35th Annual KWM Gutterman IRT Shamrock Shootout - Preview

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) returns to action this weekend with the 35th Annual IRT KWM Gutterman Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois. It’s been over a month since the players were last in action, when IRT Kane Waselenchuk won his 6th title of the season, defeating Mario Mercado in the final. Both of Waselenchuk and Mercado are in the field of 39 players. Mercado is also of of the 20 players in the IRT doubles draw with partner Eduardo Garay.

Ten of the top 11 IRT players will be in Lombard, so it’s a strong field. Waselenchuk, racquetball’s unicorn, will be the one to beat. Alvaro Beltran, the last person to defeat Waselenchuk, is seeded 4th, so could have a chance to do so in the semi-finals. IRT #2 Alejandro Landa and #3 Rocky Carson are on path to face off in the other semi.

Who could upset that apple cart? IRT #5 Andre Parrilla and 8th seed Eduardo Portillo - who coincidentally play doubles together - are two players who are tough to be when they are rolling. Also, Daniel De La Rosa, seeded 6th, but the winner in Sioux Falls in January, has played well this season, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the final on Sunday.

In doubles, Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa are the team to beat with Landa and Samuel Murray as the 2nd seeds, Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya are the 3rd seeds, and Parrilla and Portillo the 4th seeds.

Shamrock Shootout action can be seen via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. There will be two rounds of matches on Thursday starting at 2 PM. The Round of 32 begins Friday morning at 10 and 11 PM with the Round of 16 at 5 and 6 PM. The quarterfinals will be Saturday from 10 & 11 AM with the semi-finals at 5:30 and 6:30 PM. The singles final will be 1 PM Sunday. The doubles Round of 16 and quarterfinals are Friday with the semi-finals Saturday afternoon at 1 and 2 PM and the final Saturday night at 8:30 PM. All times Central.

35th Annual IRT KWM Gutterman Shamrock Shootout, March 12-15, 2020
Lombard, Illinois

Round of 128 - Thursday

Andres Acuña - BYE
Javier Martinez v. Zachary Williams - 2 PM

Anthony Martin - BYE
Jaime Martell - BYE

Scott McClellan - BYE
Erick Cuevas Fernandez v. Anthony Cosmano - 2 PM

Ferd Samson v. Jeremy Dixon - 3 PM
Sam Bredenbeck - BYE

Robert Collins - BYE
Christian Wer v. Victor Migilore - 2 PM

Juan Salvatierra v. Blase Zera - 3 PM
Justus Benson - BYE

Kyle Ulliman - BYE
Edwin Galicia v. Zach Pellowski - 3 PM

Jim Douglas v. Nadeem Sarifuddin - 3 PM
Adam Manilla - BYE

Round of 64 - Thursday

Q1 - Andres Acuña v. Javier Martinez or Zachary Williams - 5 PM
Q8 - Anthony Martin v. Jaime Martell - 5 PM

Q5 - Scott McClellan v. Erick Cuevas Fernandez or Anthony Cosmano - 5 PM
Q4 - Sam Bredenbeck v. Ferd Samson v. Jeremy Dixon - 6 PM

Q3 - Robert Collins v. Christian Wer or Victor Migilore - 5 PM
Q6 - Justus Benson v. Juan Salvatierra or Blase Zera - 6 PM

Q7 - Kyle Ulliman v. Edwin Galicia or Zach Pellowski - 6 PM
Q2 - Adam Manilla v. Jim Douglas v. Nadeem Sarifuddin - 6 PM

Round of 32 - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk - BYE
16) Sebastian Fernandez v. Q1 - 10 AM

9) Mario Mercado v. Q8 - 10 AM
8) Eduardo Portillo - BYE

5) Andree Parrilla - BYE
12) Gerardo Franco v. Q5 - 10 AM

13) Thomas Carter v. Q4 - 10 AM
4) Alvaro Beltran - BYE

3) Rocky Carson - BYE
14) Eduardo Garay v. Q3 - 11 AM

11) Jake Bredenbeck v. Q6 - 11 AM
6) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE

7) Samuel Murray - BYE
10) Rodrigo Montoya v. Q7 - 11 AM

15) Javier Mar v. Q2 - 11 AM
2) Alejandro Landa - BYE

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alvaro Beltran & Daniel De La Rosa - BYE
8) Justus Benson & Robert Collins v. 9) Juan Salvatierra & Christian Wer - 2 PM

5) Eduardo Garay & Mario Mercado - BYE
4) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo - BYE

3) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
6) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE

7) Andres Acuña & Adam Manilla v. 10) Edwin Galicia & Javier Martinez - 3 PM
2) Alejandro Landa & Samuel Murray - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….