Mejia wins twice at 2025 LPRT Mile High Open

Montserrat Mejia was a double winner at the 2025 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Mile High Open in Denver, Colorado, Saturday, when she won both singles and doubles. In the singles final, she defeated LPRT #1 Maria José Vargas, 15-11, 8-15, 11-8, and then, for the doubles final, teamed up with Alexandra Herrera to beat Vargas and Valeria Centellas, 15-8, 15-14.

The win is Mejia’s first since June, when she defeated Paola Longoria at the Northern Virginia Invitational, and it ended Vargas’s three tournament winning streak.

The singles final was hard fought, and looked like it was going to go the other way. After winning game two to force a tie-breaking third game, Vargas took a 7-1 lead in that game, and looked like she was going to complete the come back.

But Vargas got stalled at that point, as they played nine rallies without scoring. During that stretch, she hit Mejia on a serve return, as Mejia hit a drive Z serve to the right side that Vargas took early, trying to hit a forehand cross court shot. Adding insult to injury, an avoidable was called against Mejia.

Mejia was clearly upset about being hit at that point, as it was the third time it had happened in the match. Although she didn’t immediately start scoring points after that incident, it’s easy to imagine that Mejia found some extra motivation from it.

When the points did come, they came quickly, as Mejia got 8 points from 11 rallies, including a drive serve ace to the left side, which was her 4th ace of the match, to lead 9-7. Vargas did get the next point, but momentum had clearly switched sides, as it was 26 rallies between Vargas’s 7th point and her 8th.

Mejia finished off the breaker on her first match point, as she hit another drive serve ace to the left side that cracked out just past the short line, to win game three 11-8.

It was a long match overall, and especially game three, which was almost as long as either of the first two games. Game three had 49 rallies after there were 52 rallies in game one and 50 in game two.

Herrera and Mejia got off to a great start in the doubles final, as they went up 6-0 in game one. They maintained their lead throughout that game, as Centellas and Vargas didn’t get closer than three points, at 7-4 and 10-7. Herrera and Mejia went on to win 15-8.

Game two was close all the way, and much longer. Game one had 50 rallies, while game two had 73. Herrera and Mejia were generally ahead, although the lead was never more than two points, and Centellas and Vargas even lead at 9-8.

But Herrera and Mejia then got five unanswered points, including four on as many rallies, as they took their largest lead at 13-9. Centellas and Vargas called a timeout.

When play resumed, Centellas and Vargas got the serve back, and scored a point of their own. But then surrendered the serve again. Centellas then skipped a backhand down the line shot that put Herrera and Mejia on match point at 14-10.

However, Centellas hit back to back winners to get her side the serve back. Another Centellas winner made the score 14-11. They got three more points to tie the game at 14-14, after Centellas hit a drive serve ace to Herrera on the left side.

On their first game point, Centellas and Vargas gave up the serve, as Centellas was forced into trying to save the rally with a back wall shot that didn’t make it back to the front wall.

They fought off Herrera and Mejia’s third match point, as Vargas hit a forehand pinch shot. But on the next rally, Herrera hit a forehand cross court shot that Vargas unsuccessfully tried to save off the back wall, so Herrera and Mejia won game two, 15-14, and the match in two straight games.

In the doubles semi-finals earlier on Saturday, Herrera and Mejia beat Brenda Laime and Natalia Mendez, 15-14, 15-5, while Centellas and Vargas needed a tie-breaker to fend off Sheryl Lotts and Lexi York, 15-6, 10-15, 11-7.

The LPRT will next be in action at their longest running event: the LPRT Christmas Classic in Severna Park, Maryland, December 4-7. If you missed any of the action from Denver, and both finals are well worth watching, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.

2025 LPRT Mile High Open
Denver, Colorado - November 6-9, 2025

Final - Saturday

2) Montserrat Mejia d. 1) Maria José Vargas, 15-11, 8-15, 11-8

Doubles - Final - Saturday

3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 1) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-8, 15-14

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York, 15-6, 10-15, 11-7
3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez, 15-14, 15-5

Follow the bouncing ball….

Vargas vs Mejia in 2025 LPRT Mile High Open final

Number 1 will be play #2 Saturday in the final of the 2025 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Mile High Open in Denver, Colorado, where LPRT #1 Maria José Vargas will play 2nd seed Montserrat Mejia. Vargas is going for her fourth straight LPRT tournament win.

Both semi-finals on Friday went to tie-breakers. Vargas held on to beat 5th seed Brenda Laime, 15-1, 7-15, 11-2, while Mejia came back from a game down to defeat 3rd seed Gabriela Martinez, 8-15, 15-7, 11-7.

In doubles, all the quarterfinal matches on Friday were won in two straight games, although there was one slight upset as 5th seeds Sheryl Lotts and Lexi York defeated 4th seeds Cristina Amaya and Jessica Parrilla, 15-8, 15-12. That win sets up a match with the top seeds Valeria Centellas and Vargas, who beat veterans Susana Acosta and Nancy Enriquez, 15-4, 15-7, in the quarters.

The other semi has 2nd seeds Laime and Natalia Mendez against 3rd seeds Alexandra Herrera and Mejia. In the quarters, Laime and Mendez beat veterans Carla Muñoz and Rhonda Rajsich, 15-4, 15-11, while Herrera and Mejia defeated Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-9, 15-13.

Play concludes Saturday with the singles final at 3 PM followed by the doubles final at 5 PM. But first the doubles semis are Saturday morning at 11 AM and noon. All times Mountain. You can check out the action from Denver via the LPRT YouTube channel.

2025 LPRT Mile High Open
Denver, Colorado - November 6-9, 2025

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Maria José Vargas d. 5) Brenda Laime, 15-1, 7-15, 11-2
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 3) Gabriela Martinez, 8-15, 15-7, 11-7

Final - Saturday

1) Maria José Vargas v. 2) Montserrat Mejia - 3 PM

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 9) Susana Acosta & Nancy Enriquez, 15-4, 15-7
5) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York d. 4) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla, 15-8, 15-12

3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-9, 15-13
2) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez d. 7) Carla Muñoz & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-4, 15-11

Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York - Noon
2) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez v. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - 11 AM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Laime defeats Mendez at 2025 LPRT Mile High Open

The quarterfinal results at the 2025 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Mile High Open in Denver, Colorado Friday morning were relatively straightforward, as the top three seeds all won in two straight games. But 5th seed Brenda Laime upset 4th seed Natalia Mendez in three games, 15-9, 10-15, 11-6.

Laime will play LPRT #1 Maria José Vargas in the semi-finals Friday afternoon, as Vargas defeated 8th seed Valeria Centellas, 15-9, 15-11. Centellas played well, and was tied with Vargas at 11-11 late in game two, but couldn’t force the match to a tie-breaker.

In the other semi, 2nd seed Montserrat Mejia will take on 3rd seed Gabriela Martinez. Mejia beat 10th seed Sheryl Lotts, 15-6, 15-7, in the quarters, while Martinez defeated 6th seed Alexandra Herrera, 15-7, 15-14.

Play continues Friday afternoon with the singles semi-finals at 4 and 5 PM and the doubles semis Friday evening at 6 and 7 PM. Both finals are on Saturday at 3 PM for singles and 5 PM for doubles. All times Mountain. You can check out the action from Denver via the LPRT YouTube channel.

2025 LPRT Mile High Open
Denver, Colorado - November 6-9, 2025

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Maria José Vargas d. 8) Valeria Centellas, 15-9, 15-11
5) Brenda Laime d. 4) Natalia Mendez, 15-9, 10-15, 11-6

3) Gabriela Martinez d. 6) Alexandra Herrera, 15-7, 15-14
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 10) Sheryl Lotts, 15-6, 15-7

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Maria José Vargas v. 5) Brenda Laime - 5 PM
2) Montserrat Mejia v. 3) Gabriela Martinez - 4 PM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
9) Susana Acosta & Nancy Enriquez d. 8) Annie Sanchez & Stephanie Synhorst, 15-9, 15-7

5) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York - BYE
4) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla - BYE

3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
6) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE

7) Carla Muñoz & Rhonda Rajsich d. 10) Ella Boaz & Kyla Davis, 15-1, 15-3
2) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas v. 9) Susana Acosta & Nancy Enriquez - 7 PM
4) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York - 7 PM

3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 6) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - 6 PM
2) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez v. 7) Carla Muñoz & Rhonda Rajsich - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2025 LPRT Mile High Open begins

The 2025 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) is back in action this weekend with the 2025 LPRT Mile High Open in Denver, Colorado. Maria José Vargas will try to win a 4th straight LPRT event, having won both events this season and the final event of last season.

Vargas is the LPRT #1, and leads the 22 player field this weekend that includes 15 of the top 18 LPRT players. Rounding out the top four seeds are Montserrat Mejia, Gabriela Martinez and Natalia Mendez as the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th seeds, respectively.

Play began Thursday with the Rounds of 32 and 16. There was only one upset in the 16s, as 10th seed Sheryl Lotts defeated 7th seed Cristina Amaya, due to an injury forfeit. Lotts won the first game 15-6 and was ahead 10-2 in game two, when Amaya called it a day. It didn’t look like she got injured on the last rally of the game, but perhaps there was something nagging her that caused Amaya to stop playing.

All the other matches were won in two straight games, including Vargas’s defeat of 17th seed Erika Manilla, 15-5, 15-9. She’ll play Valeria Centellas in the quarterfinals Friday, as Centellas beat 9th seed Jessica Parrilla, 15-12, 15-8, on Thursday.

That quarterfinal will be a battle of doubles partners, as Vargas and Centellas are the top seeds in the doubles draw. Brenda Laime and Mendez are the 2nd seeds.

The early highlight of the doubles draw is 3rd seeds Alexandra Herrera and Mejia versus Martinez and Maria Renee Rodriguez, which is a quarterfinal match that's worthy of a final.

Play begins early Friday with the singles quarterfinals kicking off at 9 AM. The semi-finals will be Friday afternoon with the singles final at 3 PM Saturday. The doubles action begins Friday afternoon with the semi-finals Friday evening and the doubles final Saturday at 5 PM. All times Mountain. You can check out the action from Denver via the LPRT YouTube channel.

2025 LPRT Mile High Open
Denver, Colorado - November 6-9, 2025

Singles Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Maria José Vargas - BYE
17) Erika Manilla d. 16) Rhonda Rajsich, 15-6, 15-10

9) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
8) Valeria Centellas - BYE

5) Brenda Laime - BYE
12) Lexi York d. 21) Ella Boaz, 15-9, 15-6

20) Susana Acosta d. 13) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-10, 14-15, 11-5
4) Natalia Mendez - BYE

3) Gabriela Martinez - BYE
14) Annie Sanchez d. 19) Nancy Enriquez, 10-15, 15-9, 11-6

11) Carla Muñoz d. Kyla Davis, 15-0, 15-6
6) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

7) Cristina Amaya - BYE
10) Sheryl Lotts - BYE

15) Stephanie Synhorst d. 18) Laura Brandt, 15-2, 15-3
2) Montserrat Mejia - BYE

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Maria José Vargas d. 17) Erika Manilla, 15-5, 15-9
8) Valeria Centellas d. 9) Jessica Parrilla, 15-12, 15-8

5) Brenda Laime d. 12) Lexi York, 15-6, 15-8
4) Natalia Mendez d. 20) Susana Acosta, 15-14, 15-5

3) Gabriela Martinez d. 14) Annie Sanchez, 15-2, 15-8
6) Alexandra Herrera d. 11) Carla Muñoz, 15-5, 15-6

10) Sheryl Lotts d. 7) Cristina Amaya, 15-6, 10-2, injury forfeit
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 15) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-1, 15-2

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Maria José Vargas v. 8) Valeria Centellas - Noon
4) Natalia Mendez v. 5) Brenda Laime - 9 AM

3) Gabriela Martinez v. 6) Alexandra Herrera - 10 AM
2) Montserrat Mejia v. 10) Sheryl Lotts - 11 AM

Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
8) Annie Sanchez & Stephanie Synhorst v. 9) Susana Acosta & Nancy Enriquez - 1 PM

5) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York - BYE
4) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla - BYE

3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
6) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE

7) Carla Muñoz & Rhonda Rajsich v. 10) Ella Boaz & Kyla Davis - 1 PM
2) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez - BYE

Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas v. 8) Annie Sanchez & Stephanie Synhorst or 9) Susana Acosta & Nancy Enriquez - 7 PM
4) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla v. 5) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York - 7 PM

3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia v. 6) Gabriela Martinez & Maria Renee Rodriguez - 6 PM
2) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez v. 7) Carla Muñoz & Rhonda Rajsich or 10) Ella Boaz & Kyla Davis - 6 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Vargas defeats Longoria to claim Golden State Open title

Maria José Vargas defeated Paola Longoria, 15-8, 15-8, to win the 2025 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Golden State Open on Sunday. Vargas has won both of the LPRT events this season, and three straight overall going back to the final event of last season.

In the semi-finals, LPRT #1 Longoria defeated #4 Gabriela Martinez, 9-15, 15-10, 11-6, while Vargas, the LPRT’s #2 player, beat #3 Montserrat Mejia, 15-7, 15-9.

Although the scores in the final weren’t that close, the games were hard fought, especially the first one, which lasted 58 rallies. Game two had 42 rallies.

Longoria got the first two points of the match, and Vargas the next five. But they were still at 5-2 after 21 rallies.

Vargas extended her lead to 11-3 and then 14-4. Longoria fought off the first game point, and then scored four straight points, including hitting two drive serve aces to the left side, making the score 14-8.

A Vargas backhand winner stopped that streak, but Longoria denied Vargas’s second game point. However, Vargas got the serve right back, and closed out the game with another backhand winner.

Vargas got the first three points of game two, and extended that lead to 8-2, and then 14-4. Again, Longoria fought off the first game point, and scored four of her own to cut the lead to 14-8.

But that was just delaying the seemingly inevitable, as Vargas got the serve back with a forehand winner, and then won it on the second game point with a backhand winner.

They played Mixed Doubles in Pleasanton, and 3rd seeds Martinez and Conrrado Moscoso upset top seeds Javier Mar and Mejia, 14-15, 15-10, 11-2. In the semi-finals, Martinez and Moscoso beat 10th seeds Adam Manilla and Erika Manilla, 15-5, 15-8, while Mar and Mejia defeated 5th seeds Andree Parrilla and Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-10.

The next LPRT event is the Mile High Open in Denver, Colorado, November 6-9, and that will be followed by the Christmas Classic in Severna Park, Maryland, December 5-7. If you missed any of the Golden State Open action, check out the LPRT YouTube channel.

2025 Golden State Open
Pleasanton, California - October 8-12

Final

2) Maria José Vargas d. 1) Paola Longoria, 15-8, 15-8

Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Gabriela Martinez, 9-15, 15-10, 11-6
2) Maria José Vargas d. 3) Montserrat Mejia, 15-7, 15-9

Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria d. 9) Valeria Centellas, 15-9, 15-10
4) Gabriela Martinez d. 5) Natalia Mendez, 15-7, 15-11

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Brenda Laime, 7-15, 15-11, 15-8
2) Maria José Vargas d. 10) Sheryl Lotts, 15-6, 15-10

Round of 16

1) Paola Longoria d. 17) Andrea Gabriela Reyes Perez, 15-2, 15-2
9) Valeria Centellas d. 8) Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-8

5) Natalia Mendez d. 12) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 9-15, 15-9, 11-4
4) Gabriela Martinez d. 13) Annie Sanchez, 15-4, 15-2

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 14) Rhonda Rajsich, 15-9, 15-4
6) Brenda Laime d. 11) Carla Muñoz, 15-3, 11-15, 11-4

10) Sheryl Lotts d. 7) Cristina Amaya, 9-15, 15-4, 11-5
2) Maria José Vargas d. 18) Andrea Perez-Picon, 15-2, 15-0

Singles Round of 32

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
17) Andrea Gabriela Reyes Perez d. 16) Alondra Yañez, 15-6, 15-11

9) Valeria Centellas - BYE
8) Jessica Parrilla - BYE

5) Natalia Mendez - BYE
12) Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 21) Cynthia Gutierrez, 15-13, 15-11

13) Annie Sanchez d. 20) Ivanna Balderrama, 15-12, 15-13
4) Gabriela Martinez - BYE

3) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
14) Rhonda Rajsich d. 19) Estefania Perez Picon, 15-8, 15-3

11) Carla Muñoz - BYE
6) Brenda Laime - BYE

7) Cristina Amaya - BYE
10) Sheryl Lotts - BYE

18) Andrea Perez-Picon d. 15) Erica Williams, 15-9, 15-4
2) Maria José Vargas - BYE

Mixed Doubles - Final

3) Gabriela Martinez & Conrrado Moscoso d. 1) Javier Mar & Montserrat Mejia, 14-15, 15-10, 11-2

Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Javier Mar & Montserrat Mejia d. 5) Andree Parrilla & Jessica Parrilla, 15-6, 15-10
3) Gabriela Martinez & Conrrado Moscoso d. 10) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla, 15-5, 15-8

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Javier Mar & Montserrat Mejia d. 8) Valeria Centellas & Jhonatan Flores, 15-14, 15-10
5) Andree Parrilla & Jessica Parrilla d. 4) Gerson Miranda Martinez & Natalia Mendez, 14-15, 15-14, 11-6

3) Gabriela Martinez & Conrrado Moscoso d. 6) Diego Garcia & Maria Jose Vargas, 12-15, 15-11, 11-1
10) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla d. 2) Brenda Laime & Rodrigo Montoya, 15-14, 15-7

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16

1) Javier Mar & Montserrat Mejia d. 16) Vaishant Mangalampalli & Aanshi Thakur, 15-5, 15-7
8) Valeria Centellas & Jhonatan Flores d. 9) Robert Collins & Annie Sanchez, 15-11, 15-8

5) Andree Parrilla & Jessica Parrilla d. 12) Edwin Galicia & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 8-15, 15-13, 11-10
4) Gerson Miranda Martinez & Natalia Mendez d. 13) Alvaro Beltran & Carla Muñoz, 15-8, 13-15, 11-0

3) Gabriela Martinez & Conrrado Moscoso d. 14) Ivanna Balderrama & Cole Sendrey, 15-6, 15-2
6) Diego Garcia & Maria Jose Vargas d. 11) Cristina Amaya & Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman, 15-3, 15-7

10) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla d. 7) Thomas Carter & Sheryl Lotts, 15-10, 15-9
2) Brenda Laime & Rodrigo Montoya d. 15) Wayne Antone & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-5, 15-8

Follow the bouncing ball….

Moscoso defeats Montoya to win 2025 Golden State Open

Conrrado Moscoso defeated Rodrigo Montoya, 13-15, 15-7, 11-5, on Sunday to win the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Golden State Open in Pleasanton, California, in what was a battle of two former International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champions. The win is Moscoso’s first since last year’s Golden State Open, and his 3rd consecutive Golden State Open title.

Montoya was playing his first final since the 2024 Lewis Drug Pro-Am, which he lost to Samuel Murray.

Moscoso almost won in two straight games, as he had leads of 11-7 and 13-10 in game one, only to see Montoya come back and take it, 15-13, on his first game point opportunity.

Montoya got that opportunity, as he appealed Moscoso backhand cross court shot that the referee had called good. However, the line judges overturned the referee’s call, and as Montoya had served that rally, he was awarded a point, which made it 14-13.

Game two was similar in that Moscoso was again ahead 11-7, but this time there was no come back by Montoya, as Moscoso got the next four points only giving up serve once. A soft backhand shot ended it at 15-7, setting up a tie-breaker.

Montoya had an early lead in game three at 2-1, but Moscoso responded with four straight points, including a drive serve ace to the left side. He maintained that lead, and Montoya didn’t get closer than two points, as Moscoso won it 11-5.

The final point was a classic three shot rally, as Moscoso drove serve to the left side, which Montoya returned with a backhand cross court shot. That shot was loose, and Moscoso capitalized on that by hitting a winning forehand pinch shot.

You might think of Moscoso as a bigger drive server than Montoya, but Montoya actually had one more drive serve ace than Moscoso during the match. He had three aces in game one to Moscoso’s two, and they each had one ace in both games two and three.

Neither semi-final match was close, as Moscoso beat Jordy Alonso, 15-4, 15-0, and Montoya defeated Andree Parrilla, 15-8, 15-2.

However, all four quarterfinal matches required tie-breakers. Moscoso defeated surprise quarterfinalist 15th seed Jhonatan Flores, 15-14, 10-15, 11-6, and Montoya, who was the top seed, came back from a game down to defeat 9th seed Jaime Martell, 11-15, 15-6, 11-6.

The other two quarters were even closer, as 4th seed Parrilla defeated 5th seed Adam Manilla, 15-10, 14-15, 11-9, and 6th seed Alonso held on to beat 14th seed Kadim Carrasco, 15-13, 13-15, 11-8.

Flores and Carrasco benefited from injury forfeit wins in the Round of 16. Flores won the first game against 2nd seed Javier Mar, 15-10, and then Mar forfeits at 1-1 in the second game. Third seed Alan Natera forfeited his match versus Carrasco.

The next main IRT event is the Rally For Our Warriors event in Marlborough, Massachusetts, November 13-16. If you missed any of the action from Pleasanton, check out the IRT YouTube channel.

2025 Golden State Open
Pleasanton, California - October 8-12

Final

7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 1) Rodrigo Montoya, 13-15, 15-7, 11-5

Semi-finals

1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 15-8, 15-2
7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 6) Jordy Alonso, 15-4, 15-0

Quarterfinals

1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Jaime Martell, 11-15, 15-6, 11-6
4) Andree Parrilla d. 5) Adam Manilla, 15-10, 14-15, 11-9

6) Jordy Alonso d. 14) Kadim Carrasco, 15-13, 13-15, 11-8
7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 15) Jhonatan Flores, 15-14, 10-15, 11-6

Round of 16

1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 16) Cole Sendry, 15-5, 15-3
9) Jaime Martell d. 8) Thomas Carter, 15-7, 15-3

5) Adam Manilla d. 12) Robert Collins, 15-6, 15-8
4) Andree Parrilla d. 13) Diego Garcia, 6-15, 15-3, 11-9

14) Kadim Carrasco d. 3) Alan Natera, injury forfeit
6) Jordy Alonso d. 11) Diego Gastelum, 15-6, 15-14

7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 10) Gerson Miranda Martinez, 15-0, 15-2
15) Jhonatan Flores d. 2) Javier Mar, 15-10, 1-1, injury forfeit

Round of 32

1) Rodrigo Montoya d. 32) Alvaro Guillen, 15-7, 15-3
16) Cole Sendry d. 17) John Wolfe, 15-5, 15-5

9) Jaime Martell d. 24) Jose Caceres, 15-12, 15-4
8) Thomas Carter d. 25) Santiago Castillo, 15-10, 15-5

5) Adam Manilla d. 28) Emir Martinez, 15-1, 15-7
12) Robert Collins d. 21) Wayne Antone, 1-15, 15-10, 11-0

13) Diego Garcia d. 20) Juan Salvatierra, 15-4, 15-5
4) Andree Parrilla d. 29) Ezequiel Subieta, 15-2, 15-6

3) Alan Natera d. 30) Santiago Galina, 15-3, 15-12
14) Kadim Carrasco d. 19) DJ Mendoza, 14-15, 15-2, 11-8

11) Diego Gastelum d. 22) Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman, 15-5, 15-7
6) Jordy Alonso d. 27) Matias Arnez, 15-5, 15-3

7) Conrrado Moscoso d. 26) Anthony Martin, 15-1, 15-6
10) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 23) Cody Elkins, 15-5, 15-0

15) Jhonatan Flores d. 18) Jim Douglas, 15-4, 15-1
2) Javier Mar d. 34) Salim Gonzalez, 15-14, 15-11

Round of 64

1) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
32) Alvaro Guillen d. 33) Ernesto Ruiz, 15-12, 1-15, 11-7

17) John Wolfe - BYE
16) Cole Sendry - BYE

9) Jaime Martell - BYE
24) Jose Caceres - BYE

25) Santiago Castillo - BYE
8) Thomas Carter - BYE

5) Adam Manilla - BYE
28) Emir Martinez d. 37) Mauro Rojas, 15-5, 14-15, 11-5

21) Wayne Antone - BYE
12) Robert Collins - BYE

13) Diego Garcia - BYE
20) Juan Salvatierra - BYE

29) Ezequiel Subieta d. 36) Homer Steadman-Shockley, 15-6, 15-5
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE

3) Alan Natera - BYE
30) Santiago Galina d. 35) Luis Castelltort, 15-12, 15-4

19) DJ Mendoza - BYE
14) Kadim Carrasco - BYE

11) Diego Gastelum - BYE
22) Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman

27) Matias Arnez d. 38) Deacon Qualls, 15-2, 15-5
6) Jordy Alonso - BYE

7) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
26) Anthony Martin - BYE

23) Cody Elkins - BYE
10) Gerson Miranda Martinez - BYE

15) Jhonatan Flores - BYE
18) Jim Douglas, 15-4, 15-1

31) Santiago Borja d. 34) Salim Gonzalez, 15-0, 15-1
2) Javier Mar - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk wins #131

We’re late with this, but Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), got back in the Winner’s Circle late last month, when he won the Track Town Open in Eugene, Oregon by defeating IRT #3 Jake Bredenbeck in the final, 11-15, 15-2, 11-2. It’s the 131st IRT win of Waselenchuk’s long career.

To put that total in a bit of perspective, Waselenchuk now has as many wins as Cliff Swain (71) and Marty Hogan (40) combined, and those players have the 2nd and 3rd most IRT titles. He’s got more than #5 through #10 on the all time list: Jack Huczek (29), Rocky Carson (27), Jason Mannino (22), Mike Yellen (18), Andy Roberts (17) and Bret Harnett (16).

It’s an astonishing total.

Waselenchuk got to the final by beating Conrrado Moscoso, 15-4, 15-3, in the semi-finals, and Adam Manilla in the quarterfinals, 15-12, 15-6.

For his part, Bredenbeck defeated Alan Natera, 15-8, 15-13, in the semis, and Javier Mar, 15-10, 15-9, in the quarters. Natera had the big upset of the tournament, as he took out IRT #2 Andrés Acuña, 9-15, 15-14, 11-4, in the quarters.

Acuña had been looking to win a second consecutive title, as he won his first ever IRT title earlier in September, when he defeated Waselenchuk in Colorado.

The next IRT event is the Golden State Open in Pleasanton, California, which began Wednesday. We’ll try to cover that in a more timely manner. As always, you can watch the action on line via the IRT YouTube channel.

2025 Track Town Open
Eugene, Oregon - September 25-28

Final

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck, 11-15, 15-2, 11-2

Semi-finals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 13) Conrrado Moscoso, 15-4, 15-3
3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 7) Alan Natera, 15-8, 15-13

Quarterfinals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 8) Adam Manilla, 15-12, 15-6
13) Conrrado Moscoso d. 5) Rodrigo Montoya, 8-15, 15-14, 11-4

3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 6) Javier Mar, 15-10, 15-9
7) Alan Natera d. 2) Andrés Acuña, 9-15, 15-14, 11-4

Round of 16

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 16) Kadim Carrasco, 15-7, 15-3
8) Adam Manilla d. 9) Jordy Alonso, 15-2, 15-6

5) Rodrigo Montoya d. 12) Diego Gastelum, 15-7, 15-12
13) Conrrado Moscoso d. 4) Andree Parrilla, 15-14, 15-10

3) Jake Bredenbeck d. 14) Robert Collins, 15-4, 15-6
6) Javier Mar d. 11) Jaime Martell, 15-4, 15-4

7) Alan Natera d. 10) Thomas Carter, 15-1, 15-7
2) Andrés Acuña d. 15) Carlos Ramirez, 15-3, 15-3

Round of 32

1) Kane Waselenchuk - BYE
16) Kadim Carrasco d. 17) John Wolfe, 15-8, 15-7

9) Jordy Alonso d. 24) Sean Brooks, 15-3, 15-0
8) Adam Manilla - BYE

5) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
12) Diego Gastelum d. 21) Sunji Spencer, 15-8, 15-3

13) Conrrado Moscoso d. 20) Charles Pratt, 15-4, 15-2
4) Andree Parrilla - BYE

3) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
14) Robert Collins d. 19) Wayne Antone, 15-12, 15-5

11) Jaime Martell d. 22) Travis Haines, 15-1, 15-2
6) Javier Mar - BYE

7) Alan Natera - BYE
10) Thomas Carter d. 23) Tony Teach, 15-0, 15-3

15) Carlos Ramirez d. 18) Jim Douglas, 15-3 [sic]
2) Andrés Acuña - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Acuña defeats Waselenchuk to win in Colorado

Andrés Acuña defeated Kane Waselenchuk, 15-14, 15-6, to win the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) World Singles and Doubles Open Championship on the weekend, in what was a battle of the #1 and #2 players on the IRT in Waselenchuk and Acuña, respectively.

Thus, Acuña’s win was an upset by the rankings, and also because Waselenchuk came in having not lost a game en route to the final, yielding only 6.5 points on average per game across the four matches he’d played.

Yet in the final, Waselenchuk looked like he was feeling all of his almost 44 years of age, as he wasn’t moving or reacting as well as he had earlier in the tournament.

That said, he came back in the first game from deficits of 5-1, 10-6, and 14-12. Both players had three opportunities to win game one, but on Acuña’s third opportunity, he hit a winning backhand shot to capture the first game.

In game two, Acuña also took the lead early at 8-1. Waselenchuk was able to narrow the gap to two at 8-6, but that was as close as he’d get, as Acuña went on to win game two, 15-6, and the match in two straight games.

There was some discussion among The Racquetball Blog staff and consultants about what this loss means for Waselenchuk. The consensus was that while Father Time is undefeated, Waselenchuk still has a lot in the tank. If you’d have bet against him across his career, you’d have lost a lot of money, so we certainly aren’t doing that now. But Waselenchuk has limits, like everyone else, and he seemed to have reached one of those limits on Sunday.

Still Waselenchuk was close to winning that first game, and if he does, maybe the match outcome is different. Of course, he didn’t, so that is mere speculation.

The next IRT main event will be the Track Town Open in Eugene, Oregon, September 25-28, and we would not be surprised if Waselenchuk was in the final and even if he won it.

If you missed any of the action from Colorado, check out the IRT YouTube channel.

2025 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships
Highlands Ranch, Colorado - September 4-7

IRT Final

2) Andrés Acuña d. 1) Kane Waselenchuk, 15-14, 15-6

Semi-finals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 5) Eduardo Portillo, 15-7, 15-12
2) Andrés Acuña d. 14) Gerson Miranda Martinez, 7-15, 15-13, 11-3

Quarterfinals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 9) Adam Manilla, 15-2, 15-0
5) Eduardo Portillo d. 4) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-8, 14-15, 11-6

14) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 6) Rodrigo Montoya, forfeit
2) Andrés Acuña d. 11) Javier Mar, 15-9, 15-5

Round of 16

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 17) Conrrado Moscoso, 15-5, 15-14
9) Adam Manilla d. 8) Alan Natera, 12-15, 15-10, 11-10

5) Eduardo Portillo d. 21) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-4, 15-1
4) Jake Bredenbeck d. 20) Jhonatan Flores, 15-7, 15-9

14) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 5) Andree Parrilla, forfeit
6) Rodrigo Montoya d. 22) Kadim Carrasco, 15-6, 13-15, 11-3

11) Javier Mar d. 10) Jordy Alonso, 15-8, 15-0
2) Andrés Acuña d. 15) Diego Garcia, 15-5, 15-6

Round of 32

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 32) Brady Yelverton - 15-9, 15-3
17) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE

9) Adam Manilla d. 41) Mauricio Zelada, 15-9, 15-7
8) Alan Natera d. 25) DJ Mendoza - 15-6, 15-7

5) Eduardo Portillo d. 37) Jeff Stark, 15-4, 15-6
21) Sam Bredenbeck d. 12) Jaime Martell, 15-12, 15-9

20) Jhonatan Flores d. 13) Diego Gastelum, 15-6, 15-9
4) Jake Bredenbeck d. 29) Migel Angel Arteaga Guzman, 15-2, 15-3

5) Andree Parrilla d. 30) Cody Elkins, 15-10, 15-3
14) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 19) Cole Sendrey, 15-1, 15-12

22) Kadim Carrasco d. 11) Thomas Carter, 15-13, 15-6
6) Rodrigo Montoya d. 27) Juan Salvatierra, 15-7, 15-9

11) Javier Mar d. 26) Edwin Galicia, 15-6, 15-3
10) Jordy Alonso d. 42) Anthony Martin, 15-7, 15-12

15) Diego Garcia d. 18) Robert Collins, 15-6, 15-11
2) Andrés Acuña d. 31) Jose Caceres, 15-4, 15-9

Round of 64

1) Kane Waselenchuk - BYE
32) Brady Yelverton d. 33) Parker Bremner, 15-2, 15-3

17) Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
Empty

9) Adam Manilla - BYE
41) Mauricio Zelada d. 24) Jim Douglas, 15-2, 15-6

25) DJ Mendoza d. 40) Dylan Pruitt, 9-15, 15-13, 11-10
8) Alan Natera - BYE

5) Eduardo Portillo - BYE
37) Jeff Stark d. 28) Esteban Reque, forfeit

21) Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
12) Jaime Martell - BYE

13) Diego Gastelum - BYE
20) Jhonatan Flores - BYE

29) Migel Angel Arteaga Guzman d. 36) Marcel Luensmann, 15-14, 15-4
4) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE

5) Andree Parrilla - BYE
30) Cody Elkins d. 35) Travis Mettenbrink, 15-14, 15-13

19) Cole Sendrey - BYE
14) Gerson Miranda Martinez - BYE

11) Thomas Carter - BYE
22) Kadim Carrasco d. 43) Victor Camacho, 15-6, 13-15, 11-10

27) Juan Salvatierra d. 38) Ty Hedalen, 15-8, 15-11
6) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE

11) Javier Mar - BYE
26) Edwin Galicia d. 39) Tyler Thielen, 15-3, 15-3

42) Anthony Martin d. 23) Blase Zera, 15-3, 15-4
10) Jordy Alonso - BYE

15) Diego Garcia - BYE
18) Robert Collins - BYE

31) Jose Caceres d. 34) Sebastian Chevaile Sanchez, 15-7, 15-11
2) Andrés Acuña - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Vargas wins singles, Longoria & Moscoso Mixed Doubles in Colorado

Maria José Vargas won the first event of the 2025-26 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season, as she defeated Paola Longoria, 15-8, 11-15, 11-0, in the final of the World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Longoria did win the Mixed Doubles event, however, as she and Conrrado Moscoso came back from a game down to defeat surprise finalists Rocky Carson and Michelle Key, 9-15, 15-4, 11-5.

In the singles final, Vargas led for much of the first two games. She got the lead in game one at 2-1, and went on to win 15-8, hitting a drive serve ace to the right side to win it. Then in game two, Vargas led 5-1, and 11-8, but Longoria came back to tie it at 11-11.

Vargas called a timeout at that point, but to no avail, as Longoria got four straight points to close out game two, 15-11, and force a tie-breaker.

It was all Vargas in the breaker. She took a 4-0 lead, and Longoria called timeout. Vargas extended that lead to 8-0, and Longoria called another timeout. Neither of those timeouts led to any points, and Vargas got to match point with a drive Z serve ace to the left side. She won it, when Longoria skipped a forehand shot on the next rally.

In the semi-finals, Longoria needed three games to defeat 5th seed Natalia Mendez, 15-10, 2-15, 11-1, while Vargas beat 3rd seed Montserrat Mejia in two close games, 15-13, 15-13.

In the Mixed Doubles final, Carson and Key had a clearer plan of attack than Longoria and Moscoso, and it was almost enough to carry the day. They played a front and back formation with Key up front and Carson in back, while Longoria and Moscoso played a more common left-right formation with Longoria on the right and Moscoso on the left. There were more times when Longoria and Moscoso were both going for the same ball than Carson and Key did.

Longoria and Moscoso did have more experience together than Carson and Key, as they won this event two years ago, while Carson and Key hadn’t played together before. But both are veterans, and they made an impressive run to the final.

In the semi-finals, Carson and Key, who were seeded 15th, upset 3rd seeds Alexandra Herrera and Eduardo Portillo, 15-12, 14-15, 11-5. Their quarterfinal may have been even more impressive, as they came back from a game down to defeat former International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champions Rodrigo Montoya and Samantha Salas, 6-15, 15-7, 11-4.

For their part, Longoria and Moscoso won a back and forth quarterfinal match against 9th seeds Gerson Miranda Martinez and Vargas, 15-6, 4-15, 11-3, and then narrowly defeated 4th seeds Javier Mar and Montserrat Mejia, 15-14, 14-15, 11-9, in the semis to reach the final.

If you missed any of the action, several matches, including the finals, were live streamed on the LPRT YouTube channel.

2025 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships
Highlands Ranch, Colorado - September 4-7, 2025

Singles Final - Sunday

2) Maria José Vargas d. 1) Paola Longoria, 15-8, 11-15, 11-0

Singles Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Natalia Mendez, 15-10, 2-15, 11-1
2) Maria José Vargas d. 3) Montserrat Mejia, 15-13, 15-13

Mixed Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola Longoria & Conrrado Moscoso d. 15) Rocky Carson & Michelle Key, 9-15, 15-4, 11-5

Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria & Conrrado Moscoso d. 4) Javier Mar & Montserrat Mejia, 15-14, 14-15, 11-9
15) Rocky Carson & Michelle Key d. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Eduardo Portillo, 15-12, 14-15, 11-5

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Conrrado Moscoso d. 9) Gerson Miranda Martinez & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-6, 4-15, 11-3
4) Javier Mar & Montserrat Mejia d. 12) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla, 15-7, 15-10

3) Alexandra Herrera & Eduardo Portillo d. 6) Andrés Acuña & Valeria Centellas, 15-9, 15-13
15) Rocky Carson & Michelle Key d. 7) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas, 6-15, 15-7, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball….

Top three LPRT seeds into the semis in Colorado

Three of the top four Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) seeds are into the semi-finals at the World Singles and Doubles Open Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, site of the first LPRT event of the 2025-26 season. Top seed Paola Longoria, 2nd seed Maria José Vargas and 3rd seed Montserrat Mejia are into the semis, but 4th seed Alexandra Herrera is not, as she lost to 13th seed Carla Muñoz in the Round of 16, 5-15, 15-12, 11-7.

However, in the quarterfinals, Muñoz lost to 5th seed Natalia Mendez, 15-10, 15-2, which sets up a semi-final with top seed Longoria, who beat 8th seed Samantha Salas, 15-2, 15-3, in the quarters. Salas got the first three points of game two, and then Longoria scored 15 unanswered points.

In the other quarterfinals, Vargas defeated 7th seed Cristina Amaya, 15-8, 15-4, and Mejia beat 6th seed Brenda Laime, 15-4, 15-5.

Among the other matches, Naomi Ros’s loss to Longoria is notable, as the young American took a game off what many people consider to the best women’s player of all time. Longoria won their Round of 16 match, 15-3, 11-15, 11-3.

They are also playing Mixed Doubles in Colorado, and there was a big upset in the Round of 16, as American veterans Rocky Carson and Michelle Key, the 15th seeds, defeated the 2nd seeded Chilean team of Carla Muñoz and Alan Natera, 15-10, 15-7. Carson and Key will next face the former International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championship team of Rodrigo Montoya and Samantha Salas in the quarterfinals.

In another upset, the brother/sister combination of Adam and Erika Manilla, the 12th seeds, beat 5th seeds Natalia Mendez and Andree Parrilla, 15-8, 15-5, to set up a quarterfinal match against 4th seeds Javier Mar and Montserrat Mejia, who defeated 13th seeds Edwin Galicia and Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-8, 15-11, in the Round of 16.

The LPRT is live streaming matches from Colorado, so check out the LPRT YouTube channel. Times below are MDT.

2025 World Singles and Doubles Open Championships
Highlands Ranch, Colorado - September 4-7, 2025

Singles Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Samantha Salas, 15-2, 15-3
5) Natalia Mendez d. 13) Carla Muñoz, 15-10, 15-2

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Brenda Laime, 15-4, 15-5
2) Maria José Vargas d. 7) Cristina Amaya, 15-8, 15-4

Singles Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria v. 5) Natalia Mendez - 12:15 PM
2) Maria José Vargas v. 3) Montserrat Mejia - 10:15 AM

Singles Round of 16

1) Paola Longoria d. 16) Naomi Ros, 15-3, 11-15, 11-3
8) Samantha Salas d. 9) Valeria Centellas, 8-15, 15-11, 11-10

5) Natalia Mendez d. 21) Rhonda Rajsich, 15-5, 15-9
13) Carla Muñoz d. 4) Alexandra Herrera, 5-15, 15-12, 11-7

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 19) Juliette Parent, 15-3, 15-1
6) Brenda Laime d. 11) Lexi York, 9-15, 15-4, 11-2

7) Cristina Amaya d. 10) Sheryl Lotts, 15-13, 15-8
2) Maria José Vargas d. 18) Camila Rivero, 15-8, 15-1

Singles Round of 32

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
16) Naomi Ros d. 17) Michelle Key, 15-7, injury forest

9) Valeria Centellas d. 24) Alondra Yañez, 15-0, 15-0
8) Samantha Salas d. 25) Larissa Faeth, 15-0, 15-5

5) Natalia Mendez - BYE
21) Rhonda Rajsich d. 12) Stephanie Synhorst, 9-15, 15-11, 11-3

13) Carla Muñoz d. 20) Chanis Leon, 15-3, 15-9
4) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

3) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
19) Juliette Parent d. 14) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-13, 12-15, 11-3

11) Lexi York d. 22) Erica Williams, 15-6, 15-0
6) Brenda Laime - BYE

7) Cristina Amaya - BYE
10) Sheryl Lotts d. 23) Bri Millet, 15-3, 15-1

18) Camila Rivero d. 15) Annie Sanchez, 15-12, 15-8
2) Maria José Vargas - BYE

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Conrrado Moscoso v. 9) Gerson Miranda Martinez & Maria Jose Vargas - 8 PM
4) Javier Mar & Montserrat Mejia v. 12) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla - 7 PM

3) Alexandra Herrera & Eduardo Portillo v. 6) Andrés Acuña & Valeria Centellas - 8 PM
7) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas v. 15) Rocky Carson & Michelle Key - 8 PM

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Conrrado Moscoso d. 16) Sam Bredenbeck & Lexi York, 15-7, 15-6
9) Gerson Miranda Martinez & Maria Jose Vargas d. 8) Brenda Laime & Jaime Martell, 15-11, 15-10

12) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla d. 5) Natalia Mendez & Andree Parrilla, 15-8, 15-5
4) Javier Mar & Montserrat Mejia d. 13) Edwin Galicia & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-8, 15-11

3) Alexandra Herrera & Eduardo Portillo d. 14) Sheryl Lotts & Dylan Pruitt, 15-12, 15-11
6) Andrés Acuña & Valeria Centellas d. 11) Jake Bredenbeck & Juliette Parent, 15-10, 15-3

7) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas d. 10) Jordy Alonso & Cristina Amaya, 15-12, 15-11
15) Rocky Carson & Michelle Key d. 2) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera, 15-10, 15-7

Mixed Doubles - Round of 32 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria & Conrrado Moscoso - BYE
16) Sam Bredenbeck & Lexi York d. 17) Robert Collins & Annie Sanchez, 15-6, 15-9

9) Gerson Miranda Martinez & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
8) Brenda Laime & Jaime Martell - BYE

5) Natalia Mendez & Andree Parrilla - BYE
12) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla d. 21) Diego Gastellum & Camila Rivero, 10-15, 15-1, 11-3

13) Edwin Galicia & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 20) Thomas Carter & Rhonda Rajsich, 15-9, 15-11
4) Javier Mar & Montserrat Mejia - BYE

3) Alexandra Herrera & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
14) Sheryl Lotts & Dylan Pruitt d. 19) Cole Sendry & Stephanie Synhorst, 15-9, 15-14

11) Jake Bredenbeck & Juliette Parent - BYE
6) Andrés Acuña & Valeria Centellas - BYE

7) Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas - BYE
10) Jordy Alonso & Cristina Amaya - BYE

15) Rocky Carson & Michelle Key d. 18) DJ Mendoza & Naomi Ros, 11-115, 15-8, 11-5
2) Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

2025 World Games - Medal Summary

The 2025 World Games wrapped up Sunday in Chengdu, China. Athletes from 16 countries competed in Chengdu, and athletes from 5 of them left with medals. Three countries won gold: Argentina, Bolivia and the USA, and three different countries won bronze: Canada, Guatemala and Mexico. Two silver medals went to Argentina and one silver to Mexico.

Athletes could have got two medals in Chengdu, as everyone played singles and mixed doubles. However, only the two Argentine athletes got two medals. Maria José Vargas got gold in singles and silver in mixed doubles, and her team-mate Diego Garcia was the silver medalist in both singles and mixed doubles. Their four medals were the first World Games medals won by Argentine racquetball players.

Vargas ended the World Games gold medal streak of Mexican Paola Longoria, who arrived in China having won gold at the three previous World Games, going back to 2009. But in Chengdu, Longoria lost to Vargas, which was her first loss at a World Games.

Guatemalan Gabriela Martinez got her second career World Games medal in Chengdu, as she was the bronze medalist in singles. Martinez was the silver medalist at the last World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, where she lost in the final to Longoria.

Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso got Bolivia’s first World Games gold medal and only their second medal in World Games history. Bolivian Angelica Barrios got their first one, when she won bronze in Birmingham at the 2022 World Games.

The American gold medal in Mixed Doubles, won by Jake Bredenbeck and Naomi Ros, was the first World Games gold for the USA since 2009, when Jack Huczek won gold in singles, and the first medal of any colour at the World Games since 2013, when both Rocky Carson and Rhonda Rajsich won bronze in Men’s and Women’s Singles, respectively.

Eduardo Portillo’s bronze medal in singles was the 12th medal for Mexico at the World Games, and the 5th by a Mexican man. Overall, Mexico now has 12 World Games medals, which is still well behind the USA’s 20, but ahead of Canada’s 7.

Canada’s bronze in Mixed Doubles - won by Coby Iwaasa and Frédérique Lambert - is their first since 2009, when Vincent Gagnon won bronze in singles. While Canadians have won 7 World Games medals, they have yet to win a gold medal at the World Games.

In the first three World Games racquetball competitions, only athletes from the USA, Canada and Mexico won medals in singles, with the USA winning 12 medals including all six gold medals, Canada winning 5 and Mexico 1. In the last three World Games, six countries have won medals in singles with Mexico taking home 8, Argentina, Bolivia, Guatemala, and USA 2 each, and Costa Rica 1. That’s how racquetball has changed from the early days of the 1980s and 1990s to the 2010s and 2020s.

There were several great matches in Chengdu, and you can watch them via The World Games Live website.

2025 World Games - Chengdu, China - August 13-17, 2025

Men’s Singles - Medalists

GOLD - Conrrado MOSCOSO (Bolivia)
SILVER - Diego GARCIA (Argentina)
BRONZE - Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico)
4th - Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala)

Women’s Singles - Medalists

GOLD - Maria Jose VARGAS (Argentina)
SILVER - Paola LONGORIA (Mexico)
BRONZE - Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala)
4th - Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia)

Mixed Doubles - Medalists

GOLD - Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS (USA)
SILVER - Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA (Argentina)
BRONZE - Coby IWAASA & Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada)
4th - Michimune KONO & Harumi KAJINO (Japan)

Medal summary

Argentina - 1 Gold, 2 Silver
Bolivia - 1 Gold
USA - 1 Gold
Mexico - 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
Canada - 1 Bronze
Guatemala - 1 Bronze

Follow the bouncing ball…..

Gold for Argentina, Bolivia & USA at 2025 World Games

Argentina, Bolivia, and the USA split the gold medals at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, Sunday. Argentina was represented in all three finals, but only won one of the events, as Maria Jose Vargas ended Mexican Paola Longoria’s World Games gold medal streak in Women’s Singles, 6-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9. Vargas is the first woman to win gold at the World Games aside from Longoria since 1995, when American Michelle Gould won gold in The Hague.

Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso won gold in Men’s Singles, defeating Argentine Diego Garcia in a closely fought match that went the distance and then some, as Moscoso won 9-11, 11-2, 11-9, 6-11, 14-12.

Finally, Americans Jake Bredenbeck and Naomi Ros captured gold in the Mixed Doubles final, as they beat Argentinians Vargas and Garcia in three straight games, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6.

Women's Final

In the women’s final, game three was the turning point, as they’d split the first two games. After being close early in game three, Longoria took the lead, and got to game point at 10-6. Vargas got the serve back with a forehand winner, making it 10-7.

Then something curious happened. Vargas hit high lob serves to Longoria, and it made all the difference, as Vargas won five straight points beginning with that serve. Two points came as Longoria tried to return the ball early, and skipped those returns, the second of which came on game point, and made it 12-10.

Vargas continued lob serving to the right side in game four, but also hit some lobs to the left side, and it was a successful formula, as she led from 4-3 on. Longoria did get within one at 9-8 and 10-9, but never drew level.

Vargas won it, as Longoria drove to the left with the score 10-9. Vargas hit a backhand cross court that came off the right wall, and jammed Longoria, so she wasn’t able to hit a good shot, only directing it back cross court to the left. The ball came off the back wall, and Vargas hit a backhand cross court kill shot to win it. She immediately jumped for joy with the victory.

Men's Final

Garcia won the first game of the men’s final, 11-9, and Moscoso took the next two, 11-2, 11-9. Then in game four, Garcia was injured early. He tried to react to a Moscoso shot, but slipped and in doing so strained something in his upper left leg or hip hinge area. He took some injury time, and it wasn’t clear if he was going to be able to continue.

But injuries sometimes can focus a player, and so it was with Garcia, as when he got back on court, he proceeded to win 7 of the next 9 points to take game four, 11-6, and force a fifth game.

That game went the distance and then some with the players being neck and neck the whole way, as there were 10 ties in the game. Moscoso got to 10 first with a great forehand pinch shot from his knees that made it 10-8.

But Garcia fought off those two match points. He first hit a backhand down the line winner off a Moscoso drive serve to the left side. Then Moscoso skipped a backhand in the front court as Garcia had hit a forehand cross court shot. Garcia’s shot wasn’t great, and it seemed Moscoso anticipated a better shot, as it looked like he was going to dive for it, and then realized he didn’t have to, but that had put him out of position leading to the error.

Garcia got his first match point as he hit a backhand down the line, making it 11-10. His followthrough struck Moscoso in the head, and he went down holding his head. Moscoso took a few minutes off court to recover from that before play resumed.

The ensuing rally was 9 shots only the first of which was hit behind from behind the dashed line. Everything else was in the front court with the end coming from a Garcia backhand skip.

Garcia got a second match point after the next rally, as he hit a forehand pinch winner off a Moscoso drive serve to the right side. Moscoso denied Garcia again with a forehand winner.

Then Moscoso hit a lob serve to the left side that came off the left wall and then the back wall, and Garcia drove it down the left side, which seemed to be a winner, as Moscoso unsuccessfully dove in an attempt to get to the ball, ending up on the floor in the back corner. Garcia’s shot seemed to be a winner, but Moscoso appealed the shot - perhaps his countrywoman Angelica Barrios, who was sitting with Moscoso during the match, signalled to him to do so, as he didn’t make the appeal immediately after getting up at the end of the rally.

Regardless, the appeal was successful, so rather than being 13-12 with Garcia serving, it was 13-12 with Moscoso serving. He hit a half lob serve that came off the left wall, and Garcia took a backhand shot from chest high down the line. Moscoso stepped over and punched a pinch shot into the left corner for the match winner.

Moscoso has now won gold at every level of international competition he’s participated in: International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships and Pan American Games, as well as Pan American Championships, South American Games and Bolivarian Games. All that for someone who has yet to turn 30; he’ll do that next month.

Mixed Doubles Final

The Mixed Doubles final was a relatively straight forward win for the USA team of Bredenbeck and Ros. Each of the three games was tied at 4-4, and each time the USA never trailed after that.

In game three, a Bredenbeck ace drive serve to the left side made the score 9-6. Garcia skipped a backhand shot to make it 10-6, and then he did that again off a Bredenbeck drive serve, giving the USA the win.

Both Argentines had played long matches earlier in the day, so that was probably a factor in their performance in the doubles final. But Bredenbeck and Ros played well. Bredenbeck took more of the shots, which is common for a team of two right handed players. But he also played up in the court, cutting a lot of balls off, and putting them into the corners or driving them to one side or the other.

For her part, Ros held her own, and didn’t seem overwhelmed by the situation. She hit lob serves or half lob serves to Vargas, rather than trying to drive serve, which would put the ball where a power player like Vargas prefers to have it. It was an effective strategy.

Watch again & upcoming events

If you missed any of the action from Chengdu, and there were some great matches, check out the archived matches at The World Games Live website.

The next international event will be the XX Bolivarian Games November 22 to December 7 in Lima, Peru. The IRF World Junior Championships will be in December in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

2026 will be a busy year for racquetball, as it’s an IRF World Championships year, and also the Central American and Caribbean Games (in Santo Domingo) and the South American Games (in Santa Fe, Argentina) will both be held as they lead up to the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Racquetball will be in the Pan Am Games, as was recently announced.

Note the so-called “World Singles and Doubles Championships” in Colorado next month is not an international event. Its name is misleading and confusing to the general public, and anyone unfamiliar with the sport. Using that name is a disservice to racquetball.

2025 World Games - Chengdu, China - August 13-17, 2025

Men’s Singles - Final - Sunday

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO (Bolivia) d. 4) Diego GARCIA (Argentina), 9-11, 11-2, 11-9, 6-11, 14-12

Women’s Singles - Final - Sunday

3) Maria Jose VARGAS (Argentina) d. 1) Paola LONGORIA (Mexico), 6-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-9

Mixed Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS (USA) d. 7) Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA (Argentina), 11-7, 11-9, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball…..

2025 World Games - Bronze medal matches

Mexican Eduardo Portillo claimed the first bronze medal in racquetball at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, as he held on to defeat Guatemala’s Edwin Galicia, 19-17, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-9, in Men’s Singles. Portillo was also a bronze medalist at last year’s International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships.

The first game of that match lasted 25 min, and it ended on the 9th game point. Prior to that, Portillo had five game points and Galicia three, including at 17-16. But Portillo got the last three points to end it, with the last coming from Galicia backhand skip off a Portillo Z serve to the left.

In the breaker, Portillo was up 7-3, only to see Galicia come back to tie it 7-7. Portillo took another lead at 10-7, and Galicia fought off two game points to get within one at 10-9 before Portillo won it with a backhand pinch shot off a lob serve that came off the left wall early allowing Portillo the opportunity to kill it, and he did.

As expected, Gabriela Martinez claimed bronze in Women’s Singles by default, as Bolivian Angelica Barrios was injured in her semi-final match against Mexican Paola Longoria. Martinez now has two World Games medals, having got silver in Birmingham in 2022 after losing to Longoria in the final.

Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Frédérique Lambert won bronze in Mixed Doubles by defeating Japan’s Michimune Kono and Harumi Kajino, 11-3, 11-7, 7-11, 11-4. It’s the first Canadian medal at the World Games since 2009, when Vincent Gagnon got bronze in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

The Canadians and Japanese played for bronze after losing the semi-finals earlier on Saturday. Americans Jake Bredenbeck and Naomi Ros came back from 2-1 down to defeat Iwaasa and Lambert, 9-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9. The Canadians got to 9 first in both game four and five, but the Americans held them at 9 in each game in coming back to win the match.

Argentinians Maria Jose Vargas and Diego Garcia beat Kono and Kajino, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7, in the other semi-final.

Final matches

The finals will be on Sunday at 10 AM for Women’s Singles, 11:15 AM for Men’s Singles and 12:30 PM for Mixed Doubles. The finals live from China via The World Games Live website. Note: those times above are Chengdu times, and, as reference, 6 PM in Chengdu is 6 AM in New York.

2025 World Games - Chengdu, China - August 13-17, 2025

Men’s Singles - 3rd place match - Saturday

2) Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) d. 8) Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala), 19-17, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-9

Men’s Singles - Final - Sunday

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO (Bolivia) v. 4) Diego GARCIA (Argentina) - 11:15 AM

Women’s Singles - 3rd place match - Saturday

2) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala) d. 5) Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia), injury forfeit

Women’s Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola LONGORIA (Mexico) v. 3) Maria Jose VARGAS (Argentina) - 10 AM

Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS (USA) d. 5) Coby IWAASA & Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada), 9-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9
7) Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA (Argentina) d. 11) Michimune KONO & Harumi KAJINO (Japan), 11-4, 11-7, 11-7

Mixed Doubles - 3rd place match - Saturday

5) Coby IWAASA & Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada) d. 11) Michimune KONO & Harumi KAJINO (Japan), 11-3, 11-7, 7-11, 11-4

Mixed Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS (USA) v. 7) Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA (Argentina) - 12:30 PM

Note: All times above are Chengdu times. 6 PM in Chengdu is 6 AM in New York.

Follow the bouncing ball…..

2025 World Games - Heartbreak for Barrios

Mexican Paola Longoria will have a chance to win a fourth consecutive World Games gold medal at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, as she advanced to Sunday’s final with a hard fought win over Bolivian Angelica Barrios, who was two points away from upsetting Longoria, leading 9-7 in the fifth game of their match, when she suffered a right knee injury while hitting a backhand cross court shot from the middle of the service box.

It was a non-contact injury, which are often the worst, and as she was helped off the court, you sensed there was no way she was going to continue. However, Barrios gave it a go, and got back on the court as her injury time was over. But it was clear that putting weight on her right leg was difficult. She hobbled through three rallies, all won by Longoria, and after trying to go for a ball on the right side, Barrios realized she couldn't continue. Thus, Longoria won, 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 10-9, injury forfeit.

In the final, Longoria will face 3rd seed Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina, who defeated 2nd seed Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala in four close games, winning 10-12, 14-12, 12-10, 11-6.

The Men’s Singles final will be Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso versus Argentina’s Diego Garcia, and they will get the first racquetball medals for their countries in men’s play at the World Games.

In the semi-finals, Moscoso defeated 2nd seed Eduardo Portillo of Mexico, 11-4, 11-3, 9-11, 11-6, and Garcia beat Guatemalan Edwin Galicia, 12-10, 11-4, 11-9. Portillo and Galicia will play for bronze on Saturday.

In the Mixed Doubles quarterfinals, Americans Jake Bredenbeck and Naomi Ros beat Costa Ricans Andrés Acuña and Larissa Faeth, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5, and in the semi-finals they’ll play Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Frédérique Lambert, who defeated Guatemalans Martinez and Galicia, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8, in the quarters.

In the Argentina-Mexico showdown, Argentina was victorious, as Vargas and Garcia beat Longoria and Portillo, 11-9, 11-8, 11-4. Vargas was the player of the match in that one, as she had a very strong performance. In the semi-finals, Argentina will play Japan, as Michimune Kono and Harumi Kajino got a forfeit win over Bolivians Moscoso and Barrios, as a result of Barrios’s injury during her singles match.

Saturday matches

There will be five matches on Saturday beginning with the Mixed Doubles semi-finals at 1:30 and 2:30 PM. Then the bronze medal matches will begin at 6 PM with the Men’s match (Galicia v. Portillo) followed by the women’s semi at 7 PM (Martinez v. Barrios, which could be a default given Barrio’s injury) and finally the Mixed Doubles bronze medal match at 8 PM.

The finals will be on Sunday at 10 AM for Women’s Singles, 11:15 AM for Men’s Singles and 12:30 PM for Mixed Doubles.

You can watch some of the matches live from China via The World Games Live website. Note: the times above are Chengdu times, and, as reference, 6 PM in Chengdu is 6 AM in New York.

2025 World Games - Chengdu, China - August 13-17, 2025

Men’s Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

4) Diego GARCIA (Argentina) d. 8) Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala), 12-10, 11-4, 11-9
3) Conrrado MOSCOSO (Bolivia) d. 2) Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico), 11-4, 11-3, 9-11, 11-6

Men’s Singles - 3rd place match - Saturday

2) Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) v. 8) Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) - 6 PM

Men’s Singles - Final - Sunday

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO (Bolivia) v. 4) Diego GARCIA (Argentina) - 11:15 AM

Women’s Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Paola LONGORIA (Mexico) d. 5) Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia), 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 10-9, injury forfeit
3) Maria Jose VARGAS (Argentina) d. 2) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala), 10-12, 14-12, 12-10, 11-6

Women’s Singles - 3rd place match - Saturday

2) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala) v. 5) Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) - 7 PM

Women’s Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Paola LONGORIA (Mexico) v. 3) Maria Jose VARGAS (Argentina) - 10 AM

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS (USA) d. 9) Andrés ACUÑA & Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica), 11-7, 11-6, 11-5
5) Coby IWAASA & Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada) d. 4) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala), 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8

11) Michimune KONO & Harumi KAJINO (Japan) d. 3) Conrrado MOSCOSO & Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia), forfeit
7) Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA (Argentina) d. 2) Paola LONGORIA & Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico), 11-9, 11-8, 11-4

Mixed Doubles - Semi-finals - Satuday

1) Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS (USA) v. 5) Coby IWAASA & Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada) - 1:30 PM
7) Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA (Argentina) v. 11) Michimune KONO & Harumi KAJINO (Japan) - 2:30 PM

Note: All times above are Chengdu times. 6 PM in Chengdu is 6 AM in New York.

Follow the bouncing ball…..

2025 World Games - Men's top seed & defending gold medalist both upset

Thursday at the 2025 World Games racquetball competition in Chengdu, China, brought the first real surprises, and they happened in Men’s Singles. Guatemalan Edwin Galicia upset top seeded American Jake Bredenbeck, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, to advance to the semi-finals, and give himself a chance at a medal, which would be a first for a Guatemalan man at the World Games.

In the semis, Galicia will face Argentina’s Diego Garcia, who knocked off the defending World Games racquetball champion in Costa Rican Andrés Acuña, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6. Garcia’s a solid player, so that he defeated Acuña is not too surprising, but doing it in three straight games is surprising.

The other side of the men’s draw has gone to form. Second seed Eduardo Portillo of Mexico beat Japan’s Michimune Kono in three straight games, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9, and in what at 65 min might have been the longest match so far, 3rd seed Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia defeated 6th seeded Canadian Coby Iwaasa, 12-10, 8-11, 11-1, 11-5.

There were no surprises on the women’s side. Top seed and defending World Games gold medalist Paola Longoria of Mexico defeated Canadian Frédérique Lambert in three games, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8, and 2nd seed and silver medalist from Birmingham Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala was also a straight game winner, beating 15 year old Costa Rican Larissa Faeth, 11-8, 11-3, 11-8.

Third seed Maria Jose Vargas of Argentina had the most decisive victory, as she beat Dominican Republic’s Maria Cespedes, 11-1, 11-4, 11-1. Vargas will play Martinez in the semi-finals, while Longoria faces Bolivian Angélica Barrios in the semi-finals, as Barrios, the 5th seed, defeated 4th seeded American Naomi Ros, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9. While an upset by the seedings, Barrios win isn’t a surprise, as she has a longer record than Ros, who is still a teenager, though she’ll turn 20 at the end of the month.

Mixed Doubles began on Thursday, and there was only one match that went more than three games. In that, Costa Ricans Acuña and Faeth defeated Dominicans Ramon De Leon and Maria Cespedes, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, which sets up a match with Americans Bredenbeck and Ros in the quarterfinals, which will be an interesting battle of two similar teams: a hard hitting guy and a teenage gal.

But the pick of the doubles quarters will be Mexico versus Argentina with Longoria and Portillo going up against Vargas and Garcia. Only one of those teams is going to have a chance to make the podium.

The 4/5 match should also be good, as 4th seeds Guatemala - Galicia and Martinez - take on 5th seeds Canada - Iwaasa and Lambert. That’s also a battle of in-laws, as Iwaasa is married to Martinez’s sister, making them brother and sister in-law, respectively.

Friday matches

Friday will start with the singles semi-finals from noon on with the men playing first and then the women. The Mixed Doubles quarters will be at 6 and 7 PM.

Looking ahead, Saturday will have the Mixed Doubles semi-finals at 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM and the bronze medal matches in Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles at 6, 7, and 8 PM, respectively. The finals will all be on Sunday at 10 AM for Women’s Singles, 11:15 for Men’s Singles and 12:30 for Mixed Doubles.

You can watch some of the matches live from China via The World Games Live website. Note: the times above are Chengdu times, and, as reference, 6 PM in Chengdu is 6 AM in New York.

2025 World Games - Chengdu, China - August 13-17, 2025

Men’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

8) Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) d. 1) Jake BREDENBECK (USA), 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6
4) Diego GARCIA (Argentina) d. 5) Andrés ACUÑA (Costa Rica), 11-6, 11-8, 11-6

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO (Bolivia) d. 6) Coby IWAASA (Canada), 12-10, 8-11, 11-1, 11-5
2) Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) d. 10) Michimune KONO (Japan), 11-5, 11-6, 11-9

Men’s Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

4) Diego GARCIA (Argentina) v. 8) Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) - Noon
2) Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) v. 3) Conrrado MOSCOSO (Bolivia) - 1 PM

Women’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Paola LONGORIA (Mexico) d. 8) Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada), 11-4, 11-7, 11-8
5) Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) d. 4) Naomi ROS (USA), 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 11-9

3) Maria Jose VARGAS (Argentina) d. 6) Maria CESPEDES (Dominican Republic), 11-1, 11-4, 11-1
2) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala) d. 10) Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica), 11-8, 11-3, 11-8

Women’s Singles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Paola LONGORIA (Mexico) v. 5) Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) - 2 PM
2) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala) v. 3) Maria Jose VARGAS (Argentina) - 3 PM

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS (USA) d. 16) Yuan WANG & Han-Yang HUANG (Chinese Taipei), 11-3, 11-2, 11-3
9) Andrés ACUÑA & Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica) d. 8) Ramon DE LEON & Maria CESPEDES (Dominican Republic), 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7

5) Coby IWAASA & Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada) d. 12) Aisling HICKEY & Jonathan O'KEENEY (Ireland), 11-1, 11-5, 12-10
4) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) d. 13) Carlo PAPINI & Cristina AMAYA (Italy), 11-0, 11-1, 11-1

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO & Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) d. 14) Marcel LUNSMANN & Angela GRISAR (Germany), 11-8, 11-7, 11-6
11) Michimune KONO & Harumi KAJINO (Japan) d. 6) Sumin LEE & Gunhee LEE (South Korea), 11-2, 11-9, 11-5

7) Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA (Argentina) d. 10) Jose Daniel UGALDE & Maria Angela VILLACRESES (Ecuador), 11-7, 11-5, 12-10
2) Paola LONGORIA & Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) d. 15) Kosetty JYOTHEEKALYAN & Shilpa DALVI (India), 11-3, 11-0, 11-1

Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS (USA) v. 9) Andrés ACUÑA & Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica) - 6 PM
4) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) v. 5) Coby IWAASA & Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada) - 7 PM

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO & Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) v. 11) Michimune KONO & Harumi KAJINO (Japan) - 6 PM
2) Paola LONGORIA & Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) v. 7) Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA (Argentina) - 7 PM

Note: All times above are Chengdu times. 6 PM in Chengdu is 6 AM in New York.

Follow the bouncing ball…..

2025 World Games - Wednesday results

The 2025 World Games racquetball competition began Wednesday in Chengdu, China, and there weren’t any surprises, although one came close. Dominican Ramon De Leon had a 2-0 lead on Canadian Coby Iwaasa, and a 5-2 lead in the 3rd game. But Iwaasa managed to come back and tie the game at 6-6, and then went ahead 9-6, holding on to win 11-9.

After that the wheels fell off the De Leon bus, so Iwaasa prevailed, 9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-2. His win sets up a tasty quarterfinal with Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso, who was a straight game winner over German Marcel Lunsmann, 11-4, 11-7, 11-5.

Edwin Galicia of Guatemala came back from a game down to defeat Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador, 4-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-3, in the only other Round of 16 men’s match to go more than three games. Galicia’s win sets up a quarterfinal with top seed Jake Bredenbeck of the USA, who beat Han-Yang Huang of Chinese Taipei, 11-2, 11-3, 11-3.

The pick of the quarterfinals could be Argentine Diego Garcia versus Costa Rican Andrés Acuña, the defending World Games gold medalist, who is somehow only seeded 5th. In the 16s, Garcia defeated Jonathan O'Keeney of Ireland, 11-6, 11-2, 11-3, while Acuña beat Gunhee Lee of South Korea, 11-4, 11-1, 11-2.

There was an upset on the women’s side, as youthful exuberance in Costa Rica’s Larissa Faeth defeated veteran experience in Italy’s Cristina Amaya, 11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6. She’ll play 2nd seed Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala in the quarterfinals, as Martinez - the silver medalist from Birmingham - saw off veteran Angela Grisar of Germany, 11-5, 11-0, 11-4.

Top seed and defending World Games gold medalist Paola Longoria of Mexico comfortably beat Yuan Wang of Chinese Taipei, 11-1, 11-2, 11-2, but it shouldn’t be so comfortable in the quarters, as she’ll play Canadian Frédérique Lambert, who defeated South Korea’s Sumin Lee in three games, 11-9, 11-1, 12-10.

The 4/5 quarterfinal is interesting, as it’s young American Naomi Ros versus almost as young Bolivian Angélica Barrios. Ros needed four games to see off Ecuador’s Maria Angela Villacreses, 11-5, 11-2, 10-12, 11-1. She did have a match point in game three, but Villacreses fought it off and extended the match.

For her part, Barrios trailed Ireland’s Aisling Hickey for all of game one until she tied it at 9-9. Barrios got the last two points to win that game, and then took the next two as well, winning the match, 11-9, 11-2, 11-6.

Thursday matches

The schedule has Mixed Doubles starting on Thursday with the Round of 16 from 10 to 1. Then the singles quarterfinals will begin at 4 and go to 7. You can watch some of the matches live from China via The World Games Live website. They were doing one match at each start time, and seemed to alternate between a women’s and men’s match on Wednesday.

2025 World Games - Chengdu, China - August 13-17, 2025

Men’s Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Jake BREDENBECK (USA) d. 16) Han-Yang HUANG (Chinese Taipei), 11-2, 11-3, 11-3
8) Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) d. 9) Jose Daniel UGALDE (Ecuador), 4-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-3

5) Andrés ACUÑA (Costa Rica) d. 12) Gunhee LEE (South Korea), 11-4, 11-1, 11-2
4) Diego GARCIA (Argentina) d. 13) Jonathan O'KEENEY (Ireland), 11-6, 11-2, 11-3

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO (Bolivia) d. 14) Marcel LUNSMANN (Germany), 11-4, 11-7, 11-5
6) Coby IWAASA (Canada) d. 11) Ramon DE LEON (Dominican Republic), 9-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-2

10) Michimune KONO (Japan) d. 7) Kosetty JYOTHEEKALYAN (India), 11-4, 11-1, 11-4
2) Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) d. 15) Carlo PAPINI (Italy), 11-1, 11-4, 11-3

Men’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Jake BREDENBECK (USA) v. 8) Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) - 4 PM
4) Diego GARCIA (Argentina) v. 5) Andrés ACUÑA (Costa Rica) - 5 PM

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO (Bolivia) v. 6) Coby IWAASA (Canada) - 7 PM
2) Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) v. 10) Michimune KONO (Japan) - 6 PM

Women’s Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Paola LONGORIA (Mexico) d. 16) Yuan WANG (Chinese Taipei), 11-1, 11-2, 11-2
8) Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada) d. Sumin LEE (South Korea), 11-9, 11-1, 12-10

5) Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) d. 12) Aisling HICKEY (Ireland), 11-9, 11-2, 11-6
4) Naomi ROS (USA) d. Maria Angela VILLACRESES (Ecuador), 11-5, 11-2, 10-12, 11-1

3) Maria Jose VARGAS (Argentina) d. 14) Shilpa DALVI (India), 11-2, 11-1, 11-3
6) Maria CESPEDES (Dominican Republic) d. 11) Harumi KAJINO (Japan), 11-4, 11-3, 11-2

10) Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica) d. 7) Cristina AMAYA (Italy), 11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6
2) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala) d. 15) Angela GRISAR (Germany), 11-5, 11-0, 11-4

Women’s Singles - Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Paola LONGORIA (Mexico) v. 8) Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada) - 5 PM
4) Naomi ROS (USA) v. 5) Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) - 4 PM

3) Maria Jose VARGAS (Argentina) v. 6) Maria CESPEDES (Dominican Republic) - 6 PM
2) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala) v. 10) Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica) - 7 PM

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS (USA) v. 16) Yuan WANG & Han-Yang HUANG (Chinese Taipei) - 10 AM
8) Ramon DE LEON & Maria CESPEDES (Dominican Republic) v. 9) Andrés ACUÑA & Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica) - 10 AM

5) Coby IWAASA & Frédérique LAMBERT (Canada) v. 12) Aisling HICKEY & Jonathan O'KEENEY (Ireland) - 11 AM
4) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) v. 13) Carlo PAPINI & Cristina AMAYA (Italy) - 11 AM

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO & Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) v. 14) Marcel LUNSMANN & Angela GRISAR (Germany) - Noon
6) Sumin LEE & Gunhee LEE (South Korea) v. 11) Michimune KONO & Harumi KAJINO (Japan) - Noon

7) Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA (Argentina) v. 10) Jose Daniel UGALDE & Maria Angela VILLACRESES (Ecuador) - 1 PM
2) Paola LONGORIA & Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) v. 15) Kosetty JYOTHEEKALYAN & Shilpa DALVI (India) - 1 PM

Note: All times above are Chengdu times. 6 PM in Chengdu is 6 AM in New York.

Follow the bouncing ball…..

2025 World Games Draws

The 2025 World Games racquetball competition begins Wednesday in Chengdu, China, and we have a rundown of the draws for you below. There are three events: Men’s and Women’s Singles as well as Mixed Doubles. The players in the singles draws will team up to play in the mixed doubles event.

In Men’s Singles, Jake Bredenbeck of the USA is the top seed, and probably a good bet to make the final, although he may have to play defending World Games gold medalist Andrés Acuña of Costa Rica in the semi-finals. But Acuña will likely face a trickier match in the quarterfinals in Diego Garcia of Argentina than Bredenbeck will against either Edwin Galicia of Guatemala or Jose Daniel Ugalde of Ecuador.

Eduardo Portillo of Mexico is the 2nd seed, and we like him to reach the semi-finals, but then he’ll probably play 3rd seed Conrrado Moscoso of Bolivia, which should be a great match that could go either way. However, to make that happen Moscoso will likely need to defeat Canadian Coby Iwaasa in the quarterfinals, and that won’t be an easy match.

On the women’s side, Mexican Paola Longoria has a chance to win a 4th consecutive World Games gold medal. Given the draw, where she is seeded #1, you’d give her a good chance to get that 4th gold medal, as looks like she’ll make the final.

Longoria might face Canadian Frédérique Lambert in the quarterfinals, and that could be tricky. Also, she’ll probably play Angelica Barrios of Bolivia, which also could be challenging to Longoria.

Nonetheless, you’d fancy her to get to the final, where she’ll likely face either Argentina’s Maria Jose Vargas or Guatemala’s Gabriela Martinez. If it’s Martinez, that will be a repeat of the final from Birmingham, Alabama in 2022.

In Mixed Doubles, there will be some interesting quarterfinal matches. The most intriguing could be Mexicans Longoria and Portillo versus Argentines Vargas and Garcia. Only one of those teams is making the podium, and the winner will likely play Bolivians Barrios and Moscoso in the semi-finals.

On the other side of the draw, Guatemalans Galicia and Martinez will likely face off in the quarters with Canadians Iwaasa and Lambert with the winner to face Americans Bredenbeck and Ros in the semis. However, the Americans will need to defeat either Costa Ricans Acuña and Faeth or Dominicans De Leon and Cespedes in the quarters, and that could be a tricky match.

Where to watch

All in all, there should be great racquetball matches to be seen. But will we be able to see them if we’re not in Chengdu? It seems that matches will be streamed live from China via The World Games Live website with matches to begin at 9 PM CDT (corresponding to 10 AM in Chengdu). So, let’s check that out and see how it goes.

2025 World Games - Chengdu, China - August 13-17, 2025

Men’s Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Jake BREDENBECK (USA) v. 16) Han-Yang HUANG (Chinese Taipei) - 10 AM
8) Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) v. 9) Jose Daniel UGALDE (Ecuador) - 11 AM

5) Andrés ACUÑA (Costa Rica) v. 12) Gunhee LEE (South Korea) - Noon
4) Diego GARCIA (Argentina) v. 13) Jonathan O'KEENEY (Ireland) - 5 PM

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO (Bolivia) v. 14) Marcel LUNSMANN (Germany) - 4 PM
6) Coby IWAASA (Canada) v. 11) Ramon DE LEON (Dominican Republic) - 6 PM

7) Kosetty JYOTHEEKALYAN (India) v. 10) Michimune KONO (Japan) - 1 PM
2) Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) v. 15) Carlo PAPINI (Italy) - 7 PM

Women’s Singles - Round of 16 - Wednesday

1) Paola LONGORIA (Mexico) v. 16) Yuan WANG (Chinese Taipei) - 11 AM
8) Frederique LAMBERT (Canada) v. Sumin LEE (South Korea) - 10 AM

5) Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) v. 12) Aisling HICKEY (Ireland) - Noon
4) Naomi ROS (USA) v. Maria Angela VILLACRESES (Ecuador) - 1 PM

3) Maria Jose VARGAS (Argentina) v. 14) Shilpa DALVI (India) - 4 PM
6) Maria CESPEDES (Dominican Republic) v. 11) Harumi KAJINO (Japan) - 7 PM

7) Cristina AMAYA (Italy) v. 10) Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica) - 5 PM
2) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ (Guatemala) v. 15) Angela GRISAR (Germany) - 6 PM

Mixed Doubles - Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS (USA) v. 16) Yuan WANG & Han-Yang HUANG (Chinese Taipei) - 10 AM
8) Ramon DE LEON & Maria CESPEDES (Dominican Republic) v. 9) Andrés ACUÑA & Larissa FAETH (Costa Rica) - 10 AM

5) Coby IWAASA & Frederique LAMBERT (Canada) v. 12) Aisling HICKEY & Jonathan O'KEENEY (Ireland) - 11 AM
4) Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Edwin GALICIA (Guatemala) v. 13) Carlo PAPINI & Cristina AMAYA (Italy) - 11 AM

3) Conrrado MOSCOSO & Angélica BARRIOS (Bolivia) v. 14) Marcel LUNSMANN & Angela GRISAR (Germany) - Noon
6) Sumin LEE & Gunhee LEE (South Korea) v. 11) Michimune KONO & Harumi KAJINO (Japan) - Noon

7) Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA (Argentina) v. 10) Jose Daniel UGALDE & Maria Angela VILLACRESES (Ecuador) - 1 PM
2) Paola LONGORIA & Eduardo PORTILLO (Mexico) v. 15) Kosetty JYOTHEEKALYAN & Shilpa DALVI (India) - 1 PM

Note: All times above are Chengu times. Noon in Chengdu is midnight in New York.

Follow the bouncing ball…..

2025 World Games Preview

Later this week the 2025 World Games will begin in Chengdu, China, but the racquetball part of the games will begin next week on August 13. This will be the 7th time racquetball has been included in the World Games program. Racquetball was part of the first World Games in 1981, which is now also recognized as the first Racquetball World Championships.

New this year is a mixed doubles competition. Racquetball at the World Games has generally been a singles only competition with a maximum of two players from each qualifying country.

The players qualified for Chengdu based on results from the 2025 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Antonio, Texas. Previously, qualifying went to the specific player who competed at Worlds, but this time the qualifying went to the country, so if Sally from the USA qualified from her World Championship performance, but was injured and couldn’t participate in the World Games, the USA could send a different player in her place. Previously, Sally’s absence would have meant the next player from the order of qualifying players would be selected to play at the World Games, regardless of what country that player was from.

With this change there is only one player per country in the men’s and women’s singles competitions, so as to maximize the number of participating countries. Those players will be the mixed doubles teams for their respective countries.

Thus, there will be 16 countries competing in Chengdu. Qualifying spots were given to four Asian countries, four European countries and eight countries from the Americas. One of the Asian spots was not taken (that of the host nation, China), so Ecuador has taken its place.

Who’s there?

Both the defending World Games gold medalists from the 2022 Games in Birmingham, Alabama are in Chengdu. Thus, Andrés Acuña of Costa Rica and Paola Longoria of Mexico will have a chance to defend their gold medals from three years ago (note: originally, the Birmingham games were to be held in 2021, but were postponed to 2022 due to the COVID pandemic).

The women’s silver and bronze medalists from Birmingham - Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala and Angélica Barrios of Bolivia, respectively - will also be in Chengdu, but neither of the other men’s medalists - Mexicans Rodrigo Montoya and Andree Parrilla - will be. Instead, Eduardo Portillo will be representing Mexico in China.

Along with Acuña and Portillo, the other favourites on the men’s side will be Bolivian Conrrado Moscoso and American Jake Bredenbeck with Canadian Coby Iwaasa and Argentina’s Diego Garcia as dark horses.

On the women’s side, Longoria, Martinez and Barrios are all players to watch, as is Argentina’s Maria Jose Vargas. Here the dark horses are Canadian Frédérique Lambert and American Naomi Ros. Notably, Angela Grisar - a World Games bronze medalist in 2009 - is in the field representing Germany. We’re not sure how she’s doing that, but we’re also not sure how Cristina Amaya is representing Italy either.

Streaming matches. We hope that some of the matches will be streamed live from China, but this a large games, so the rights to the broadcasts have been bought by someone. Whether that someone will be streaming racquetball is uncertain. Thus, we’re not sure how available streaming will be.

2025 World Games - Chengdu, China - August 13-17, 2025

Field of racquetball players

Argentina - Maria Jose VARGAS & Diego GARCIA
Bolivia - Conrrado MOSCOSO & Angélica BARRIOS
Canada - Coby IWAASA & Frederique LAMBERT
Costa Rica - Andrés ACUÑA & Larissa FAETH
Dominican Republic - Ramon DE LEON & Maria CESPEDES
Ecuador - Jose Daniel UGALDE & Maria Angela VILLACRESES
Germany - Marcel LUNSMANN & Angela GRISAR
Guatemala - Ana Gabriela MARTINEZ & Edwin GALICIA
India - Kosetty JYOTHEEKALYAN & Shilpa DALVI
Ireland - Aisling HICKEY & Jonathan O'KEENEY
Italy - Carlo PAPINI & Cristina AMAYA
Japan - Michimune KONO & Harumi KAJINO
South Korea - Sumin LEE & Gunhee LEE
Mexico - Paola LONGORIA & Eduardo PORTILLO
Chinese Taipei - Yuan WANG & Han-Yang HUANG
USA - Jake BREDENBECK & Naomi ROS

Follow the bouncing ball…..

Final LPRT rankings for 2024-25

The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) final rankings for 2024-25 have been released. Paola Longoria is the #1 player for the 14th time in her career, but the first since 2021-22. Montserrat Mejia and Maria Jose Vargas, who have finished #1 in the last two seasons, tied for the #2 position behind Longoria.

Longoria has been in the top 10 for 18 seasons, 3rd most all time behind Rhonda Rajsich’s 22 and Cheryl Gudinas’s 21. Interestingly, Longoria’s ratio of top 10s to #1s is 18:14 or 9:7, which is exactly Michelle Gould’s ratio, as she had 9 top 10 seasons with 7 seasons at #1. Gould’s seven #1s are second most all time behind Longoria.

The four other active players have been in the top 10 for at least 10 seasons: Vargas and Cristina Amaya with 12 seasons each, Samantha Salas with 11, and Alexandra Herrera with 10.

LPRT Singles Rankings for 2024-25

Rank - Player - Points

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - 1521.5 points
2) Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) - 1218
2) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - 1218
4) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - 919
5) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 528

6) Brenda Laime (Bolivia) - 492.5
7) Kelani Lawrence (USA) - 487.5
8) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) - 451.5
9) Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) - 320.25
10) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - 305.5

11) Samantha Salas (Mexico) - 302.5
12) Valeria Centellas (Argentina) - 227
13) Lexi York (USA) - 226
14) Sheryl Lotts (USA) - 207.25
15) Stephanie Synhorst (USA) - 187.5

16) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 169.25
17) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - 168.75
18) Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) - 150
19) Annie Sanchez-Roberts (USA) - 150
20) Michelle Key (USA) - 114.5

Salas narrowly missed out on a 12th career top 10 this season, as she was just three points behind Amaya, who was 10th.

The points difference between 12th and 13th and 16th and 17th was even less. Valeria Centellas was 12th, just one point ahead of Lexi York, and Carla Muñoz was only 1/2 point ahead of Maria Renee Rodriguez for 16th.

Doubles

The top three in the doubles rankings are also close with about 10 points separating Maria Jose Vargas in #1 and Brenda Laime in #3 with Montserrat Mejia between them at #2. Vargas was in six of the seven doubles finals in 2024-25, but she only won once, while Laime won four doubles titles and Mejia won three titles. Thus, it’s a bit curious that Vargas is top, but the points are close, and her six finals are more than Laime’s four and Mejia’s three.

This season was different from 2023-24, when Mejia and Alexandra Herrera were in all seven of the finals and they won six of them. Thus, they were the top two doubles players, but Herrera slipped down the rankings to 8th this season, in part because she missed two events.

Similarly, Paola Longoria didn’t play in three of the doubles events, so that’s partly why she’s 7th despite winning once and being in another final to go with two semi-final finishes.

LPRT Doubles Rankings for 2024-25

Rank - Player - Points

1) Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina) - 172.5 points
2) Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) - 163.34
3) Brenda Laime (Bolivia) - 163.31
4) Valeria Centellas (Argentina) - 137.4
5) Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - 136.62

6) Samantha Salas (Mexico) - 101.09
7) Paola Longoria (Mexico) - 88.68
8) Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) - 83
9) Michelle Key (USA) - 81.03
10) Kelani Lawrence (USA) - 78.58

11) Jessica Parrilla (Mexico) - 69.44
12) Cristina Amaya (Colombia) - 62.29
13) Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) - 59.02
14) Lexi York (USA) - 55.32
15) Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 49.91

16) Sheryl Lotts (USA) - 45.27
17) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - 38.77
18) Maria Paz Riquelme (Colombia) - 33.35
19) Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) - 26.16
20) Erika Manilla (USA) - 23.52

The LPRT’s 2025-26 season will begin in September with the “World Singles and Doubles Championships” in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, September 4-7.

Follow the bouncing ball…

The conclusion of the LPRT 2024-25 season

The 2024-25 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season wrapped up over the past two weekends with events in Virginia and North Carolina. Montserrat Mejia won the Northern Virginia Invitational in Herndon, Virginia - the penultimate event of the season - and Maria Jose Vargas won the Sweet Caroline Open in Charlotte, North Carolina - the season’s last event.

Those wins were the second for both Mejia and Vargas this season. Paola Longoria also won twice this season with Gabriela Martinez winning the first event of the season last August.

2024-25 is the first women’s pro season with three multiple event winners since 2005-06, when Christie Huczek (née Van Hees) won three times and Cheryl Gudinas and Rhonda Rajsich won twice each. This was only the fifth season with three multiple event winners since 1980.

Four different winners is also relatively rare on tour, although it did happen two seasons ago, when Mejia won five times, Longoria three, and one win each by Martinez and Alexandra Herrera. Overall, only four women’s pro seasons have had four different winners.

Longoria, Martinez, Mejia and Vargas were the semi-finalists in both of the last two tournaments, although they flipped winners. There were two close semi-finals in Virginia, where Longoria defeated Martinez, 15-13, 15-14, and Mejia beat Vargas, 15-5, 12-15, 11-4. Then in North Carolina, Martinez beat Longoria, 15-3, 15-12, and Vargas defeated Mejia, 15-6, 3-15, 11-1.

In the finals, Mejia defeated Longoria, 15-13, 15-5, in Virginia, while Vargas beat Martinez, 15-8, 15-5, in North Carolina.

Here’s a rundown of the results - winners, finalists, semi-finalists and quarterfinalists - from this season.

Results summary for 2024-25 LPRT season (singles)

Paola Longoria - 2 Wins - 4 Finals - 1 Semi-final
Montserrat Mejia - 2 W - 1 F - 3 SF - 1 Quarterfinal
Maria Jose Vargas - 2 W - 1 F - 3 SF - 1 QF
Gabriela Martinez - 1 W - 1 F - 3 SF - 1 QF

Alexandra Herrera - 2 SF - 3 QF
Brenda Laime - 2 SF - 3 QF

Natalia Mendez - 7 QF
Kelani Lawrence - 6 QF
Jessica Parrilla - 2 QF
Samantha Salas - 2 QF

Cristina Amaya - 1 QF
Carla Muñoz - 1 QF

Doubles

Vargas and Valeria Centellas were in both of the doubles finals the last two weeks. In Virginia, they defeated Longoria and Samantha Salas, 15-12, 15-7, while in North Carolina, they lost to Brenda Laime and Natalia Mendez, 15-11, 15-13.

Over the season, Vargas was in six of the seven doubles finals, twice with Mendez and three times with Centellas, but she only won once. Laime was in four doubles finals, and won all of them with three different partners: Mejia twice, and once each with Mendez and Michelle Key. Mejia was also a multiple doubles winner this season, taking three titles out of the three finals she played in, and did so with two different partners: twice with Laime and once with Herrera.

Here’s a rundown of this season’s doubles results: winners, finalists and semi-finalists.

Results summary for 2024-25 LPRT season (doubles)

Brenda Laime - 4 Wins - 1 Semi-final
Montserrat Mejia - 3 W - 4 SF

Maria Jose Vargas - 1 W - 5 Finals
Valeria Centellas - 1 W - 3 F - 1 SF
Natalia Mendez - 1 W - 2 F - 2 SF

Samantha Salas - 1 W - 1 F - 3 SF
Paola Longoria - 1 W - 1 F - 2 SF
Michelle Key - 1 W - 1 F - 1 SF

Alexandra Herrera - 1 W - 4 SF

Erika Manilla - 1 F

Kelani Lawrence - 3 SF
Carla Muñoz - 2 SF

Angelica Barrios - 1 SF
Sheryl Lotts - 1 SF
Jessica Parrilla - 1 SF
Maria Renee Rodriguez - 1 SF
Lexi York - 1 SF

The LPRT’s 2025-26 season will begin in September with the “World Singles and Doubles Championships” in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, September 4-7. In the meantime, check out the LPRT YouTube channel for some great racquetball matches.

2025 LPRT Sweet Caroline Open
Charlotte, North Carolina - June 20-22, 2025

Singles Final

3) Maria José Vargas d. 4) Gabriela Martinez, 15-8, 15-5

Singles Semi-finals

4) Gabriela Martinez d. 1) Paola Longoria, 15-3, 15-12
3) Maria José Vargas d. 2) Montserrat Mejia, 15-6, 3-15, 11-1

Singles Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Alexandra Herrera, 15-6, 9-15, 11-2
4) Gabriela Martinez d. 5) Natalia Mendez, 15-13, 15-5

2) Maria José Vargas d. 6) Brenda Laime, 15-6, 15-2

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 8) Kelani Lawrence, 15-7, 15-6

Singles Round of 16

1) Paola Longoria d. 17) Naomi Ros, 15-11, 15-0
8) Alexandra Herrera d. 9) Jessica Parrilla, 15-11, 15-7

5) Natalia Mendez d. 12) Valeria Centellas, 15-11, 15-8
4) Gabriela Martinez d. 13) Lexi York, 15-8, 15-0

3) Maria José Vargas d. 14) Sheryl Lotts, 15-4, 15-4
6) Brenda Laime d. 11) Samantha Salas, 15-3, 15-11

7) Kelani Lawrence d. 10) Cristina Amaya, 15-9, 10-15, 11-8
2) Montserrat Mejia d. 18) Camila Rivero, 15-4, 15-14

Singles Round of 32

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
17) Naomi Ros d. 16) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-12, 15-3

9) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
8) Alexandra Herrera - BYE

5) Natalia Mendez - BYE
12) Valeria Centellas - BYE

13) Lexi York - BYE
4) Gabriela Martinez - BYE

3) Maria José Vargas - BYE
14) Sheryl Lotts - BYE

11) Samantha Salas - BYE
6) Brenda Laime - BYE

7) Kelani Lawrence - BYE
10) Cristina Amaya - BYE

18) Camila Rivero d. 15) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-4, 15-5
2) Montserrat Mejia - BYE

Doubles - Final

1) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez d. 2) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas, 15-11, 15-13

Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez d. 5) Kelani Lawrence & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-9, 15-7
2) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia, 15-14, 15-13

Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez - BYE
5) Kelani Lawrence & Maria Renee Rodriguez d. 4) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla, 14-15, 15-9, 11-8

3) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York, 15-5, 15-5
2) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 7) Camila Rivero & Naomi Ros, 15-10, 15-8

2025 LPRT Northern Virginia Invitational
Herndon, Virginia - June 13-15, 2025

Singles Final

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 1) Paola Longoria, 15-13, 15-5

Singles Semi-finals

1) Paola Longoria d. 4) Gabriela Martinez, 15-13, 15-14
3) Montserrat Mejia d. 2) Maria José Vargas, 15-5, 12-15, 11-4

Singles Quarterfinals

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Kelani Lawrence, 15-7, 15-9
4) Gabriela Martinez d. 5) Alexandra Herrera, 15-5, 15-9

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 6) Jessica Parrilla, 15-8, 15-7
2) Maria José Vargas d. 8) Natalia Mendez, 15-2, 15-11

Singles Round of 16

1) Paola Longoria d. 17) Annie Sanchez, 15-1, 15-6
8) Kelani Lawrence d. 9) Cristina Amaya, 15-4, 15-4

5) Alexandra Herrera d. 12) Lexi York, 15-4, 12-15, 11-1
4) Gabriela Martinez d. 13) Sheryl Lotts, 15-3, 15-2

3) Montserrat Mejia d. 14) Stephanie Synhorst, 15-2, 15-0
11) Jessica Parrilla d. 6) Brenda Laime, 12-15, 15-10, 11-7

7) Natalia Mendez d. 10) Samantha Salas, 15-12, 15-9
2) Maria José Vargas d. 15) Valeria Centellas, 15-6, 15-2

Singles Round of 32

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
17) Annie Sanchez d. 16) Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-14, 15-6

9) Cristina Amaya - BYE
8) Kelani Lawrence - BYE

5) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
12) Lexi York - BYE

13) Sheryl Lotts d. 20) Laura Brandt, 15-4, 15-1
4) Gabriela Martinez - BYE

3) Montserrat Mejia - BYE
14) Stephanie Synhorst d. 19) Susana Acosta, 15-4, 15-10

11) Jessica Parrilla - BYE
6) Brenda Laime - BYE

7) Natalia Mendez - BYE
10) Samantha Salas - BYE

15) Valeria Centellas d. 18) Chanis Leon, 15-6, 15-2
2) Maria José Vargas - BYE

Doubles - Final

3) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 4) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas, 15-12, 15-7

Doubles - Semi-finals

4) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia, 15-8, 15-14
3) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 7) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York, 15-11, 15-4

Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia d. 9) Yurisleidis All & Chanis Leon, 15-1, 15-3
4) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas d. 5) Kelani Lawrence & Maria Renee Rodriguez, 15-13, 15-9

3) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas d. 6) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla, 15-7, 15-5
7) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York d. 2) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez, 15-14, 15-6

Doubles - Round of 16

1) Alexandra Herrera & Montserrat Mejia - BYE
9) Yurisleidis All & Chanis Leon d. 8) Susana Acosta & Stephanie Synhorst, 15-14, 15-5

5) Kelani Lawrence & Maria Renee Rodriguez - BYE
4) Paola Longoria & Samantha Salas - BYE

3) Valeria Centellas & Maria Jose Vargas - BYE
6) Cristina Amaya & Jessica Parrilla - BYE

7) Sheryl Lotts & Lexi York - BYE
2) Brenda Laime & Natalia Mendez - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….