2020 IRT Lewis Drug Pro-Am Preview

Round 2 of 3 back to back to back weekends on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) sees players make the trip to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for one of the longest running racquetball tournaments: the Lewis Drug Pro-Am now in its 42nd year. The Lewis Drug event is one of the best supported IRT events, and with no fewer than 27 of the top 32 IRT players - and 8 of the top 9 - in South Dakota, there are sure to be some great matches. But most notable in his absence is IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk, who misses the event due to illness.

Rocky Carson, the IRT’s #3 player, makes his return to the tour after missing last weekend’s Longhorn Open in Austin, Texas, as he was still recovering from the knee surgery he had last month. Carson is one of the two players who have won an IRT event this season other than Waselenchuk. The other is IRT #2 Alejandro Landa, who is the top seed this weekend in Waselenchuk’s absence.

Speaking of injuries, Conrrado Moscoso picked up an injury during his quarterfinal match with Waselenchuk last weekend in Austin, and it looked fairly serious. Moscoso’s in the Sioux Falls field, but we’re not sure how fit he’ll be. We hope he’s fit, especially as he’s slated to play doubles with Charlie Pratt, which is an interesting pairing. Adding to the interest, they will play Moscoso’s Bolivian countrymen Carlos Keller and Kadim Carrasco in their first match.

Sioux Falls has been a good venue for Landa - it’s where he won his 1st IRT event, as well as Daniel De La Rosa, who’s been in the Sioux Falls finals three years running, winning in 2017 and being runner up the last two seasons (to Landa in 2018 and Waselenchuk last year). De La Rosa is coming off a great showing last weekend in Austin, where he finished 2nd to Waselenchuk.

They will be two of the players to watch this weekend, as will Adam Manilla, who’ll try to capture lightning in a bottle like he did in Austin with his 1st semi-final appearance. Manilla had only been in the quarters three times (over 19 events in the last three seasons) before last weekend. Manilla and Landa are on track to play each other in the Round of 16, so even though Landa is top seed, his route to a 2nd Lewis Drug title won’t be easy.

Look for the Lewis Drug action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. There will be two rounds of matches Thursday starting at noon. The Round of 32 begins Friday morning at 10 and 11 AM with the Round of 16 at 4 and 5 PM. The quarterfinals will be Saturday at 10 and 11 AM with the semi-finals at 5 and 6 PM, and the final at 11 AM Sunday. Doubles will be Thursday night (Round of 16), Friday night (quarterfinals), Saturday afternoon (semi-finals) and Sunday (final at noon). All times Central.

2020 IRT Lewis Drug Pro-Am, January 23-26, 2020
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Qualifying Round 1 - Thursday

Sebastian Fernandez - BYE
Tony Carson v. Lee Meinerz - 1 PM

Kadim Carrasco - BYE
Jansen Allen - BYE

Felipe Camacho - BYE
Sam Bredenbeck - BYE

Hiroshi Shimizu v. Travis Mettenbrink - 1 PM
Javier Estrada - BYE

Javier Mar - BYE
Anthony Martin v. Lee Connell - Noon

Charles Pratt - BYE
Alan Natera - BYE

Set Cubillos - BYE
Scott McClellan - BYE

Andrés Gómez v. Tim Landeryou - Noon
Robert Collins - BYE

Qualifying Round 2 - Thursday

Q1 - Sebastian Fernandez v. Tony Carson or Lee Meinerz - 4 PM
Q8 - Jansen Allen v. Kadim Carrasco - 4 PM

Q5 - Felipe Camacho v. Sam Bredenbeck - 4 PM
Q4 - Javier Estrada v. Hiroshi Shimizu or Travis Mettenbrink - 4 PM

Q3 - Javier Mar v. Anthony Martin or Lee Connell - 3 PM
Q6 - Charles Pratt v. Alan Natera - 3 PM

Q7 - Set Cubillos v. Scott McClellan - 3 PM
Q2 - Robert Collins v. Andrés Gómez or Tim Landeryou - 3 PM

Round of 32 - Friday

1) Alejandro Landa - BYE
16) Adam Manilla v. Q1 - 11 AM

9) Jake Bredenbeck v. Q8 - 11 AM
8) Samuel Murray - BYE

5) Eduardo Portillo - BYE
12) Carlos Keller v. Q5 - 11 AM

13) Thomas Carter v. Q4 - 11 AM
4) Alvaro Beltran - BYE

3) Andree Parrilla - BYE
14) Andres Acuña v. Q3 - 10 AM

11) Mario Mercado v. Q6 - 10 AM
6) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

7) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
10) Rodrigo Montoya v. Q7 - 10 AM

15) Gerardo Franco v. Q2 - 10 AM
2) Rocky Carson - BYE

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
8) Kadim Carrasco & Carlos Keller v. 9) Conrrado Moscoso & Charlie Pratt - 8 PM

5) Andree Parrilla & 6) Eduardo Portillo v. 12) Lee Connell & Tim Landeryou - 8 PM
4) Adam Manilla & Mario Mercado - BYE

3) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
6) Andres Acuña & Felipe Camacho v. 11) Javier Estrada & Alan Natera - 7 PM

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 10) Jansen Allen & Tony Carson 7 PM
2) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….