The XXXV Pan American Championships wrapped up last Saturday in Guatemala City, so it’s high time we went through a summary of the results for you. Argentina and Mexico were the big winners, although they did it in different ways. Argentina won on the women’s side, while Mexico won on the men’s side. Argentina only had one man, and Mexico no women in Guatemala.
Argentina’s Maria José Vargas won three gold medals taking the singles, doubles and team titles. Her team-mate Natalia Mendez shared two of those gold medals, and also earned bronze in singles.
Mexican Rodrigo Montoya won two gold medals: one in singles and the other in the team event. Sebastian Hernández shared in the team medal, and they also got bronze in doubles.
Costa Ricans Andrés Acuña and Gabriel Garcia won gold in Men’s Doubles, and they were bronze medalists in the team event. Acuña also got bronze in singles.
Americans Sam Bredenbeck and Michelle Key won gold in Mixed Doubles, which was the first USA gold medal at Pan Am Championships since 2018, when Rhonda Rajsich won gold in Women’s Singles. The USA also took silver in the Men’s Team event - Jake and Sam Bredenbeck and Charlie Pratt - as well as in Women’s Doubles from Naomi Ros and Lexi York. Americans took three bronze medals too: men’s singles (Jake Bredenbeck), men’s doubles (Bredenbeck and Bredenbeck) and the women’s team event (Michelle Key, Ros and York).
Three other countries won silver medals: Canada with three, and Chile and the Dominican Republic with one each. A complete medal summary is below.
Upcoming events
The International Racquetball Federation (IRF) 2024 World Championships will be in San Antonio, Texas, August 23-31. That is also the qualifying event for the 2025 World Games that will take place in Chengdu, China, so players in singles will play down for all the qualifying spots.
Those qualifying spots will be to the country, rather than the specific individuals, as in years past. Thus, if an American qualifies 1st, that spot is to go to a player from the USA, but not necessarily the particular player who won that spot. Thus, if a player can’t go to the World Game for any reason, then another player from that country can go, rather than the country forfeiting the spot.
Additionally, racquetball at the 2025 World Games will include Mixed Doubles for the first time. Previously, racquetball competitions at the World Games have been singles only. The only exception to that was back in 1981 at the first World Games, when there were men’s and women’s doubles as well as singles.
The strong rumor is that the 2024 IRF World Junior Championships will be in Guatemala, which is a fine location for the event. It’s relatively easy to get to, and the distance between the club and hotel is not far. But Guatemala's selection hasn't been confirmed.
Finally, there were many good matches at this year’s Pan American Championships in Guatemala, and we encourage to watch some of them (or watch them again) via the IRF YouTube channel.
XXXV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - March 23-31, 2024
Women’s Singles
GOLD: María José Vargas (Argentina)
SILVER: Carla Muñoz (Chile)
BRONZE: Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) and Natalia Mendez (Argentina)
Men's Singles
GOLD: Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico)
SILVER: Samuel Murray (Canada)
BRONZE: Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) and Jake Bredenbeck (USA)
Women's Doubles
GOLD: Natalia Mendez & Maria José Vargas (Argentina)
SILVER: Naomi Ros & Lexi York (USA)
BRONZE: Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) and Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile)
Men's Doubles
GOLD: Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica)
SILVER: Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada)
BRONZE: Sebastian Hernández & Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) and Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA)
Mixed Doubles
GOLD: Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA)
SILVER: Coby Iwaasa & Juliette Parent (Canada)
BRONZE: Jaime Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) and Gerson Miranda & Natalia Mendez (Argentina)
Women's Team Event
GOLD: Argentina - Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas
SILVER: Dominican Republic - Maria Cespedes, Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez
BRONZE: Chile - Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz
BRONZE: USA - Michelle Key, Naomi Ros & Lexi York
Men's Team Event
GOLD: Mexico - Sebastian Hernández & Rodrigo Montoya
SILVER: USA - Maria Cespedes, Merynanyelly Delgado & Alejandra Jimenez
BRONZE: Canada - Kurtis Cullen, Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray
BRONZE: Costa Rica - Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia
Medal Summary
1) Argentina - 3 Gold, 0 Silver, 2 Bronze
2) Mexico - 2, 0, 1
3) USA - 1, 2, 3
4) Costa Rica - 1, 0, 2
5) Canada - 0, 3, 1
6) Chile - 0, 1, 3
7) Dominican Republic - 0, 1, 2
Follow the bouncing ball….
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