Rojas wins & Gutierrez does it like 2007

The Men's Open/US Team division at the 2012 Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California had a curious outcome, as the final was a showdown of the #8 and #22 seeds. Marcos Rojas, seeded 22nd and younger brother of Jose Rojas, defeated 8th seed John Goth, 15-11, 13-15, 11-2. Rojas was out most of last year with a knee injury, but has clearly recovered from that and is playing strong.

Testament to Rojas's strong play is that he beat Charlie Pratt in the semi-finals, 15-10, 15-12. In the other semi-final, Goth defeated Tyler Otto, 15-5, 15-5.

2nd Semi Ever with Many Parallels 

Props to Polo Gutierrez, who made his second career semi-final at an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event, last week at the Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California. His only previous semi-final was back at the 2007 Motorola World Championship in Colorado Springs that began the 2007-08 season. And there are many parallels for Gutierrez in these two events.

As with this past weekend, Gutierrez had to go through qualifying, defeating Charlie Pratt and Ruben Gonzalez to get to the 16s. And in the 16s he faced Jason Mannino, and again as with Fullerton, Gutierrez was down two games to zero in that match, but came back to win it in five games.

In that quarter final, Gutierrez faced Chris Crowther, who was his opponent again last week in Fullerton.

Also, in Colorado Springs Gutierrez lost in the semi-finals to the eventual winner - Rocky Carson, and he did so in Fullerton as well, as he fell to Kane Waselenchuk, who went on to win the tournament.

Finally, in both of these events the other finalist was Alvaro Beltran.

Men's Open/US Team Division - Ektelon Nationals - Fullerton, California 

Final

Marcos Rojas d. John Goth, 15-11, 13-15, 11-2

Semi-finals

Marcos Rojas d. Charlie Pratt, 15-10, 15-12
John Goth d. Tyler Otto, 15-5, 15-5

Follow the bouncing ball…. 

Waselenchuk defeats Beltran to win Ektelon Nationals

Kane Waselenchuk finished the 2011-12 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season on a high, as he won the Ektelon Nationals in Fullerton, California, by defeating Alvaro Beltran in Sunday's final, 11-3, 12-10, 11-1. The victory was Waselenchuk's 9th of the season and he's now finished #1 at the end of seven IRT seasons, which is the most ever. He was previously tied with Cliff Swain for most seasons ending at #1, as Swain also did it six times.

After losing game one, Beltran led for most of game two, including at 6-4 and 8-6. But Waselenchuk tied it at 8-8 and then led 9-8, and it looked like all was lost for Beltran.

However, credit to the Mexican, as he came back and with drive serves to Waselenchuk's backhand got the lead back at 10-9. He had game point on his racquet but skipped a back hand shot that looked to be a good set up.

That was all Waselenchuk needed as he stepped in and tied the game at 10-10, before going on to win 12-10. Waselenchuk used the momentum gained from that comeback to easily win game three, and take the title.

IRT Ektelon Nationals - Fullerton, California

Final

Kane Waselenchuk d. Alvaro Beltran, 11-3, 12-10, 11-2

Semi-finals

Kane Waselenchuk d. Polo Gutierrez, 11-1, 11-1, 11-6
Alvaro Beltran d. Rocky Carson, 3-11, 12-10, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5

Follow the bouncing ball….

Longoria wins, Rajsich loses and wins in Fullerton

Paola Longoria defeated Rhonda Rajsich one last time in the 2011-12 Women's Professional Racquetball Organization (WPRO) season as she won the Ektelon National Championships in Fullerton, California. Longoria was undefeated this season and the runaway WPRO #1 player.

In Sunday's final, Longoria defeated WPRO #2 Rajsich, 12-10, 11-0, 11-6. In the semi-finals on Saturday, Longoria beat Cristina Amaya, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7, and Rajsich defeated Kristen Bellows, 12-10, 11-9, 11-3.

Rajsich did win the US Team Qualifying division by defeating Cheryl Gudinas in the final, 15-5, 15-5. As in the WPRO division, Rajsich got to the final by defeating Bellows in the semi-finals, in this case by scores of 15-11 and 15-4.

In the other semi-final, Gudinas beat Adrienne Fisher, 15-9, 15-6. Then in the 3rd place match, Bellows defeated Fisher, 15-13, 15-14.

WPRO Ektelon Nationals - Fullerton, California 

Final - Sunday 

Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 12-10, 11-0, 11-6

Semi-finals - Saturday 

Paola Longoria d. Cristina Amaya, 11-4, 11-5, 11-7
Rhonda Rajsich d. Kristen Bellows, 12-10, 11-9, 11-3

Women's US Team Qualifying Ektelon Nationals 

Final

Rhonda Rajsich  d.  Cheryl Gudinas, 15-5, 15-5

Semi-finals

Rhonda Rajsich  d. Kristen Bellows, 15-11, 15-4
Cheryl Gudinas  d. Adrienne Fisher, 15-9, 15-8

Follow the bouncing ball….