Weekend Round Up - Wins for Acuña & Manilla

Andres Acuña won Men’s Open on the weekend at the 35th Annual KWM Gutterman IRT Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois. He defeated Sebastian Fernandez, 15-11, 15-13, in what was a replay of their match in the Round of 32 of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) draw on Friday. Fernandez won the IRT match, so Acuña's win was a measure of revenge for that loss.

In the semi-finals, Acuña beat Mario Mercado, 15-2, 15-6, and Fernandez defeated Gerardo Franco, 15-9, 15-3.

Erika Manilla won the Women’s Open division at the Shamrock Shootout, as she defeated Melania Sauma, 15-9, 15-8. Manilla got to the final with a win over Erin Slutzky, 15-6, 15-5, in the semi-finals, and Sauma beat Marie Gomar, 15-1, 15-11.

COVID-19 and Racquetball

We were surprised the Shamrock Shootout was not cancelled, given the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation is changing day by day if not hour by hour, and it seems there will be a greater clampdown in the USA regarding people movement and gatherings. Thus, it’s unclear when another large tournament will happen.

When there’s a pandemic going on, and everyone is shutting their businesses down or making accommodations for the pandemic, but you’re going about your business as if everything is normal, you need to ask yourself “who’s the crazy one?” You? Or everyone else?

Things can get crazy on a racquetball court, but they should not get crazy off the court.

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

Men’s Open Final

3) Andres Acuña d. 1) Sebastian Fernandez, 15-11, 15-13

Semi-finals

1) Sebastian Fernandez d. 4) Gerardo Franco, 15-9, 15-3
3) Andres Acuña d. 2) Mario Mercado, 15-2, 15-6

Quarterfinals

1) Sebastian Fernandez d. 9) Edwin Galicia, 15-8, 15-8
4) Gerardo Franco d. 5) Jaime Martell, 15-9, 15-5

3) Andres Acuña d. 6) Robert Collins, 15-2, 9-15, 11-5
2) Mario Mercado d. 7) Kyle Ulliman, 12-15, 15-11, 11-4

Women’s Open Final

1) Erika Manilla d. 3) Melania Sauma, 15-9, 15-8

Semi-finals

1) Erika Manilla d. 5) Erin Slutzky, 15-6, 15-5
3) Melania Sauma d. 2) Marie Gomar, 15-1, 15-11

Follow the bouncing ball….