Hannah Shnurman of Northern Colorado is into the semi-finals after defeating 6th seed Jordan Cesak (Texas) in the quarters, 15-13, 9-15, 11-2. Shnurman earlier defeated 3rd seed Katie Niewiadomy of Texas A & M. She'll play 2nd seed - and 2013 Women's Singles Champion - Kelani Bailey of Shenandoah University in the semis Friday, as Bailey beat Melissa King of Missouri, 15-2, 15-2, in the quarters.
Also, 5th Rachel Creel (Oregon State) got the better of 4th seed Anna Schwartz (Missouri), 3-15, 15-14, 11-6. Creel will be up against top seed Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona) in the semi-finals, as Simmons defeated 9th seed Sara Moulton, 15-8, 15-4, in the quarters.
In Men's Singles, Dylan Reid of Washington University, the 10th seed, took out 2nd seed Joel Barshaw (Oregon State) in the quarters, 15-12, 15-4. He'll have his work cut out for him in the semi-finals, however, as Reid faces 3rd seed Marco Rojas - the 8th ranked player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Rojas defeated Cole Burr (Western University), 15-1, 15-6, in the quarters.
The top of the men's draw went according to form with top seed Adam Manilla (University of Colorado - Boulder) defeating Zachary Patterson (Arizona State), 15-5, 15-5, and 4th seed Brad Schopieray (Colorado State) beating Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace), 15-8, 15-6, to set up an all lefty semi-final, and guarantee that one of finalists will be left-handed.
2015 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
(with seedings)
Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona) d. 9) Sara Moulton, 15-8, 15-4
5) Rachel Creel (Oregon State) d. 4) Anna Schwartz (Missouri), 3-15, 15-14, 11-6
19) Hannah Shnurman (Northern Colorado) d. 6) Jordan Chesak (Texas), 15-13, 9-15, 11-2
2) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah) d. 10) Melissa King (Arizona State), 15-2, 15-2
Women's Singles - Semi-finals
1) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona) v. 5) Rachel Creel (Oregon State)
2) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah) v. 19) Hannah Shnurman (Northern Colorado)
Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona) d. 9) Alexis Templeton & Antonia Duran (New Mexico), 15-4, 15-1
5) Anna Schwartz & Madeline Gauch (Missouri) d. 4) Sara Moulton & Sarah Wynn (Brigham Young), 15-7, 15-7
3) Stefanie Nissley & Kerry Ryan (Pennsylvania State) d. 6) Nicole Fraley & Kristen Szutkowski (Baldwin Wallace), 15-7, 15-13
2) Rachel Creel & Sarah Lewis (Oregon State) d. Jordan Chesak & Larissa Liska (Texas), 15-9, 7-15, 11-7
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona) v. 5) Anna Schwartz & Madeline Gauch (Missouri)
2) Rachel Creel & Sarah Lewis (Oregon State) v. 3) Stefanie Nissley & Kerry Ryan (Pennsylvania State)
Men's Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Adam Manilla (Colorado) d. Zachary Patterson (Arizona State), 15-5, 15-5
4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State) d. Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace), 15-8, 15-6
3) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific) d. Cole Burr (Western University), 15-1, 15-6
10) Dylan Reid (Washington University) d. 2) Joel Barshaw (Oregon State), 15-12, 15-4
Men's Singles - Semi-finals
1) Adam Manilla (Colorado) v. 4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State)
3) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific) v. 10) Dylan Reid (Washington University)
Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) d. 8) Armany Gonzalez & Robert Koontz (Central Florida), 15-3, 15-4
5) Jon Lanford & Alex Howard (Texas) d. 4) Danny Sardina & Zachary Patterson (Arizona State), 15-8, 15-6
3) Jacob Matthews & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo) d. 6) Thomas Carter & Manolo Sandoval (Baldwin Wallace), 15-6, 4-15, 11-6
2) Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State) d. 7) Alex Lazenby & Paul Beffa (Missouri), 15-5, 15-12
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) v. 5) Jon Lanford & Alex Howard (Texas)
2) Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State) v. 3) Jacob Matthews & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
Follow the bouncing ball....
The largest upset happened in Women's Singles, as 19th seed Hannah Shnurman of Northern Colorado is into the semi-finals after defeating 6th seed Jordan Cesak (Texas) in the quarters, 15-13, 9-15, 11-2. Shnurman earlier defeated 3rd seed Katie Niewiadomy of Texas A & M. She'll play 2nd seed - and 2013 Women's Singles Champion - Kelani Bailey of Shenandoah University in the semis Friday, as Bailey beat Melissa King of Missouri, 15-2, 15-2, in the quarters.
Also, 5th Rachel Creel (Oregon State) got the better of 4th seed Anna Schwartz (Missouri), 3-15, 15-14, 11-6. Creel will be up against top seed Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona) in the semi-finals, as Simmons defeated 9th seed Sara Moulton, 15-8, 15-4, in the quarters.
In Men's Singles, Dylan Reid of Washington University, the 10th seed, took out 2nd seed Joel Barshaw (Oregon State) in the quarters, 15-12, 15-4. He'll have his work cut out for him in the semi-finals, however, as Reid faces 3rd seed Marco Rojas - the 8th ranked player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Rojas defeated Cole Burr (Western University), 15-1, 15-6, in the quarters.
The top of the men's draw went according to form with top seed Adam Manilla (University of Colorado - Boulder) defeating Zachary Patterson (Arizona State), 15-5, 15-5, and 4th seed Brad Schopieray (Colorado State) beating Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace), 15-8, 15-6, to set up an all lefty semi-final, and guarantee that one of finalists will be left-handed.
2015 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
(with seedings)
Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona) d. 9) Sara Moulton, 15-8, 15-4
5) Rachel Creel (Oregon State) d. 4) Anna Schwartz (Missouri), 3-15, 15-14, 11-6
19) Hannah Shnurman (Northern Colorado) d. 6) Jordan Chesak (Texas), 15-13, 9-15, 11-2
2) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah) d. 10) Melissa King (Arizona State), 15-2, 15-2
Women's Singles - Semi-finals
1) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona) v. 5) Rachel Creel (Oregon State)
2) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah) v. 19) Hannah Shnurman (Northern Colorado)
Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona) d. 9) Alexis Templeton & Antonia Duran (New Mexico), 15-4, 15-1
5) Anna Schwartz & Madeline Gauch (Missouri) d. 4) Sara Moulton & Sarah Wynn (Brigham Young), 15-7, 15-7
3) Stefanie Nissley & Kerry Ryan (Pennsylvania State) d. 6) Nicole Fraley & Kristen Szutkowski (Baldwin Wallace), 15-7, 15-13
2) Rachel Creel & Sarah Lewis (Oregon State) d. Jordan Chesak & Larissa Liska (Texas), 15-9, 7-15, 11-7
Women's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona) v. 5) Anna Schwartz & Madeline Gauch (Missouri)
2) Rachel Creel & Sarah Lewis (Oregon State) v. 3) Stefanie Nissley & Kerry Ryan (Pennsylvania State)
Men's Singles - Quarterfinals
1) Adam Manilla (Colorado) d. Zachary Patterson (Arizona State), 15-5, 15-5
4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State) d. Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace), 15-8, 15-6
3) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific) d. Cole Burr (Western University), 15-1, 15-6
10) Dylan Reid (Washington University) d. 2) Joel Barshaw (Oregon State), 15-12, 15-4
Men's Singles - Semi-finals
1) Adam Manilla (Colorado) v. 4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State)
3) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific) v. 10) Dylan Reid (Washington University)
Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals
1) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) d. 8) Armany Gonzalez & Robert Koontz (Central Florida), 15-3, 15-4
5) Jon Lanford & Alex Howard (Texas) d. 4) Danny Sardina & Zachary Patterson (Arizona State), 15-8, 15-6
3) Jacob Matthews & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo) d. 6) Thomas Carter & Manolo Sandoval (Baldwin Wallace), 15-6, 4-15, 11-6
2) Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State) d. 7) Alex Lazenby & Paul Beffa (Missouri), 15-5, 15-12
Men's Doubles - Semi-finals
1) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado) v. 5) Jon Lanford & Alex Howard (Texas)
2) Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State) v. 3) Jacob Matthews & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
Follow the bouncing ball....
2015 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships - Preview
The 2015 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships are underway in Tempe, Arizona on the campus of Arizona State University. Intercollegiates are organized in divisions according to teams ranking. A full team is six men and six women, and the top ranked men are one division, top ranked women another, and so on, down to the 6th ranked men and women. With six players each gender there are three doubles teams, which compete in similar divisions: the #1 teams playing off, #2s and #3 in different men's and women's divisions.
There are 223 players competing in Tempe, which is great. We're going to concentrate on the Men's and Women's #1 Singles and Doubles divisions, as those are the overall intercollegiate champions.
On the women's side, there will be a new champion or possibly a new again champion, as last year's winner Devon Pimentelli (Canada College) is not in the draw. But 2013 winner Kelani Bailey of Shenandoah University is in the draw, and if she wins, it would be her second title. Bailey's the 2nd seed with last year's 4th place finisher Elizabeth Simmons (University of Arizona) the #1 seed.
There's already been an upset in Women's Singles, as the 3rd seed Katie Niewiadomy of Texas A & M lost to 19th seed Hannah Shnurman of Northern Colorado in the Round of 16, 15-10, 15-7. Shnurman will next play 6th seed Jordan Cesak of Texas in the quarterfinals.
There will be a new winner in Men's Singles also, as last year's winner - Jose Diaz of Delta College - is playing for his country rather than his college at the 2015 Pan American Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This leaves the door open for last year's 3rd and 4th place players Adam Manilla (University of Colorado - Boulder) and Joel Barshaw (Oregon State), and they are the #1 and #2 seeds, respectively.
But also in the Men's Singles draw is Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific), who is the 3rd seed.
One small upset in early men's action, Dylan Reid of Washington University, the 10th seed, took out 7th seed Jordan Matthews of North Carolina State, 15-3, 15-9. Reid will play Barshaw in the quarters.
Below we have the intercollegiate champions from the last eight years.
USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Champions
Women's Singles
2014
1. Devon Pimentelli (Canada College)
2. Amanda Lindsay (Oregon State)
3. Samantha Simmons (Maryland)
4. Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona)
2013
1. Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah)
2. Danielle Key (Arizona State)
3. Amanda Lindsay (Oregon State)
4. Kelly Gremley (Purdue)
2012
1. Sharon Jackson (Alabama)
2. Danielle Key (Arizona State)
3. Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
4. Hailey Miller (Oregon)
2011
1. Michelle Key (Arizona State)
2. Sharon Jackson (Univ. of Alabama)
3. Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
4. Kelly Gremley (Purdue)
2010
1. Sharon Jackson (Univ. of Alabama)
2. Michelle Key (Univ. of Arizona)
3. Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
4. Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)
2009
1. Sheryl Lotts, Baldwin Wallace
2. Kara Mazer, University of Alabama
3. Ashley Willhite, Oregon State
4. Teresa Diaz, Delta College
2008
1. Kara Mazer, University of Alabama
2. Sarah Hettesheimer, Baldwin Wallace
3. Ashley Willhite, Oregon State
4. Sue Sublaban, Delta College
2007
1. Kimberly Irons, Ohio University
2. Jesi Fuller, University of New Mexico
3. Da'monique Davis, University of Alabama
4. Sarah Hettesheimer, Baldwin Wallace
Women's Doubles
2014
1. Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona)
2. Amanda Lindsay & Karissa Beatty (Oregon State)
3. Anna Schwartz & Rachel Schmidt (Missouri)
4. Adrienne Schneider & Sara Moulton (Brigham Young)
2013
1. Danielle Key & Devon Pimentelli (Arizona State)
2. Amanda Lindsay & Karissa Beatty (Oregon State)
3. Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona)
4. Eliza Culverwell & Mary Culverwell (Brigham Young)
2012
1. Madeleine Angles & Sharon Jackson (University of Alabama)
2. Molly Haragan & Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
3. Danielle Key & Izayadeth Aguayo (Arizona State)
4. Leah Redwine & Hailey Miller (University Of Oregon)
2011
1. Brittany Travers & Sharon Jackson (University of Alabama)
2. Sheryl Lotts & Tracy Hawthorne (Baldwin Wallace)
3. Hailey Miller & Leah Redwine (University of Oregon)
4. Izayadeth Aguayo & Michelle Key (Arizona State)
2010
1. Kara Mazur & Sharon Jackson (University of Alabama)
2. Sheryl Lotts & Tracy Hawthorne (Baldwin Wallace)
3. Haley Strom & Holly Hettesheimer (University Of Cincinnati)
4. Izayadeth Aguayo & Michelle Key (Arizona State)
2009
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 Singles
2014
1. Jose Diaz (Delta College)
2. Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3. Adam Manilla (Colorado State)
4. Joel Barshaw (Oregon State)
2013
1. Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
2. Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3. Cole Burr (Brigham Young)
4. Jordan Matthews (North Carolina State)
2012
1. Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2. Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
3. John Craig Chisholm (Boston Univ.)
4. Jose Diaz (Delta College)
2011
1. Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
2. Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3. Danny Lavely (Univ. of Alabama)
4. John Craig Chisholm (Boston Univ.)
2010
1. Jose Rojas (Delta College)
2. Taylor Knoth (Univ. of Oregon)
3. Joey Lakowske (Oregon State)
4. Allan Crockett (Univ. of Alabama)
2009
1. Jose Rojas, Delta College
2. Allan Crockett, University of Alabama
3. Anthony Carson, Colorado State
4. Anthony Herrera, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
2008
1. Tony Carson, Colorado State
2. Anthony Herrera, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
3. Bradly Rogers, Wichita
4. Allan Crockett, University of Alabama
2007
1. Ben Croft, Colorado State, Pueblo
2. Agustin Tristan, University of Alabama
3. Evan Ussery, University of New Mexico
4. Phil Matthews, University of Illinois
Men's Doubles
2014
1. Felipe Camacho & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2. Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado State)
3. Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State)
4. Danny Sardina & Zachary Patterson (Arizona State)
2013
1. Taylor Knoth & Joel Bradshow (Oregon State)
2. Nick Montalbano & Jake Bredenbeck (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3. Cole Burr & Brian Zundel (Brigham Young)
4. Alex Fischler & Joe Koch (Missouri)
2012
1. Jansen Allen & Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2. Grant Stalley & Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
3. Brad Falvey & Danny Lavely (Alabama)
4. Cole Burr & Joseph Blank (Brigham Young)
2011
1. Felipe Camacho & Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2. Allan Crockett & Danny Lavely (University of Alabama)
3. Joey Pryor & Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
4. Jeff Skanchy & Joseph Blank (Brigham Young)
2010
1. David Horn & Jose Rojas (Delta College)
2. Jansen Allen & Tyler Otto (Colorado State)
3. Allan Crockett & Jonathan Doyle (University of Alabama)
4. David Laforest & Joey Lakowske (Oregon State)
2009
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....
There are 223 players competing in Tempe, which is great. We're going to concentrate on the Men's and Women's #1 Singles and Doubles divisions, as those are the overall intercollegiate champions.
On the women's side, there will be a new champion or possibly a new again champion, as last year's winner Devon Pimentelli (Canada College) is not in the draw. But 2013 winner Kelani Bailey of Shenandoah University is in the draw, and if she wins, it would be her second title. Bailey's the 2nd seed with last year's 4th place finisher Elizabeth Simmons (University of Arizona) the #1 seed.
There's already been an upset in Women's Singles, as the 3rd seed Katie Niewiadomy of Texas A & M lost to 19th seed Hannah Shnurman of Northern Colorado in the Round of 16, 15-10, 15-7. Shnurman will next play 6th seed Jordan Cesak of Texas in the quarterfinals.
There will be a new winner in Men's Singles also, as last year's winner - Jose Diaz of Delta College - is playing for his country rather than his college at the 2015 Pan American Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This leaves the door open for last year's 3rd and 4th place players Adam Manilla (University of Colorado - Boulder) and Joel Barshaw (Oregon State), and they are the #1 and #2 seeds, respectively.
But also in the Men's Singles draw is Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific), who is the 3rd seed.
One small upset in early men's action, Dylan Reid of Washington University, the 10th seed, took out 7th seed Jordan Matthews of North Carolina State, 15-3, 15-9. Reid will play Barshaw in the quarters.
Below we have the intercollegiate champions from the last eight years.
USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Champions
Women's Singles
2014
1. Devon Pimentelli (Canada College)
2. Amanda Lindsay (Oregon State)
3. Samantha Simmons (Maryland)
4. Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona)
2013
1. Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah)
2. Danielle Key (Arizona State)
3. Amanda Lindsay (Oregon State)
4. Kelly Gremley (Purdue)
2012
1. Sharon Jackson (Alabama)
2. Danielle Key (Arizona State)
3. Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
4. Hailey Miller (Oregon)
2011
1. Michelle Key (Arizona State)
2. Sharon Jackson (Univ. of Alabama)
3. Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
4. Kelly Gremley (Purdue)
2010
1. Sharon Jackson (Univ. of Alabama)
2. Michelle Key (Univ. of Arizona)
3. Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
4. Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)
2009
1. Sheryl Lotts, Baldwin Wallace
2. Kara Mazer, University of Alabama
3. Ashley Willhite, Oregon State
4. Teresa Diaz, Delta College
2008
1. Kara Mazer, University of Alabama
2. Sarah Hettesheimer, Baldwin Wallace
3. Ashley Willhite, Oregon State
4. Sue Sublaban, Delta College
2007
1. Kimberly Irons, Ohio University
2. Jesi Fuller, University of New Mexico
3. Da'monique Davis, University of Alabama
4. Sarah Hettesheimer, Baldwin Wallace
Women's Doubles
2014
1. Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona)
2. Amanda Lindsay & Karissa Beatty (Oregon State)
3. Anna Schwartz & Rachel Schmidt (Missouri)
4. Adrienne Schneider & Sara Moulton (Brigham Young)
2013
1. Danielle Key & Devon Pimentelli (Arizona State)
2. Amanda Lindsay & Karissa Beatty (Oregon State)
3. Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona)
4. Eliza Culverwell & Mary Culverwell (Brigham Young)
2012
1. Madeleine Angles & Sharon Jackson (University of Alabama)
2. Molly Haragan & Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
3. Danielle Key & Izayadeth Aguayo (Arizona State)
4. Leah Redwine & Hailey Miller (University Of Oregon)
2011
1. Brittany Travers & Sharon Jackson (University of Alabama)
2. Sheryl Lotts & Tracy Hawthorne (Baldwin Wallace)
3. Hailey Miller & Leah Redwine (University of Oregon)
4. Izayadeth Aguayo & Michelle Key (Arizona State)
2010
1. Kara Mazur & Sharon Jackson (University of Alabama)
2. Sheryl Lotts & Tracy Hawthorne (Baldwin Wallace)
3. Haley Strom & Holly Hettesheimer (University Of Cincinnati)
4. Izayadeth Aguayo & Michelle Key (Arizona State)
2009
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 Singles
2014
1. Jose Diaz (Delta College)
2. Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3. Adam Manilla (Colorado State)
4. Joel Barshaw (Oregon State)
2013
1. Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
2. Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3. Cole Burr (Brigham Young)
4. Jordan Matthews (North Carolina State)
2012
1. Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2. Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
3. John Craig Chisholm (Boston Univ.)
4. Jose Diaz (Delta College)
2011
1. Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
2. Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3. Danny Lavely (Univ. of Alabama)
4. John Craig Chisholm (Boston Univ.)
2010
1. Jose Rojas (Delta College)
2. Taylor Knoth (Univ. of Oregon)
3. Joey Lakowske (Oregon State)
4. Allan Crockett (Univ. of Alabama)
2009
1. Jose Rojas, Delta College
2. Allan Crockett, University of Alabama
3. Anthony Carson, Colorado State
4. Anthony Herrera, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
2008
1. Tony Carson, Colorado State
2. Anthony Herrera, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
3. Bradly Rogers, Wichita
4. Allan Crockett, University of Alabama
2007
1. Ben Croft, Colorado State, Pueblo
2. Agustin Tristan, University of Alabama
3. Evan Ussery, University of New Mexico
4. Phil Matthews, University of Illinois
Men's Doubles
2014
1. Felipe Camacho & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2. Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado State)
3. Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State)
4. Danny Sardina & Zachary Patterson (Arizona State)
2013
1. Taylor Knoth & Joel Bradshow (Oregon State)
2. Nick Montalbano & Jake Bredenbeck (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3. Cole Burr & Brian Zundel (Brigham Young)
4. Alex Fischler & Joe Koch (Missouri)
2012
1. Jansen Allen & Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2. Grant Stalley & Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
3. Brad Falvey & Danny Lavely (Alabama)
4. Cole Burr & Joseph Blank (Brigham Young)
2011
1. Felipe Camacho & Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2. Allan Crockett & Danny Lavely (University of Alabama)
3. Joey Pryor & Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
4. Jeff Skanchy & Joseph Blank (Brigham Young)
2010
1. David Horn & Jose Rojas (Delta College)
2. Jansen Allen & Tyler Otto (Colorado State)
3. Allan Crockett & Jonathan Doyle (University of Alabama)
4. David Laforest & Joey Lakowske (Oregon State)
2009
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....
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Carson remains IRT's #1 player
The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) released its latest rankings this week, and Rocky Carson remains the #1 IRT player, holding a slim lead of two points over #2 Kane Waselenchuk. But those two points aren’t really two points.
Why?
Because the IRT rankings work on 12 month cycles, so they totals currently include last year’s Stockton event, which Waselenchuk won and Carson finished in the semi-finals. But word is that event won’t happen this year. If it doesn’t, then Waselenchuk’s point total drops significantly more than Carson’s.
Race for #1
The IRT rankings situation is a complex this season, so spoke to Jason Mannino, President of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), regarding the rankings and race for the #1 spot at season’s end. Carson is still the #1 IRT player, although Waselenchuk’s won seven tournments this season compared to Carson’s three.
Waselenchuk remains #2, because he’s had health issues this season that have caused him to miss three events and forfeit in the quarterfinals of another. Carson, on the other hand, has been in at least the semi-finals of all 11 events this season with six runner up finishes to go with his three wins.
Players can drop performances from their record, but how many they can drop depends on the number of events in the season. There have been eleven events this season, and with the Stockton event unlikely to happen, only Portland’s Tournament of Champions remains on the IRT 2014-15 calendar (the next event in Long Beach, Calif. is doubles only, so won’t effect the rankings). When there are 12 or fewer Tier 1 events, players can only drop one event. Thus, Waselenchuk can only drop one of the events that he missed, while Carson can drop one of his semi-final finishes. Advantage Carson.
The number of points players earn from IRT events can vary substantially. The Grand Slam events have the most points, but there was only one of those this season: the US Open. Of the Tier 1 events, there are three types based on the prize money of the event.
For events that happen outside of the USA, the prize money is higher so as to cover the players’ costs better, and those events are worth more points. There have not been any such events this season, but Mannino suggested there could be as many as three of them next season.
There are also two events this season that are Tier 1 prize money, but Tier 2 points, as agreed by the tournament directors and players. Those events are the Sioux Falls stop and the Portland stop. As Portland is only Tier 2 points, a win there would not be enough to move Waselenchuk ahead of Carson.
Winning a Tier 1 event is worth 400 points, while winning a Tier 2 event is only 120 points. Perhaps more importantly, the difference between winning a Tier 1 event and finishing second is 96-100 points while the difference between winning a Tier 2 event and finishing second is 30 points (1st vs. semi-final finish is 60 points).
The system’s more complicated than Mannino would like, and he’s going to try to make it simpler for next season.
There are rumours of other Tier 1 events happening this season, although it seems unlikely at this late date. Mannino couldn’t confirm whether this would happen, but agreed that if it did, they would have to be announced by the end of the month.
If there were one or two more Tier 1 events, then Waselenchuk would have a chance to surpass Carson for the #1 season ending ranking. Of course, he would have to be healthy for them, and win them, or at least do better than Carson. But when healthy, Waselenchuk’s only lost twice in the last seven IRT seasons.
The situation should become clear by early April, at which point we’ll know whether Carson will be IRT #1 for this season or whether the #1 ranking is still up for grabs.
Rest of the field
There was little movement in the top 20, and none in the top 10. Danny Lavely has moved up to 15th, and Coby Iwaasa moved up one position to 19th. Also, Alejandro Herrera is back in the top 20 at #20.
The next IRT event is a doubles only event: the Long Beach Open Doubles goes April 9-11 in Long Beach, California.
IRT Rankings - March 23, 2015
Rank - Player - Country - Points
1 Rocky CARSON (USA) 3592
2 Kane WASELENCHUK (Canada) 3590
3 Alvaro BELTRAN (Mexico) 2862
4 Daniel DE LA ROSA (Mexico) 2226
5 Ben CROFT (USA) 2080
6 Jose ROJAS (USA) 2046
7 Jansen ALLEN (USA) 1594
8 Marco ROJAS (USA) 1411
9 Charlie PRATT (USA) 1344
10 Tony CARSON (USA) 1158
11 Chris CROWTHER (USA) 1010
12 Alejandro LANDA (Mexico) 950
13 Jose DIAZ (USA) 759
14 Matthew MAJXNER (USA) 689
15 Danny LAVELY (USA) 688
16 Robert COLLINS (USA) 595
17 Cliff SWAIN (USA) 543
18 Tim LANDERYOU (Canada) 503
19 Coby IWAASA (Canada) 458
20 Alejandro HERRERA (Colombia) 409
Follow the bouncing ball....
Why?
Because the IRT rankings work on 12 month cycles, so they totals currently include last year’s Stockton event, which Waselenchuk won and Carson finished in the semi-finals. But word is that event won’t happen this year. If it doesn’t, then Waselenchuk’s point total drops significantly more than Carson’s.
Race for #1
The IRT rankings situation is a complex this season, so spoke to Jason Mannino, President of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), regarding the rankings and race for the #1 spot at season’s end. Carson is still the #1 IRT player, although Waselenchuk’s won seven tournments this season compared to Carson’s three.
Waselenchuk remains #2, because he’s had health issues this season that have caused him to miss three events and forfeit in the quarterfinals of another. Carson, on the other hand, has been in at least the semi-finals of all 11 events this season with six runner up finishes to go with his three wins.
Players can drop performances from their record, but how many they can drop depends on the number of events in the season. There have been eleven events this season, and with the Stockton event unlikely to happen, only Portland’s Tournament of Champions remains on the IRT 2014-15 calendar (the next event in Long Beach, Calif. is doubles only, so won’t effect the rankings). When there are 12 or fewer Tier 1 events, players can only drop one event. Thus, Waselenchuk can only drop one of the events that he missed, while Carson can drop one of his semi-final finishes. Advantage Carson.
The number of points players earn from IRT events can vary substantially. The Grand Slam events have the most points, but there was only one of those this season: the US Open. Of the Tier 1 events, there are three types based on the prize money of the event.
For events that happen outside of the USA, the prize money is higher so as to cover the players’ costs better, and those events are worth more points. There have not been any such events this season, but Mannino suggested there could be as many as three of them next season.
There are also two events this season that are Tier 1 prize money, but Tier 2 points, as agreed by the tournament directors and players. Those events are the Sioux Falls stop and the Portland stop. As Portland is only Tier 2 points, a win there would not be enough to move Waselenchuk ahead of Carson.
Winning a Tier 1 event is worth 400 points, while winning a Tier 2 event is only 120 points. Perhaps more importantly, the difference between winning a Tier 1 event and finishing second is 96-100 points while the difference between winning a Tier 2 event and finishing second is 30 points (1st vs. semi-final finish is 60 points).
The system’s more complicated than Mannino would like, and he’s going to try to make it simpler for next season.
There are rumours of other Tier 1 events happening this season, although it seems unlikely at this late date. Mannino couldn’t confirm whether this would happen, but agreed that if it did, they would have to be announced by the end of the month.
If there were one or two more Tier 1 events, then Waselenchuk would have a chance to surpass Carson for the #1 season ending ranking. Of course, he would have to be healthy for them, and win them, or at least do better than Carson. But when healthy, Waselenchuk’s only lost twice in the last seven IRT seasons.
The situation should become clear by early April, at which point we’ll know whether Carson will be IRT #1 for this season or whether the #1 ranking is still up for grabs.
Rest of the field
There was little movement in the top 20, and none in the top 10. Danny Lavely has moved up to 15th, and Coby Iwaasa moved up one position to 19th. Also, Alejandro Herrera is back in the top 20 at #20.
The next IRT event is a doubles only event: the Long Beach Open Doubles goes April 9-11 in Long Beach, California.
IRT Rankings - March 23, 2015
Rank - Player - Country - Points
1 Rocky CARSON (USA) 3592
2 Kane WASELENCHUK (Canada) 3590
3 Alvaro BELTRAN (Mexico) 2862
4 Daniel DE LA ROSA (Mexico) 2226
5 Ben CROFT (USA) 2080
6 Jose ROJAS (USA) 2046
7 Jansen ALLEN (USA) 1594
8 Marco ROJAS (USA) 1411
9 Charlie PRATT (USA) 1344
10 Tony CARSON (USA) 1158
11 Chris CROWTHER (USA) 1010
12 Alejandro LANDA (Mexico) 950
13 Jose DIAZ (USA) 759
14 Matthew MAJXNER (USA) 689
15 Danny LAVELY (USA) 688
16 Robert COLLINS (USA) 595
17 Cliff SWAIN (USA) 543
18 Tim LANDERYOU (Canada) 503
19 Coby IWAASA (Canada) 458
20 Alejandro HERRERA (Colombia) 409
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, March 23, 2015
Weekend Round Up - De La Rosa, Muñoz, Allen & Tristan win
Daniel De La Rosa won the 7th Annual Raising Some Racquet for Kids - a Tier 3 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event in Cincinnati, Ohio on the weekend. De La Rosa beat Charlie Pratt in the final, 11-5, 12-10, 11-4.
In the semi-finals, De La Rosa beat Brian Simpson, 11-3, 11-3, 11-1, and Pratt defeated John Craig Chisholm, 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5.
In Fountain Valley, California, Carla Muñoz won the Women’s Open division by beating Gabriela Martinez, 15-11, 8-15, 11-10. In the semi-finals, Muñoz beat Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-2, 15-7, and Martinez defeated Roxanne Rehling, 15-0, 15-4.
Several states had their championships on the weekend. The most notable winners were Jansen Allen, who took the Texas State Singles Championship by defeating Kenny Green Jr. in the final, 15-3, 15-1, and Agustin Tristan, winner of the New York State Singles Championship defeating Jason Sylvester, 15-6, 15-12, in the final.
Two big events coming up. The USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships begin Wednesday in Tempe, Arizona. Then on Saturday the opening ceremonies for the Pan American Championships will be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with play beginning on Sunday.
7th Annual Raising Some Racquet for Kids - IRT Tier 3
Cincinnati, Ohio
Final
Daniel De La Rosa d. Charlie Pratt, 11-5, 12-10, 11-4
Semi-finals
Daniel De La Rosa d. Brian Simpson, 11-3, 11-3, 11-1
Charlie Pratt d. John Craig Chisholm, 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5
CNRA State Singles
Fountain Valley, California
Final
Carla Muñoz d. Gabriela Martinez, 15-11, 8-15, 11-10
Semi-finals
Carla Muñoz d. Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-2, 15-7
Gabriella Martinez d. Roxanne Rehling, 15-0, 15-4
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the semi-finals, De La Rosa beat Brian Simpson, 11-3, 11-3, 11-1, and Pratt defeated John Craig Chisholm, 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5.
In Fountain Valley, California, Carla Muñoz won the Women’s Open division by beating Gabriela Martinez, 15-11, 8-15, 11-10. In the semi-finals, Muñoz beat Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-2, 15-7, and Martinez defeated Roxanne Rehling, 15-0, 15-4.
Several states had their championships on the weekend. The most notable winners were Jansen Allen, who took the Texas State Singles Championship by defeating Kenny Green Jr. in the final, 15-3, 15-1, and Agustin Tristan, winner of the New York State Singles Championship defeating Jason Sylvester, 15-6, 15-12, in the final.
Two big events coming up. The USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships begin Wednesday in Tempe, Arizona. Then on Saturday the opening ceremonies for the Pan American Championships will be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with play beginning on Sunday.
7th Annual Raising Some Racquet for Kids - IRT Tier 3
Cincinnati, Ohio
Final
Daniel De La Rosa d. Charlie Pratt, 11-5, 12-10, 11-4
Semi-finals
Daniel De La Rosa d. Brian Simpson, 11-3, 11-3, 11-1
Charlie Pratt d. John Craig Chisholm, 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-5
CNRA State Singles
Fountain Valley, California
Final
Carla Muñoz d. Gabriela Martinez, 15-11, 8-15, 11-10
Semi-finals
Carla Muñoz d. Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-2, 15-7
Gabriella Martinez d. Roxanne Rehling, 15-0, 15-4
Follow the bouncing ball….
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Longoria wins twice at LPRT CNRA State Singles
Paola Longoria was a double winner Sunday at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) CNRA State Singles Championships in Fountain Valley, California, as she won both the singles division and the doubles division with Samantha Salas.
In singles, Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, defeated Maria Jose Vargas, LPRT #2, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, for her 7th title of the season. Five of those title have come against Vargas in the final.
Longoria had 4-1 leads in both games one and two, but Vargas came back and tied it up both times. In game one, there were tied at 5-5 and at 6-6 in game two. But Longoria held firm late in those games to take them.
She generally hit drive serves to Vargas, but the last point of game two came off a half lob serve to Vargas’s backhand, which resulted in a skipped return. Longoria returned to that serve early in game three, and went from a 4-3 lead to a 9-4 lead.
Vargas got a couple of points back after that, but Longoria wasn’t threatened as she closed it out in three straight games.
On paper the doubles final shouldn’t have been close, as it was Longoria and Salas - the reigning three time World Champions - against Cristina Amaya and Sofia Rascon, the 6th and 12th ranked LPRT players who had not played doubles together before this weekend.
However, the doubles final was a very competitive match that Longoria and Salas were fortunate to win in two games, 15-12, 15-13.
Amaya and Rascon led in the middle of game one, 7-4, but Longoria and Salas tied it at 10-10, and managed to stay in the lead after that. Game two was streaky, as Amaya and Rascon were up 3-1, down 7-3 and up again 11-7.
The World Champions came back to tie it 11-11, and then went ahead 12-11. They went back and forth from there, and thirteen rallies later, Amaya and Rascon were ahead 13-12.
But when Longoria and Salas got the serve back they scored three straight points to win the game and match. The last two points came from Salas. She hit a great forehand reverse pinch from high for the 14th point and then on a long scrabbly rally hit a ball that took a big bounce off the back wall, which Amaya went for but couldn’t make a play on. It wasn’t the prettiest end to a great match, but it counted.
For much of the match, Amaya hit off speed 1/2 z serves to Longoria (they were both playing the left side with their partners on the right), and it was effective, but late in game two the balls were goint more to the back wall rather than the side wall. That is, the ball wasn’t really making a z, so the serve wasn’t as effective as it had been earlier.
The LPRT’s next Tier 1 event is the Mile High Pro-Am in Denver April 17-19.
LPRT CNRA State Singles
March 20-22, 2015, Fountain Valley, California
Final (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Maria Jose Vargas, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
Doubles - Final (seedings)
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 5) Cristina Amaya & Sofia Rascon, 15-12, 15-13
Follow the bouncing ball....
In singles, Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player, defeated Maria Jose Vargas, LPRT #2, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6, for her 7th title of the season. Five of those title have come against Vargas in the final.
Longoria had 4-1 leads in both games one and two, but Vargas came back and tied it up both times. In game one, there were tied at 5-5 and at 6-6 in game two. But Longoria held firm late in those games to take them.
She generally hit drive serves to Vargas, but the last point of game two came off a half lob serve to Vargas’s backhand, which resulted in a skipped return. Longoria returned to that serve early in game three, and went from a 4-3 lead to a 9-4 lead.
Vargas got a couple of points back after that, but Longoria wasn’t threatened as she closed it out in three straight games.
On paper the doubles final shouldn’t have been close, as it was Longoria and Salas - the reigning three time World Champions - against Cristina Amaya and Sofia Rascon, the 6th and 12th ranked LPRT players who had not played doubles together before this weekend.
However, the doubles final was a very competitive match that Longoria and Salas were fortunate to win in two games, 15-12, 15-13.
Amaya and Rascon led in the middle of game one, 7-4, but Longoria and Salas tied it at 10-10, and managed to stay in the lead after that. Game two was streaky, as Amaya and Rascon were up 3-1, down 7-3 and up again 11-7.
The World Champions came back to tie it 11-11, and then went ahead 12-11. They went back and forth from there, and thirteen rallies later, Amaya and Rascon were ahead 13-12.
But when Longoria and Salas got the serve back they scored three straight points to win the game and match. The last two points came from Salas. She hit a great forehand reverse pinch from high for the 14th point and then on a long scrabbly rally hit a ball that took a big bounce off the back wall, which Amaya went for but couldn’t make a play on. It wasn’t the prettiest end to a great match, but it counted.
For much of the match, Amaya hit off speed 1/2 z serves to Longoria (they were both playing the left side with their partners on the right), and it was effective, but late in game two the balls were goint more to the back wall rather than the side wall. That is, the ball wasn’t really making a z, so the serve wasn’t as effective as it had been earlier.
The LPRT’s next Tier 1 event is the Mile High Pro-Am in Denver April 17-19.
LPRT CNRA State Singles
March 20-22, 2015, Fountain Valley, California
Final (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria d. 2) Maria Jose Vargas, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
Doubles - Final (seedings)
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 5) Cristina Amaya & Sofia Rascon, 15-12, 15-13
Follow the bouncing ball....
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Longoria v. Vargas in LPRT CNRA State Singles final
Paola Longoria and Maria Jose Vargas, the number 1 and 2, respectively, players on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) will meet again in the final of the CNRA State Singles Championships in Fountain Valley, California. They got there in similar ways, as both Longoria and Vargas dropped the first games of their respective semi-final matches. But both came back to win in three relatively comfortable games.
Longoria beat Samantha Salas, her doubles partner, 9-11, 11-5, 11-0, 11-9, while Vargas defeated Cristina Amaya, 8-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-0.
But Amaya gained some revenge on Vargas in doubles, as Amaya and Sofia Rascon defeated Vargas and Rhonda Rajsich, 15-9, 15-12, in what was a very streaky match. In game one, Amaya and Rascon were up 6-1, then down 9-6, only to win 15-9.
Game two was similar, as Amaya and Rascon again took a 7-1 lead. They were up 11-6 before Rajsich and Vargas staged a comeback to tie it at 11-11, and then go ahead 12-11. A tie-breaker looked like a definite possibility, but Amaya and Rascon dug down and scored four straight points to win game two, 15-12, and take the match in two straight games.
Amaya and Rascon will face 2nd seeds Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas in the final, as they beat 3rd seeds Michelle Key and Frédérique Lambert, 15-8, 11-15, 11-4, in the other semi.
The semi-finals begin at 5 PM PDT Saturday and can be viewed via the LPRT Network. The final will be 11 AM Sunday.
LPRT State Singles
March 20-22, 2015, Fountain Valley, California
Semi-finals (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Samantha Salas, 9-11, 11-5, 11-0, 11-9
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Cristina Amaya, 8-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-0
Final (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria v. 2) Maria Jose Vargas - 11 AM Sunday
Doubles - Semi-finals (seedings)
5) Cristina Amaya & Sofia Rascon d. 1) Rhonda Rajsich & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-9, 15-12
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 3) Michelle Key & Frédérique Lambert, 15-8, 11-15, 11-4
Doubles - Final (seedings)
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Sofia Rascon - Noon Sunday
Follow the bouncing ball....
Longoria beat Samantha Salas, her doubles partner, 9-11, 11-5, 11-0, 11-9, while Vargas defeated Cristina Amaya, 8-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-0.
But Amaya gained some revenge on Vargas in doubles, as Amaya and Sofia Rascon defeated Vargas and Rhonda Rajsich, 15-9, 15-12, in what was a very streaky match. In game one, Amaya and Rascon were up 6-1, then down 9-6, only to win 15-9.
Game two was similar, as Amaya and Rascon again took a 7-1 lead. They were up 11-6 before Rajsich and Vargas staged a comeback to tie it at 11-11, and then go ahead 12-11. A tie-breaker looked like a definite possibility, but Amaya and Rascon dug down and scored four straight points to win game two, 15-12, and take the match in two straight games.
Amaya and Rascon will face 2nd seeds Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas in the final, as they beat 3rd seeds Michelle Key and Frédérique Lambert, 15-8, 11-15, 11-4, in the other semi.
The semi-finals begin at 5 PM PDT Saturday and can be viewed via the LPRT Network. The final will be 11 AM Sunday.
LPRT State Singles
March 20-22, 2015, Fountain Valley, California
Semi-finals (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Samantha Salas, 9-11, 11-5, 11-0, 11-9
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Cristina Amaya, 8-11, 11-2, 11-3, 11-0
Final (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria v. 2) Maria Jose Vargas - 11 AM Sunday
Doubles - Semi-finals (seedings)
5) Cristina Amaya & Sofia Rascon d. 1) Rhonda Rajsich & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-9, 15-12
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 3) Michelle Key & Frédérique Lambert, 15-8, 11-15, 11-4
Doubles - Final (seedings)
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Sofia Rascon - Noon Sunday
Follow the bouncing ball....
Amaya through to semi-finals at LPRT CNRA State Singles
Cristina Amaya was an upset winner Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) CNRA State Singles Championships in Fountain Valley, California, as she defeated 3rd seed Rhonda Rajsich, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7. The 6th seeded Amaya will play 2nd seed Maria Jose Vargas in the semi-finals later Saturday, as Vargas beat Susana Acosta, 13-11, 11-3, 11-1, in the quarters.
On the top of the draw, doubles team-mates Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas will face off in the other semi. Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player defeated Michelle Key in the quarters, 11-8, 11-5, 11-3. Salas beat Frédérique Lambert in the quarters.
Key and Lambert will have a chance to avenge their losses to Longoria and Salas as those four players will face off against each other in one of the semi-finals in LPRT doubles.
The semi-finals begin at 5 PM PDT Saturday and can be viewed via the LPRT Network. The final will be 11 AM Sunday.
LPRT State Singles
March 20-22, 2015, Fountain Valley, California
Quarterfinals (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Michelle Key, 11-8, 11-5, 11-3
4) Samantha Salas d. 5) Frédérique Lambert, 11-2, 11-6, 11-2
6) Cristina Amaya d. 3) Rhonda Rajsich, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 10) Susana Acosta, 13-11, 11-3, 11-1
Semi-finals (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria v. 4) Samantha Salas
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Cristina Amaya
Doubles - Semi-finals (seedings)
1) Rhonda Rajsich & Maria Jose Vargas v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Sofia Rascon - 7 PM
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 3) Michelle Key & Frédérique Lambert - 8 PM
Follow the bouncing ball....
On the top of the draw, doubles team-mates Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas will face off in the other semi. Longoria, the LPRT’s #1 player defeated Michelle Key in the quarters, 11-8, 11-5, 11-3. Salas beat Frédérique Lambert in the quarters.
Key and Lambert will have a chance to avenge their losses to Longoria and Salas as those four players will face off against each other in one of the semi-finals in LPRT doubles.
The semi-finals begin at 5 PM PDT Saturday and can be viewed via the LPRT Network. The final will be 11 AM Sunday.
LPRT State Singles
March 20-22, 2015, Fountain Valley, California
Quarterfinals (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Michelle Key, 11-8, 11-5, 11-3
4) Samantha Salas d. 5) Frédérique Lambert, 11-2, 11-6, 11-2
6) Cristina Amaya d. 3) Rhonda Rajsich, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 10) Susana Acosta, 13-11, 11-3, 11-1
Semi-finals (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria v. 4) Samantha Salas
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 6) Cristina Amaya
Doubles - Semi-finals (seedings)
1) Rhonda Rajsich & Maria Jose Vargas v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Sofia Rascon - 7 PM
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 3) Michelle Key & Frédérique Lambert - 8 PM
Follow the bouncing ball....
Friday, March 20, 2015
LPRT CNRA State Singles Round of 16
No upsets in the first round of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) California State Singles Championships in Fountain Valley, California Friday. Adrienne Haynes defeated Gabriella Martinez, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9, Carla Muñoz beat Roxanne Rehling, 11-0, 11-5, 11-3, and Maria Renee Rodriguez got by Cecilia Oroco.
In the Round of 16, there were two small upsets, but the top seeds got through without difficulty. LPRT #1 Paola Longoria defeated Rodriguez, 11-7, 11-5, 11-1, and LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas beat Muñoz, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3, LPRT #3 Rhonda Rajsich was also a straight game winner against Haynes, 11-1, 11-6, 11-0.
In fact, all of the Round of 16 matches were over in three straight games. The two small upsets came in the 8/9 and 7/10 matches. Ninth seed Michelle Key defeated 8th seed Da’monique Davis, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5, and 10th seed Susana Acosta beat 7th seed Cheryl Gudinas, 11-4, 11-7, 11-9.
They are also playing doubles in Fountain Valley, and in the quarterfinals of that there was one small upset as 5th seeds Cristina Amaya and Sofia Rascon defeated 4th seeds Susana Acosta and Jessica Parrilla, 15-7, 15-14. Amaya and Rascon will face top seeds Rhonda Rajsich and Maria Jose Vargas in the semi-finals Saturday.
The quarterfinals will begin at 11 AM PDT Saturday and can be viewed via the LPRT Network. The semi-finals are at 5 and 6 PM.
LPRT State Singles
March 20-22, 2015, Fountain Valley, California
Round of 16 (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-7, 11-5, 11-1
9) Michelle Key d. 8) Da'monique Davis, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5
5) Frédérique Lambert d. 12) Sheryl Lotts, 11-7, 13-11, 11-8
4) Samantha Salas d. 13) Jessica Parrilla, 11-5, 11-2, 11-0
3) Rhonda Rajsich d. 14) Adrienne Haynes, 11-1, 11-6, 11-0
6) Cristina Amaya d. 11) Sofia Rascon, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5
10) Susana Acosta d. 7) Cheryl Gudinas, 11-4, 11-7, 11-9
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 15) Carla Muñoz, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3
Quarterfinals (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Michelle Key
4) Samantha Salas v. 5) Frédérique Lambert
3) Rhonda Rajsich v. 6) Cristina Amaya
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 10) Susana Acosta
Doubles - Quarterfinals (seedings)
1) Rhonda Rajsich & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
5) Cristina Amaya & Sofia Rascon d. 4) Susana Acosta & Jessica Parrilla, 15-7, 15-14
3) Michelle Key & Frédérique Lambert d. 6) Adrienne Haynes & Sheryl Lotts, 15-5, 15-8
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 7) Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-4, 15-7
Doubles - Semi-finals (seedings)
1) Rhonda Rajsich & Maria Jose Vargas v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Sofia Rascon - 7 PM
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 3) Michelle Key & Frédérique Lambert - 8 PM
Follow the bouncing ball....
In the Round of 16, there were two small upsets, but the top seeds got through without difficulty. LPRT #1 Paola Longoria defeated Rodriguez, 11-7, 11-5, 11-1, and LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas beat Muñoz, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3, LPRT #3 Rhonda Rajsich was also a straight game winner against Haynes, 11-1, 11-6, 11-0.
In fact, all of the Round of 16 matches were over in three straight games. The two small upsets came in the 8/9 and 7/10 matches. Ninth seed Michelle Key defeated 8th seed Da’monique Davis, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5, and 10th seed Susana Acosta beat 7th seed Cheryl Gudinas, 11-4, 11-7, 11-9.
They are also playing doubles in Fountain Valley, and in the quarterfinals of that there was one small upset as 5th seeds Cristina Amaya and Sofia Rascon defeated 4th seeds Susana Acosta and Jessica Parrilla, 15-7, 15-14. Amaya and Rascon will face top seeds Rhonda Rajsich and Maria Jose Vargas in the semi-finals Saturday.
The quarterfinals will begin at 11 AM PDT Saturday and can be viewed via the LPRT Network. The semi-finals are at 5 and 6 PM.
LPRT State Singles
March 20-22, 2015, Fountain Valley, California
Round of 16 (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 11-7, 11-5, 11-1
9) Michelle Key d. 8) Da'monique Davis, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5
5) Frédérique Lambert d. 12) Sheryl Lotts, 11-7, 13-11, 11-8
4) Samantha Salas d. 13) Jessica Parrilla, 11-5, 11-2, 11-0
3) Rhonda Rajsich d. 14) Adrienne Haynes, 11-1, 11-6, 11-0
6) Cristina Amaya d. 11) Sofia Rascon, 11-5, 11-7, 11-5
10) Susana Acosta d. 7) Cheryl Gudinas, 11-4, 11-7, 11-9
2) Maria Jose Vargas d. 15) Carla Muñoz, 11-6, 11-6, 11-3
Quarterfinals (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria v. 9) Michelle Key
4) Samantha Salas v. 5) Frédérique Lambert
3) Rhonda Rajsich v. 6) Cristina Amaya
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 10) Susana Acosta
Doubles - Quarterfinals (seedings)
1) Rhonda Rajsich & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
5) Cristina Amaya & Sofia Rascon d. 4) Susana Acosta & Jessica Parrilla, 15-7, 15-14
3) Michelle Key & Frédérique Lambert d. 6) Adrienne Haynes & Sheryl Lotts, 15-5, 15-8
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 7) Gabriella Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-4, 15-7
Doubles - Semi-finals (seedings)
1) Rhonda Rajsich & Maria Jose Vargas v. 5) Cristina Amaya & Sofia Rascon - 7 PM
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 3) Michelle Key & Frédérique Lambert - 8 PM
Follow the bouncing ball....
LPRT Fountain Valley First Round
No upsets in the first round of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) California State Singles Championships in Fountain Valley, California Friday. Adrienne Haynes defeated Gabriella Martinez, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9, Carla Muñoz beat Roxanne Rehling, 11-0, 11-5, 11-3, and Maria Renee Rodriguez got by Cecilia Oroco.
In the Round of 16, Haynes will play LPRT #3 Rhonda Rajsich, Muñoz will face LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas, and Rodriguez will be up against LPRT #1 Paola Longoria.
The Round of 16 can be viewed via the LPRT Network beginning Friday at 5 PM CDT.
LPRT State Singles
March 20-22, 2015, Fountain Valley, California
Round of 32 (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 17) Cecilia Orozco
9) Michelle Key - BYE
8) Da'monique Davis - BYE
5) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
12) Sheryl Lotts
13) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
4) Samantha Salas - BYE
3) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
14) Adrienne Haynes d. 19) Gabriella Martinez, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9
6) Cristina Amaya - BYE
11) Sofia Rascon - BYE
7) Cheryl Gudinas - BYE
10) Susana Acosta - BYE
15) Carla Muñoz d. 18) Roxanne Rehling, 11-0, 11-5, 11-3
2) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
Round of 16 (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Maria Renee Rodriguez
8) Da'monique Davis v. 9) Michelle Key
5) Frédérique Lambert v. 12) Sheryl Lotts
4) Samantha Salas v. 13) Jessica Parrilla
3) Rhonda Rajsich v. 14) Adrienne Haynes
6) Cristina Amaya v. 11) Sofia Rascon
7) Cheryl Gudinas v. 10) Susana Acosta
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 15) Carla Muñoz
Follow the bouncing ball....
In the Round of 16, Haynes will play LPRT #3 Rhonda Rajsich, Muñoz will face LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas, and Rodriguez will be up against LPRT #1 Paola Longoria.
The Round of 16 can be viewed via the LPRT Network beginning Friday at 5 PM CDT.
LPRT State Singles
March 20-22, 2015, Fountain Valley, California
Round of 32 (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 17) Cecilia Orozco
9) Michelle Key - BYE
8) Da'monique Davis - BYE
5) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
12) Sheryl Lotts
13) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
4) Samantha Salas - BYE
3) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
14) Adrienne Haynes d. 19) Gabriella Martinez, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9
6) Cristina Amaya - BYE
11) Sofia Rascon - BYE
7) Cheryl Gudinas - BYE
10) Susana Acosta - BYE
15) Carla Muñoz d. 18) Roxanne Rehling, 11-0, 11-5, 11-3
2) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
Round of 16 (seedings)
1) Paola Longoria v. 16) Maria Renee Rodriguez
8) Da'monique Davis v. 9) Michelle Key
5) Frédérique Lambert v. 12) Sheryl Lotts
4) Samantha Salas v. 13) Jessica Parrilla
3) Rhonda Rajsich v. 14) Adrienne Haynes
6) Cristina Amaya v. 11) Sofia Rascon
7) Cheryl Gudinas v. 10) Susana Acosta
2) Maria Jose Vargas v. 15) Carla Muñoz
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, March 19, 2015
LPRT California State Singles - Preview
The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) has gone west for the California State Singles Championships in Fountain Valley, California that begins Friday. Nineteen players are vying for the title this weekend. LPRT #2 Maria Jose Vargas will be trying to win back to back tournaments for the first time in her career. She’s won twice on tour this season, but neither win has come versus LPRT #1 Paola Longoria, who will be trying to win her seventh title of the season in Fountain Valley.
Longoria has lost twice this season, which is twice more than she had in previous three seasons combined. One loss came to LPRT #3 Rhonda Rajsich in the final of the Stockton event in October, while the other was earlier this month in New Jersey, where LPRT #5 Frédérique Lambert beat her in the semi-finals. Vargas then got the better of Lambert in the final.
Thus, it will be interesting to see what happens this weekend. Will Longoria win again? Will Vargas win back to back events, even if she has to play Longoria in the final? Will Rajsich come through and win again, or could another player - Lambert, Samantha Salas, Cristina Amaya - make a break through and win for the first time this season? (for Lambert and Amaya, it would be a career first).
The action starts Friday morning. Matches can be viewed via the LPRT Network beginning Friday at 5 PM CDT.
LPRT California State Singles
March 20-22, 2015, Fountain Valley, California
Round of 32 (seedings) - Unofficial
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 17) Cecilia Orozco
9) Michelle Key - BYE
8) Da'monique Davis - BYE
5) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
12) Sheryl Lotts
13) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
4) Samantha Salas - BYE
3) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
14) Adrienne Haynes v. 19) Gabriella Martinez
6) Cristina Amaya - BYE
11) Sofia Rascon - BYE
7) Cheryl Gudinas - BYE
10) Susana Acosta - BYE
15) Carla Muñoz v. 18) Roxanne Rehling
2) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
Longoria has lost twice this season, which is twice more than she had in previous three seasons combined. One loss came to LPRT #3 Rhonda Rajsich in the final of the Stockton event in October, while the other was earlier this month in New Jersey, where LPRT #5 Frédérique Lambert beat her in the semi-finals. Vargas then got the better of Lambert in the final.
Thus, it will be interesting to see what happens this weekend. Will Longoria win again? Will Vargas win back to back events, even if she has to play Longoria in the final? Will Rajsich come through and win again, or could another player - Lambert, Samantha Salas, Cristina Amaya - make a break through and win for the first time this season? (for Lambert and Amaya, it would be a career first).
The action starts Friday morning. Matches can be viewed via the LPRT Network beginning Friday at 5 PM CDT.
LPRT California State Singles
March 20-22, 2015, Fountain Valley, California
Round of 32 (seedings) - Unofficial
1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Maria Renee Rodriguez v. 17) Cecilia Orozco
9) Michelle Key - BYE
8) Da'monique Davis - BYE
5) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
12) Sheryl Lotts
13) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
4) Samantha Salas - BYE
3) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
14) Adrienne Haynes v. 19) Gabriella Martinez
6) Cristina Amaya - BYE
11) Sofia Rascon - BYE
7) Cheryl Gudinas - BYE
10) Susana Acosta - BYE
15) Carla Muñoz v. 18) Roxanne Rehling
2) Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
LPRT Rankings - March 9, 2015 - Sotomayor 7th
There's only one change of note in the latest Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) rankings, and that's the rise of Veronica Sotomayor to 7th. She was 9th in the previous rankings, but has moved up two spots ahead of Cheryl Gudinas and Da'monique Davis, who are now 8th & 9th, respectively.
At the top, Paola Longoria remains #1, despite losing in the semi-finals of the New Jersey Open, and the New Jersey Open winner - Maria Jose Vargas continues to be #2.
Rhonda Rajsich, Samantha Salas, and Frédérique Lambert, who beat Longoria in New Jersey, round out the top five, at 3, 4 and 5, respectively.
US Team Qualification
The LPRT rankings are also a determining factor for US National Team qualification. Specifically, the top three Americans on the LPRT are given one year appointments to the team.
The top three Americans in the season to date are Rajsich, Michelle Key and Da'monique Davis. Notably, Cheryl Gudinas is not one of them, which means she is in danger of not making the US Team for the 2015 Pan American Games in July in Toronto.
Gudinas has been a member of every US Pan Am Games team going back to 1995, and has medalled on each occasion (racquetball was not in the 2007 Pan Am Games). She was a gold medalist in 1999 in Winnipeg, 2003 in Santo Domingo, silver medalist in Mar del Plata, Argentina in 1995 and bronze medalist four years ago in Guadalajara. That streak is in jeopardy this year.
The LPRT plays this weekend in Fountain Valley, California beginning March 20.
LPRT Rankings - March 9, 2015
Rank - Name - Country - Points
1 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 2729.00
2 Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) 1960.00
3 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1696.48
4 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 792.00
5 Frédérique Lambert (Canada) 749.50
6 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 710.50
7 Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) 493.00
8 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 490.50
9 Da'monique Davis (USA) 482.25
10 Michelle Key (USA) 473.05
11 Susana Acosta (Mexico) 433.50
12 Sofia Rascon (Mexico) 430.00
13 Sheryl Lotts (USA) 365.04
14 Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) 328.00
15 Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) 299.44
16 Adrienne Haynes (USA) 260.75
17 Carla Muñoz (Chile) 250.50
18 Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) 208.50
19 Kim Thomas (USA) 199.04
20 Aubrey Kirch (USA) 190.00
Follow the bouncing ball....
At the top, Paola Longoria remains #1, despite losing in the semi-finals of the New Jersey Open, and the New Jersey Open winner - Maria Jose Vargas continues to be #2.
Rhonda Rajsich, Samantha Salas, and Frédérique Lambert, who beat Longoria in New Jersey, round out the top five, at 3, 4 and 5, respectively.
US Team Qualification
The LPRT rankings are also a determining factor for US National Team qualification. Specifically, the top three Americans on the LPRT are given one year appointments to the team.
The top three Americans in the season to date are Rajsich, Michelle Key and Da'monique Davis. Notably, Cheryl Gudinas is not one of them, which means she is in danger of not making the US Team for the 2015 Pan American Games in July in Toronto.
Gudinas has been a member of every US Pan Am Games team going back to 1995, and has medalled on each occasion (racquetball was not in the 2007 Pan Am Games). She was a gold medalist in 1999 in Winnipeg, 2003 in Santo Domingo, silver medalist in Mar del Plata, Argentina in 1995 and bronze medalist four years ago in Guadalajara. That streak is in jeopardy this year.
The LPRT plays this weekend in Fountain Valley, California beginning March 20.
LPRT Rankings - March 9, 2015
Rank - Name - Country - Points
1 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 2729.00
2 Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) 1960.00
3 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1696.48
4 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 792.00
5 Frédérique Lambert (Canada) 749.50
6 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 710.50
7 Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) 493.00
8 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 490.50
9 Da'monique Davis (USA) 482.25
10 Michelle Key (USA) 473.05
11 Susana Acosta (Mexico) 433.50
12 Sofia Rascon (Mexico) 430.00
13 Sheryl Lotts (USA) 365.04
14 Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) 328.00
15 Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) 299.44
16 Adrienne Haynes (USA) 260.75
17 Carla Muñoz (Chile) 250.50
18 Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) 208.50
19 Kim Thomas (USA) 199.04
20 Aubrey Kirch (USA) 190.00
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, March 16, 2015
Weekend Round Up - Wins for Rojas, Green & Knoth
Marco Rojas won the Men’s Open division at the Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois by defeating Mario Mercado in the final, 15-14, 15-4. In the semi-finals, Rojas beat Filip Vesely, 15-7, 15-4, and Mercado defeated Alejandro Herrera, 15-8, 15-6.
Notably in the quarterfinals, Vesely defeated Danny Lavely, 8-15, 15-13, 11-9, and Mercadro beat Coby Iwaasa, 15-14, 15-11. Also, Mercado defeated Robert Collins, 15-6, 15-8, in the Round of 16.
Herrera and Mercado teamed up in doubles and won the Men’s Open Doubles division beating Andres Ramierez and Juan Torres in the final, 15-8, 15-3.
Kenny Green Jr won the 13th Annual Duboise Electric Racquetball Pro-Am Classic - a Tier 4 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event in Ft Smith, Arkansas. He defeated Luciano Garcia Aragon in the final. In the semi-finals, Green beat Oscar Gutierrez, and Garcia Aragon defeated John Starks.
Finally, Taylor Knoth defeated Jimmy Lowe, 15-9, 15-5, to win the 44th Annual Northwest Open in Bellingham, Washington. Knoth knocked off Greg Starodub, 15-8, 15-5, in one semi-final, and Lowe beat Jake Birnel, 14-15, 15-14, 11-2, in the other.
This weekend’s big event will be the LPRT State Singles Championships in Fountain Valley, California beginning Friday March 20.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Men’s Open Final
Marco Rojas d. Mario Mercado, 15-14, 15-4
Semi-finals
Marco Rojas d. Filip Vesely, 15-7, 15-4
Mario Mercado d. Alejandro Herrera, 15-8, 15-6
Men’s Open Doubles Final
Alejandro Herrera & Mario Mercado d. Andres Ramierez & Juan Torres, 15-8, 15-3
13th Annual Duboise Electric Racquetball Pro-Am Classic - IRT Tier 4
Ft Smith, Arkansas
Men’s Pro Final
Kenny Green Jr d. Luciano Garcia Aragon
Semi-finals
Kenny Green Jr d. Oscar Gutierrez
Luciano Garcia Aragon d. John Starks
Follow the bouncing ball….
Notably in the quarterfinals, Vesely defeated Danny Lavely, 8-15, 15-13, 11-9, and Mercadro beat Coby Iwaasa, 15-14, 15-11. Also, Mercado defeated Robert Collins, 15-6, 15-8, in the Round of 16.
Herrera and Mercado teamed up in doubles and won the Men’s Open Doubles division beating Andres Ramierez and Juan Torres in the final, 15-8, 15-3.
Kenny Green Jr won the 13th Annual Duboise Electric Racquetball Pro-Am Classic - a Tier 4 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event in Ft Smith, Arkansas. He defeated Luciano Garcia Aragon in the final. In the semi-finals, Green beat Oscar Gutierrez, and Garcia Aragon defeated John Starks.
Finally, Taylor Knoth defeated Jimmy Lowe, 15-9, 15-5, to win the 44th Annual Northwest Open in Bellingham, Washington. Knoth knocked off Greg Starodub, 15-8, 15-5, in one semi-final, and Lowe beat Jake Birnel, 14-15, 15-14, 11-2, in the other.
This weekend’s big event will be the LPRT State Singles Championships in Fountain Valley, California beginning Friday March 20.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Men’s Open Final
Marco Rojas d. Mario Mercado, 15-14, 15-4
Semi-finals
Marco Rojas d. Filip Vesely, 15-7, 15-4
Mario Mercado d. Alejandro Herrera, 15-8, 15-6
Men’s Open Doubles Final
Alejandro Herrera & Mario Mercado d. Andres Ramierez & Juan Torres, 15-8, 15-3
13th Annual Duboise Electric Racquetball Pro-Am Classic - IRT Tier 4
Ft Smith, Arkansas
Men’s Pro Final
Kenny Green Jr d. Luciano Garcia Aragon
Semi-finals
Kenny Green Jr d. Oscar Gutierrez
Luciano Garcia Aragon d. John Starks
Follow the bouncing ball….
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Waselenchuk wins IRT Shamrock Shootout
Kane Waselenchuk won the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, by defeating Rocky Carson, 11-8, 11-5, 11-3, in the final. With the win, Waselenchuk will again rise to the #1 spot in the IRT rankings, and will hold that position at season’s end, as the remaining events on the calendar will not be enough for Carson to overtake Waselenchuk.
Thus, Waselenchuk will be season end #1 for a 7th straight season and a 10th time overall. Both are IRT records.
However, the outcome was in doubt throughout game one, as Carson started well, and led game one until they were 7-7. Waselenchuk then went ahead 8-7, and although Carson tied it at 8-8, Waselenchuk prevented him from scoring any more and won the game, 11-8, when it seemed like he wasn’t going to win.
Waselenchuk seemed to take it up a notch in game two, as he hit two aces on route to a 6-1 lead. Carson called a timeout, but Waselenchuk continued to roll, extending his lead to 10-1. Carson got a few points back before Waselenchuk ended it, 11-5.
In the third game, Waselenchuk hit an ace drive serve to the left for the first point, but then Carson got three in a row to lead 3-1. After that Carson only served once more, as Waselenchuk scored eight unanswered points to take the game, 11-3, and match in three straight games.
Waselenchuk mostly hit drive serves in the match, but hit some lobs for second serves as well as drive z serves to the left side - Carson’s backhand. Those serves were often more like jams serves off the right side wall into Carson’s body.
For his part, Carson also hit drive serves throughout the match, and often went with drive z serves to the right side - Waselenchuk’s backhand.
The next IRT event will be the Long Beach Open Doubles event in Long Beach, California, April 9-11.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Final (with seeding)
2 Kane Waselenchuk d. 1 Rocky Carson, 11-8, 11-5, 11-3
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thus, Waselenchuk will be season end #1 for a 7th straight season and a 10th time overall. Both are IRT records.
However, the outcome was in doubt throughout game one, as Carson started well, and led game one until they were 7-7. Waselenchuk then went ahead 8-7, and although Carson tied it at 8-8, Waselenchuk prevented him from scoring any more and won the game, 11-8, when it seemed like he wasn’t going to win.
Waselenchuk seemed to take it up a notch in game two, as he hit two aces on route to a 6-1 lead. Carson called a timeout, but Waselenchuk continued to roll, extending his lead to 10-1. Carson got a few points back before Waselenchuk ended it, 11-5.
In the third game, Waselenchuk hit an ace drive serve to the left for the first point, but then Carson got three in a row to lead 3-1. After that Carson only served once more, as Waselenchuk scored eight unanswered points to take the game, 11-3, and match in three straight games.
Waselenchuk mostly hit drive serves in the match, but hit some lobs for second serves as well as drive z serves to the left side - Carson’s backhand. Those serves were often more like jams serves off the right side wall into Carson’s body.
For his part, Carson also hit drive serves throughout the match, and often went with drive z serves to the right side - Waselenchuk’s backhand.
The next IRT event will be the Long Beach Open Doubles event in Long Beach, California, April 9-11.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Final (with seeding)
2 Kane Waselenchuk d. 1 Rocky Carson, 11-8, 11-5, 11-3
Follow the bouncing ball….
Carson & Waselenchuk to face off in IRT Shamrock Shootout final
The final of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois will feature the #1 versus #2 players in another showdown of their long careers. This time #1 is Rocky Carson and #2 is Kane Waselenchuk, but in the semi-finals, as in the quarterfinals, it was Carson who needed more games than Waselenchuk to advance.
Carson defeated Jose Rojas in four games, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-0, while Waselenchuk beat 3rd seed Alvaro Beltran in three straight games, 11-1, 12-10, 11-2.
The final will be 7 PM CDT Saturday, and viewable via the IRT Network.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Semi-finals (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson v. 5 Jose Rojas, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10 11-0
2 Kane Waselenchuk d. 3 Alvaro Beltran, 11-1, 12-10, 11-2
Final (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson v. 2 Kane Waselenchuk - 7 PM CDT
Follow the bouncing ball….
Carson defeated Jose Rojas in four games, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10, 11-0, while Waselenchuk beat 3rd seed Alvaro Beltran in three straight games, 11-1, 12-10, 11-2.
The final will be 7 PM CDT Saturday, and viewable via the IRT Network.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Semi-finals (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson v. 5 Jose Rojas, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10 11-0
2 Kane Waselenchuk d. 3 Alvaro Beltran, 11-1, 12-10, 11-2
Final (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson v. 2 Kane Waselenchuk - 7 PM CDT
Follow the bouncing ball….
Friday, March 13, 2015
IRT Shamrock Shootout Quarterfinals
The top two seeds are through to the semi-finals at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois. IRT #2 Kane Waselenchuk won in three straight games against Marco Rojas, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6, but IRT #1 Rocky Carson needed four games to defeat Ben Croft, 12-10, 11-3, 3-11, 11-8.
Third seed Alvaro Beltran had and even tougher time with 6th seed Jansen Allen, as he was in a must win situation after Allen went up 2 games to 1. But Beltran hung tough, and pulled out game four and then went on to win game five comfortably. The final score line was Beltran defeating Allen, 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-3.
In the last quarterfinal, 5th seed Jose Rojas defeated 4th seed Daniel De La Rosa, 11-3, 11-6, 11-7. Rojas played well, but late in the match De La Rosa was clearly suffering from a lower body injury, as he wasn’t moving around the court very well.
After Rojas won game one comfortably, they were close in game two. But Rojas stepped up the pressure, especially his drive serve and took control of the game and the match.
The semi-finals will be 11 AM and Noon Saturday with the final at 7 PM CDT. All three of those matches can be viewed live via the IRT Network.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Quarterfinals (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson d. 8 Ben Croft, 12-10, 11-3, 3-11, 11-8
5 Jose Rojas d. 4 Daniel De La Rosa, 11-3, 11-6, 11-7
3 Alvaro Beltran d. 6 Jansen Allen, 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-3
2 Kane Waselenchuk d. 7 Marco Rojas, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6
Semi-finals (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson v. 5 Jose Rojas - 11 AM
2 Kane Waselenchuk v. 3 Alvaro Beltran - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
Third seed Alvaro Beltran had and even tougher time with 6th seed Jansen Allen, as he was in a must win situation after Allen went up 2 games to 1. But Beltran hung tough, and pulled out game four and then went on to win game five comfortably. The final score line was Beltran defeating Allen, 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-3.
In the last quarterfinal, 5th seed Jose Rojas defeated 4th seed Daniel De La Rosa, 11-3, 11-6, 11-7. Rojas played well, but late in the match De La Rosa was clearly suffering from a lower body injury, as he wasn’t moving around the court very well.
After Rojas won game one comfortably, they were close in game two. But Rojas stepped up the pressure, especially his drive serve and took control of the game and the match.
The semi-finals will be 11 AM and Noon Saturday with the final at 7 PM CDT. All three of those matches can be viewed live via the IRT Network.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Quarterfinals (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson d. 8 Ben Croft, 12-10, 11-3, 3-11, 11-8
5 Jose Rojas d. 4 Daniel De La Rosa, 11-3, 11-6, 11-7
3 Alvaro Beltran d. 6 Jansen Allen, 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9, 11-3
2 Kane Waselenchuk d. 7 Marco Rojas, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6
Semi-finals (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson v. 5 Jose Rojas - 11 AM
2 Kane Waselenchuk v. 3 Alvaro Beltran - Noon
Follow the bouncing ball….
IRT Shamrock Shootout Round of 16
No upsets in the Round of 16 at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, but there were two five game matches with the higher seeded players finding themselves in must win situations.
But top seed Rocky Carson was a straight game winner over 17th seed Andres Ramierez, 11-0, 11-1, 11-9, and 2nd seed Kane Waselenchuk also won in three straight games against Felipe Camacho, 11-1, 11-7, 11-1.
Fourth seed Daniel De La Rosa and Coby Iwaasa had a barn burner of a match, with Iwaasa ahead 2-1 in games before De La Rosa came back to win in five, 6-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-6, 11-1.
Jansen Allen was in tougher, as Danny Lavely went up 2-0 on him, forcing the 6th seed to win three in a row. But Allen rose to the task, winning 1-11, 3-11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-6. After four lopsided games, they were close in game five, and tied at 5-5 before Allen won six of the next seven points.
The quarterfinals will kick off at 5 PM CDT Friday, and will be available via the IRT Network.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Round of 16 (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson d. Andres Ramierez, 11-0, 11-1, 11-9
8 Ben Croft d. Charlie Pratt, 10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4
5 Jose Rojas d. Tim Landeryou, 11-1, 12-10, 11-1
4 Daniel De La Rosa d. Coby Iwaasa, 6-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-6, 11-1
3 Alvaro Beltran d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-5, 11-3, 11-7
6 Jansen Allen d. Danny Lavely, 1-11, 3-11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-6
7 Marco Rojas d. Robert Collins, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6
2 Kane Waselenchuk d. Felipe Camacho, 11-1, 11-7, 11-1
Quarterfinals (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson v. 8 Ben Croft
4 Daniel De La Rosa v. 5 Jose Rojas
3 Alvaro Beltran v. 6 Jansen Allen
2 Kane Waselenchuk v. 7 Marco Rojas
Follow the bouncing ball….
But top seed Rocky Carson was a straight game winner over 17th seed Andres Ramierez, 11-0, 11-1, 11-9, and 2nd seed Kane Waselenchuk also won in three straight games against Felipe Camacho, 11-1, 11-7, 11-1.
Fourth seed Daniel De La Rosa and Coby Iwaasa had a barn burner of a match, with Iwaasa ahead 2-1 in games before De La Rosa came back to win in five, 6-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-6, 11-1.
Jansen Allen was in tougher, as Danny Lavely went up 2-0 on him, forcing the 6th seed to win three in a row. But Allen rose to the task, winning 1-11, 3-11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-6. After four lopsided games, they were close in game five, and tied at 5-5 before Allen won six of the next seven points.
The quarterfinals will kick off at 5 PM CDT Friday, and will be available via the IRT Network.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Round of 16 (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson d. Andres Ramierez, 11-0, 11-1, 11-9
8 Ben Croft d. Charlie Pratt, 10-12, 11-6, 11-7, 11-4
5 Jose Rojas d. Tim Landeryou, 11-1, 12-10, 11-1
4 Daniel De La Rosa d. Coby Iwaasa, 6-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-6, 11-1
3 Alvaro Beltran d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-5, 11-3, 11-7
6 Jansen Allen d. Danny Lavely, 1-11, 3-11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-6
7 Marco Rojas d. Robert Collins, 11-8, 11-7, 11-6
2 Kane Waselenchuk d. Felipe Camacho, 11-1, 11-7, 11-1
Quarterfinals (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson v. 8 Ben Croft
4 Daniel De La Rosa v. 5 Jose Rojas
3 Alvaro Beltran v. 6 Jansen Allen
2 Kane Waselenchuk v. 7 Marco Rojas
Follow the bouncing ball….
Thursday, March 12, 2015
IRT Shamrock Shootout Preliminary Round Results
The preliminary rounds of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois are over, and there were no big upsets, but some close matches.
In the 16/17 seed match, 17th seed Andres Ramierez defeated 16th seed Thomas Carter, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7, and he’ll play top seed Rocky Carson in the Round of 16 on Friday.
IRT #2 Kane Waselenchuk will play Felipe Camacho in the 16s for the second tournament in a row. He defeated Camacho in three straight games yielding only seven points. Thus, Camacho is a big underdog in that match.
Alejandro Herrera, 2014 World Doubles Champion, defeated 2014 Boy’s U18 World Champion Mario Mercado, 11-7, 11-1, 10-12, 11-6, to set up another rematch in the 16s, as he’ll face Alvaro Beltran for the second consecutive tournament. Beltran was a straight game winner over Herrera in Sarasota last month.
Canadian Coby Iwaasa won his qualifying match veteran Keith Minor, 11-2, 11-2, 11-5, and will play Daniel De La Rosa on Friday.
The Round of 16 begins at 11 AM CDT Friday, so check out the IRT Network for the live action all day Friday with the 16s followed by the quarterfinals beginning at 5 PM.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Preliminary Round 1
Thomas Carter d. Juan Martinez III, 6-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-8
Andres Ramierez d. Juan Torres, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6
Brian Simpson d. Jorge Ortiz, 12-10, 11-8, 11-2
Richard Berich d. John Scott, 11-6, 5-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-2
Keith Minor d. Set Cubillos, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6
Mario Mercado d. Zach Archer, 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-0
Clint Hickman d. Brian Pineda, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4
Filip Vesely d. Eugene Coyle, 11-4, 12-10, 11-1
Juan Herrera d. Kyle Ulliman, 11-2, 11-5, 11-8
Preliminary Round 2
Q8: Andres Ramierez d. Thomas Carter, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7
Q1: Charlie Pratt d. Brian Simpson, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8
Q4: Tim Landeryou d. Richard Berich, 11-3, 11-8, 7-11, 11-0
Q5: Coby Iwaasa d. Keith Minor, 11-2, 11-2, 11-5
Q6: Alejandro Herrera d. Mario Mercado, 11-7, 11-1, 10-12, 11-6
Q3: Danny Lavely d. Clint Hickman, 11-1, 11-2, 11-1
Q2: Robert Collins d. Filip Vesely, 11-3, 11-5, 5-11, 11-3
Q7: Felipe Camacho d. Juan Herrera, 1-11, 11-4, 1-11, 12-10, 11-3
Main Draw of 16 (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson v. Andres Ramierez - Noon
8 Ben Croft v. Charlie Pratt - Noon
5 Jose Rojas v. Tim Landeryou - 2 PM
4 Daniel De La Rosa v. Coby Iwaasa - 2 PM
3 Alvaro Beltran v. Alejandro Herrera - 1 PM
6 Jansen Allen v. Danny Lavely - 1 PM
7 Marco Rojas v. Robert Collins - 11 AM
2 Kane Waselenchuk v. Felipe Camacho - 11 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
In the 16/17 seed match, 17th seed Andres Ramierez defeated 16th seed Thomas Carter, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7, and he’ll play top seed Rocky Carson in the Round of 16 on Friday.
IRT #2 Kane Waselenchuk will play Felipe Camacho in the 16s for the second tournament in a row. He defeated Camacho in three straight games yielding only seven points. Thus, Camacho is a big underdog in that match.
Alejandro Herrera, 2014 World Doubles Champion, defeated 2014 Boy’s U18 World Champion Mario Mercado, 11-7, 11-1, 10-12, 11-6, to set up another rematch in the 16s, as he’ll face Alvaro Beltran for the second consecutive tournament. Beltran was a straight game winner over Herrera in Sarasota last month.
Canadian Coby Iwaasa won his qualifying match veteran Keith Minor, 11-2, 11-2, 11-5, and will play Daniel De La Rosa on Friday.
The Round of 16 begins at 11 AM CDT Friday, so check out the IRT Network for the live action all day Friday with the 16s followed by the quarterfinals beginning at 5 PM.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Preliminary Round 1
Thomas Carter d. Juan Martinez III, 6-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-8
Andres Ramierez d. Juan Torres, 11-9, 11-8, 11-6
Brian Simpson d. Jorge Ortiz, 12-10, 11-8, 11-2
Richard Berich d. John Scott, 11-6, 5-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-2
Keith Minor d. Set Cubillos, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6
Mario Mercado d. Zach Archer, 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-0
Clint Hickman d. Brian Pineda, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4
Filip Vesely d. Eugene Coyle, 11-4, 12-10, 11-1
Juan Herrera d. Kyle Ulliman, 11-2, 11-5, 11-8
Preliminary Round 2
Q8: Andres Ramierez d. Thomas Carter, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7
Q1: Charlie Pratt d. Brian Simpson, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8
Q4: Tim Landeryou d. Richard Berich, 11-3, 11-8, 7-11, 11-0
Q5: Coby Iwaasa d. Keith Minor, 11-2, 11-2, 11-5
Q6: Alejandro Herrera d. Mario Mercado, 11-7, 11-1, 10-12, 11-6
Q3: Danny Lavely d. Clint Hickman, 11-1, 11-2, 11-1
Q2: Robert Collins d. Filip Vesely, 11-3, 11-5, 5-11, 11-3
Q7: Felipe Camacho d. Juan Herrera, 1-11, 11-4, 1-11, 12-10, 11-3
Main Draw of 16 (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson v. Andres Ramierez - Noon
8 Ben Croft v. Charlie Pratt - Noon
5 Jose Rojas v. Tim Landeryou - 2 PM
4 Daniel De La Rosa v. Coby Iwaasa - 2 PM
3 Alvaro Beltran v. Alejandro Herrera - 1 PM
6 Jansen Allen v. Danny Lavely - 1 PM
7 Marco Rojas v. Robert Collins - 11 AM
2 Kane Waselenchuk v. Felipe Camacho - 11 AM
Follow the bouncing ball….
IRT Shamrock Shootout Preview
Illinois hosts the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) for the first time since 2009, when they brought the portable court to Navy Pier. In that event, Kane Waselenchuk defeated Rocky Carson in the final, and if the bookmakers were handicapping this weekend’s Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, they would likely predict the same finalists and outcome.
Waselenchuk remains in pursuit of the #1 ranking at season’s end, yet remains 2nd behind Carson. Waselenchuk’s won six times this season with Carson winning three times (Daniel De La Rosa's won once). In the last IRT event, they met in one of the best played finals in recent times. Carson was excellent, yet Waselenchuk still prevailed in three straight games.
Carson will have to be that good again if he’s going to defeat Waselenchuk. However, they will both have significant challengers before the anticipated final. Carson will likely play Ben Croft in the quarterfinals and either De La Rosa or Jose Rojas in the semi-finals, while Waselenchuk will likely play Alvaro Beltran in the semi-finals, who took a game off him in Florida and really should have been up 2-0, as Beltran had a large lead in game one also, and won game two.
Yet Waselenchuk won, because that’s what he does. He wins.
In recent years, the other players have raised their games in response to Waselenchuk’s challenge, and they will have to continue to do so if they are to stop him from winning.
The Field
Thirty three players are in Lombard, Illinois for the Shamrock Shootout, so 32 of them are trying to prevent Waselenchuk from winning his seventh title of the season.
Some of the early match ups to look forward to are 2014 Boy’s U18 World Champion Mario Mercado versus 2014 World Doubles Champion Alejandro Herrera, although Mercado has to get past Zach Archer first.
Also, if young Canadian Coby Iwaasa wins his qualifying match against veteran Keith Minor or Colombian junior Set Cubillos, then he’ll play Daniel De La Rosa, which should be a great match.
The matches kick off Thursday afternoon with the Round of 16 beginning Friday morning. The 16s will be on the IRT Network, and check out their website for Thursday coverage.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Preliminary Round 1
Thomas Carter v. Juan Martinez III
Andres Ramierez v. Juan Torres
Jorge Ortiz v. Brian Simpson
John Scott v. Richard Berich
Keith Minor v. Set Cubillos
Zach Archer v. Mario Mercado
Brian Pineda v. Clint Hickman
Filip Vesely v. Eugene Coyle
Juan Herrera v. Kyle Ulliman
Preliminary Round 2
Q8: Thomas Carter or Juan Martinez III v. Andres Ramierez or Juan Torres
Q1: Charlie Pratt v. Jorge Ortiz or Brian Simpson
Q4: Tim Landeryou v. John Scott or Richard Berich
Q5: Coby Iwaasa v. Keith Minor or Set Cubillos
Q6: Alejandro Herrera v. Zach Archer or Mario Mercado
Q3: Danny Lavely v. Brian Pineda or Clint Hickman
Q2: Robert Collins v. Filip Vesely or Eugene Coyle
Q7: Felipe Camacho v. Juan Herrera or Kyle Ulliman
Main Draw of 16 (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson v. Q8
8 Ben Croft v. Q1
5 Jose Rojas v. Q4
4 Daniel De La Rosa v. Q5
3 Alvaro Beltran v. Q6
6 Jansen Allen v. Q3
7 Marco Rojas v. Q2
2 Kane Waselenchuk v. Q7
Follow the bouncing ball….
Waselenchuk remains in pursuit of the #1 ranking at season’s end, yet remains 2nd behind Carson. Waselenchuk’s won six times this season with Carson winning three times (Daniel De La Rosa's won once). In the last IRT event, they met in one of the best played finals in recent times. Carson was excellent, yet Waselenchuk still prevailed in three straight games.
Carson will have to be that good again if he’s going to defeat Waselenchuk. However, they will both have significant challengers before the anticipated final. Carson will likely play Ben Croft in the quarterfinals and either De La Rosa or Jose Rojas in the semi-finals, while Waselenchuk will likely play Alvaro Beltran in the semi-finals, who took a game off him in Florida and really should have been up 2-0, as Beltran had a large lead in game one also, and won game two.
Yet Waselenchuk won, because that’s what he does. He wins.
In recent years, the other players have raised their games in response to Waselenchuk’s challenge, and they will have to continue to do so if they are to stop him from winning.
The Field
Thirty three players are in Lombard, Illinois for the Shamrock Shootout, so 32 of them are trying to prevent Waselenchuk from winning his seventh title of the season.
Some of the early match ups to look forward to are 2014 Boy’s U18 World Champion Mario Mercado versus 2014 World Doubles Champion Alejandro Herrera, although Mercado has to get past Zach Archer first.
Also, if young Canadian Coby Iwaasa wins his qualifying match against veteran Keith Minor or Colombian junior Set Cubillos, then he’ll play Daniel De La Rosa, which should be a great match.
The matches kick off Thursday afternoon with the Round of 16 beginning Friday morning. The 16s will be on the IRT Network, and check out their website for Thursday coverage.
2015 Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois
Preliminary Round 1
Thomas Carter v. Juan Martinez III
Andres Ramierez v. Juan Torres
Jorge Ortiz v. Brian Simpson
John Scott v. Richard Berich
Keith Minor v. Set Cubillos
Zach Archer v. Mario Mercado
Brian Pineda v. Clint Hickman
Filip Vesely v. Eugene Coyle
Juan Herrera v. Kyle Ulliman
Preliminary Round 2
Q8: Thomas Carter or Juan Martinez III v. Andres Ramierez or Juan Torres
Q1: Charlie Pratt v. Jorge Ortiz or Brian Simpson
Q4: Tim Landeryou v. John Scott or Richard Berich
Q5: Coby Iwaasa v. Keith Minor or Set Cubillos
Q6: Alejandro Herrera v. Zach Archer or Mario Mercado
Q3: Danny Lavely v. Brian Pineda or Clint Hickman
Q2: Robert Collins v. Filip Vesely or Eugene Coyle
Q7: Felipe Camacho v. Juan Herrera or Kyle Ulliman
Main Draw of 16 (with seeding)
1 Rocky Carson v. Q8
8 Ben Croft v. Q1
5 Jose Rojas v. Q4
4 Daniel De La Rosa v. Q5
3 Alvaro Beltran v. Q6
6 Jansen Allen v. Q3
7 Marco Rojas v. Q2
2 Kane Waselenchuk v. Q7
Follow the bouncing ball….
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
IRT Rankings - Carson at #1
What a difference a week can make. Kane Waselenchuk, winner of six International Racquetball Tour (IRT) events this season, was the #1 IRT player last week, but this week, he’s #2.
How?
The Florida IRT event concluded March 9 last year, but this year it ended February 28. Thus, Waselenchuk, who won last year’s Florida IRT event, had one more tournament victory in the twelve months ending last Monday than he has in the 12 months ending this past Monday.
The change puts Rocky Carson back into the #1 position. They are that close at the top. The main difference this means for this weekend’s Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois is that Carson will be on the top of the draw, along with IRT #4 Daniel De La Rosa, while Waselenchuk will be on the bottom of the draw with IRT #3 Alvaro Beltran, one of the two men to have defeated Waselenchuk in a completed match over the last seven seasons.
Waselenchuk would probably prefer to be on the top of the draw than the bottom. He’s certainly prefer to be the #1 player than the #2 player, and another win this weekend should put him back on top.
The other change in the top 10 is that Jansen Allen has moved up to 7th ahead of Marco Rojas. The only other changes in the top 20 are in the final six players, as Robert Collins moves into 15th ahead of Danny Lavely, who’s now 16th.
Also, Dauyong Kwon is up to 19th with Coby Iwaasa at #20, which is his first time in the top 20.
The next IRT event - the Shamrock Shootout - begins Thursday in Lombard, Illinois.
IRT Rankings - March 9, 2015
Rank - Player - Country - Points
1 Rocky CARSON (USA) 3742
2 Kane WASELENCHUK (Canada) 3670
3 Alvaro BELTRAN (Mexico) 2871
4 Daniel DE LA ROSA (Mexico) 2273
5 Ben CROFT (USA) 2232
6 Jose ROJAS (USA) 2154
7 Jansen ALLEN (USA) 1579
8 Marco ROJAS (USA) 1488
9 Charlie PRATT (USA) 1389
10 Tony CARSON (USA) 1158
11 Alejandro LANDA (Mexico) 1135
12 Chris CROWTHER (USA) 1010
13 Jose DIAZ (USA) 871
14 Matthew MAJXNER (USA) 799
15 Robert COLLINS (USA) 615
16 Danny LAVELY (USA) 594
17 Tim LANDERYOU (Canada) 527
18 Cliff SWAIN (USA) 513
19 Dauyong KWON (South Korea) 374
20 Coby IWAASA (Canada) 364
Follow the bouncing ball....
How?
The Florida IRT event concluded March 9 last year, but this year it ended February 28. Thus, Waselenchuk, who won last year’s Florida IRT event, had one more tournament victory in the twelve months ending last Monday than he has in the 12 months ending this past Monday.
The change puts Rocky Carson back into the #1 position. They are that close at the top. The main difference this means for this weekend’s Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois is that Carson will be on the top of the draw, along with IRT #4 Daniel De La Rosa, while Waselenchuk will be on the bottom of the draw with IRT #3 Alvaro Beltran, one of the two men to have defeated Waselenchuk in a completed match over the last seven seasons.
Waselenchuk would probably prefer to be on the top of the draw than the bottom. He’s certainly prefer to be the #1 player than the #2 player, and another win this weekend should put him back on top.
The other change in the top 10 is that Jansen Allen has moved up to 7th ahead of Marco Rojas. The only other changes in the top 20 are in the final six players, as Robert Collins moves into 15th ahead of Danny Lavely, who’s now 16th.
Also, Dauyong Kwon is up to 19th with Coby Iwaasa at #20, which is his first time in the top 20.
The next IRT event - the Shamrock Shootout - begins Thursday in Lombard, Illinois.
IRT Rankings - March 9, 2015
Rank - Player - Country - Points
1 Rocky CARSON (USA) 3742
2 Kane WASELENCHUK (Canada) 3670
3 Alvaro BELTRAN (Mexico) 2871
4 Daniel DE LA ROSA (Mexico) 2273
5 Ben CROFT (USA) 2232
6 Jose ROJAS (USA) 2154
7 Jansen ALLEN (USA) 1579
8 Marco ROJAS (USA) 1488
9 Charlie PRATT (USA) 1389
10 Tony CARSON (USA) 1158
11 Alejandro LANDA (Mexico) 1135
12 Chris CROWTHER (USA) 1010
13 Jose DIAZ (USA) 871
14 Matthew MAJXNER (USA) 799
15 Robert COLLINS (USA) 615
16 Danny LAVELY (USA) 594
17 Tim LANDERYOU (Canada) 527
18 Cliff SWAIN (USA) 513
19 Dauyong KWON (South Korea) 374
20 Coby IWAASA (Canada) 364
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, March 9, 2015
Weekend Round Up - Croft, Sada, Acosta win
Ben Croft won the 9th Annual Carl Myers Memorial in Garden City, Kansas, as he beat Rocky Carson in the final, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4. Winning the Tier 3 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event bodes well for Croft, who’ll return to his home state to play in the Tier 1 IRT 30th Annual Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois this coming weekend.
In the semi-finals, Croft defeated Alvaro Beltran, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9, while Carson needed five games to fend off Jose Rojas, 11-8, 11-5, 6-11, 2-11, 11-7.
In Corpus Christi, Texas, Eddie Sada won the Corpus Christi Athletic Club Pro-Am - a Tier 5 IRT event - by defeating John Rhodes in the final, 11-2, 11-5, 11-2. In the semis, Sada beat Ramon Florez, 11-3, 11-1, 11-4, and Rhodes defeated Juan Esparza, 11-3, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4.
Susana Acosta won the Women’s Open division at the New Jersey Open in Warren, New Jersey on the weekend. She defeated Da’monique Davis in the final, 15-11, 15-11. Acosta beat Carla Muñoz in the semi-finals, 8-15, 15-14, 11-8, while Davis defeated Melania Sauma, 15-7, 15-7.
9th Annual Carl Myers Memorial - Garden City, Kansas
Final
Ben Croft d. Rocky Carson, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4
Semi-finals
Carson d. Jose Rojas, 11-8, 11-5, 6-11, 2-11, 11-7
Croft d. Alvaro Beltran, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9
Corpus Christi Athletic Club Pro-Am - Corpus Christi, Texas
Final
Eddie Sada d. John Rhodes, 11-2, 11-5, 11-2
Semi-finals
Eddie Sada d. Ramon Florez, 11-3, 11-1, 11-4
John Rhodes d. Juan Esparza, 11-3, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4
New Jersey Open, Warren, New Jersey
Women’s Open Final
Susana Acosta d. Da’monique Davis, 15-11, 15-11
Semi-finals
Susana Acosta d. Carla Muñoz, 8-15, 15-14, 11-8
Da’monique Davis d. Melania Sauma, 15-7, 15-7
Quarterfinals
Susana Acosta d. Naomi Sasso, 15-10, 15-0
Carla Muñoz d. Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-4, 9-15, 11-3
Melania Sauma d. Jessica Parrilla, forfeit
Da’monique Davis d. Michèle Morissette, 15-11, 15-10
Follow the bouncing ball....
In the semi-finals, Croft defeated Alvaro Beltran, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9, while Carson needed five games to fend off Jose Rojas, 11-8, 11-5, 6-11, 2-11, 11-7.
In Corpus Christi, Texas, Eddie Sada won the Corpus Christi Athletic Club Pro-Am - a Tier 5 IRT event - by defeating John Rhodes in the final, 11-2, 11-5, 11-2. In the semis, Sada beat Ramon Florez, 11-3, 11-1, 11-4, and Rhodes defeated Juan Esparza, 11-3, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4.
Susana Acosta won the Women’s Open division at the New Jersey Open in Warren, New Jersey on the weekend. She defeated Da’monique Davis in the final, 15-11, 15-11. Acosta beat Carla Muñoz in the semi-finals, 8-15, 15-14, 11-8, while Davis defeated Melania Sauma, 15-7, 15-7.
9th Annual Carl Myers Memorial - Garden City, Kansas
Final
Ben Croft d. Rocky Carson, 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4
Semi-finals
Carson d. Jose Rojas, 11-8, 11-5, 6-11, 2-11, 11-7
Croft d. Alvaro Beltran, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9
Corpus Christi Athletic Club Pro-Am - Corpus Christi, Texas
Final
Eddie Sada d. John Rhodes, 11-2, 11-5, 11-2
Semi-finals
Eddie Sada d. Ramon Florez, 11-3, 11-1, 11-4
John Rhodes d. Juan Esparza, 11-3, 7-11, 11-3, 11-4
New Jersey Open, Warren, New Jersey
Women’s Open Final
Susana Acosta d. Da’monique Davis, 15-11, 15-11
Semi-finals
Susana Acosta d. Carla Muñoz, 8-15, 15-14, 11-8
Da’monique Davis d. Melania Sauma, 15-7, 15-7
Quarterfinals
Susana Acosta d. Naomi Sasso, 15-10, 15-0
Carla Muñoz d. Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-4, 9-15, 11-3
Melania Sauma d. Jessica Parrilla, forfeit
Da’monique Davis d. Michèle Morissette, 15-11, 15-10
Follow the bouncing ball....
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