Weekend round up: Cardona wins & upcoming events

Alejandro Cardona won Men’s Open at the 44th Annual Lewis Drug Pro-Am. He defeated Jaime Martell, 15-2, 15-7, in what was an all Mexican final. In the semi-finals, Cardona beat Canadian Coby Iwaasa, 15-6, 15-4, while Martell got a win over Mauricio Zelada by forfeit.

Upcoming events

Next month sees the 2024 USA Racquetball National Indoor Championships at the Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, February 7-11. There’s also Racquetball Canada’s 2nd National Team Selection Event of the season in Sherwood Park, Alberta, February 9-10.

The next International Racquetball Tour event will be the McNamara Hall of Fame event in Minneapolis, February 29-March 3. The next Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour event is the Boston Open, March 1-3, in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

Looking ahead, we understand that the XXXV Pan American Championships will be in Guatemala City, as they were last year, from March 23-30, 2024. Also, the 2024 International Racquetball Federation World Championships will be in San Antonio, Texas, August 23-31.

That’ll be the first time Worlds have been in the USA since 1996, when they were in Phoenix. That year the USA made a clean sweep of the gold medals. Todd O’Neil won Men’s Singles and Michelle Gould won Women’s Singles. The doubles titles went to Adam Karp and Bill Sell on the men’s side and sisters Joy MacKenzie and Jackie Paraiso on the women’s side.

It’s difficult to imagine the USA - or any country really (maybe Mexico?) - sweeping gold this year.

2024 44th Lewis Drug Pro/Am
Sioux Falls, South Dakota - January 25-28, 2024

Men’s Open Singles - Final

5) Alejandro Cardona d. 2) Jaime Martell, 15-2, 15-7

Semi-finals

5) Alejandro Cardona d. 8) Coby Iwaasa, 15-6, 15-4
2) Jaime Martell d. 3) Mauricio Zelada, forfeit

Quarterfinals

8) Coby Iwaasa d. 16) Christian Pocsai, 15-4, 10-2, injury forfeit
5) Alejandro Cardona d. 4) Diego Gastelum, 10-15, 15-10, 11-7

3) Mauricio Zelada d. 6) Cole Sendrey, 15-13, 15-13
2) Jaime Martell d. 7) Set Cubillos, 15-8, 15-4

Follow the bouncing ball….

Murray wins singles, Parrilla & Portillo doubles at 2024 IRT 44th Annual Lewis Drug Pro-Am

Samuel Murray completed a remarkable tournament performance by holding on to defeat Rodrigo Montoya, 15-12, 9-15, 11-10, in the final of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Lewis Drug Pro/Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It’s Murray’s 2nd IRT title, and comes a little over three years since his first in January 2021. Murray won each of his last four matches - from the Round of 16 on - in a tie-breaker. Moreover, only in the final did he win the first game of the match.

Montoya was also in the doubles final, which went to a breaker as well. Andree Parrilla and Eduardo Portillo, the 3rd seeds, came back to defeat #1 seeds Montoya and Javier Mar, 12-15, 15-14, 11-8. It’s Parrilla’s 5th IRT doubles title with a 4th different partner, but just the second title for Portillo.

Murray certainly didn’t win the singles title the easy way, as he was down 5-0 and 7-2 in game one. But Murray showed great resilience during the tournament and again on Sunday. He came back in game one to level the game at 8-8.

Murray and Montoya were back and forth from there, including being tied at 12-12, but Murray never trailed after catching up to Montoya. They ended the game on a long rally that Murray finished by diving forward and hitting a forehand pinch shot.

Montoya seemed to injury his right knee during the last rally of game one, as he dove to keep the ball in play, and one feared that might do him in. But he came back out for game two, and took another early lead at 4-0.

Montoya stayed in front throughout game two. Murray made it close late, getting within two at 10-8, but Montoya closed it out from there to win 15-9, and force a tie-breaker.

In the breaker, Murray went out to a 6-0 lead, causing Montoya to call a timeout. Murray also won the ensuing rally to make it 7-0. After that rally Montoya took the ball and smashed it to the front wall in a clear sign of frustration.

Nonetheless, Montoya won the next rally with a backhand shot, and then scored his first point with another backhand winner. He slowly got back into the game, getting within three at 7-4 and 8-5.

But Murray got to match point with two good serves. The first was a drive serve ace to the right side that made it 9-5, and the second was a drive Z serve to the right side that Montoya tried to return with a side-side front shot that came shot making the score 10-5.

A Montoya forehand wide angle shot fended off Murray's first match point. He followed that up with points on the next two rallies to make it 10-7. They exchanged two side outs each, as Murray’s second and third match points went by. On the second, he double faulted with a short drive serve to the right side.

Montoya scored another point with a forehand winner making the score 10-8, and also making any Murray fans nervous. But Murray got the serve right back for his fourth match point. He hit a drive jam serve to the left that came off the back wall, so Montoya hit a great forehand pinch to the front right corner.

Two winning forehand shots made it 10-10, so Montoya was serving for the match. Not a problem for Murray, who hit a winning forehand cross court shot to get the serve right back.

The fifth time was the charm for Murray Sunday, as he made good when Montoya hit a loose backhand and then didn’t clear out of Murray’s way, leading to an avoidable hinder call by the referee. Montoya - who had questioned calls throughout the match - was clearly upset by the call, and despite having used his two timeouts was allowed to appeal the call, as it was match point. The line judges upheld the avoidable call, ending the game at 11-10 and match 2-1 for Murray.

Not only was this Murray's first title since he won in 2021, it's his first final since then and just his third final overall. Thus, at 2 wins in 3 finals, he has a winning record in finals.

Doubles

The doubles final took awhile to really get going. After 28 rallies, the score was just 2-2. But then Mar and Montoya scored 7 points on as many rallies, making it 9-2.

Parrilla and Portillo then got the serve back, as Parrilla made a great backhand reverse pinch shot. They got five straight points to close the score to 9-7.

Mar and Montoya extended their lead to six at 13-7 on four straight rallies. That stopped as Montoya - playing the left side - skipped a backhand. Parrilla and Portillo responded with five points of their own to get within one at 13-12.

Parrilla, playing on the right side, made back to back errors, skipping a backhand cross court shot to give up the serve, and then a forehand shot that put Mar and Montoya on game point at 14-12. He held off that game point with a backhand winner in the front court, but then Mar also hit a backhand front court winner to close out the game 15-12.

Mar and Montoya went out to a 7-0 lead in game two on as many rallies, and then extended that lead to 10-1. But this has been the tournament where no lead was safe, and so it proved to be again in this game, as Parrilla and Portillo cut the lead in half at 10-5, and then got within one at 12-11.

However, Mar and Montoya got the serve back, as Portillo skipped a backhand shot. Montoya made it 13-11 with a backhand winner, and they got to match point at 14-11, as Parrilla skipped a backhand pinch shot. Portillo denied them that match point with a forehand reverse pinch shot that got his side back in the service box.

They tied the score at 14-14 as Parrilla hit two winning pinch shots, and Mar skipped a shot. But a Montoya pinch shot denied Parrilla and Portillo their first game point, and gave his side another match point opportunity.

However, he skipped a shot on that first opportunity, and on the second Parrilla hit another winner: a forehand down the right side that put his side back in the service box. Portillo closed out the game on the next rally, as he hit a forehand down the left side.

In a tournament of tie-breakers, why not have one more?

Parrilla and Portillo led early in the breaker, at 4-1 and 6-2. But Mar and Montoya caught up at 6-6 and went ahead 8-6, so Parrilla and Portillo called a timeout. When play resumed, Parrilla hit a pinch shot winner to get his side back in to serve.

Then Eduardo Portillo happened. He hit winners on the next five rallies to win the game for his side, 11-8, and the match, 2-1.

This was the tournament of tie-breakers, as from the quarterfinals on in singles and doubles, 10 of the 13 matches (not counting the injury forfeit) went breaker. You can check out the great action that you may have missed - or view it again - at the IRT YouTube channel.

The next IRT event will be the McNamara Hall of Fame event in Minneapolis, February 29-March 3.

2024 IRT 44th Lewis Drug Pro/Am
Sioux Falls, South Dakota - January 25-28, 2024

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

7) Samuel Murray d. 4) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-12, 9-15, 11-10

IRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya, 12-15, 15-14, 11-8

Follow the bouncing ball….

Big comeback puts Murray in final at 2024 IRT Lewis Drug Pro/Am

Rodrigo Montoya and Samuel Murray will face off Sunday in the final of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Lewis Drug Pro/Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Montoya advanced to the final after Kane Waselenchuk forfeited due to an injury he picked up during his quarterfinal win over Andrés Acuña. Murray’s route to the final was more difficult, as he came back to defeat Conrrado Moscoso, 13-15, 15-14, 11-2.

In an interview prior to the Murray and Montoya match, Waselenchuk said that he didn't think his injury was serious, but also didn't want to push it, especially as he's just recently returned to full fitness following the achilles injury that sidelined him for about a year.

Early on in the Moscoso-Murray semi-final, it seemed that Murray, the 7th seed, might have an easy time of it, as he was up 9-1 in game one against Moscoso, the 3rd seed. However, Moscoso caught up to Murray at 13-13, and then closed it out to win game one 15-13.

Moscoso carried that momentum over into game two, as he went up 6-0, 8-3 and then 14-3, at which point it seemed that was match over.

But Murray doesn’t quit.

He came all the way back to pull the game out of the fire, when it was almost completely burnt. Murray did it with some great serving. He hit drive serves to the left that cracked off the side wall just past the short line. If they were short, he hit some hard Z serves to the right side that were deep and difficult for Moscoso to return.

Thus, the match went to a tie-breaker, and as we’ve pointed out before, when the first two games are close - like 15-13, 15-14 - then the tie-breaker is often not close. So it proved to be today.

Moscoso served first, and got the first two points. But then it was all Murray, as he scored 11 unanswered points.

Moscoso called a timeout when he was down 7-2, but to no avail. Murray got to match point as he hit a strong forehand down the right side that Moscoso tried to return with a side-side front shot that fell short.

Murray’s first match point went by as he skipped a backhand pinch shot from deep in the court. But Murray got the serve right back with a backhand re-kill off a Moscoso forehand pinch shot on the next rally.

The winner came as Murray hit a drive serve to the left side that came off the side wall early, so Moscoso hit a ceiling ball that allowed Murray a chance to drive the ball down the right side. Moscoso then tried to hit a forehand reverse which skipped.

With the match over, Murray made little reaction, perhaps he - like The Racquetball Blog staff - couldn’t quite believe that he’d come back from so far down.

Although Murray was down 14-3 in game two, he only faced three match points in coming back to win that game and force the tie-breaker.

Doubles

The doubles final will be a Mexican showdown, when the top seeds Javier Mar and Montoya take on 3rd seeds Andree Parrilla and Eduardo Portillo. Both teams needed three games to advance to the final.

Mar and Montoya came back from a game down to defeat 4th seeds Kadim Carrasco and Moscoso, 13-15, 15-6, 11-8, while Parrilla and Portillo held on to defeat 7th seeds Alvaro Beltran and Adam Manilla, 15-13, 12-15, 11-3.

The singles final will be Sunday at 11 with the doubles final at noon, or following the singles final. You can see the finals via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Central.

2024 IRT 44th Lewis Drug Pro/Am
Sioux Falls, South Dakota - January 25-28, 2024

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

4) Rodrigo Montoya d. 17) Kane Waselenchuk, injury forfeit
7) Samuel Murray d. 3) Conrrado Moscoso, 13-15, 15-14, 11-2

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

4) Rodrigo Montoya v. 7) Samuel Murray - 11 AM

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso, 13-15, 15-6, 11-8
3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 7) Alvaro Beltran & Adam Manilla, 15-13, 12-15, 11-3

IRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….

Quarterfinal drama at 2024 IRT Lewis Drug Pro-Am

Third seed Conrrado Moscoso beat 6th seed Adam Manilla, 15-1, 15-5, in the first quarterfinal match at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Lewis Drug Pro/Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Moscoso will play veteran Canadian Samuel Murray, in the semi-finals on Saturday, as Murray came back to defeat young Mexican Erick Trujillo, 10-15, 15-13, 11-4, in the second quarterfinal Friday.

In the other quarterfinals, former #1 Kane Waselenchuk came back from a game down to defeat 8th seed Andrés Acuña, 13-15, 15-10, 11-4, and 4th seed Rodrigo Montoya did likewise to fend off 5th seed Andree Parrilla, 12-15, 15-9, 11-9.

Doubles

The top seeds in doubles - Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya - beat 8th seeds Robert Collins and Erick Trujillo in two straight games, 15-10, 15-2. But the 2nd seeds, Daniel De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa, lost a contentious tie-breaker to Alvaro Beltran and Adam Manilla, 11-15, 15-14, 11-9.

Beltran and Manilla eked out the second game to force a tie-breaker. They got up 3-0 in the breaker, only to see De La Rosa and Landa get 10 unanswered points to reach match point at 10-3.

Cue the comeback.

Beltran and Manilla prevented De La Rosa and Landa from scoring four times, and slowly worked their way back into the game. Landa skipped a shot that made it 10-10, and Beltran mockingly applauded him.

Landa did not take that well, and went toe to toe with Beltran. They had been talking throughout the match, and both had done things that could have resulted in technical faults, yet none had been called, though they would have been in an international match, which is less tolerant of bad behaviour.

There was a bit of physical contact between the two, and a lot of jawing as they went nose to nose a few times before play resumed. At one point, the IRT Commissioner came on the court to try to calm things down, although he separated them, they came together a couple more times before play resumed.

The referee assessed technicals - finally! - to both sides, so the score went from 10-10 to 9-9, with Beltran (the first server for his side) serving. After a hinder, Beltran hit winning shots on back to back rallies that made it 10-9 and then 11-9, to win the game and match for his team. Landa left the court without shaking hands.

Fourth seeds Kadim Carrasco and Conrrado Moscoso also won a close tie-breaker, as they defeated 5th seeds Andrés Acuña and Alan Natera, 10-15, 15-7, 11-10. They’ll play 3rd seeds Andree Parrilla and Eduardo Portillo in the semi-finals Saturday, as Parrilla and Portillo beat 6th seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Sam Bredenbeck, 15-5, 15-5.

The singles semi-finals Saturday at 4 and 5 PM and the final Sunday at 11. The doubles semis will be Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and final at noon on Sunday. You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Central.

2024 IRT 44th Lewis Drug Pro/Am
Sioux Falls, South Dakota - January 25-28, 2024

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

17) Kane Waselenchuk d. 8) Andrés Acuña, 13-15, 15-10, 11-4
4) Rodrigo Montoya d. 5) Andree Parrilla, 12-15, 15-9, 11-9

3) Conrrado Moscoso d. 6) Adam Manilla, 15-1, 15-5
7) Samuel Murray d. 15) Erick Trujillo, 10-15, 15-13, 11-4

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

4) Rodrigo Montoya v. 17) Kane Waselenchuk - 5 PM
3) Conrrado Moscoso v. 7) Samuel Murray - 4 PM

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 8) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo, 15-10, 15-2
4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso d. 5) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera, 10-15, 15-7, 11-10

3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 6) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 15-5, 15-5
7) Alvaro Beltran & Adam Manilla d. 2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa, 15-11, 14-15, 11-9

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso - 11 AM
3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo v. 7) Alvaro Beltran & Adam Manilla - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….

Top seeds lose in Round of 16 at 2024 IRT Lewis Drug Pro-Am

The top two seeds lost in the Round of 16 at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Lewis Drug Pro/Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Former #1 Kane Waselenchuk, seeded 17th, ousted current #1 Daniel De La Rosa, 15-8, 15-9, and the young Mexican Erick Trujillo, seeded 15th, held on to defeat IRT #2 Jake Bredenbeck, 15-12, 8-15, 11-10.

Later today in the quarterfinals, Waselenchuk will play 8th seed Andrés Acuña, who beat 9th seed Alan Natera, 15-5, 15-7, while 7th seed Samuel Murray - who came back from a game down to see off 10th seed Eduardo Portillo, 10-15, 15-7, 11-2 - will take on Trujillo.

In other action, 3rd seed Conrrado Moscoso beat his doubles team-mate and fellow Bolivian Kadim Carrasco, 15-1, 15-5, to set up a match with 6th seed Adam Manilla, who won a lefty-lefty showdown with 11th seed Thomas Carter, 10-15, 15-3, 11-9.

Finally, 4th seed Rodrigo Montoya beat 13th seed Jaime Martell, 15-5, 15-4, and will play fellow Mexican and 5th seed Andree Parrilla, who defeated 12th seed Robert Collins, 15-4, 15-7.

The singles quarterfinals begin at 5 PM Friday with the semi-finals Saturday at 4 and 5 PM and the final Sunday at 11. The doubles quarterfinals will be Friday at 2 PM with the doubles semis on Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and final at noon on Sunday. You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Central.

2024 IRT 44th Lewis Drug Pro/Am
Sioux Falls, South Dakota - January 25-28, 2024

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

17) Kane Waselenchuk d. 1) Daniel De La Rosa, 15-8, 15-9
8) Andrés Acuña d. 9) Alan Natera, 15-5, 15-7

5) Andree Parrilla d. 12) Robert Collins, 15-4, 15-7
4) Rodrigo Montoya d. 13) Jaime Martell, 15-5, 15-4

3) Conrrado Moscoso d. 14) Kadim Carrasco, 15-1, 15-5
6) Adam Manilla d. 11) Thomas Carter, 10-15, 15-3, 11-9

7) Samuel Murray d. 10) Eduardo Portillo, 10-15, 15-7, 11-2
15) Erick Trujillo d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-12, 8-15, 11-10

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

8) Andrés Acuña v. 17) Kane Waselenchuk - 7 PM
4) Rodrigo Montoya v. 5) Andree Parrilla - 8 PM

3) Conrrado Moscoso v. 6) Adam Manilla - 5 PM
7) Samuel Murray v. 15) Erick Trujillo - 6 PM

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 8) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo - 2 PM
4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso v. 5) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera - 2 PM

3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo v. 6) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - 2 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 7) Alvaro Beltran & Adam Manilla - 2 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2024 IRT Lewis Drug Pro/Am - Round of 32

No surprises on Thursday at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Lewis Drug Pro/Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as all the higher seeds save one. But that was in the 16/17 match, and it was former #1 Kane Waselenchuk, seeded 17th, defeating 16th seed Sam Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-10. Bredenbeck actually led early in both games, but wasn’t able to close out either of them against the IRT’s career wins title holder.

Current #1 Daniel De La Rosa needed a tie-breaker to defeat Coby Iwaasa, winning 15-11, 14-15, 11-8, which sets up the anticipated showdown between De La Rosa and Waselenchuk in the Round of 16 Friday morning.

IRT #2 Jake Bredenbeck beat young Canadian Christian Pocsai, 15-5, 15-5, Thursday, and will play 15th seed Erick Trujillo Friday, as Trujillo defeated 18th seed Javier Mar, 15-12, 15-13, in the 16s.

In doubles, top seeds Mar and Rodrigo Montoya will play 8th seeds Robert Collins and Trujillo, who came back from a game down to defeat 9th seeds Iwaasa and Samuel Murray, 9-15, 15-10, 11-6. Second seeds De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa will face the righty-lefty team of veteran Alvaro Beltran and Adam Manilla in the quarterfinals, as Beltran and Manilla, the 7th seeds, beat 10th seeds Diego Gastelum and Cole Sendrey, 15-11, 15-6, Thursday.

The Round of 16 and quarterfinals will be Friday with the semi-finals Saturday at 4 and 5 PM and the final Sunday at 11. The doubles quarterfinals will be Friday at 2 PM with the doubles semis on Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and final at noon on Sunday. You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Central.

2024 IRT 44th Lewis Drug Pro/Am
Sioux Falls, South Dakota - January 25-28, 2024

IRT Singles - Round of 64 - Thursday

Q1: Kane Waselenchuk - BYE
Q16: Coby Iwaasa d. Román Haller, 15-4, 15-8

Q9: Diego Gastelum - BYE
Q8: John Goth - BYE

Q5: Cody Elkins - BYE
Q12: Alejandro Cardona - BYE

Q13: Set Cubillos - BYE
Q4: Jim Douglas - BYE

Q3: Carlos Ramirez - BYE
Q14: Mauricio Zelada d. Conrad Cole, 15-5, 15-9

Q11: Sebastian Chevaile Sanchez - BYE
Q6: Cole Sendrey - BYE

Q7: Alvaro Beltran - BYE
Q10: Lee Connell - BYE

Q15: Christian Pocsai d. Tanner Prentice, 15-13, 15-14
Q2: Javier Mar - BYE

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Daniel De La Rosa d. Coby Iwaasa, 15-11, 14-15, 11-8
17) Kane Waselenchuk d. 16) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-10

9) Alan Natera d. 24) John Goth, 15-3, 15-6
8) Andrés Acuña d. 25) Diego Gastelum, 15-7, 15-2

5) Andree Parrilla d. 28) Alejandro Cardona, 15-5, 15-0
12) Robert Collins d. 21) Cody Elkins, 15-8, 15-4

13) Jaime Martell d. 20) Jim Douglas, 15-0, 15-0
4) Rodrigo Montoya d. 29) Set Cubillos, 15-10, 15-3

3) Conrrado Moscoso d. Mauricio Zelada, 15-5, 15-11
14) Kadim Carrasco d. 19) Carlos Ramirez, 15-5, 10-15, 11-0

11) Thomas Carter d. 22) Cole Sendrey, 15-12, 15-9
6) Adam Manilla d. 27) Sebastian Chevaile Sanchez, 15-2, 15-4

7) Samuel Murray d. 26) Lee Connell, 15-8, 15-7
10) Eduardo Portillo d. 23) Alvaro Beltran, 15-2, 15-1

15) Erick Trujillo d. 18) Javier Mar, 15-12, 15-13
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. Christian Pocsai, 15-5, 15-5

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. 17) Kane Waselenchuk - 11 AM
8) Andrés Acuña v. 9) Alan Natera - 11 AM

5) Andree Parrilla v. 12) Robert Collins - 11 AM
4) Rodrigo Montoya v. 13) Jaime Martell - 11 AM

3) Conrrado Moscoso v. 14) Kadim Carrasco - 10 AM
6) Adam Manilla v. 11) Thomas Carter - 10 AM

7) Samuel Murray v. 10) Eduardo Portillo - 10 AM
2) Jake Bredenbeck v. 15) Erick Trujillo - 10 AM

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
8) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo d. 9) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray, 9-15, 15-10, 11-6

5) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera - BYE
4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
6) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 11) Conrad Cole & Christian Pocsai, 8-15, 15-4, 11-1

7) Alvaro Beltran & Adam Manilla d. 10) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey, 15-11, 15-6
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa - BYE

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 8) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo - 2 PM
4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso v. 5) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera - 2 PM

3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo v. 6) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - 2 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 7) Alvaro Beltran & Adam Manilla - 2 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2024 IRT Lewis Drug Pro/Am - Preview

The International Racquetball Tour’s (IRT’s) 2024 season begins with one of its longest running tournaments: the Lewis Drug Pro/Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which is in its 44th year. The top 5 IRT players are in the field led by IRT #1 Daniel De La Rosa, as well as #2 Jake Bredenbeck and #3 Conrrado Moscoso.

We’d like to tell you which of the top players past the top 5 are there, but the IRT website is inaccessible at the current time (Wednesday night), so we're not sure what the rankings are past the top 5 (posted on Facebook this week). Why the IRT website is inaccessible is a mystery, and not a good situation.

There are some interesting early round matches to anticipate with nothing bigger than a showdown between current #1 De La Rosa and former #1 Kane Waselenchuk, which could happen in the Round of 16. De La Rosa would need to get by Coby Iwaasa and Waselenchuk by Sam Bredenbeck in the 32s for that to happen.

IRT #2 Jake Bredenbeck will also potentially face a tricky match in the 16s, as he’ll play the winner of 15th seed Erick Trujillo - a former World Junior Champion - and 18th seed Javier Mar, who’s been an IRT finalist.

The two top seeds in doubles could also face tricky first matches. Top seeds Mar and Rodrigo Montoya will play the winner of 8th seeds Robert Collins and Erick Trujillo and 9th seeds Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray in the quarterfinals. Mar and Montoya played Iwaasa and Murray twice at the Pan American Games last year in Santiago, Chile, where they split two matches. Mar and Montoya won the Men’s Doubles final, but when they played in the semi-finals of the Men's Team competition, Iwaasa and Murray won. If they play in Sioux Falls it could go either way.

The 2nd seeds De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa could face the righty-lefty team of veteran Alvaro Beltran and Adam Manilla in the quarters, which will be a good match for the spectators, but a tough one for the players. Beltran and Manilla, the 7th seeds, need to get past 10th seeds Diego Gastelum and Cole Sendrey to set up the match with De La Rosa and Landa.

Play begins Thursday with three matches in the Round of 64 at 1 PM. The Round of 32 will be played Thursday from 3 PM on. The Round of 16 and quarterfinals will be Friday with the semi-finals Saturday at 4 and 5 PM and the final Sunday at 11. The doubles matches begin Thursday at 8 PM with the final Sunday at noon. You can see some of the IRT action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Central.

2024 IRT 44th Lewis Drug Pro/Am
Sioux Falls, South Dakota - January 25-28, 2024

IRT Singles - Round of 64 - Thursday

Q1: Kane Waselenchuk - BYE
Q16: Coby Iwaasa v. Román Haller - 1 PM

Q9: Diego Gastelum - BYE
Q8: John Goth - BYE

Q5: Cody Elkins - BYE
Q12: Alejandro Cardona - BYE

Q13: Set Cubillos - BYE
Q4: Jim Douglas - BYE

Q3: Carlos Ramirez - BYE
Q14: Conrad Cole v. Mauricio Zelada - 1 PM

Q11: Sebastian Chevaile Sanchez - BYE
Q6: Cole Sendrey - BYE

Q7: Alvaro Beltran - BYE
Q10: Lee Connell - BYE

Q15: Tanner Prentice v. Christian Pocsai - 1 PM
Q2: Javier Mar - BYE

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Daniel De La Rosa v. Coby Iwaasa or Román Haller - 5 PM
16) Sam Bredenbeck v. 17) Kane Waselenchuk - 4 PM

9) Alan Natera v. 24) John Goth - 3 PM
8) Andrés Acuña v. 25) Diego Gastelum - 3 PM

5) Andree Parrilla v. 28) Alejandro Cardona - 5 PM
12) Robert Collins v. 21) Cody Elkins - 4 PM

13) Jaime Martell v. 20) Jim Douglas - 6 PM
4) Rodrigo Montoya d. 29) Set Cubillos - 5 PM

3) Conrrado Moscoso v. Conrad Cole or Mauricio Zelada - 6 PM
14) Kadim Carrasco v. 19) Carlos Ramirez - 6 PM

11) Thomas Carter v. 22) Cole Sendrey - 4 PM
6) Adam Manilla d. 27) Sebastian Chevaile Sanchez - 3 PM

7) Samuel Murray v. 26) Lee Connell - 5 PM
10) Eduardo Portillo d. 23) Alvaro Beltran - 3 PM

15) Erick Trujillo v. 18) Javier Mar - 4 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck v. Tanner Prentice or Christian Pocsai - 6 PM

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
8) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo v. 9) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray - 8 PM

5) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera - BYE
4) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
6) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 11) Conrad Cole & Christian Pocsai - 8 PM

7) Alvaro Beltran & Adam Manilla v. 10) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey - 8 PM
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend round up: Wins for Muñoz and Ros

Carla Muñoz won the Women’s Open title at the Arizona Open in Tempe, Arizona on Sunday. Muñoz defeated Lucia Gonzalez, 15-4, 15-11, in the final. In the semi-finals, Muñoz beat Stephanie Synhorst, 15-8, 15-4, and Gonzalez defeated Leonela Osorio, 15-2, 15-14.

Naomi Ros won the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) U21 division in Tempe. She defeated Osorio in the final, as Osorio had to retire with an injury in the second game. Ros won game one 15-10 and was up 6-0 in game two when Osorio had to forfeit with what seemed like an injury to her right leg.

In the semis, Ros beat Ana Victoria Fragoso, 15-1, 15-1, and Osorio held on to defeat Mariafernanda Trujillo, 15-8, 9-15, 11-4.

Later this month

The next International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event is the Lewis Drug Pro-Am, January 25-28, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There are already 39 players entered in singles, so it should be a great event.

Arizona Open - Presented by The Madison Trust
Tempe, Arizona - January 12-14, 2024

Women’s Open Final

1) Carla Muñoz d. 3) Lucia Gonzalez, 15-4, 15-11

Semi-finals

1) Carla Muñoz d. 5) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-8, 15-4
3) Lucia Gonzalez d. 10) Leonela Osorio, 15-2, 15-14

LPRT U21 - Final

1) Naomi Ros d. 2) Leonela Osorio, 15-10, injury forfeit

Semi-finals

1) Naomi Ros d. 5) Ana Victoria Fragoso, 15-1, 15-1
2) Leonela Osorio d. 3) Mariafernanda Trujillo, 15-8, 9-15, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball….

Vargas wins singles, Herrera & Mejia doubles at 2024 LPRT Arizona Open

Maria José Vargas defeated Alexandra Herrera, 15-5, 15-12, to win the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Arizona Open in Tempe, Arizona on Sunday. It’s Vargas’s 3rd LPRT title in a row, and puts her in the driver’s seat to be the #1 player at the end of the season.

Apparently, Vargas will remain as the #2 player behind #1 Montserrat Mejia after this win. The rankings run on a 12 month basis, and Vargas only returned to the tour early last year following the birth of her third child, so she may be short of some points because of playing fewer events.

If Vargas becomes the #1 player this season, it would be the third different player finishing #1 over as many seasons, following Mejia last season and Paola Longoria the season before that. That’s only happened twice before in the history of the women’s pro tour. The last time was in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06, when Cheryl Gudinas, Christie Van Hees and Rhonda Rajsich, respectively, were number #1.

The only other time was way back, when Caryn McKinney, Lynn Adams, Michelle Gould (then Michelle Gilman) and Jackie Paraiso were #1 over four consecutive seasons from 1988-89 to 1991-92.

Herrera and Mejia won the LPRT doubles title in Tempe, as they beat Longoria and Samantha Salas, 15-9, 15-4, in the final. That is Herrera and Meija's third consecutive doubles title this season, and they have beaten Longoria and Salas in each final.

The LPRT will next be in action at the Boston Open, March 1-3, 2024. If you missed any of the action from Arizona check out the LPRT YouTube channel.

LPRT Arizona Open - Presented by The Madison Trust
Tempe, Arizona - January 12-14, 2024

Singles Final - Sunday

2) Maria José Vargas d. 8) Alexandra Herrera, 15-5, 15-12

Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas, 15-9, 15-4

Follow the bouncing ball….

Vargas v Herrera in the 2024 LPRT Arizona Open final

There’s one expected and one unexpected finalist at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Arizona Open in Tempe, Arizona. LPRT #2 Maria José Vargas was - by her seeding - expected to be there, although she had to defeat former #1 Paola Longoria in the semi-finals, doing so 15-12, 15-14.

But Alexandra Herrera, LPRT #8, was not expected to be in the final, or even the semi-finals. However, she upset LPRT #1 Montserrat Mejia, and Herrera’s doubles partner, 15-13, 6-15, 11-6, in the quarterfinals, and then offed LPRT #5 Erika Manilla, 15-14, 15-5, in the semis to reach an LPRT final for the first time since last August in Colorado.

Overall, Vargas has a 11-2 advantage on Herrera over their matches on the LPRT. Also, Vargas has won two of the three LPRT events so far this season.

In the doubles, it’ll be #1 versus #2 in the final, and Herrera has a chance to do the double this weekend, as she’s in both the singles and doubles finals. In doubles, top seeds Herrera and Mejia defeated 5th seeds Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-8, 15-5, in the semi-finals. In the other semi-final, 2nd seeds Longoria and Samantha Salas beat 6th seeds Angelica Barrios and Carla Muñoz, 15-6, 15-4.

Play concludes Sunday with the finals at 11 AM (singles) and noon (doubles). You can watch the action live from Arizona via the LPRT YouTube channel. All times Mountain.

LPRT Arizona Open - Presented by The Madison Trust
Tempe, Arizona - January 12-14, 2024

Singles Quarterfinals - Saturday

8) Alexandra Herrera d. 1) Montserrat Mejia, 15-13, 6-15, 11-6
5) Erika Manilla d. 4) Brenda Laime, 15-13, 14-15, 11-8

3) Paola Longoria d. 6) Gabriela Martinez, 15-14, 15-2
2) Maria José Vargas d. 7) Angelica Barrios, 15-2, 15-7

Singles Semi-finals - Saturday

8) Alexandra Herrera d. 5) Erika Manilla, 15-14, 15-5
2) Maria José Vargas d. 3) Paola Longoria, 15-12, 15-14

Singles Final - Sunday

2) Maria José Vargas v. 8) Alexandra Herrera - 11 AM

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 5) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-8, 15-5
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 6) Angelica Barrios & Carla Muñoz, 15-6, 15-4

Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….

Early round action at 2024 LPRT Arizona Open

The top 8 seeds are all through to the quarterfinals in singles at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Arizona Open in Tempe, Arizona, although the story is a bit different in doubles.

LPRT #1 Montserrat Mejia beat 17th seed Lexi York, 15-1, 15-2, in the Round of 16 Friday, and will play her doubles partner, Alexandra Herrera, in the quarters. Herrera - the LPRT’s #8 player - defeated veteran Samantha Salas, LPRT #9, 15-3, 15-1, in the 16s.

LPRT #2 Maria José Vargas defeated 15th seed Hollie Scott, 15-3, 15-11, and will play LPRT #7 Angelica Barrios, who was a straight game winner over LPRT #10 Natalia Mendez, 15-6, 15-10.

Also, LPRT #3 Paola Longoria beat 14th seed Cristina Amaya, 15-1, 15-4, and will play LPRT #6 Gabriela Martinez, who needed a tie-breaker to defeat Kelani Lawrence, 15-4, 10-15, 11-3.

LPRT #4 Brenda Laime defeated 13th seed Jessica Parrilla, 15-0, 15-14, and in the quarters will play LPRT #5 Erika Manilla, who had to come back from a game down to get past LPRT #12 Carla Muñoz, 13-15, 15-11, 11-1.

There were two tie-breakers in the Round of 32. In one, Parrilla came back from a game down to beat 20th seed Nancy Enriquez, 9-15, 15-8, 11-4. In the other, Mendez held on to defeat the veteran left-hander Susana Acosta, 15-9, 14-15, 11-5.

In doubles, the two top seeds won, but the three and four seeds lost in the quarterfinals on Friday. Top seeds Herrera and Mejia defeated 9th seeds Parrilla and Enriquez, 15-5, 15-9, and will face 5th seeds Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, who upset the 4th seeds Laime and Vargas, 15-8, 12-15, 11-3

Second seeds Longoria and Salas defeated 7th seeds Michelle Key and Manilla, 15-12, 15-10, and will play 6th seeds Angelica Barrios and Carla Muñoz, who were winners over 3rd seeds Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott, 15-12, 15-6.

Play continues Saturday morning with the quarterfinals at 10 and 11 AM followed by the semi-finals at 3 and 4 PM. The doubles semi-finals will be Saturday at 5 and 6 PM. The finals will be at 11 AM (singles) and noon (doubles) on Sunday. You can watch the action live from Arizona via the LPRT YouTube channel. All times Mountain.

LPRT Arizona Open - Presented by The Madison Trust
Tempe, Arizona - January 12-14, 2024

Singles Round of 32 - Friday

1) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
17) Lexi York d. 16) Maria Paz Riquelme, 15-6, 15-2

9) Samantha Salas d. 24) Lucia Gonzalez, 15-4, 15-3
8) Alexandra Herrera d. 25) Michelle Key, 15-1, 15-9

5) Erika Manilla - BYE
12) Carla Muñoz d. 21) Naomi Ros, 15-13, 15-4

13) Jessica Parrilla d. 20) Nancy Enriquez, 9-15, 15-8, 11-4
4) Brenda Laime - BYE

3) Paola Longoria - BYE
14) Cristina Amaya d. 19) Sunshine Arterburn, 15-1, 15-0

11) Kelani Lawrence d. 22) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-10, 15-7
6) Gabriela Martinez - BYE

7) Angelica Barrios d. 26) Mariafernanda Trujillo, 15-6, 15-2
10) Natalia Mendez d. 23) Susana Acosta, 15-9, 14-15, 11-5

15) Hollie Scott d. 18) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-2, 15-3
2) Maria José Vargas - BYE

Singles Round of 16 - Friday

1) Montserrat Mejia d. 17) Lexi York, 15-1, 15-2
8) Alexandra Herrera d. 9) Samantha Salas, 15-3, 15-1

5) Erika Manilla d. 12) Carla Muñoz, 13-15, 15-11, 11-1
4) Brenda Laime d. 13) Jessica Parrilla, 15-0, 15-14

3) Paola Longoria d. 14) Cristina Amaya, 15-1, 15-4
6) Gabriela Martinez d. 11) Kelani Lawrence, 15-4, 10-15, 11-3

7) Angelica Barrios d. 10) Natalia Mendez, 15-6, 15-10
2) Maria José Vargas d. 15) Hollie Scott, 15-3, 15-11

Singles Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Montserrat Mejia v. 8) Alexandra Herrera - 11 AM
4) Brenda Laime v. 5) Erika Manilla - 11 AM

3) Paola Longoria v. 6) Gabriela Martinez - 10 AM
2) Maria José Vargas v. 7) Angelica Barrios - 10 AM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
9) Jessica Parrilla & Nancy Enriquez d. 8) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme, 12-15, 15-5, 15-2

5) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE
4) Brenda Laime & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE

3) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - BYE
6) Angelica Barrios & Carla Muñoz d. Lucia Gonzalez & Stephanie Synhorst, 15-7, 15-3

7) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla d. Naomi Ros & Lexi York, 15-14, 15-2
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 9) Jessica Parrilla & Nancy Enriquez, 15-5, 15-9
5) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 4) Brenda Laime & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-8, 12-15, 11-3

6) Angelica Barrios & Carla Muñoz d. 3) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott, 15-12, 15-6
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 7) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla, 15-12, 15-10

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 5) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - 6 PM
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas v. 6) Angelica Barrios & Carla Muñoz - 5 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2024 LPRT Arizona Open - Preview

The first Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event of 2024 is the LPRT Arizona Open, and it begins today in Tempe, Arizona. There are 26 players in the draw with top 14 ranked players and 19 of the top 20 in the field. LPRT #1 Montserrat Mejia leads the field, and also the top seed in doubles with Alexandra Herrera. Maria Jose Vargas, a two time winner this season, is the LPRT’s #2 player with former #1 Paola Longoria in the #3 spot. Brenda Laime rounds out the top four.

Some of the interesting early round matches will be Herrera, LPRT #8, versus 25th seed Michelle Key, LPRT #13 Jessica Parrilla plays 20th seed Nancy Enriquez, LPRT #11 Kelani Lawrence against 22nd seed Maria Renee Rodriguez, and Mendez faces veteran left-hander Susana Acosta, the 23rd seed.

Curiously, Laime and Vargas are playing doubles together, although Vargas’s usual doubles partner Natalia Mendez is in Tempe. However, Mendez isn’t in the doubles field, and she suffered an injury last month ahead of the Christmas Classic, so Mendez may not want to push herself in two divisions this time out.

Laime and Vargas will play the Pan American Games gold medalists Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez in the quarterfinals Friday evening.

Play begins Friday morning at 9 AM with the singles Round of 32, and the Round of 16 will be Friday afternoon from 2 PM. The doubles Round of 16 begins at noon Friday with the quarterfinals at 6 and 7 PM. The finals will be at 11 AM (singles) and noon (doubles) on Sunday. You can watch the action live from Arizona via the LPRT YouTube channel. All times Mountain.

LPRT Arizona Open - Presented by The Madison Trust
Tempe, Arizona - January 12-14, 2024

Singles Round of 32 - Friday

1) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
16) Maria Paz Riquelme v. 17) Lexi York - 10 AM

9) Samantha Salas v. 24) Lucia Gonzalez - 10 AM
8) Alexandra Herrera v. 25) Michelle Key - 10 AM

5) Erika Manilla - BYE
12) Carla Muñoz v. 21) Naomi Ros - 9 AM

13) Jessica Parrilla v. 20) Nancy Enriquez - 9 AM
4) Brenda Laime - BYE

3) Paola Longoria - BYE
14) Cristina Amaya v. 19) Sunshine Arterburn - 9 AM

11) Kelani Lawrence v. 22) Maria Renee Rodriguez - 9 AM
6) Gabriela Martinez - BYE

7) Angelica Barrios v. 26) Mariafernanda Trujillo - 11 AM
10) Natalia Mendez v. 23) Susana Acosta - 11 AM

15) Hollie Scott v. 18) Stephanie Synhorst - 11 AM
2) Maria José Vargas - BYE

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
8) Cristina Amaya & Maria Paz Riquelme v. 9) Jessica Parrilla & Nancy Enriquez - Noon

5) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE
4) Brenda Laime & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE

3) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott - BYE
6) Angelica Barrios & Carla Muñoz v. Lucia Gonzalez & Stephanie Synhorst - Noon

7) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla v. Naomi Ros & Lexi York - Noon
2) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Top 10 Racquetball Stories of 2023

Happy New Year! A Racquetball Blog staff member thinks it's OK to say that early in a new year as long as you haven’t seen the other person. As this is our first post of 2024, we think it’s still OK to say happy new year and with you all the best in 2024.

Somehow we didn’t do a “Stories of the Year” for 2022 (the staff member responsible has been disciplined), but we want to rectify that with our Stories of 2023.

Top 10 Racquetball Stories of 2023

10) Adam and Erika Manilla. The Manilla siblings had a great year in 2023, as they won Mixed Doubles at the USA Racquetball National Championships and followed that up with gold at the Pan American Games, becoming the inaugural winners of that division at Pan Ams. They were also some of the organizers of the Golden State Open - the last event of the 2023 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season, which featured the all glass court for the first time since it was seen at the 2022 World Games.

9) Rodrigo Montoya. Rodrigo Montoya got his first win on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) in 2023. He is also the #1 doubles player on tour, winning four doubles titles in 2023. Playing for Mexico, Montoya won Men’s Doubles at the Pan American Championships (with Eduardo Portillo) and at the Pan American Games (with Javier Mar).

8) Absences. There were some things missing from racquetball in 2023. Neither Rocky Carson nor Rhonda Rajsich were on Team USA at the Pan American Games, which was the first time Carson had missed in 20 years and Rajsich’s first miss after three games in a row. Similarly, Alvaro Beltran wasn’t on Team Mexico at the Pan Am Games. None of them were seen much on their respective pro tours either, as time seems to be catching up with those veterans, who are now all well into their 40s. They also weren’t at the US Open, nor was anyone else, as USA Racquetball chose not to run the event in 2023 due to budget constraints. It’s the first time it hadn’t been held since 1996 (aside from the COVID cancellation in 2020).

7) Daniel De La Rosa. Daniel De La Rosa finished #1 on the IRT for the third year in a row. But he didn’t win the most events, and in his first international appearance for the USA, De La Rosa came away with just one medal over three events at the Pan American Games. So there was good and bad in 2023 for De La Rosa. Moreover, in December he indicated that his focus moving forward was going to be on pickleball, rather than racquetball. Losing the #1 player to another sport is a sad thing.

6) Maria José Vargas. Maria José Vargas returned to competition in 2023, and what a return. She won four medals at the Pan American Games, including silver in Women’s Doubles and the Women’s Team event (both with Natalia Mendez). Vargas defeated Paola Longoria three times on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) and also beat her at the Pan American Championships, where Vargas came second to Montserrat Mejia. She’s won two of the first three LPRT events this season, which has her currently ranked 2nd. 2024 could be even better for Vargas than 2023.

5) Pan American Games. 2024 was a Pan Am Games year, which is the largest multi-sport event featuring racquetball. The matches did not disappoint with several great results. As mentioned above, the Manilla siblings - Adam & Erika - won the 1st Mixed Doubles gold medal at Pan Ams. Guatemalans Gabriela Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez won their 1st Women’s Doubles gold medal in international play (technically that was for the Caribe Sport Organization as the Guatemala Olympic Committee isn’t recognized currently). There was an all Bolivian men’s final with Conrrado Moscoso beating Carlos Keller, and an all Mexico women’s final with Paola Longoria getting the best of Montserrat Mejia. Mexicans Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya defeated Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray in the Men’s Doubles final, but the Canadians bested Mexico in the Men’s Team semi-finals, though they lost to Bolivia in the final. Mexico took the Women’s Team final, though they needed the third match to do it with Mejia and Alexandra Herrera eking out a win over Argentina’s Natalia Mendez and Maria José Vargas.

4) Kane Waselenchuk. Kane Waselenchuk made a return to the courts in the fall after suffering an achilles injury in September 2022. He had some good results, beating Adam Manilla and Conrrado Moscoso in Boston in November, though Moscoso beat him in California in December. Clearly, Waselenchuk can still play well. Can he play well enough to win another IRT title? Maybe more importantly, can he play well enough to satisfy his own standards, which must be very high given the exceptional quality that Waselenchuk has played at throughout his career. Waselenchuk has 124 IRT wins. Will he get the 125th in 2024?

3) Paola Longoria. For the first time since 2011, Paola Longoria was not the #1 player on the LPRT. It was eventually going to happen, but still it was surprising that it happened in 2023. She’d won most of the events the season before, and there was no obvious successor. But Longoria lost to four different players on the LPRT in 2023, three of whom she’d never previously lost to on tour. However, Longoria did win gold in Women’s Singles at the Pan Am Games, which was her 4th consecutive gold medal at Pan Ams, and helped Mexico to a 4th consecutive gold medal in the Women’s Team event. Thus, Longoria still has a lot of game left, and it would not be a surprise if she regained the #1 position on the LPRT in 2024.

2) Conrrado Moscoso. Conrrado Moscoso won both the Pan American Games and the Pan American Championships in 2023, which is just the second time a man has done that (Jack Huczek won both in 2003). He also had more IRT wins in 2023 than anyone else, including winning the last event of the season, but finished 2nd in the rankings behind Daniel De La Rosa. Mosocso also helped Bolivia win the Men’s Team event at the Pan Am Games and took the Mixed Doubles title (with Angelica Barrios) at the Pan Am Championships. A very good year indeed.

1) Montserrat Mejia. Montserrat Mejia finished as the #1 player on the LPRT in 2023. An accomplishment that no one in The Racquetball Blog office saw coming. She’d only won once on tour prior to the 2022-23 season, but won five times that season to claim the #1 position and end Paola Longoria’s 11 year run at #1. Amazing. Mejia also won the Pan American Championships in singles and doubles, and won doubles and the team event at the Pan American Games. She lost to Longoria in the singles final at Pan Am Games, and has yet to win in the 2023-24 LPRT season, but nonetheless Mejia’s accomplishments fully merit her being the top racquetball story of 2023.

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It’s 2024. On with the show, this is it.

Follow the bouncing ball….