Argentina & Mexico win team event at 2024 Pan American Racquetball Championships

The top seeds won both the women’s and men’s team events on the final day of competition at the XXXV Pan American Championships in Guatemala City Saturday. Argentina defeated the Dominican Republic in two straight matches, while Mexico needed three matches to beat the USA.

In the first match of the women’s final, Argentina’s Natalia Mendez beat Dominican Alejandra Jimenez, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4, and then Maria Jose Vargas - who won the Women’s Singles title earlier in the week - defeated Merynanyelly Delgado, 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-2, in what was a rematch of one of the women’s singles semi-finals that Vargas won in three straight games.

Delgado put in a strong performance on Saturday, and for a time had some people thinking that maybe there was a chance of an upset after she won game three. However, that was short lived, as Vargas took a 9-1 lead in game four, closing it out 11-2.

Veteran Charlie Pratt got things off to a good start for the USA in the men’s final, as he defeated Mexican Sebastian Hernández, 11-8, 12-14, 11-6, 11-8. However, Rodrigo Montoya levelled the final at 1-1 by beating Jake Bredenbeck, 11-4, 11-6, 11-3.

That meant a doubles match to break the tie, which Hernandez and Montoya won in three straight games against brothers Jake and Sam Bredenbeck, 11-9, 11-7, 11-2.

All five matches of the team event finals were live streamed, so you can watch them - or watch them again via the IRF YouTube channel.

XXXV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - March 23-31, 2024

Women's Team Event - Final Saturday

1) Argentina d. 3) Dominican Republic, 2-0 Natalia Mendez d. Alejandra Jimenez, 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 Maria Jose Vargas d. Merynanyelly Delgado, 11-4, 11-9, 8-11, 11-2

Men's Team Event - Final Saturday

1) Mexico d. 3) USA, 2-1 Charlie Pratt d. Sebastian Hernández, 11-8, 12-14, 11-6, 11-8 Rodrigo Montoya d. Jake Bredenbeck, 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 Hernández & Montoya d. Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 11-9, 11-7, 11-2

Follow the bouncing ball….

Dominican Republic, Argentina, Mexico and USA make team finals at 2024 Pan American Racquetball Championships

The Dominican Republic will have a chance to win gold in the Women’s Team event at the XXXV Pan American Championships in Guatemala City on Saturday, as they defeated Chile in the semi-finals on Friday. We believe this is the first time the Domincan has been in a team final. The Dominican’s opponent in the final will be top seeds Argentina. The Men’s Team final will be between two long time racquetball rivals: Mexico and the USA.

Both the Dominican and Argentinian women won their semi-finals in two straight matches. The 3rd seeded Dominican defeated 2nd seeds Chile, while Argentina beat the 4th seeded USA team.

In one semi-final, Dominican Alejandra Jimenez defeated Chilean Paula Mansilla, 11-5, 11-3, 6-11, 11-8, and then Merynanyelly Delgado and Maria Cespedes took out Mansilla and Carla Muñoz, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6. In the other semi, Argentina’s Natalia Mendez defeated American Lexi York, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, and then she and Maria Jose Vargas beat Naomi Ros and York, 11-4, 11-5, 11-5, which was the score line we were expecting when those two teams met in the Women’s Doubles final on Thursday, but which went to a tie-breaker before Argentina prevailed.

On the men’s side, both semi-finals needed three matches to decide the winner. In the Mexico-Canada semi, Mexican Sebastian Hernández somehow prevailed over Canadian Coby Iwaasa, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 16-14, 11-4, because it looked like Hernández was running on fumes in the second half of that match. Yet he fought off five match points in the fourth game to force a deciding fifth, which he won.

Iwaasa recovered and helped Samuel Murray beat Hernandez and Rodrigo Montoya in doubles, 11-3, 11-7, 11-7, and Canada never trailed in that match. The deciding match was between Montoya and Kurtis Cullen, who were meeting for the second time this tournament, having played in the group stage. This result was the same, as Montoya won in three straight games, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6.

Team USA veteran Charlie Pratt did his job by holding on to defeat Costa Rican Gabriel Garcia, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9, in the first match of their semi-final. But Garcia and Andrés Acuña defeated brothers Jake and Sam Bredenbeck, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8, in the doubles match to set up a deciding singles match between Jake Bredenbeck and Acuña. Acuña won the first game, but Bredenbeck won the next three, finishing off the match with a drive serve ace to the right side, to win it, 6-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5.

One men’s quarterfinal needed three matches, as Canada and Guatemala went the distance with Iwaasa and Murray defeating Edwin Galicia and Juan Salvatierra, 11-7, 13-11, 12-10.

In the women’s quarters, both Dominican Republic versus Costa Rica and Chile versus Guatemala needed three matches to decide the winner. In the deciding doubles matches, Dominicans Delgado and Cespedes beat Costa Ricans Larissa Faeth and Jimena Gomez, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6, while Chileans Paula Mansilla and Carla Muñoz defeated Anna Aguilar and Jazmin Aguilar, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7.

The team event begins at 10 AM Friday with the Men’s Team event going first. For draws, look to the R2 Sports website. Also, some of the matches are being streamed live, so check out the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.

XXXV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - March 23-31, 2024

Women's Team Event - Quarterfinals Friday

1) Argentina d. 8) Cuba, 2-0 Natalia Mendez d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli, 11-5, 11-3, 11-2 Maria Jose Vargas d. Kylie Lardner, 11-5, 11-2, 11-3
4) USA d. 5) Canada, 2-0 Lexi York d. Juliette Parent, 8-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 Michelle Key d. Danielle Ramsay, 8-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10

Dominican Republic d. Costa Rica, 2-1 Larissa Faeth d. Alejandra Jimenez, 11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7 Merynanyelly Delgado d. Jimena Gomez, 11-9, 11-2, 11-3 Delgado & Maria Cespedes d. Faeth & Gomez, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6
Chile d. Guatemala, 2-1 Paula Mansilla d. Jazmin Aguilar, 12-14, 14-12, 11-8, 11-3 Carla Muñoz d. Andrea Reyes, 11-4, 11-4, 10-12, 11-2 Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz d. Anna Aguilar & Jazmin Aguilar, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7

Women's Team Event - Semi-finals Friday

1) Argentina d. 4) USA, 2-0 Natalia Mendez d. Lexi York, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5 Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas d. Naomi Ros & York, 11-4, 11-5, 11-5

Dominican Republic d. Chile, 2-0 Alejandra Jimenez d. Paula Mansilla, 11-5, 11-3, 6-11, 11-8 Merynanyelly Delgado & Maria Cespedes d. Mansilla & Carla Muñoz, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6

Women's Team Event - Final Saturday

1) Argentina v. 3) Dominican Republic 1st - Natalia Mendez v. Alejandra Jimenez 2nd - Maria Jose Vargas v. Merynanyelly Delgado 3rd - Mendea & Vargas v. Delgado & Maria Cespedes

Men's Team Event - Quarterfinals Friday

1) Mexico d. 8) Cuba - 2-0 Sebastian Hernández d. Maikel Moyet, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 Rodrigo Montoya d. Yandy Espinosa, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
4) Canada d. 5) Guatemala - 2-1 Coby Iwaasa d. Juan Salvatierra, 10-12, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3, 11-7 Edwin Galicia d. Kurtis Cullen, 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 13-11 Iwaasa & Samuel Murray d. Galicia & Salvatierra, 11-7, 13-11, 12-10

3) USA d. 6) Chile - 2-0 Charlie Pratt d. Rafael Gatica, 15-13, 11-7, 11-4 Jake Bredenbeck d. Jaime Mansilla, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-5

2) Costa Rica d. 7) Dominican Republic - 2-0 Gabriel Garcia d. Ramon De Leon, 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 Andrés Acuña d. Jean Marco Pumarol, 11-8, 11-4, 11-1

Men's Team Event - Semi-finals Friday

1) Mexico d. 4) Canada - 2-1 Sebastian Hernández d. Coby Iwaasa, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 16-14, 11-4 Iwaasa & Samuel Murray d. Hernandez & Rodrigo Montoya, 11-3, 11-7, 11-7 Rodrigo Montoya d. Kurtis Cullen, 11-7, 11-8, 11-6

3) USA d. 2) Costa Rica, 2-1 Charlie Pratt d. Gabriel Garcia, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9 Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia d. Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 11-7, 11-9, 11-8 Jake Bredenbeck d. Andrés Acuña, 6-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5

Men's Team Event - Final Saturday

1) Mexico v. 3) USA 1st - Sebastian Hernández v. Charlie Pratt 2nd - Rodrigo Montoya v. Jake Bredenbeck 3rd - Hernández & Montoya v. Jake & Sam Bredenbeck

Follow the bouncing ball….

Four countries win gold at 2024 Pan American Racquetball Championships

Maria José Vargas of Argentina won two Pan American Championships Thursday at the XXXV Pan American Championships in Guatemala City. In the Women’s Singles final, she comprehensively beat Chilean Carla Muñoz, 11-1, 11-3, 11-5, but in the Women’s Doubles final Vargas and Natalia Mendez had their hands full with the young American team of Naomi Ros and Lexi York, as that match went a full five games before Argentina prevailed, 7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9.

On the men’s side, Mexican Rodrigo Montoya defeated Canadian Samuel Murray in the Men’s Singles final in four games, 11-7, 6-11, 15-13, 11-8, while the Costa Rican team of Andrés Acuña and Gabriel Garcia beat Murray and Coby Iwaasa in the Men’s Doubles final, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7, 11-1, to capture the 1st Pan American Racquetball Championship for Costa Rica.

Canada and the USA also faced off in the final of Mixed Doubles, Americans Sam Bredenbeck and Michelle Key defeated Canadians Iwaasa and Juliette Parent, 11-7, 7-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-1. The win is the first US gold medal at the Pan Am Championships since 2018, when Rhonda Rajsich won Women’s Singles. Three different countries have now won Mixed Doubles at Pan Am Championships since it was introduced two years ago. The first two titles went to Mexico and Bolivia.

Vargas’s singles win was overwhelming, as she hit 25 winners, as well as 3 aces and one service winner. Muñoz only skipped the ball four times, so it’s not like she gave the match away through errors or poor play. Vargas hardly let her play, as many of the rallies were a few shots at most.

That performance is partly why the doubles match was so surprising, as the expectation was that Argentina would steam roll the Americans. Yet that didn’t happen. The USA led for most of game one, although Argentina tied it at 7-7. Then Ros hit four winners on consecutive rallies to close out game one 11-7, and despite being on the losing side, she was arguably the player of the match.

Argentina jumped out to a 5-0 lead in game two, and held on to win, although the USA did get within one at 9-8 before Argentina won it 11-8. Argentina did switch sides at the start of that game, as Mendez went from the left side, where she was in game one, to the right, and vice versa for Vargas.

In game three, they were close the whole way, including being tied at 8-8 and 10-10. York got her side the last two points to close out game three, 12-10, and put the USA up 2-1 on the top seed Argentina team.

Game four was also close all the way, and Argentina had switched back to their usual spots with Mendez on the left and Vargas on the right. The USA had small leads in the middle of that game at 7-5 and 8-6. However, Argentina outscored them down the stretch, 5-1, to win game four 11-9.

Argentina jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game five, and led all the way from there. However, the USA did get within one at 5-4. Argentina got match point at 10-5, but the USA won the next four rallies to get within one again at 10-9 with Ros serving. She hit a short serve, and then tried to play it safe by hitting a Z serve to the left, where Mendez was receiving serve, but Ros hit a three wall serve, so double faulted to end what was one of the stranger matches in recent memory.

Vargas has now won four Pan Am Championships: two in singles and two in doubles - both with Mendez. She previously won singles in 2014, and they first won doubles two years ago in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

In the Men’s Singles final, neither Montoya or Murray really had their A game. After splitting the first two games, the turn really came in game three. They were close early in that game, but then Montoya went out to a 8-4 lead. Murray called a timeout at that point, but Montoya extended the lead to 10-5.

But as he’s shown several times, Murray can come back from deficits like no one else. He won the next five rallies to tie the game at 10-10 with a forehand winner. Murray had a game point at 11-10, but Montoya forced him into trying to keep the ball in play by hitting it into the back wall, which was unsuccessful.

Murray didn’t get another game point opportunity after that, but did fend off two Montoya game points before the end came as Murray skipped a forehand reverse pinch serve return of a lob to the right side, which made the score 15-13 for Montoya.

They were close all the way in game four, with no leads greater than two points until the end, when Montoya won it with a backhand boast - side wall, side wall, front wall - to win it 11-8, and the match 3-1.

Montoya’s win is the 8th Pan Am Championships title for Mexico in Men’s Singles, and the first since 2017, when Alejandro Landa won it. The other previous Mexican winners are Alvaro Beltran (2007, 2008, 2009), Daniel De Rosa (2011, 2016), and Polo Gutierrez (2013). Montoya broke the streak of Bolivian Men’s Singles Pan American Champions at four. Conrrado Moscoso won the last two Pan Am Championships and Carlos Keller the two before that.

The team event begins at 10 AM Friday with the Men’s Team event going first. For draws, look to the R2 Sports website. Also, some of the matches are being streamed live, so check out the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.

XXXV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - March 23-31, 2024

Women’s Singles Medal Round - Final Thursday

3) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 5) Carla Muñoz (Chile), 11-1, 11-3, 11-5

Women’s Singles Elite Draw - Final Thursday

2) Lexi York (USA) d. 4) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 11-9, 11-8, 11-8

Men's Singles Medal Round - Final Thursday

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. 3) Samuel Murray (Canada), 11-7, 6-11, 15-13, 11-8

Men’s Singles Elite Draw - Final Thursday

2) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) d. 1) Jose Caceres (Guatemala), 11-7, 11-8, 11-5

Women's Doubles - Medal Round - Final Thursday

1) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 2) Naomi Ros & Lexi York (USA), 7-11, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9, 11-9

Men's Doubles - Medal Round - Finals Thursday

4) Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) d. 2) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada), 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 7-11, 11-1

Mixed Doubles - Medal Round - Final Thursday

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) d. 4) Coby Iwaasa & Juliette Parent (Canada), 11-9, 12-10, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball….

Murray dominates as Canada reach 3 finals at 2024 Pan American Racquetball Championships

It is rare for players to blank their opponents under rally scoring rules, but Canadian Samuel Murray blanked American Jake Bredenbeck in the second game of their semi-final Men's Singles match at the XXXV Pan American Championships in Guatemala City on Wednesday. That was part of a dominant performance by the Canadian, who didn’t skip a shot until he was up 8-0 in the third game. Murray won 11-3, 11-0, 11-3, which included a streak of 21 points in a row from 9-3 in game one to 8-0 in game three.

The win puts Murray into Thursday’s final, when he’ll play Mexican Rodrigo Montoya. Montoya beat Costa Rican Andrés Acuña, 11-9, 11-2, 11-3, in the other semi. The final will be a rematch of the International Racquetball Tour Louis Drug Pro-Am in January, when Murray defeated Montoya in three games to win the 2nd IRT title of his career.

On the women’s side, María José Vargas of Argentina is in the final, as expected. She beat Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic, 11-3, 11-7, 11-5, in the semi-finals on Wednesday. Chilean Carla Muñoz prevented an All-Argentina final, as she defeated Vargas’s team-mate Natalia Mendez, 11-2, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, in the other semi.

Argentina will also play for gold in Women’s Doubles, as Mendez and Vargas defeated Maria Cespedes and Delgado of the Dominican Republic, 11-6, 11-4, 11-5. They’ll play The USA team of Naomi Ros and Lexi York, who eked out a five game victory over Chileans Paula Mansilla and Carla Muñoz, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-1.

In Men's Doubles, it’ll be Canada versus Costa Rica. Costa Ricans Acuña and Gabriel Garcia caused the first real surprise of the tournament, as they knocked off the top seeds Sebastian Hernandez and Rodrigo Montoya from Mexico, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7, in one semi-final on Wednesday. In the other, Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Murray defeated the USA team of Jake and Sam Bredenbeck, 13-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-9.

Canada and the USA will also face off in the final of Mixed Doubles. In the semi-finals, Americans Sam Bredenbeck and Michelle Key defeated Chileans Jaime Mansilla and Carla Muñoz, 11-8, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5, while Canadians Iwaasa and Juliette Parent held on to beat Argentina’s Gerson Miranda and Natalia Mendez, 11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 7-11, 11-7, in what was a replay of a group stage match won by Argentina in five games.

Parent was really the player of the match, as the young Canadian more than held her own on the right side against Mendez, the #12 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour.

If Canada wins Men's Doubles, it will be the second time in three years that Iwaasa and Murray are Pan American Champions. The same goes for Argentina with Mendez and Vargas in Women's Doubles.

The finals start at 10 AM Thursday with the Women’s Singles final, followed by the Men’s Singles final at 10:45 AM. The first doubles final is the women’s final at 12:15 PM followed by the men’s and mixed finals. For draws, look to the R2 Sports website. Also, some of the matches are being streamed live, so check out the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.

XXXV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - March 23-31, 2024

Women’s Singles Medal Round - Semi-finals Wednesday

5) Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. 1) Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 11-2, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7
3) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 2) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 11-3, 11-7, 11-5

Women’s Singles Medal Round - Final Thursday

3) María José Vargas (Argentina) v. 5) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 10 AM

Women’s Singles Elite Draw - Semi-finals Wednesday

4) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. 1) Paula Mansilla (Chile), 11-13, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8
2) Lexi York (USA) d. 7) Andrea Reyes (Guatemala), 11-5, 11-9, 11-9

Women’s Singles Elite Draw - Final Thursday

2) Lexi York (USA) v. 4) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) - 10 AM

Men's Singles Medal Round - Semi-finals Wednesday

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. 5) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica), 11-9, 11-2, 11-3
3) Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA), 11-3, 11-0, 11-3

Men’s Singles Elite Draw - Final Thursday

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 3) Samuel Murray (Canada) - 10:45 AM

Men’s Singles Elite Draw - Semi-finals Wednesday

1) Jose Caceres (Guatemala) d. 4) Rafael Gatica (Chile), 11-7, 11-7, 13-11
2) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) d. 3) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9

Men’s Singles Elite Draw - Final Thursday

1) Jose Caceres (Guatemala) v. 2) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - 10:45 AM

Women's Doubles - Medal Round - Semi-finals Wednesday

1) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 4) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 11-6, 11-4, 11-5
2) Naomi Ros & Lexi York (USA) v. 6) Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-1

Women's Doubles - Medal Round - Final Thursday

1) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. 2) Naomi Ros & Lexi York (USA) - 12:15 PM

Men's Doubles - Medal Round - Semi-finals Wednesday

4) Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) d. 1) Sebastian Hernandez & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico), 7-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-7
2) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA), 13-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-9

Men's Doubles - Medal Round - Finals Thursday

2) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 4) Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) - 1 PM

Mixed Doubles - Medal Round - Semi-finals Wednesday

4) Coby Iwaasa & Juliette Parent (Canada) d. 1) Gerson Miranda & Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 11-9, 13-11, 7-11, 7-11, 11-7
3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) v. d. 2) Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 11-8, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5

Mixed Doubles - Medal Round - Final Thursday

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) v. 4) Coby Iwaasa & Juliette Parent (Canada) - 2:30 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Mendez survives scare at 2024 Pan American Racquetball Championships

The quarterfinals of the medal round at the XXXV Pan American Championships in Guatemala City saw no big surprises on Tuesday, although Canadian Danielle Ramsay almost caused a seismic upset in Women’s Singles, as she was two games up on top seed Natalia Mendez of Argentina and then three points from winning it in the fifth game. However, Mendez managed to eke out the victory, 4-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-3, 11-8. She’ll play Chilean Carla Muñoz in the semi-finals Wednesday, as Muñoz defeated American Michelle Key, 11-8, 12-10, 12-10, 11-8 [sic].

After losing games three and four, Ramsay was up 5-0 in the breaker. Mendez came back and tied it at 6-6. They were also tied at 7-7 and 8-8, when Ramsay hit a drive serve to the right side that was a little loose, and Mendez hit a winning return down the line.

That put Mendez up 9-8, and she then hit winners on the next two rallies to close it out, 11-8, and advance to the semis.

In Men’s Singles, it was American Jake Bredenbeck who needed a tie-breaker to advance to the semis, as young Mexican Sebastian Fernandez came back from two games down only to fall short in the tie-breaker as veteran Bredenbeck won 11-1, 11-2, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9. He’ll face Canadian Samuel Murray in the semi-finals, as Murray fended off another young player in Argentina’s Gerson Miranda Martinez, 10-12, 11-8, 11-3, 12-10.

On the top of the draw, top seed Rodrigo Montoya of Mexico beat Costa Rican Gabriel Garcia, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5, and in the semis will play another Costa Rican in Andres Acuña, who defeated American Charlie Pratt, 11-2, 11-4, 11-5.

The semi-finals begin Wednesday at 10 AM. For draws, look to the R2 Sports website. Also, some of the matches are being streamed live, so check out the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.

XXXV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - March 23-31, 2024

Women’s Singles Medal Round - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. 8) Danielle Ramsay (Canada), 4-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-3, 11-8
5) Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. 4) Michelle Key (USA), 11-8, 12-10, 12-10, 11-8 [sic]

3) María José Vargas (Argentina) d. 6) Juliette Parent (Canada), 11-4, 11-5, 11-3
2) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. 7) Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica), 11-6, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9

Women’s Singles Medal Round - Semi-finals Wednesday

1) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. 5) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 10:45 AM
2) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) v. 3) María José Vargas (Argentina) - 10:45 AM

Women’s Singles Elite Draw - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Paula Mansilla (Chile) d. 8) Kylie Larduet (Cuba), 11-4, 11-7, 11-6
4) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. 5) Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba), 11-8, 11-3, 11-6

6) Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala) d. 3) Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6
2) Lexi York (USA) d. 7) Andrea Reyes (Guatemala), 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4

Women’s Singles Elite Draw - Semi-finals Wednesday

1) Paula Mansilla (Chile) v. 4) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) - 11:30 AM
2) Lexi York (USA) v. 7) Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) - 11:30 AM

Men's Singles Medal Round - Round of 16 Tuesday

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
8) Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) d. 9) Kurtis Cullen (Canada), 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 9-11, 11-5

5) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - BYE
4) Charlie Pratt (USA) - BYE

3) Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE
6) Gerson Miranda Martinez (Argentina) - BYE

10) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) d. 7) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 11-6, 11-7, 11-9
2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) - BYE

Men's Singles Medal Round - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. 8) Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 11-5, 11-6, 11-5
5) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 4) Charlie Pratt (USA), 11-2, 11-4, 11-5

3) Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 6) Gerson Miranda Martinez (Argentina), 10-12, 11-8, 11-3, 12-10
2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. 10) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico), 11-1, 11-2, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9

Men's Singles Medal Round - Semi-finals Wednesday

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 5) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 10 AM
2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) v. 3) Samuel Murray (Canada) - 10 AM

Men’s Singles Elite Draw - Round of 16 Tuesday

1) Jose Caceres (Guatemala) - BYE
8) Carlos Medrano (Honduras) d. 9) Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 11-6, 11-7, 11-6

5) Jean Marco Pumarol (Dominican Republic) - BYE
3) Rafael Gatica (Chile) - BYE

3) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - BYE
6) Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - BYE

7) Enier Chacon (Cuba) - BYE
2) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - BYE

Men’s Singles Elite Draw - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Jose Caceres (Guatemala) d. 8) Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 7-11, 11-9, 14-16, 11-7, 11-4
4) Rafael Gatica (Chile) d. 5) Jean Marco Pumarol (Dominican Republic), 11-4, 11-1, 11-7

3) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. 6) Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-4, 11-1, 11-7
2) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) d. 9) Enier Chacon (Cuba), 12-10, 8-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-2

Men’s Singles Elite Draw - Semi-finals Wednesday

1) Jose Caceres (Guatemala) v. 4) Rafael Gatica (Chile) - 10:45
2) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) v. 3) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - 10 AM

Women's Doubles - Medal Round - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. 8) Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Kylie Larduet (Cuba), 11-4, 11-2, 11-2
4) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. 4) Larissa Faeth & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-7, 10-12, 11-9, 11-3

6) Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. 3) Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala), 11-3, 11-8, 11-6
2) Naomi Ros & Lexi York (USA) d. 7) Marjolaine Parent & Danielle Ramsay (Canada), 11-7, 11-4, 11-3

Women's Doubles - Medal Round - Semi-finals Wednesday

1) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. 4) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - 1 PM
2) Naomi Ros & Lexi York (USA) v. 6) Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 1 PM

Men's Doubles - Medal Round - Round of 16 Tuesday

1) Sebastian Hernandez & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
9) Ramon De Leon & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic) d. 8) Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-6, 13-11, 6-11, 6-11, 11-9

5) Rafael Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - BYE
4) Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) - BYE

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) - BYE
6) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - BYE

7) Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras) - BYE
2) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE

Men's Doubles - Medal Round - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Sebastian Hernandez & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. 9) Ramon De Leon & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic), 11-4 12-10, 11-6
4) Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) d. 5) Rafael Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile), 9-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-0

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) d. 6) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 11-8, 13-11, 10-12, 11-8
2) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 7) Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 11-5, 11-4, 11-5

Men's Doubles - Medal Round - Semi-finals Wednesday

1) Sebastian Hernandez & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 4) Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) - 1:45 PM
2) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 3) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) - 1:45 PM

Mixed Doubles - Medal Round - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Gerson Miranda & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE
4) Coby Iwaasa & Juliette Parent (Canada) d. 5) Andrea Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 11-6, 11-6, 11-8

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) d. 6) Alejandra Jimenez & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic), 13-11, 11-6, 11-8
2) Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. 7) Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-4, 11-4, 11-7

Mixed Doubles - Medal Round - Semi-finals Wednesday

1) Gerson Miranda & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. 4) Coby Iwaasa & Juliette Parent (Canada) d. 5) Andrea Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 3:15 PM
2) Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. 3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) - 3:15 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Draws for 2024 Pan American Racquetball Championships

The draws for the medal round of play at the XXXV Pan American Championships in Guatemala City are below, as well as the “Elite Draw,” which is a consolation side for players who finished in the 3rd and 4th spots in the group stage.

The medal round begins Tuesday from 10 AM on. For draws, look to the R2 Sports website. Also, some of the matches are being streamed live, so check out the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.

XXXV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - March 23-31, 2024

Women’s Singles Medal Round - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. 8) Danielle Ramsay (Canada) - 10:45 AM
4) Michelle Key (USA) v. 5) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 10:45 AM

3) María José Vargas (Argentina) v.
Juliette Parent (Canada) - 10:45 AM
2) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) v. Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica) - 10:45 AM

Women’s Singles Elite Draw - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Paula Mansilla (Chile) v. 8) Kylie Larduet (Cuba) - 12:15 PM
4) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) v. 5) Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba) - 12:15 PM

3) Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) v. 6) Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala) - 12:15 PM
2) Lexi York (USA) v. 7) Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) - 12:15 PM

Men's Singles Medal Round - Round of 16 Tuesday

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
8) Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) v. 9) Kurtis Cullen (Canada) - 10 AM

5) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - BYE
4) Charlie Pratt (USA) - BYE

3) Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE
6) Gerson Miranda Martinez (Argentina) - BYE

7) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) v. 10) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) - 10 AM
2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) - BYE

Men's Singles Medal Round - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 8) Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) or 9) Kurtis Cullen (Canada) - 11:30 AM
4) Charlie Pratt (USA) v. 5) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 11:30 AM

3) Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 6) Gerson Miranda Martinez (Argentina) - 11:30 AM
2) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) v. 7) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - 11:30 AM

Men’s Singles Elite Draw - Round of 16 Tuesday

1) Jose Caceres (Guatemala) - BYE
8) Carlos Medrano (Honduras) v. 9) Sergio Ortega (Honduras) - 10 AM

5) Jean Marco Pumarol (Dominican Republic) - BYE
3) Rafael Gatica (Chile) - BYE

3) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - BYE
6) Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - BYE

7) Enier Chacon (Cuba) - BYE
2) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - BYE

Men’s Singles Elite Draw - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Jose Caceres (Guatemala) v. 8) Carlos Medrano (Honduras) or 9) Sergio Ortega (Honduras) - 1 PM
4) Rafael Gatica (Chile) v. 5) Jean Marco Pumarol (Dominican Republic) - 1 PM

3) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) v. 6) Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - 1 PM
3) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) v. 4) Enier Chacon (Cuba) - 1 PM

Women's Doubles - Medal Round - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) v. 8) Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Kylie Larduet (Cuba) - 1:45 PM
4) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) v. 4) Larissa Faeth & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) - 1:45 PM

3) Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) v. 6) Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 1:45 PM
2) Naomi Ros & Lexi York (USA) v. 7) Marjolaine Parent & Danielle Ramsay (Canada) - 1:45 PM

Men's Doubles - Medal Round - Round of 16 Tuesday

1) Sebastian Hernandez & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE
8) Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) v. 9) Ramon De Leon & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic) - 10 AM

5) Rafael Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - BYE
4) Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) - BYE

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) - BYE
6) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - BYE

7) Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras) - BYE
2) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE

Men's Doubles - Medal Round - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Sebastian Hernandez & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) v. 8) Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) or 9) Ramon De Leon & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic) - 2:30 PM
4) Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) v. 5) Rafael Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - 2:30 PM

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) v. 6) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 2:30 PM
2) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) v. 7) Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras) - 2:30 PM

Mixed Doubles - Medal Round - Quarterfinals Tuesday

1) Gerson Miranda & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE
4) Coby Iwaasa & Juliette Parent (Canada) v. 5) Andrea Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 4 PM

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) v. 6) Alejandra Jimenez & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic) - 4 PM
2) Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) v. 7) Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - 4 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Last day of group stage at 2024 Pan American Racquetball Championships

Monday saw the final round of group matches at the XXXV Pan American Championships in Guatemala City, which sets the stage for the medal round that will begin on Tuesday. Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic beat Canadian Danielle Ramsay, 15-6, 15-5, 15-7, to top group two and capture the 2nd for the medal round, so she’ll have a good chance to be on the podium.

Another day, another tie-breaker win for American Charlie Pratt, who held on to defeat Costa Rican Gabriel Garcia, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5. Garcia was up early in the breaker, but Pratt came back to take it, helped by two crack drive serve aces: one to the right and then one to the left. Pratt went undefeated in group four.

The American Women’s Doubles team of Naomi Ros and Lexi York won group two, but they needed a tie-breaker to do it, as the Guatemalan team of Anna Paula Aguilar and Andrea Reyes forced the Americans to a fifth game after dropping the first two. But it was the USA who carried the day in the, winning 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 11-13, 11-5.

Two tie-breakers in Men’s Doubles. Chileans Rafael Gatica and Jaime Mansilla were up 2-1 on top seeds Sebastian Hernandez and Rodrigo Montoya of Mexico, but the Mexicans came back to win, 11-6, 9-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-1. Also, Americans brothers Jake and Sam Bredenbeck came back from two game down to defeat Costa Ricans Andrés Acuña and Gabriel Garcia, 5-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5.

Finally, in Mixed Doubles, Chileans Paula Mansilla and Carla Muñoz held on to beat the USA team of Sam Bredenbeck and Michelle Key, 14-12, 13-11, 8-11, 3-11, 11-3, and win group two.

The medal round begins Tuesday from 10 AM on. For draws, look to the R2 Sports website. Also, some of the matches are being streamed live, so check out the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for atches.

XXXV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - March 23-31, 2024

Women's Singles

Group 1 - Monday

Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Paula Mansilla (Chile), 11-7, 11-2, 11-6
Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica) d. Kylie Larduet (Cuba), 11-4, 11-8, 11-2

Standings

1) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 3-0
2) Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica) - 2-1
3) Paula Mansilla (Chile) - 1-2
4) Kylie Larduet (Cuba) - 0-3

Group 2 - Monday

Lexi York (USA) d. Andrea Reyes (Guatemala), 11-7, 11-6, 11-7
Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Danielle Ramsay (Canada), 11-6, 11-5, 11-7

Standings

1) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - 3-0
2) Danielle Ramsay (Canada) - 2-1
3) Lexi York (USA) - 1-2
4) Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) - 0-3

Group 3 - Monday

María José Vargas (Argentina) d. Carla Muñoz (Chile), 11-5, 4-11, 13-11, 11-8
Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba), 11-5, 11-6, 11-3

Standings

1) María José Vargas (Argentina) - 3-0
2) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 2-1
3) Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) - 1-2
4) Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba) - 0-3

Group 4 - Monday

Michelle Key (USA) d. Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala), 11-7, 11-3, 11-7
Juliette Parent (Canada) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 11-5, 11-9, 12-10

Standings

1) Michelle Key (USA) - 3-0
2) Juliette Parent (Canada) - 2-1
3) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) - 1-2
4) Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala) - 0-3

Men's Singles

Group 1 - Monday

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Kurtis Cullen (Canada), 11-6, 13-11, 11-5
Jose Caceres (Guatemala) - BYE

Standings

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - 2-0
2) Kurtis Cullen (Canada) - 1-1
3) Jose Caceres (Guatemala), 0-2

Group 2 - Monday

Jaime Mansilla (Chile) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 11-5, 11-9, 11-3
Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), 11-6, 11-7, 11-6

Standings

1) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) - 3-0
2) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - 2-1
3) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - 1-2
4) Sergio Ortega (Honduras) - 0-3

Group 3 - Monday

Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 11-2, 11-9, 12-10
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico), 11-8, 11-9, 13-11

Standings

1) Samuel Murray (Canada) - 3-0
1) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) - 2-1
3) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - 1-2
4) Enier Chacon (Cuba) - 0-3

Group 4 - Monday

Charlie Pratt (USA) d. Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5
Rafael Gatica (Chile) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 8-11, 11-4, 12-10, 11-7

Standings

1) Charlie Pratt (USA) - 3-0
2) Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) - 2-1
3) Rafael Gatica (Chile) - 1-2
4) Carlos Medrano (Honduras) - 0-3

Group 5 - Monday

Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Gerson Miranda Martinez (Argentina), 11-4, 8-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-6
Maikel Moyet (Cuba) d. Jean Marco Pumarol (Dominican Republic), 11-5, 11-5, 11-5

Standings

1) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 3-0
2) Gerson Miranda Martinez (Argentina) - 2-1
3) Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - 1-2
4) Jean Marco Pumarol (Dominican Republic) - 0-3

Women's Doubles

Group 1 - Monday

Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 12-10, 12-10, 12-10
Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Marjolaine Parent & Danielle Ramsay (Canada), 11-5, 11-5, 11-5

Standings

1) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - 3-0
2) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - 2-1
3) Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 1-2
4) Marjolaine Parent & Danielle Ramsay (Canada) - 0-3

Group 2 - Monday

Naomi Ros & Lexi York (USA) d. Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala), 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 11-13, 11-5
Larissa Faeth & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Kylie Larduet (Cuba), 11-8, 11-3, 11-6

Standings

1) Naomi Ros & Lexi York (USA) - 3-0
2) Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) - 2-1
3) Larissa Faeth & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 1-2
4) Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Kylie Larduet (Cuba), 0-3

Men's Doubles

Group 1 - Monday

Sebastian Hernandez & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Rafael Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile), 11-6, 9-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-1
Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - BYE

Standings

1) Sebastian Hernandez & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - 2-0
2) Rafael Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - 1-1
3) Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - 0-2

Group 2 - Monday

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 7-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5
Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras) - BYE

Standings

1) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - 2-0
2) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 1-1
3) Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras) - 0-2

Group 3 - Monday

Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) d. Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica), 5-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-5
Ramon De Leon & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic) - BYE

Standings

1) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) - 2-0
2) Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) - 1-1
3) Ramon De Leon & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic) - 0-2

Mixed Doubles

Group 1 - Monday

Gerson Miranda & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Andrea Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 11-4, 11-5, 11-6
Coby Iwaasa & Juliette Parent (Canada) - BYE

Standings

1) Gerson Miranda & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 2-0
2) Coby Iwaasa & Juliette Parent (Canada) - 1-1
3) Andrea Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 0-2

Group 2 - Monday

Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA), 14-12, 13-11, 8-11, 3-11, 11-3
Alejandra Jimenez & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic) d. d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-2, 15-13, 11-7

Standings

1) Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 3-0
2) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) - 2-1
3) Alejandra Jimenez & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic) - 1-2
4) Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - 0-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

Day 2 at 2024 Pan American Racquetball Championships

More good matches on day two of the XXXV Pan American Championships in Guatemala City, yet there haven’t really been any crazy surprises. Day three will bring the highest seeds of the groups playing each other, so that will ensure some great matches on Monday, and perhaps some surprises.

Perhaps the most surprising group is in Women’s Singles, as Group 2 will be won by either the 3rd or 4th seeded player, and that player will be 2nd seed in the medal round. Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic and Canadian Danielle Ramsay will face off on Monday, as both won their matches Sunday. Delgado beat Andrea Reyes, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4, and Ramsay handed American Lexi York her second loss via a come from behind tie-breaker win, 8-11, 11-2, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7.

There were four other tie-breakers Sunday. In Men’s Singles, American Charlie Pratt held on to defeat Chilean Rafael Gatica, 12-10, 11-2, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6. In Mixed Doubles, Argentina’s Natalia Mendez and Gerson Miranda came back from a game down to defeat Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Juliette Parent, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7. And there were two tie-breakers in Women’s Doubles.

In one, Maria Cespedes and Delgado of the Dominican Republic held on to defeat Chileans Paula Mansilla and Carla Muñoz, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, and in the other Guatemalans Anna Aguilar and Reyes denied Costa Ricans Larissa Faeth and Jimena Gomez, 11-5, 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-6.

The last round of group play is on Monday followed by the medal round beginning Tuesday. The top two players in each singles group advance to the medal round with the other players going into an “Elite” consolation round. All teams in doubles advance to the medal round with the group stage results determining the seeding in that round.

For draws, look to the Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) website or the R2 Sports site. Also, some of the matches are being streamed live, so check out the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.

XXXV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - March 23-31, 2024

Women's Singles

Group 1 - Sunday

Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica), 11-2, 11-2, 11-3
Paula Mansilla (Chile) d. Kylie Larduet (Cuba), 11-8, 11-4, 11-8

Standings

1) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 2-0
2) Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica) - 1-1
2) Paula Mansilla (Chile) - 1-1
4) Kylie Larduet (Cuba) - 0-2

Group 2 - Sunday

Danielle Ramsay (Canada) d. Lexi York (USA), 8-11, 11-2, 3-11, 11-9, 11-7
Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Andrea Reyes (Guatemala), 11-8, 11-8, 11-4

Standings

1) Danielle Ramsay (Canada) - 2-0
1) Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - 2-0
3) Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) - 0-2
3) Lexi York (USA) - 0-2

Group 3 - Sunday

María José Vargas (Argentina) d. Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-2, 11-1, 11-1
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba), 11-0, 11-3, 11-1

Standings

1) María José Vargas (Argentina) - 2-0
1) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 2-0
3) Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba) - 0-2
3) Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) - 0-2

Group 4 - Sunday

Michelle Key (USA) d. Juliette Parent (Canada), 11-6, 11-3, 11-5
Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala), 11-4, 11-5, 14-12

Standings

1) Michelle Key (USA) - 2-0
2) Juliette Parent (Canada) - 1-1
2) Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) - 1-1
4) Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala) - 0-2

Men's Singles

Group 1 - Sunday

Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Jose Caceres (Guatemala), 11-3, 11-4, 11-3
Kurtis Cullen (Canada) - BYE

Standings

1) Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - 1-0
1) Kurtis Cullen (Canada) - 1-0
3) Jose Caceres (Guatemala), 0-2

Group 2 - Sunday

Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 11-6, 11-1, 11-5
Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Jaime Mansilla (Chile), 11-7, 11-5, 11-8

Standings

1) Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - 2-0
1) Jake Bredenbeck (USA) - 2-0
3) Sergio Ortega (Honduras) - 0-2
3) Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - 0-2

Group 3 - Sunday

Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - 11-8, 11-6, 11-2
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 11-5, 11-6, 11-7

Standings

1) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) - 2-0
1) Samuel Murray (Canada) - 2-0

3) Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - 0-2
3) Enier Chacon (Cuba) - 0-2

Group 4 - Sunday

Charlie Pratt (USA) d. Rafael Gatica (Chile), 12-10, 11-3, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6
Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 6-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-2

Standings

1) Charlie Pratt (USA) - 2-0
1) Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) - 2-0
3) Rafael Gatica (Chile) - 0-2
3) Carlos Medrano (Honduras) - 0-2

Group 5 - Sunday

Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Jean Marco Pumarol (Dominican Republic), 11-6, 11-1, 11-4
Gerson Miranda Martinez (Argentina) d. Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 12-10, 11-7, 11-5

Standings

1) Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) - 2-0
1) Gerson Miranda Martinez (Argentina) - 2-0
3) Jean Marco Pumarol (Dominican Republic) - 0-2
3) Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - 0-2

Women's Doubles

Group 1 - Sunday

Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Marjolaine Parent & Danielle Ramsay (Canada), 11-3, 11-3, 11-2
Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile), 11-7, 10-12, 11-9, 6-11, 11-7

Standings

1) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - 2-0
2) Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - 1-1
2) Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 1-1
3) Marjolaine Parent & Danielle Ramsay (Canada) - 0-2

Group 2 - Sunday

Naomi Ros & Lexi York (USA) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Kylie Larduet (Cuba), 11-2, 11-4, 11-1
Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) d. Larissa Faeth & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-5, 11-6, 5-11, 10-12, 11-6

Standings

1) Naomi Ros & Lexi York (USA) - 2-0
1) Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) - 2-0
3) Larissa Faeth & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 0-2
3) Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Kylie Larduet (Cuba), 0-2

Men's Doubles

Group 1 - Sunday

Sebastian Hernandez & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) d. Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-4, 11-3, 11-9
Rafael Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - BYE

Standings

1) Sebastian Hernandez & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - 1-0
1) Rafael Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - 1-0
3) Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - 0-2

Group 2 - Sunday

Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 11-6, 11-2, 11-4
Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - BYE

Standings

1) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - 1-0
1) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 1-0
3) Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras) - 0-2

Group 3 - Sunday

Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) d. Ramon De Leon & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic), 11-9, 11-3, 11-4
Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) - BYE

Standings

1) Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) - 1-0
1) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) - 1-0
3) Ramon De Leon & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic) - 0-2

Mixed Doubles

Group 1 - Sunday

Gerson Miranda & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Coby Iwaasa & Juliette Parent (Canada), 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7
Andrea Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - BYE

Standings

1) Gerson Miranda & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 1-0
2) Coby Iwaasa & Juliette Parent (Canada) - 1-1
3) Andrea Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 0-1

Group 2 - Sunday

Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-4, 11-7, 13-11
Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Alejandra Jimenez & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic), 11-5, 11-4, 11-6

Standings

1) Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) - 2-0
1) Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 2-0
3) Alejandra Jimenez & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic) - 0-2
3) Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba) - 0-2

Follow the bouncing ball….

Day 1 of 2024 Pan American Championships

Day one of competition at the XXXV Pan American Championships in Guatemala City is over, and there were no real surprises, although there were several close matches. There are 10 countries competing compared with 14 last year. The big absence is Bolivia, who won both Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles last year.

On the women’s side, Argentina’s María José Vargas and Natalia Mendez are two of the favourites in singles, as well as doubles, with Chile’s Carla Muñoz and American Michelle Key also podium candidates in singles.

In doubles, past the Argentines it’s probably Muñoz and Paula Mansilla, and then it’s not so clear. The USA’s young team of Naomi Ros and Lexi York and Maria Cespedes and Merynanyelly Delgado of the Dominican Republic could both be tough.

On the men’s side, the favourites in singles are Mexican Rodrigo Montoya, American Jake Bredenbeck, Canadian Samuel Murray, and Costa Rican Andrés Acuña. Those four are also playing doubles, so they should be considered the podium favourites in that too. Montoya is playing with Sebastian Hernandez, Bredenbeck with his brother Sam, Murray with Coby Iwaasa, and they won the Pan Am Championship in 2022, and Acuña’s partner is Gabriel Garcia.

The draws are available through the R2 Sports website. Also, some of the matches are being streamed live, so check out the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.

XXXV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - March 23-31, 2024

Women's Singles

Group 1 - Saturday

Natalia Mendez (Argentina) d. Kylie Larduet (Cuba), 11-2, 11-2, 11-3
Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica) d. Paula Mansilla (Chile), 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 11-4

Group 2 - Saturday

Danielle Ramsay (Canada) d. Andrea Reyes (Guatemala), 11-7, 11-8, 11-13, 11-8
Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Lexi York (USA), 10-12, 14-12, 11-5, 4-11, 11-8

Group 3 - Saturday

María José Vargas (Argentina) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba), 11-1, 11-3, 11-4
Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-3, 11-4, 11-3

Group 4 - Saturday

Juliette Parent (Canada) d. Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala), 9-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-9
Michelle Key (USA) d. Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic), 11-9, 11-9, 14-16, 11-7

Men's Singles

Group 1 - Saturday

Kurtis Cullen (Canada) d. Jose Caceres (Guatemala), 10-12, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10
Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE

Group 2 - Saturday

Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) d. Jaime Mansilla (Chile), 11-3, 11-7, 12-10
Jake Bredenbeck (USA) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 11-1, 11-4, 11-3

Group 3 - Saturday

Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) d. Enier Chacon (Cuba), 11-7, 11-3, 11-6
Samuel Murray (Canada) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 11-6, 11-5, 11-5

Group 4 - Saturday

Charlie Pratt (USA) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 11-9, 12-10, 11-6
Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) d. Rafael Gatica (Chile), 11-9, 11-2, 11-6

Group 5 - Saturday

Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-2, 11-5, 11-3
Gerson Miranda Martinez (Argentina) d. Jean Marco Pumarol (Dominican Republic), 11-3, 11-5, 11-5

Women's Doubles

Group 1 - Saturday

Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) d. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), 12-10, 11-4, 11-9
Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Marjolaine Parent & Danielle Ramsay (Canada), 12-10, 11-6, 12-10

Group 2 - Saturday

Naomi Ros & Lexi York (USA) d. Larissa Faeth & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica), 11-6, 11-5, 11-6
Anna Aguilar & Andrea Reyes (Guatemala) v. Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Kylie Larduet (Cuba), 11-3, 11-5, 11-7

Men's Doubles

Group 1 - Saturday

Rafael Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) d. Yandy Espinosa & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-7, 11-3, 11-4
Sebastian Hernandez & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - BYE

Group 2 - Saturday

Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Carlos Medrano & Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 11-8, 11-3, 11-5
Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE

Group 3 - Saturday

Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) v. Ramon De Leon & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic), 11-6, 11-8, 11-0
Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) - BYE

Mixed Doubles

Group 1 - Saturday

Coby Iwaasa & Juliette Parent (Canada) d. Andrea Martinez & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 11-3, 11-3, 9-11, 11-7
Gerson Miranda & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

Group 2 - Saturday

Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) d. Samira Ferrer Marcilli & Maikel Moyet (Cuba), 11-3, 11-5, 11-4
Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) d. Alejandra Jimenez & Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic), 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9

Follow the bouncing ball….

2024 Pan American Championships - Preview

The 2024 Pan American Racquetball Championships begin Saturday in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The tournament was originally scheduled to be in Bolivia, but it was switched earlier this year.

There will be a team competition in Guatemala. So after playing the five individual events - men’s and women’s singles and doubles, and also mixed doubles - countries will face off in both men’s and women’s best of three match battles: two singles and one doubles. The order of the matches, whether doubles is played first, second or third, as well as which singles match is played when, varies by round.

Although we have to wait until teams are in Guatemala for the match schedule to be released, both the USA and Canada have announced who they will be sending to Guatemala, and both are a mix of veterans and young players.

On Team USA are Jake Bredenbeck, Sam Bredenbeck and Charlie Pratt on the men’s side, with Michelle Key, Naomi Ros and Lexi York on the women’s side. The Bredenbecks will play Men’s Doubles with Jake also playing singles and Sam playing Mixed Doubles with Key. Pratt will be the second Men’s Singles player. Key will also play singles, as will York. Ros and York will be the USA Women’s Doubles team.

Team Canada will be Kurtis Cullen, Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray as the men’s team with Juliette Parent, Marjolaine Parent and Danielle Ramsay as the women’s team. Murray will play Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles with Iwaasa, who will also play Mixed doubles will Juliette Parent. Juliette will play Women’s Singles, as will Ramsay. Ramsay and Marjolaine Parent will be the Women’s Doubles team.

2027 Pan American Games

The 2027 Pan American Games were scheduled to be in Barranquilla, Colombia, but Barranquilla was unselected for the games in January due to failing to meet contractual obligations. While that was surprising to us on the outside, apparently, it was not a surprise to those on the inside.

Two cities came forward as potential hosts for 2027: Ascunción, Paraguay, and Lima, Peru. Paraguay had never hosted the games before, while Lima was the host in 2019. Perhaps because of that previous experience, Lima narrowly won the selection vote (28 to 24), and will host the Pan American Games for a second time in less than a decade.

Racquetball was part of the 2019 Games in Peru, and we understand the courts are still there, so racquetball should be on the program again in 2027. Paraguay hasn’t been a racquetball country, so they would have needed to build courts. That might have happened, as Peru’s courts were newly built for the 2019 games. But there have been times when the host nation - Brazil in 2007 - didn’t want to build courts, so racquetball was excluded from the games that year.

Thus, selecting Lima should be a good thing for racquetball.

2024 Pan Am Championships Medalists

Below is a summary of the medalists at the 2023 Pan American Championships to refresh your memory. Also, if you want to see any of the finals from last year (as well as some matches from earlier in the tournament), check out the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) YouTube channel.

XXXIV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 1-8, 2023

Results Summary

Women’s Singles

Gold - Montserrat Mejia (Mexico)
Silver - María José Vargas (Argentina)
Bronze - Natalia Mendez (Argentina) and Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)

Men's Singles

Gold - Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
Silver - Carlos Keller (Bolivia)
Bronze - Jake Bredenbeck (USA) and Diego Garcia (Argentina)

Women's Doubles

Gold - Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia (Mexico)
Silver - Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)
Bronze - Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) and Angelica Barrios & Jenny Daza (Bolivia)

Men's Doubles

Gold - Rodrigo Montoya & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico)
Silver - Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
Bronze - Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) and Andres Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica)

Mixed Doubles

Gold - Angelica Barrios & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
Silver - Paola Longoria & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico)
Bronze - Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) and Maria Jose Vargas & Diego Garcia (Argentina)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Stein wins twice at 2024 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships

Baldwin Wallace’s Julia Stein won Women’s #1 Singles and #1 Doubles with Angie Case at the 2024 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona on the weekend. Stein is the 10th women to win both #1 singles and doubles at Intercollegiates, and the first since Annie Roberts in 2022.

In singles, Stein defeated Erin Slutzky (Arizona State) in the final. She won the first game, 15-8, and was up 13-12 in game two, when Slutzky slammed her eyeguards into the floor after the rally. It seemed like that outburst was without cause, although watching the end of the rally again, Stein’s followthrough may have hit Slutzky in the face. But if so, Stein seemed oblivious to that.

Regardless, it was an odd end to the match.

Stein and Case’s doubles win was their second consecutive title. This time they defeated Chloe Hilsenteger and Katt Macgregor of Oregon State, 15-11, 13-15, 11-5, in the final. Hilsenteger and Macgregor’s 2nd place finish is an improvement on their 3rd place finish last year.

On the men's side, Benjamin Horner (Des Moines Area Community College) defeated Timothy Jack (Brigham Young University), 15-10, 9-15, 11-6, in the Men’s #1 Singles final. In the semi-finals, Jack defeated top seed Ariel Tito (Colorado State), who won the title in 2022, 14-15, 15-11, 11-7, while Horner beat Ben Baron (Creighton), who was the runner-up in 2022, 15-11, 15-4.

Tito did claim the Men's Doubles title, as he and Samuel Lazcano Ramirez came back to defeat Cody Boucher and Tucker Elkins (Oregon State), 6-15, 15-7, 11-3, in the final.

Team standings

Oregon State was the overall team winner, and men’s team winner. Brigham Young topped the women’s team standings (Oregon State was second), and they were second in the men’s and overall standings.

The other top schools were the University of Missouri (3rd in men’s, 4th in women’s, 3rd overall), Baldwin Wallace University (3rd in women’s, 5th overall) and Liberty University (5th in men’s, 4th overall).

Intercollegiate participation

There were 110 players at the 2024 Intercollegiate Championships, which was about the same as the 109 at the 2023 championships. That remains lower than the pre-pandemic numbers, which were regularly over 200.

The men to women participation rate was similar to last year with five more men and five fewer women, so 31.8% of the field were women, which is generally better than at most racquetball tournaments. If there were over 30% women participation in tournaments, tournaments would be much bigger.

Quiz!

As mentioned above, Julie Stein is the 10th women to win both #1 singles and doubles at Intercollegiates. Who are the other 9? One was mentioned above. The others are at the bottom of this post.

2024 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships
Tempe, Arizona - March 14-16, 2024
(with seedings)

Women's Singles - Final

6) Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace) d. 1) Erin Slutzky (Arizona State), 15-8, 13-12, injury forfeit

Women's Singles - 3rd Place

4) Megan Carver (Washington State) d. 2) Stephanie Cook (Brigham Young), 15-7, 15-0

Women's Singles - Semi-finals

1) Erin Slutzky (Arizona State) d. 4) Megan Carver (Washington State), 15-5, 15-11
6) Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace) d. 2) Stephanie Cook (Brigham Young), 15-7, 11-15, 11-0

Women's Doubles - Final

1) Angie Case & Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace) d. 2) Chloe Hilsenteger & Katt Macgregor (Oregon State), 15-11, 13-15, 11-5

Women's Doubles - 3rd Place

4) Ashlyn Bell & Stephanie Cook (Brigham Young) d. 3) Zoe Browning & Gabbie Roseman (Missouri), 15-4, 15-3

Women's Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Angie Case & Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace) d. 4) Ashlyn Bell & Stephanie Cook (Brigham Young), 10-15, 15-8, 11-7
2) Chloe Hilsenteger & Katt Macgregor (Oregon State) d. 3) Zoe Browning & Gabbie Roseman (Missouri), 15-8, 15-6

Men's Singles - Final

3) Benjamin Horner (Des Moines Area Community College) d. 4) Timothy Jack (Brigham Young University), 15-10, 9-15, 11-6

Men's Singles - 3rd Place

1) Ariel Tito (Colorado State) d. 2) Ben Baron (Creighton), forfeit

Men's Singles - Semi-finals

4) Timothy Jack (Brigham Young University) d. 1) Ariel Tito (Colorado State), 14-15, 15-11, 11-7
3) Benjamin Horner (Des Moines Area Community College) d. 2) Ben Baron (Creighton), 15-11, 15-4

Men's Doubles - Final

2) Samuel Lazcano Ramirez & Ariel Tito (Colorado State) d. 1) Cody Boucher & Tucker Elkins (Oregon State), 6-15, 15-7, 11-3

Men's Doubles - 3rd Place

3) Timothy Jack & Bryce Palmer (Brigham Young University) d. 5) Edwin Miller & Ryan Sanner (Missouri), 15-11, 15-4

Men's Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Cody Boucher & Tucker Elkins (Oregon State) d. Edwin Miller & Ryan Sanner (Missouri), 15-7, 15-10
2) Samuel Lazcano Ramirez & Ariel Tito (Colorado State) d. 3) Timothy Jack & Bryce Palmer (Brigham Young University), 15-5, 15-2

2024 Intercollegiate Championship - Team standings

Men’s Team

1. Oregon State University - 1444
2. Brigham Young University - 1175
3. University of Missouri - 1115
4. Colorado State University - 765
5. Liberty University - 623

Women’s Team

1. Brigham Young University - 955
2. Oregon State University - 854
3. Baldwin Wallace University - 575
4. University of Missouri - 277
5. Arizona State University - 210

Overall Team

1. Oregon State University - 2298
2. Brigham Young University - 2130
3. University of Missouri - 1392
4. Liberty University - 789
4. Baldwin Wallace University - 779

USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Champions

Women's Singles

2024

1) Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace)
2) Erin Slutzky (Arizona State)
3) Megan Carver (Washington State)
4) Stephanie Cook (Brigham Young)

2023

1) Annie Roberts (Pacific)
2) Andrea Ibarra (New Mexico)
3) Stephanie Cook (Brigham Young)
4) Katt Macgregor (Oregon State)

2022

1) Annie Roberts (Pacific)
2) Shane Diaz (Northeast Lakeview College)
3) Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Kate Zawalski (Missouri)

2019

1) Hollie Scott (Washington)
2) Carla Muñoz (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona)
4) Melania Sauma (Arizona State)

2018

1) Carla Muñoz (Colorado State)
2) Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona)
3) Hollie Scott (Washington)
4) Lexi York (Oregon State)

2017

1) Carla Muñoz (Colorado State)
2) Melania Sauma (Arizona State)
3) Lexi York (Oregon State)
4) Katie Nieswiadomy (Texas A&M)

2016

1) Carla Muñoz (Las Positas)
2) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah)
3) Lexi York (Oregon State)
4) Devon Pimentelli (Bellevue College)

2015

1) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah)
2) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona)
3) Hannah Shnurman (Northern Colorado)
4) Rachel Creel (Oregon State)

2014

1) Devon Pimentelli (Canada College)
2) Amanda Lindsay (Oregon State)
3) Samantha Simmons (Maryland)
4) Elizabeth Simmons (Arizona)

2013

1) Kelani Bailey (Shenandoah)
2) Danielle Key (Arizona State)
3) Amanda Lindsay (Oregon State)
4) Kelly Gremley (Purdue)

2012

1) Sharon Jackson (Alabama)
2) Danielle Key (Arizona State)
3) Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Hailey Miller (Oregon)

2011

1) Michelle Key (Arizona State)
2) Sharon Jackson (Univ. of Alabama)
3) Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Kelly Gremley (Purdue)

2010

1) Sharon Jackson (Univ. of Alabama)
2) Michelle Key (Univ. of Arizona)
3) Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)

2009

1) Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
2) Kara Mazer (University of Alabama)
3) Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)
4) Teresa Diaz (Delta College)

2008

1) Kara Mazer (University of Alabama)
2) Sarah Hettesheimer (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)
4) Sue Sublaban (Delta College)

2007

1) Kimberly Irons (Ohio University)
2) Jesi Fuller (University of New Mexico)
3) Da'monique Davis (University of Alabama)
4) Sarah Hettesheimer (Baldwin Wallace)

2006

1) Adrienne Fisher (University of Alabama)
2) Ashley Legget (Oregon State)
3) Jesi Fuller (University of New Mexico)
4) Allison Dauer (North Carolina)

Women's Doubles

2024

1) Angie Case & Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace)
2) Chloe Hilsenteger & Katt Macgregor (Oregon State)
3) Ashlyn Bell & Stephanie Cook (Brigham Young)
4) Zoe Browning & Gabbie Roseman (Missouri)

2023

1) Angie Case & Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace)
2) Abby Lachance & Kate Zawalski (Missouri)
3) Chloe Hilsenteger & Katt Macgregor (Oregon State)
4) Rebekah Barney & Stephanie Cook (Brigham Young)

2022

1) Alondra Canchola & Annie Roberts (Pacific)
2) Abby Lachance & Kate Zawalski (Missouri)
3) Faith Malek & Julia Stein (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Autumn Lewis & Katt Macgregor (Oregon State)

2019

1) Brenda Laime & Adriana Riveros (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Natalie Lorati & Lexi York (Oregon State)
3) Elyse Duffie & Elena Robles (Purdue)
4) Lindsay Briglia & Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona)

2018

1) Erin Boadway & Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona)
2) Natalie Lorati & Lexi York (Oregon State)
3) Kayla Day & Carla Muñoz (Colorado State)
4) Tylynn Barker & Courtnie Duncan (Utah State)

2017

1) Erin Boadway & Erika Manilla (Northern Arizona)
2) Samantha Baker & Carla Muñoz (Colorado State)
3) Erica Lipski & Lexi York (Oregon State)
4) Madeline Gauch & Christina Hughes (Missouri)

2016

1) Erica Lipski & Lexi York (Oregon State)
2) Jordan Giljum & Madeline Gauch (Missouri)
3) Jessilee Loucks & Lindsey Raven (Brigham Young)
4) Alexis Templeton & Antonia Duran (New Mexico)

2015

1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona)
2) Rachel Creel & Sarah Lewis (Oregon State)
3) Anna Schwartz & Madeline Gauch (Missouri)
4) Stefanie Nissley & Kerry Ryan (Pennsylvania State)

2014

1) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona)
2) Amanda Lindsay & Karissa Beatty (Oregon State)
3) Anna Schwartz & Rachel Schmidt (Missouri)
4) Adrienne Schneider & Sara Moulton (Brigham Young)

2013

1) Danielle Key & Devon Pimentelli (Arizona State)
2) Amanda Lindsay & Karissa Beatty (Oregon State)
3) Elizabeth Simmons & Lindsay Rasmussen (Arizona)
4) Eliza Culverwell & Mary Culverwell (Brigham Young)

2012

1) Madeleine Angles & Sharon Jackson (University of Alabama)
2) Molly Haragan & Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Danielle Key & Izayadeth Aguayo (Arizona State)
4) Leah Redwine & Hailey Miller (University Of Oregon)

2011

1) Sharon Jackson & Brittany Travers (University of Alabama)
2) Sheryl Lotts & Tracy Hawthorne (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Hailey Miller & Leah Redwine (University of Oregon)
4) Izayadeth Aguayo & Michelle Key (Arizona State)

2010

1) Sharon Jackson & Kara Mazur (University of Alabama)
2) Sheryl Lotts & Tracy Hawthorne (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Haley Strom & Holly Hettesheimer (University Of Cincinnati)
4) Izayadeth Aguayo & Michelle Key (Arizona State)

2009

1) Sharon Jackson & Kara Mazer (University of Alabama)
2) Sarah Hettesheimer & Sheryl Lotts (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Alyssa Asay & Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)
4) Eliza Culverwell & Charlotte Macfarlane (Brigham Young)

2008

1) Alyssa Asay & Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)
2) Mallory Parry & Darla Wenger (Brigham Young)
3) Sarah Hettesheimer & Tyler Fridley (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Kara Mazer & Brittany Travers (University of Alabama)

2007

1) Da'monique Davis & Kara Mazer (University of Alabama)
2) Sarah Hettesheimer & Kristin Matushevski (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Michelle Key & Jessica Montemayor (Arizona State)
4) Mallory Parry & Katherine Affeltranger (Brigham Young)

2006

1) Ashley Legget & Ashley Willhite (Oregon State)
2) Da'monique Davis & Kelley Fisher (University of Alabama)
3) Jesi Fuller & Natalie Alexia Lopez (New Mexico State)
4) Gretchen Miller & Kristen Karl (Pennsylvania State)

Men's Singles

2024

1) Benjamin Horner (Des Moines Area Community College)
2) Timothy Jack (Brigham Young University)
3) Ariel Tito (Colorado State)
4) Ben Baron (Creighton)

2023

1) John Dowell (Missouri)
2) Nathan Buring (Oregon State)
3) Arthur Schmeiser (Northern Arizona)
4) Timothy Jack (Brigham Young University)

2022

1) Arial Tito (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Ben Baron (Northern Arizona)
3) Jeremy Dixon (Adler)
4) John Dowell (Missouri)

2019

1) Erik Garcia (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Alejandro Almada (Texas)
3) Jeremy Dixon (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Jacob Matthews (East Carolina)

2018

1) Erik Garcia (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Alejandro Almada (Texas)
3) Sam Bredenbeck (Oregon State)
4) Kyle Ulliman (Baldwin Wallace)

2017

1) Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace)
2) Erik Garcia (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Adam Manilla (Colorado)
4) Mauro Rojas (Delta College)

2016

1) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific)
2) David Horn (California State-Hayward)
3) Thomas Carter (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)

2015

1) Adam Manilla (Colorado)
2) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific)
3) Dylan Reid (Washington University)
4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)

2014

1) Jose Diaz (Delta College)
2) Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Adam Manilla (Colorado State)
4) Joel Barshaw (Oregon State)

2013

1) Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
2) Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Cole Burr (Brigham Young)
4) Jordan Matthews (North Carolina State)

2012

1) Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
3) John Craig Chisholm (Boston Univ.)
4) Jose Diaz (Delta College)

2011

1) Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
2) Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Danny Lavely (Univ. of Alabama)
4) John Craig Chisholm (Boston Univ.)

2010

1) Jose Rojas (Delta College)
2) Taylor Knoth (Univ. of Oregon)
3) Joey Lakowske (Oregon State)
4) Allan Crockett (Univ. of Alabama)

2009

1) Jose Rojas (Delta College)
2) Allan Crockett (University of Alabama)
3) Tony Carson (Colorado State)
4) Anthony Herrera (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs)

2008

1) Tony Carson (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Anthony Herrera (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs)
3) Bradly Rogers (Wichita)
4) Allan Crockett (University of Alabama)

2007

1) Ben Croft (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Agustin Tristan (University of Alabama)
3) Evan Ussery (University of New Mexico)
4) Phil Matthews (University of Illinois)

2006

1) Ben Croft (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Agustin Tristan (University of Alabama)
3) Mike Harmon (Manatee Community College)
4) Louis Vogel (University of New Mexico)

Men's Doubles

2024

1) Samuel Lazcano Ramirez & Ariel Tito (Colorado State)
2) Cody Boucher & Tucker Elkins (Oregon State)
3) Timothy Jack & Bryce Palmer (Brigham Young University)
4) Edwin Miller & Ryan Sanner (Missouri)

2023

1) Cody Boucher & Nathan Buring (Oregon State)
2) Patrick Biegun & Arthur Schmeiser (Northern Arizona)
3) Timothy Jack & Bryce Palmer (Brigham Young University)
4) Trevor Melton & Garrison Walker (Liberty University)

2022

1) Ben Baron & Arthur Schmeiser (Northern Arizona)
2) Samuel Lazcano Ramirez & Arial Tito (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Cody Boucher & Nathan Buring (Oregon State)
4) John Dowell & James Storgion (Missouri)

2019

1) Erik Garcia & Lukas Le (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Alejandro Almada & Jerry Yang (Texas)
3) Jeremy Dixon & Daniel Herrera (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Nathan Buring & Nick Buring (Oregon State)

2018

1) Justus Benson & Erik Garcia (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Jeremy Dixon & Kyle Ulliman (Baldwin Wallace)
3) Sam Bredenbeck & Alexander DeHart (Oregon State)
4) Alejandro Almada & Jerry Yang (Texas)

2017

1) Thomas Carter & Manolo Sandoval (Baldwin Wallace)
2) Erik Garcia & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado)
4) Mauro Rojas & Francisco Troncoso (Delta College)

2016

1) Jose Diaz & Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific)
2) Jeremy McGlothin & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Thomas Carter & Manolo Sandoval (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Matt McAdam & Nick Riffel (Colorado)

2015

1) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado)
2) Jacob Matthews & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State)
4) Jon Lanford & Alex Howard (Texas)

2014

1) Felipe Camacho & Brad Schopieray (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Adam Manilla & Nick Riffel (Colorado State)
3) Joel Bradshow & Sam Reid (Oregon State)
4) Danny Sardina & Zachary Patterson (Arizona State)

2013

1) Taylor Knoth & Joel Bradshow (Oregon State)
2) Nick Montalbano & Jake Bredenbeck (Colorado State, Pueblo)
3) Cole Burr & Brian Zundel (Brigham Young)
4) Alex Fischler & Joe Koch (Missouri)

2012

1) Jansen Allen & Nick Montalbano (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Grant Stalley & Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
3) Brad Falvey & Danny Lavely (Alabama)
4) Cole Burr & Joseph Blank (Brigham Young)

2011

1) Felipe Camacho & Jansen Allen (Colorado State, Pueblo)
2) Allan Crockett & Danny Lavely (University of Alabama)
3) Joey Pryor & Taylor Knoth (Oregon State)
4) Jeff Skanchy & Joseph Blank (Brigham Young)

2010

1) David Horn & Jose Rojas (Delta College)
2) Jansen Allen & Tyler Otto (Colorado State)
3) Allan Crockett & Jonathan Doyle (University of Alabama)
4) David Laforest & Joey Lakowske (Oregon State)

2009

1) Tony Carson & Jansen Allen (Colorado State)
2) Jose Rojas & Ismael Aldana Jr. (Delta College)
3) Allan Crockett & Jonathan Doyle (University of Alabama)
4) Harry Fuller & Zach Apperson (Baldwin Wallace)

2008

1) Tony Carson & Charlie Pratt (Colorado State)
2) Harry Fuller & Zach Apperson (Baldwin Wallace)
3) David Laforest & Joey Lakowske (Oregon State)
4) Allan Crockett & Jonathan Doyle (University of Alabama)

2007

1) Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (Colorado State)
2) Chris Crockett & Shane Karmelin (University of Alabama)
3) Harry Fuller & Zach Apperson (Baldwin Wallace)
4) Marco Hidalgo & Evan Ussery (New Mexico State)

2006

1) Ben Croft & Mitch Williams (Colorado State)
2) Augustin Tristan & Shane Karmelin (University of Alabama)
3) Scott Perryman & Jared Torres (Brigham Young)
4) Joe Linnell & Benjamin Toth (Ohio State)

Quiz answers!

The 10 women to win both #1 singles and doubles at Intercollegiates: Julia Stein (2024), Annie Roberts (2022), Sharon Jackson (2012, 2010), Adrienne Fisher (2005), Kristen Walsh (2004, 2001), Krystal Csuk (2002), Susana Acosta (2000), Kerri Stoffregen (later Wachtel) (1994), Robin Levine (1988) and Crystal Fried (1985).

Follow the bouncing ball....

Gastelum wins Men's Open at 39th Annual Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout

Diego Gastelum won Men’s Open at the 39th Annual Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, on Sunday. He defeated Jhonatan Flores, 15-10, 10-15, 11-7, in a final featuring two young Bolivians. In the semi-finals, Gastelum defeated veteran Mauricio Zelada, 15-13, 15-12, and Flores beat Carlos Ramirez, 15-5, 15-6.

Flores impressed in the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) draw in Illinois, as he came within four points of defeating Kane Waselenchuk in the quarterfinals. Thus, it was no surprise to see him in the Men’s Open final.

However, Gastelum’s win suggests we should also be paying attention to him as well.

Upcoming events

The 2024 Pan American Championships will begin this Saturday, March 23, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and will run until the following Saturday, March 30. We’ll have a preview for you later this week. But you can be certain that there will be some great racquetball matches coming up in Guatemala.

The Pan Am Championships mean an “international break” in the pro tour schedules. The IRT’s next confirmed main event is the Costa Rica Open, June 12-15, although there was a hint that they will play in California in late May, and there is a “TBD” event listed on the IRT site for May 23-26.

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour’s (LPRT’s) next event is the Battle at the Alamo, April 25-28, in San Antonio, Texas. That could be very well attended, as San Antonio will host the 2024 International Racquetball Federation World Championships in August, so some players may want to get a chance to play on the courts that will host Worlds.

39th Annual Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois - March 14-17, 2024

Men’s Open Singles - Final

4) Diego Gastelum d. 10) Jhonatan Flores, 15-10, 10-15, 11-7

Semi-finals

4) Diego Gastelum d. 1) Mauricio Zelada, 15-13, 15-12
10) Jhonatan Flores d. 14) Carlos Ramirez, 15-5, 15-6

Quarterfinals

1) Mauricio Zelada d. 8) Victor Migliore, 10-15 15-6, 11-2
4) Diego Gastelum d. 12) Luis Aguilar, 15-13, 15-4

14) Carlos Ramirez d. 11) Jeremy Dixon, 15-5, 8-15, 11-3
10) Jhonatan Flores d. 2) Jordy Alonso, 15-14, 15-10

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk, Manilla & Parrilla all win again at 39th Annual Papa Nicholas IRT Shamrock Shootout

Kane Waselenchuk beat Conrrado Moscoso, 15-9, 15-6, to win the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 39th Annual Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, Sunday. It’s his second consecutive title, and the first time since 2020 that he’s won back to back IRT titles. Moscoso came in as the #1 IRT player, and Waselenchuk #8, although the win should move Waselenchuk up a couple of spots in the rankings.

It was #1 versus #2 in the doubles final, as top seeds Adam Manilla and Andree Parrilla squared off against 2nd seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Erick Trujillo. Manilla and Parrilla won, but they needed three games to claim the victory, winning 15-7, 7-15, 11-6. It’s also Manilla and Parrilla’s second consecutive doubles title.

At the start of game one of the singles final, it looked like Moscoso might win, as he took an early 3-0 lead. Waselenchuk then scored five straight points to lead 5-3. Moscoso tied it at 5-5, and they were also tied at 6-6.

Then Waselenchuk went ahead, and when he got to 10-4, Moscoso called a timeout. He managed to get back within two points at 11-9, but a winning serve return by Waselenchuk off a Moscoso drive serve to the left side - the lefthanded Waselenchuk’s forehand - then led to four straight points on as many rallies, which ended game one at 15-9.

Mosocso also had a lead early in game two at 4-3. But Waselenchuk tied it at 4-4, and pushed on to lead 10-4, and put the writing on the wall.

He finished the match off with back to back drive serve aces to the left side of the court (Mosoco’s backhand).

”I felt like I was in control the whole match,” Waselenchuk said afterwards. “It’s nice to be champ again. Funny to think that no one thought I’d … [win again], and here I am [winning] two tournaments in a row. Boy, were you guys wrong. I like proving everybody wrong.”

Could Waselenchuk finish #1 again on tour? He said “I like the competition. I like the challenge. It’s a new challenge for me,” and he has to play guys “half my age.”

We never advised of betting against Waselenchuk when he was in his prime, and we don’t advise betting against him now.

The next confirmed IRT main event is the Costa Rica Open, June 12-15, although after the doubles match Manilla said that he’d see everyone in southern California in late May, and there is a “TBD” event listed on the IRT site for May 23-26. If you missed any of the action from Illinois - and Waselenchuk’s performances are worth seeing or seeing again - check out the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Central.

39th Annual Papa Nicholas IRT Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois - March 14-17, 2024

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

6) Kane Waselenchuk d. 1) Conrrado Moscoso, 15-9, 15-6

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Conrrado Moscoso d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 15-12, 15-5

6) Kane Waselenchuk d. 7) Andrés Acuña, 15-4, 15-11

IRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla d. 2) Rodrigo Montoya & Erick Trujillo, 15-7, 7-15, 11-6

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla d. 4) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera, 15-11, 15-10
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Erick Trujillo d. 3) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso, 15-14, 15-10

Follow the bouncing ball….

Acuña into semi-finals at 39th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout

Andrés Acuña had the big upset of the quarterfinals at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 39th Annual Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, Friday night, as he came back from a game down to defeat IRT #2 Rodrigo Montoya, 4-15, 15-12, 11-9. The win sets up a showdown with former IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk, as 6th seeded Waselenchuk broke Jhonatan Flores’s Cinderella run throught the draw, although he needed three games to break it, winning 15-3, 13-15, 11-7.

On the top side of the draw, IRT #1 Conrrado Moscoso beat 8th seed Alan Natera in two straight games, 15-6, 15-11, and will play 4th seed Andree Parrilla, who eked out a win over his doubles partner this weekend, the 5th seed Adam Manilla, 15-9, 5-15, 11-7.

We had heard that Flores was the real deal, and he showed as much against Waselenchuk. Waselenchuk was dominant in game one, as Flores didn’t score a point until Waselenchuk had eight. But in game two, Flores’s skill showed through, as he was up 10-7, and despite Waselenchuk tying the game at 13-13, Flores held on to win it 15-13, and force a tie-breaker.

In the breaker, Waselenchuk got the first two points, but then Flores got the next four to lead 4-2. They were tied at 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6. Waselenchuk then took the lead at 7-6 with a forehand cross court shot. Flores did keep it close, as he got within one at 8-7.

But Waselenchuk got to game point at 10-7 on a drive serve ace to the left side - Flores’s backhand side. He won it when Flores skipped a backhand serve return off another drive serve to the left side.

Despite the loss, Flores was very impressive. He aced Waselenchuk a few times in the match, and made great backhand pinch shot winners off Waselenchuk cross courts to the left side. He has a high level of skill at just 18 years old, and should be a considered a threat to beat anyone he faces.

The singles semi-finals will be Saturday at 6 and 7 PM with the final Sunday at 11 AM. The doubles semis are at noon and 1 PM on Saturday with the final at noon Sunday. You can see them via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Central.

39th Annual Papa Nicholas IRT Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois - March 14-17, 2024

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Conrrado Moscoso d. 8) Alan Natera, 15-6, 15-11
4) Andree Parrilla d. 5) Adam Manilla, 15-9, 5-15, 11-7

6) Kane Waselenchuk d. Jhonatan Flores, 15-3, 13-15, 11-7
7) Andrés Acuña d. 2) Rodrigo Montoya, 4-15, 15-12, 11-9

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Conrrado Moscoso v. 4) Andree Parrilla - 7 PM

6) Kane Waselenchuk v. 7) Andrés Acuña - 6 PM

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla v. 4) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera - 1 PM
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Erick Trujillo v. 3) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….

Flores wins again in Round of 16 at 39th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout

Another day, another Jhonatan Flores upset win at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 39th Annual Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois. This time Flores took out the 14th seed Robert Collins, 15-7, 15—4, in the Round of 16. The win sets up a quarterfinal showdown with former IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk, as Waselenchuk, the 6th seed this weekend, beat 11th seed Jaime Martell, 15-5, 15-5.

The rest of the higher seeded players won in two straight games with the exception of 7th seed Andrés Acuña, who needed a tie-breaker to defeat 10th seed Thomas Carter. Acuña will face 2nd seed Rodrigo Montoya in the quarterfinals, as Montoya beat Carlos Ramirez, 15-6, 15-0, in the 16s, and looked very smooth doing so.

There were two tie-breakers in the doubles quarterfinals, but both were won by the higher seeded teams. Third seeds Kadim Carrasco and Conrrado Moscoso dropped the first game against 6th seeds Carter and Martell, but came back to win, 12-15, 15-2, 11-4. They face 2nd seeds Montoya and Erick Trujillo in the semi-finals Saturday, as Montoya and Trujillo beat 10th seeds Hector Barrios and Flores, 15-3, 15-10.

Similarly on the other side of the draw, 4th seeds Andrés Acuña and Alan Natera lost game one versus 5th seeds Alejandro Cardona and Collins, but came back to win in three, 8-15, 15-11, 11-6. In the semis, Acuña and Natera will play top seeds Adam Manilla and Andree Parrilla, who were straight game winners over 9th seeds Diego Gastelum and Cole Sendrey, 15-13, 15-5. Gatelum and Sendrey had a lead late in game one, but couldn’t hold to win it.

Singles play continues Friday afternoon with the quarterfinals from 5 PM on. The semi-finals will be Saturday at 6 and 7 with the final Sunday at 11 AM. The doubles semis are at noon and 1 PM on Saturday with the final at noon Sunday. You can see them via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Central.

39th Annual Papa Nicholas IRT Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois - March 14-17, 2024

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Conrrado Moscoso d. 16) Rafael Gatica, 15-4, 15-5
8) Alan Natera d. 9) Erick Trujillo, 15-7, 15-7

5) Adam Manilla d. 21) John Goth, 15-7, 15-2
4) Andree Parrilla d. 13) Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 15-6, 15-10

Jhonatan Flores d. 14) Robert Collins, 15-7, 15-4
6) Kane Waselenchuk d. 11) Jaime Martell, 15-5, 15-5

7) Andrés Acuña d. 10) Thomas Carter, 15-7, 9-15, 11-2
2) Rodrigo Montoya d. 15) Carlos Ramirez, 15-6, 15-0

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Conrrado Moscoso v. 8) Alan Natera - 7 PM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 5) Adam Manilla - 8 PM

6) Kane Waselenchuk v. Jhonatan Flores - 5 PM
2) Rodrigo Montoya v. 7) Andrés Acuña - 6 PM

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla d. 9) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey, 15-13, 15-5
4) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera d. 5) Alejandro Cardona & Robert Collins, 8-15, 15-11, 11-6

3) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso d. 6) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell, 12-15, 15-2, 11-4
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Erick Trujillo d. 10) Hector Barrios & Jhonatan Flores, 15-3, 15-10

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla v. 4) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera - 1 PM
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Erick Trujillo v. 3) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso - Noon

Follow the bouncing ball….

Flores defeat Bredenbeck at 39th Annual IRT Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout

Two upsets in the Round of 32 at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 39th Annual Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois Friday. The biggest was Jhonatan Flores taking out IRT #3 Jake Bredenbeck, 15-5, 15-7. Sources have told us that Flores - the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) Boys U18 World Junior Champion - is the real deal, but still, taking out the #3 player on tour is a big upset. Impressive.

Flores will play left-hander Robert Collins in the Round of 16 Friday, as Collins eked out a win over Oscar Elias Nieto Valadez, 15-11, 10-15, 11-9, on Thursday.

The other upset comes from the Wily Veteran category, as 21st seed John Goth held on to defeat 12th seed Kadim Carrasco, 15-11, 3-15, 11-7. Veteran Goth defeated Collins two weeks ago in Minneapolis, so that’s two solid wins for him. He’ll play 5th seed Adam Manilla in the 16s Friday, as Manilla beat Luis Aguilar, 15-4, 15-4, on Thursday. Goth and Manilla played in Minneapolis with the left-hander Manilla winning in two straight games.

Flores and partner Hector Barrios, the 10th seeds, beat the 7th seeds Diego Gatica and Jaime Mansilla, 15-7, 15-8, in the doubles Round of 16, so they’ll play 2nd seeds Rodrigo Montoya and Erick Trujillo on Friday in the quarters.

One other upset in doubles, as 9th seeds Diego Gastelum and Cole Sendrey beat 8th seeds Carlos Ramirez and Mauricio Zelada, 15-9, 15-7. They’ll play top seeds Adam Manilla and Andree Parrilla in the quarters Friday.

Singles play continues Friday with the Round of 16 at 10 and 11 AM, and they’ll play two rounds Friday with the quarterfinals from 5 PM on. The doubles quarterfinals are Friday at 2 PM. The finals will be Sunday at 11 AM for singles and noon for doubles. You can see them via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Central.

39th Annual Papa Nicholas IRT Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois - March 14-17, 2024

IRT Singles - Round of 64 - Thursday

Q1: Jim Douglas - BYE
Q16: Jaime Mansilla d. Christian Pocsai, 14-15, 15-10, 11-10

Q9: Alejandro Cardona d. Humberto Uribe, 15-2, 15-5
Q8: Mauricio Zelada - BYE

Q5: John Goth - BYE
Q12: Luis Aguilar d. Victor Migliore, 11-15, 15-6, 11-9

Q13: Jordy Alonso d. Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman, 15-10, 15-7
Q4: Cole Sendrey - BYE

Q3: Oscar Elias Nieto Valadez - BYE
Q14: Jhonatan Flores d. James Black, 15-3, 15-2

Q11: Hector Barrios d. Homer Steadman-Shockley, 15-2, 15-6
Q6: Diego Gastelum - BYE

Q7: Diego Gatica - BYE
Q10: Blase Zera d. Leonardo Rocabado, 15-0, 15-6

Q15: Sebastian Terrazas d. Kalyan Kosetty, 15-5, 15-6
Q2: Cody Elkins - BYE

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Conrrado Moscoso v. Jaime Mansilla, 15-1, 15-9
16) Rafael Gatica d. 17) Jim Douglas, 15-2, 15-0

9) Erick Trujillo d. 24) Mauricio Zelada, 15-6, 15-8
8) Alan Natera d. Alejandro Cardona, 15-13, 15-8

5) Adam Manilla d. Luis Aguilar, 15-4, 15-4
21) John Goth d. 12) Kadim Carrasco, 15-11, 3-15, 11-7

13) Erick Cuevas Fernandez d. 20) Cole Sendrey, 15-9, 15-7
4) Andree Parrilla d. Jordy Alonso, 15-8, 9-15, 11-8

Jhonatan Flores d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-5, 15-7
14) Robert Collins d. 19) Oscar Elias Nieto Valadez, 15-11, 10-15, 11-9

11) Jaime Martell d. 22) Diego Gastelum, 15-9, 15-9
6) Kane Waselenchuk d. Hector Barrios, 15-2, 15-4

7) Andrés Acuña d. Blase Zera, 15-3, 15-0
10) Thomas Carter d. 23) Diego Gatica, 15-7, 15-2

15) Carlos Ramirez d. 18) Cody Elkins, 15-10, 15-4
2) Rodrigo Montoya d. Sebastian Terrazas, 15-4, 15-2

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Conrrado Moscoso v. 16) Rafael Gatica - 11 AM
8) Alan Natera v. 9) Erick Trujillo - 11 AM

5) Adam Manilla v. 21) John Goth - 11 AM
4) Andree Parrilla v. 13) Erick Cuevas Fernandez - 11 AM

14) Robert Collins v. Jhonatan Flores - 10 AM
6) Kane Waselenchuk v. 11) Jaime Martell - 10 AM

7) Andrés Acuña v. 10) Thomas Carter - 10 AM
2) Rodrigo Montoya v. 15) Carlos Ramirez - 10 AM

IRT Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla - BYE
9) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey d. 8) Carlos Ramirez & Mauricio Zelada, 15-9, 15-7

5) Alejandro Cardona & Robert Collins v. 12) Luis Aguilar & Rafael Gatica, 15-8, 15-12

4) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera - BYE

3) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
6) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell d. 11) Oscar Elias Nieto Valadez & Sebastian Chevaile Sanchez, 15-6, 15-0

10) Hector Barrios & Jhonatan Flores d. 7) Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla, 15-7, 15-8
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Erick Trujillo - BYE

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Adam Manilla & Andree Parrilla v. 9) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey - 2 PM

4) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera v. 5) Alejandro Cardona & Robert Collins - 2 PM

3) Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso v. 6) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell - 2 PM
2) Rodrigo Montoya & Erick Trujillo v. 10) Hector Barrios & Jhonatan Flores - 2 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….