Thursday was quarterfinal day at the 33rd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, which was an opportunity to get on the podium: i.e., reach the semi-finals. Let’s high-light some players who will be on the podium in Guatemala.
As expected, Bolivian Angelica Barrios has made the podium in Girls U21, but she needed a tie-breaker to do so, as Argentina’s Martina Katz fought back from 0-2 down to force game 5 only to fall a little bit short with the final score: 11-5, 11-3, 11-13, 9-11, 11-4. Barrios will face Costa Rican Maricruz Ortiz in the semi-finals, as Ortiz was a straight game winner over American Annie Roberts, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7.
Mexican Erick Trujillo’s win over Bolivian Hector Barrios, 11-2, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6, is an upset by the seedings, as Trujillo is the 7th seed and Barrios 2nd. But Trujillo was the U18 World Junior Champion last year, so he’s proven himself on this stage. In the semi-finals, Trujillo will play Ecuador’s Josue Bermeo, who defeated his countryman Pablo Vera, 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-7.
The highest seed to win in the quarters on Thursday was American Ava Kaiser, who as the 12th seed in Girls U16 upset 4th seed Natalia Mendez of Bolivia, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-3. She’ll take on the top seed Mexican Yanna Salazar in the semi-finals on Friday, as Salazar defeated 8th seed Anna Paul Augilar Salvatierra of Guatemala, 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 12-10.
There’s a possibility of an all USA final in Girls U16, as on the other side of the draw, Kaiser’s team-mate Naomi Ros defeated Mexican Cynthia Gutierrez, 11-8, 11-3, 11-7, 11-7, in what was also an upset, as Ros was seeded 6th and Gutierrez 3rd. Ros will play 2nd seed Krystin Salinas Vasquez of Bolivia in the semis, as Vasquez beat 10th seed Ofelia Wilscam of Canada, 11-5, 11-4, 11-3.
Medalists
As the semi-finalists (or finalists) have all been determined, let’s count them up by country for the three World Cup divisions: U16, U18 and U21.
Country - Boys Singles - Girls Singles - Sum
Mexico - 5 - 4 - 9
Bolivia - 3 - 3 - 6
USA - 0 - 3 - 3
Chile - 1 - 1 - 2
Argentina - 1 - 0 - 1
Costa Rica - 0 - 1 - 1
Ecuador - 1 - 0 - 1
Guatemala - 1 - 0 - 1
Country - Boys Doubles - Girls Doubles - Mixed - Sum
Mexico - 3 - 3 - 3 - 9*
Bolivia - 3 - 2 - 3 - 8
USA - 1 - 3 - 1 - 5
Costa Rica - 1 - 3 - 0 - 4
Guatemala - 1 - 1 - 2 - 4
Argentina - 1 - 0 - 1 - 2
Canada - 1 - 0 - 1 - 2
Chile - 1 - 0 - 0 - 1
Ecuador - 0 - 0 - 1 - 1
Note: 9 is the maximum possible number of medalists here, as there are 3 age divisions for three different doubles teams: Boys, Girls and Mixed. The maximum possible in singles is 12: both singles players making the semi-finals in both boys and girls competitions across all three age categories (2 x 2 x 3 = 12).
This is evidence that Mexico and Bolivia are the leading racquetball countries. Other countries have some strengths, e.g., the US and Costa Rican girls are strong (6.5 of the 8 US medalists are girls (0.5 for the mixed division) & all the Costa Rican medalists will be girls), but besides them there’s not a lot of medalists outside of Mexico and Bolivia.
The live streaming of matches from Guatemala, so check out the IRF YouTube channel or the IRF Facebook page for the action.
33rd IRF World Junior Championships
December 3-10 - Guatemala City, Guatemala
Girls U21 Singles - Medal Round
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Shane Diaz (USA) d. 9) Sofia Freer (Costa Rica), 11-5, 11-6, 11-6
5) Mafer Gutierrez (Mexico) d. 4) Valeria Hernandez (Mexico), 11-5, 11-7, 11-5
3) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 6) 11) Annie Roberts (USA), 11-8, 11-6, 11-7
2) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. 7) Martina Katz (Argentina), 11-5, 11-3, 11-13, 9-11, 11-4
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Shane Diaz (USA) v. 5) Mafer Gutierrez (Mexico) - 2:15 PM
2) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. 3) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 2:15 PM
Girls U21 Doubles - Medal Round
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Mafer Gutierrez & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico) - BYE
4) Aranxa Anguizola & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) 4. 5) Fabiana Landy & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador), 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 5-11, 16-14
3) Shane Diaz & Graci Wargo (USA) d. 6) Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Suniaris Rodriguez (Cuba), 11-5, 11-5, 11-3
2) Angelica Barrios & Natalia Mita (Bolivia) - BYE
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Mafer Gutierrez & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico) v. 4) Aranxa Anguizola & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) - 3:45 PM
2) Angelica Barrios & Natalia Mita (Bolivia) v. 3) Shane Diaz & Graci Wargo (USA) - 3:45 PM
Boys U21 Singles - Medal Round
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Pepe Ramos (Mexico) d. 9) Micah Farmer (USA), 11-3, 11-5, 11-8
4) Diego Garcia (Argentina) d. 5) Diego Gatica (Chile), 11-2, 11-4, 11-8
3) Josue Bermeo (Ecuador) d. 6) Pablo Vera (Ecuador), 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-7
7) Erick Trujillo (Mexico) d. 2) Hector Barrios (Bolivia), 11-2, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Pepe Ramos (Mexico) v. 4) Diego Garcia (Argentina) - 1:30 PM
3) Josue Bermeo (Ecuador) v. 7) Erick Trujillo (Mexico) - 1:30 PM
Boys U21 Doubles - Medal Round
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Pepe Ramos & Erick Trujillo (Mexico) v. 4) Hector Barrios & Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) - 3 PM
2) Diego Garcia & Tomás Oyhanart (Argentina) v. 3) Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - 3 PM
Mixed Doubles U21 - Medal Round
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Angelica Barrios & Hector Barrios (Bolivia) d. 8) Nathan Jauvin & Juliette Parent (Canada), 11-8, 11-4, 11-7
4) Mafer Gutierrez & Pepe Ramos (Mexico) d. 5) Josue Bermeo & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador), 13-11, 11-4, 11-6
3) Shane Diaz & Micah Farmer (USA) d. 6) Sofia Freer & Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica), 11-9, 11-8, 11-9
2) Diego Garcia & Martina Katz (Argentina) d. 7) Jazmin Aguilar & Byron Rosil (Guatemala), 11-6, 11-8, 11-3
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Angelica Barrios & Hector Barrios (Bolivia) v. 4) Mafer Gutierrez & Pepe Ramos (Mexico) - 4:30 PM
2) Diego Garcia & Martina Katz (Argentina) v. 3) Shane Diaz & Micah Farmer (USA) - 4:30 PM
Girls U18 Singles - Medal Round
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Paula Manilla (Chile) d. 8) Julia Stein (USA), 12-10, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8
4) Ivanna Valderrama (Mexico) d. 5) Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala), 11-9, 11-4, 11-8
6) Angela Ortega (Mexico) d. 3) Natalia Mendez (Bolivia), 5-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3
2) Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) d. 10) Heather Mahoney (USA), 11-4, 17-15, 11-3
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Paula Manilla (Chile) v. 4) Ivanna Valderrama (Mexico) - Noon
2) Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) v. 6) Angela Ortega (Mexico) - Noon
Girls U18 Doubles - Medal Round
Semi-finals - Thursday
1) Rebecca Amaya & Valeria Martinez (Bolivia) d. 4) Jimena Rodriguez & Jessie Vargas (Costa Rica), 11-5, 11-2, 11-2
3) Heather Mahoney & Julia Stein (USA) d. 2) Angela Ortega & Ivanna Valderrama (Mexico), 8-11, 13-11, 12-10, 12-10
Final
1) Rebecca Amaya & Valeria Martinez (Bolivia) v. 3) Heather Mahoney & Julia Stein (USA)
Boys U18 Singles - Medal Round
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Sebastian Hernández (Mexico) d. 9) Timmy Hansen (USA), 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6
4) Juan Tapia (Bolivia) d. 5) Nathan Jauvin (Canada), 12-10, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6
6) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) d. 3) Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica), 11-6, 11-6, 11-4
2) Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) d. 7) Luis Renteria (Mexico), 11-5, 14-12, 11-8
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Sebastian Hernández (Mexico) v. 4) Juan Tapia (Bolivia) - 11:15 PM
2) Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) v. 6) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - 11:15 PM
Boys U18 Doubles - Medal Round
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Luis Renteria & Sebastian Hernández (Mexico) v. 4) Jose Subieta & Luis Aguilar (Bolivia) - 3 PM
2) Oscar Montejo & Antonio Sanchez (Costa Rica) v. 3) Jose Caceras & Alex Sierra (Guatemala) - 3 PM
Mixed Doubles U18 - Medal Round
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Luis Aguilar & Rebecca Amaya (Bolivia) - BYE
5) Christian Pocsai & Ofelia Wilscam (Canada) d. 4) Paula Mansilla & Jaime Mansilla (Chile), 6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-9
6) Anna Aguilar Salvatierra & Alex Sierra (Guatemala) d. 3) Timmy Hansen & Heather Mahoney (USA), 10-12, 11-7, 12-10, 11-3
2) Sebastian Hernández & Angela Ortega (Mexico) d. 7) Adrian Elizondo & Jessie Vargas (Costa Rica), 11-7, 11-3, 11-9
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Luis Aguilar & Rebecca Amaya (Bolivia) v. 5) Christian Pocsai & Ofelia Wilscam (Canada) - 3:45 PM
2) Sebastian Hernández & Angela Ortega (Mexico) v. 6) Anna Aguilar Salvatierra & Alex Sierra (Guatemala) - 3:45 PM
Girls U16 Singles - Medal Round
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Yanna Salazar (Mexico) d. 8) Anna Paul Augilar Salvatierra (Guatemala), 8-11, 11-9, 11-3, 12-10
12) Ava Kaiser (USA) d. 4) Natalia Mendez (Bolivia), 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-3
6) Naomi Ros (USA) d. 3) Cynthia Gutierrez (Mexico), 11-8, 11-3, 11-7, 11-7
2) Krystin Salinas Vasquez (Bolivia) d. 10) Ofelia Wilscam (Canada), 11-5, 11-4, 11-3
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Yanna Salazar (Mexico) v. 12) Ava Kaiser (USA) - 11:15 AM
2) Krystin Salinas Vasquez (Bolivia) v. 6) Naomi Ros (USA) - 11:15 AM
Girls U16 Doubles - Medal Round
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Andrea Reyes & Anna Paul Augilar Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. 5) Ashly Arce & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) - 1:30 PM
2) Ava Kaiser & Naomi Ros (USA) v. 3) Cynthia Gutierrez & Yanna Salazar (Mexico) - 1:30 PM
Boys U16 Singles - Medal Round
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) d. 9) Leyton Gouldie (Canada), 11-5, 11-1, 11-2
5) Jose Caceras (Guatemala) d. 4) Hernán Ruiz (Bolivia), 11-3, 11-7, 11-6
3) Eder Renteria (Mexico) d. 6) Cole Sendrey (USA), 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 11-2
2) Nicolás Iglesias (Bolivia) d. 7) Benjamin Horner (USA), 11-3, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) v. 5) Jose Caceras (Guatemala) - 12:45 PM
2) Nicolás Iglesias (Bolivia) v. 3) Eder Renteria (Mexico) - 12:45 PM
Boys U16 Doubles - Medal Round
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Jorge Gutierrez & Eder Renteria (Mexico) v. 4) DJ Mendoza & Cole Sendrey (USA) - 2:15 PM
2) Nicolás Iglesias & Hernán Ruiz (Bolivia) v. 6) Leyton Gouldie & Asher Pocsai (Canada) - 2:15 PM
Mixed Doubles U16 - Medal Round
Quarterfinals - Thursday
1) Jorge Gutierrez & Yanna Salazar (Mexico) - BYE
5) Andrea Reyes & Jose Caceras (Guatemala) d. 4) Jimena Gomez & Sebastian Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-6, 11-6, 11-9
6) Martin Carchi & María Angela Villacreses (Ecuador) d. 3) Naomi Ros & Cose Sendrey (USA), 11-6, 12-10, 12-10
2) Hernán Ruiz & Krystin Salinas (Bolivia) d. Chloe Jauvin & Christian Pocsai (Canada), 11-2, 11-6, 11-5
Semi-finals - Friday
1) Jorge Gutierrez & Yanna Salazar (Mexico) v. 5) Andrea Reyes & Jose Caceras (Guatemala) - 3:45 PM
2) Hernán Ruiz & Krystin Salinas (Bolivia) v. 6) Martin Carchi & María Angela Villacreses (Ecuador) - 3:45 PM
Follow the bouncing ball....
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