Waselenchuk wins 2024 IRT Golden State Open

Kane Waselenchuk defeated Adam Manilla, 15-11, 15-8, to win the 2024 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Golden State Open in Pleasanton, California. The win should seal Waselenchuk as the IRT #1 for the 15th IRT season. This despite his turning 43 earlier this month. That’s astonishing.

Also astonishing is how few points Waselenchuk surrendered en route to the title. Four in the first two matches, then six in the quarterfinals against Alan Natera, winning 15-3, 15-3, and nine against Javier Mar in the semi-finals, 15-6, 15-3. Manilla’s 19 points was the most scored on Waselenchuk by a long way.

Manilla was also in the doubles final with Jake Bredenbeck, but they lost to Rodrigo Montoya and Mar, 15-6, 15-12.

Despite the losses, Manilla had a great tournament. Seeded 6th in singles, he defeated 3rd seed Montoya in the quarterfinals, 15-11, 9-15, 11-3. Then in the semi-finals against former top 10 player Eduardo Portillo, Manilla came back from a game down to eke out the victory in three games, 11-15, 15-6, 11-10. In the breaker, he fought off a match point at 10-7, and then closed it out with four straight points on consecutive rallies.

In the first IRT final between two left-handed players since April 2009 (Waselenchuk versus Mitch Williams), Manilla led early in game one, only to have Waselenchuk tie it at 6-6, and then lead 9-6. Manilla fought back and tied it at 9-9. Waselenchuk went up 12-9, and again Manilla fought back to get within one at 12-11. But that’s as close as he’d get, as Waselenchuk closed it out 15-11.

In game two, Manilla again led early at 3-0, 4-1, and 7-2. But Waselenchuk scored the next 10 points to lead 12-7. Manilla got one back before Waselenchuk closed it out at 15-8, winning the match in two straight games.

The win was Waselenchuk's fourth tournament victory of the season. Samuel Murray and Conrrado Moscoso won the other two events of the season.

What’s going on with the IRT?

The Golden State Open was the final event of the 2024 IRT season. We’d like to tell you what the first event of 2025 is, but we can’t because it’s not listed on the IRT website. That begs the question of what is going on with the IRT?

There were six events this season, which is one of the fewest totals in the last 20 years. Even in the COVID affected season of 2021 there were six events.

Since 2003-04, there have generally been at least 10 IRT events a season. But three of the last four season have had fewer than 10: six in 2021, nine in 2022, ten last year and now six this year.

Is this a bellwether of the state of racquetball, or is it a reflection of the current IRT management? Probably some of both, of course. There are still some strong racquetball supporters that are willing to sponsor pro events. But it can be difficult to persuade outsiders to support racquetball, as they’ll ask about what the return on investment - ROI - is. It’s not clear how much bang for your buck you’ll get from sponsoring racquetball these days.

That said, it’s still a great game, and the IRT players are great. Proof of how great is on the IRT YouTube channel, which has both final matches from the Golden State Open, as well as many of the matches leading up to them.

2024 Golden State Open - Presented by JMB
Pleasanton, California - November 13-17, 2024

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 6) Adam Manilla, 15-11, 15-8

IRT Singles - Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 21) Javier Mar, 15-6, 15-3
6) Adam Manilla d. 15) Eduardo Portillo, 11-15, 15-6, 11-10

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 8) Alan Natera, 15-3, 15-3
21) Javier Mar d. 4) Andrés Acuña, injury forfeit

6) Adam Manilla d. 3) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-11, 9-15, 11-3
15) Eduardo Portillo d. 7) Erick Trujillo, 15-7, 15-1

IRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla, 15-6, 15-12

Follow the bouncing ball….

Early round action at the 2024 IRT Golden State Open

The final event of the 2024 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season is underway in Pleasanton, California, where the Golden State Open is taking place. Forty four players are in the singles draw, along with 18 teams in the doubles draw. Kane Waselenchuk, the IRT #1, tops the field, and should claim the season ending #1 spot at the end of the weekend, as #2 Conrrado Moscoso isn't in the draw due to injury and the #3 and #4 players - Andree Parrilla and Rodrigo Montoya, respectively - are well behind him in ranking points.

That will be Waselenchuk’s 15th IRT season ending title, which extends his record. His top 10 finish will be his 20th, tying him with Cliff Swain for second most all time behind only Rocky Carson with 23.

So far, Waselenchuk has completely taken care of business, surrendering only four points in each of his first matches. He beat Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-2, 15-2, in the Round of 32, and then did the same against Diego Gastelum in the Round of 16. Waselenchuk will face 8th seed Alan Natera in the quarterfinals on Saturday, as Natera defeated 9th seed Thomas Carter, 15-13, 15-11, Friday.

There were two upsets in the Round of 16 Friday. Twenty first seed Javier Mar upset 5th seed Jake Bredenbeck, 12-15, 15-11, 11-2, and will play 4th seed Andrés Acuña in the quarters Saturday. Then in a match between doubles partners, Eduardo Portillo, who has been a top 10 player, but is seeded 15th this weekend, beat 2nd seed Andres Parrilla, 15-7, 15-14, and will play Erick Trujillo in the quarters, as Trujillo got a walkover victory against Jaime Martell in the 16s.

They are also playing doubles this weekend, and have already reached the semi-final stage. Top seeds Mar and Rodrigo Montoya have defeated 4th seeds Acuña and Natera, 13-15, 15-2, 11-4, and in Sunday's final will play 2nd seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Adam Manilla, who defeated 3rd seeds Andree Parrilla and Eduardo Portillo, 15-10, 15-11, in the other semi-final.

The singles quarterfinals will be played Saturday from 11 AM on. The semis will be later on Saturday with the final Sunday at noon. The doubles final will be 1 PM Sunday. You can see the action via the usual IRT media outlets: The IRT YouTube channel or the IRT Facebook page. All times Pacific.

2024 Golden State Open - Presented by JMB
Pleasanton, California - November 13-17, 2024

IRT Singles - Round of 64 - Thursday

1) Kane Waselenchuk - BYE
33) Jose Daniel Ugalde d. 32) Kalyan Kosetty, 15-0, 6-0, injury forfeit

17) Erick Cuevas Fernandez - BYE
16) Diego Gastelum - BYE

9) Thomas Carter - BYE
24) Edwin Galicia d. 41) Anduari Segundo, 15-7, 8-15, 11-3

25) Wayne Antone IV d. 40) Esteban Reque, 15-10, 7-15, 11-6
8) Alan Natera - BYE

5) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
28) Blase Zera d. 37) Matias Arnez, 15-14, 15-12

21) Javier Mar d. 44) Yacouba Keita, 15-6, 15-5
12) Robert Collins - BYE

13) Carlos Ramirez - BYE
20) Jim Douglas - BYE

29) Diego Garcia d. 36) Craig Clement Jr., 15-1, 15-1
4) Andrés Acuña - BYE

3) Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
35) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 30) Juan Francisco Cueva, 15-4, 13-15, 11-1

19) Rocky Carson - BYE
14) Kadim Carrasco - BYE

11) Jordy Alonso - BYE
22) Juan Salvatierra d. 43) Jesse Rita, 15-10, 15-0

27) Andrés Gómez d. 38) Javier Farfane Enriquez, 15-13, 15-13
6) Adam Manilla - BYE

7) Erick Trujillo - BYE
39) Pablo Lagos d. 26) John Wolfe, 15-1, 15-3

23) Diego Gatica d. 42) Philip Sifuentes, forfeit
10) Jaime Martell - BYE

15) Eduardo Portillo - BYE
18) Cole Sendrey - BYE

31) DJ Mendoza d. 34) Sebastian Alejandro Ruelas Reza, 15-14, 13-15, 11-9
2) Andree Parrilla - BYE

IRT Singles - Round of 32 - Thursday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 33) Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-2, 15-2
16) Diego Gastelum d. 17) Erick Cuevas Fernandez, 9-15, 15-3, 11-0

9) Thomas Carter d. 24) Edwin Galicia, 15-6, 15-8
8) Alan Natera d. 25) Wayne Antone IV - 15-5, 15-1

5) Jake Bredenbeck d. 28) Blase Zera, 15-1, 15-3
21) Javier Mar d. 12) Robert Collins, 15-2, 15-4

13) Carlos Ramirez d. 20) Jim Douglas, 15-3, 15-2
4) Andrés Acuña d. 29) Diego Garcia, 10-15, 15-2, 11-3

3) Rodrigo Montoya d. 35) Gerson Miranda Martinez, 15-10, 15-1
19) Rocky Carson d. 14) Kadim Carrasco, 15-4, 15-11

11) Jordy Alonso d. 22) Juan Salvatierra, 14-15, 15-8, 11-6
6) Adam Manilla d. 27) Andrés Gómez, 15-5, 15-3

7) Erick Trujillo d. 39) Pablo Lagos, 15-8, 15-10
10) Jaime Martell d. 23) Diego Gatica, 15-1, 15-6

15) Eduardo Portillo d. 18) Cole Sendrey, 15-10, 15-6
2) Andree Parrilla d. 31) DJ Mendoza, 15-4, 15-5

IRT Singles - Round of 16 - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 16) Diego Gastelum, 15-2, 15-2
8) Alan Natera d. 9) Thomas Carter, 15-13, 15-11

21) Javier Mar d. 5) Jake Bredenbeck, 12-15, 15-11, 11-2
4) Andrés Acuña d. 13) Carlos Ramirez, 15-0, 15-5

3) Rodrigo Montoya d. 19) Rocky Carson, 15-7, 5-6, injury forfeit
6) Adam Manilla d. 11) Jordy Alonso, 15-10, 15-9

7) Erick Trujillo d. 10) Jaime Martell, forfeit
15) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Andree Parrilla, 15-7, 15-14

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 8) Alan Natera - 11 AM
4) Andrés Acuña v. 21) Javier Mar - Noon

3) Rodrigo Montoya v. 6) Adam Manilla - 2 PM

7) Erick Trujillo v. 15) Eduardo Portillo - 1 PM

IRT Doubles - Round of 32

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
16) Pablo Lagos & Esteban Reque d. 17) Matias Arnez & Anduari Segundo, 9-15, 15-13, 11-5

9) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde - BYE
8) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey - BYE

5) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo - BYE
12) Ryan Meyer & Israel Torres - BYE

13) Derek Chuock & Walter Ramos Jr. - BYE
4) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera - BYE

3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo - BYE
14) Diego Garcia & Gerson Miranda Martinez - BYE

11) David Horn & DJ Mendoza - BYE
6) Jordy Alonso & Kadim Carrasco - BYE

7) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell - BYE
10) Wayne Antone IV & Iain Dunn - BYE

18) Edwin Garcia & Juan Salvatierra d. 15) Diego Gatica & Carlos Ramirez, 15-9, 15-5
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla - BYE

IRT Doubles - Round of 16

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 16) Pablo Lagos & Esteban Reque, 15-0, 15-11
8) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey d. 9) Juan Francisco Cueva & Jose Daniel Ugalde, 15-8, 15-8

5) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo d. 12) Ryan Meyer & Israel Torres, 15-5, 15-10
4) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera d. 13) Derek Chuock & Walter Ramos Jr., 15-6, 15-1

3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 14) Diego Garcia & Gerson Miranda Martinez, 15-14, 15-9
6) Jordy Alonso & Kadim Carrasco d. 11) David Horn & DJ Mendoza, 15-9, 15-6

10) Wayne Antone IV & Iain Dunn d. 7) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell, forfeit
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla d. 18) Edwin Garcia & Juan Salvatierra, 15-4, 15-8

IRT Doubles - Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 8) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey, 15-4, 15-4
4) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera d. 5) Robert Collins & Erick Trujillo, 15-7, 15-12

3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 6) Jordy Alonso & Kadim Carrasco, 15-9, 15-11
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla d. 10) Wayne Antone IV & Iain Dunn, 15-1, 15-5

IRT Doubles - Semi-finals - Friday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera, 13-15, 15-2, 11-4
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla d. 3) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo, 15-10, 15-11

IRT Doubles - Final - Sunday

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya v. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & Adam Manilla - 1 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk wins 2024 IRT Inland Empire Pro-Am

Kane Waselenchuk held on to defeat Andree Parrilla, 15-14, 3-15, 11-3, to win the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Inland Empire Pro-Am in Spokane, Washington, Sunday. Waselenchuk, who’ll turn 43 next month, is ranked #2 and could finish #1, as current #1 Conrrado Moscoso is out for the rest of the year after suffering an arm injury during training. Moscoso’s already had surgery to repair the injury.

Early on, it seemed Waselenchuk would run away with the match, as he took a 9-0 lead in game one. He made it 11-1, and then Parrilla started his comeback.

Parrilla scored six points on as many rallies to get within three at 11-8. A few rallies later, and the score was tied 11-11.

A forehand winner got Waselenchuk back in the service box, and he hit two more winners to take a 13-11 lead. However, a Parrilla forehand winner got him back in the service box, and he scored three straight points to take his first lead of the game at 14-13.

It was a game point that seemed entirely unlikely a few minutes before. Parrilla had a chance to win it on the next rally, as he took a ball off the back wall with his forehand, but he skipped the shot. Clearly an unforced error.

Waselenchuk took advantage of Parrilla’s error with a drive serve ace to the left side - his 3rd ace of the game - that tied the game at 14-14. Parrilla fought off Waselenchuk’s first game point with a forehand winner.

But he couldn’t convert his 2nd game point, as Waselenchuk hit a forehand pinch winner. Waselenchuk followed that up with a drive serve to the left, and Parrilla skipped the return, giving the game to Waselenchuk 15-14.

But the momentum Parrilla generated in the second half of game one carried over into game two, as he took a 5-0 lead, and then a 10-1 lead. Waselenchuk got a couple more points before Parrilla closed it out at 15-3.

During game two, Waselenchuk seemed to be moving gingerly around the court at times, and we feared he’d tweaked something that might lead to an injury timeout and perhaps even a forfeit. Thankfully, that didn’t happen.

Parrilla got the first point of the breaker, but on the second rally he skipped a backhand pinch shot, which was an unforced error, and was an omen of what was to come.

Waselenchuk tied game three at 1-1 with another drive serve ace to the left side. He continued to score, jumping out to a 7-1 lead.

Parrilla got a couple points back to cut the lead to 7-3, but that would be as much he’d get. Waselenchuk got the serve back with a backhand return winner off a lob serve to the right side that kissed off the right side wall.

He pushed on to get the last four points, and win game three, 11-3, and the match, 2-1.

Afterwards, Waselenchuk said “I was a little streaky today,” but “you find a way to win.”

He got emotional when asked about the possibility of being #1 again at the end of season, saying “not many know how rough it’s been.” Waselenchuk suffered what some thought could be a career ending achilles injury two years ago, and that's a big injury to recover from, especially after 40. “I guess I can surprise myself,” adding it’s “not done yet” as there’s still some tournaments to play before the end of the year. Nonetheless, he’s “happy to still be able to do what I do.”

There seemed to be some chirping between the players in the match, and afterwards Waselenchuk said “he’s [Parrilla’s] in there beaking off. Saying whatever he wants to say. But you know what? In the end, I came out a winner and that good enough for me. I really ain’t gotta say sh*t. I got nothing to prove to nobody. And at 43, these guys should be kicking my ass, and they’re not. Get better.”

With 127 IRT wins, Waselenchuk certainly doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. The Inland Empire title is his fourth win after turning 40, and that’s one more win than Parrilla, 28, has in his career.

The next IRT event will be the Golden State Open in Pleasanton, California, November 13-17. If you missed any of the action from Spokane, check out the IRT YouTube channel.

Inland Empire Pro/Am
Spokane, Washington - October 10-13, 2024

IRT Singles - Final - Sunday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 3) Andree Parrilla, 15-14, 3-15, 11-3

Follow the bouncing ball….