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….