USAR Indoor Championships - Ros’s 1st title, Carson’s 12th

The 2025 USA Racquetball (USAR) National Indoor Championships concluded Sunday in Pleasanton, California, and across the five national team divisions there was only one multiple winner, and that due to the recent addition of mixed doubles. Erika Manilla won mixed doubles with Erik Garcia early in the event, and then won women’s doubles with Michelle Key.

But the women’s singles title went to Naomi Ros, who defeated Hollie Scott in a dramatic five game final, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10. It’s the first title for Ros, who is also the USAR’s U18 champion.

While the women’s singles champion was a surprise, the men’s singles champion was not, as Daniel De La Rosa defeated Jake Bredenbeck in four games, 7-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-7.

In Men's Doubles, the veteran team of Rocky Carson and David Horn surprised the field but upsetting the 2nd seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Sam Bredenbeck in the final, 11-9, 5-11, 12-10, 8-11, 12-10, after knocking off top seeds De La Rosa and Sebastian Fernandez in the semi-finals. It’s Carson’s 12th US men’s doubles championship.

If you missed any of the action, check out the matches that were streamed via the USAR YouTube channel and International Racquetball Tour channel.

2025 USA Racquetball National Indoor Championships
Pleasanton, California
US National Team Divisions

Men's US Team Singles

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Jake Bredenbeck d. 4) Thomas Carter, 11-1, 9-11, 11-0, 7-11, 11-1
3) Daniel De La Rosa d. 2) David Horn, 11-7, 11-5, 12-10

Final - Sunday

3) Daniel De La Rosa d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck, 7-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-7

Men's US Team Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

4) Rocky Carson & David Horn d. 1) Daniel De La Rosa & Sebastian Fernandez, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-8
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 3) Robert Collins & Charlie Pratt, 11-5, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7

Final - Saturday

4) Rocky Carson & David Horn d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 11-9, 5-11, 12-10, 8-11, 12-10

Women's US Team Singles

Semi-finals - Saturday

4) Hollie Scott d. 1) Erika Manilla, 12-10, 9-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-5
2) Naomi Ros d. 6) Annie Sanchez, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5

Final - Sunday

2) Naomi Ros d. 4) Hollie Scott, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 12-10

Women's US Team Doubles

Round robin

Lexi York & Hollie Scott d. Naomi Ros & Annie Sanchez, 11-5, 11-7, 10-12, 5-11, 11-6
Michelle Key & Erika Manilla d. Naomi Ros & Annie Sanchez, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-5
Michelle Key & Erika Manilla d. Lexi York & Hollie Scott, 10-12, 11-3, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7

Standings

1) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla - 2-0
2) Lexi York & Hollie Scott - 1-1
3) Naomi Rios & Annie Sanchez - 0-2

Follow the bouncing ball....

2025 USAR National Indoor Championships - Early rounds

The 2025 USA Racquetball (USAR) National Indoor Championships are underway in Pleasanton, California, and already one national champion has been named, and it’s a bit of a surprise. Third seeds Erika Manilla and Erik Garcia came back from a game down to defeat 5th seeds Robert Collins and Annie Sanchez, 11-5, 7-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7, and win the Mixed Doubles title.

That final result isn’t a surprise as it’s not an upset when a 3rd seed defeats a 5th seed. The surprises came in the semi-finals, as Collins and Sanchez knocked off the top seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Hollie Scott in four games, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6. Then Manilla and Garcia did the same to 2nd seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Michelle Key, 2-11, 11-7, 11-4, 12-10.

There was also a surprise in Men's Doubles, as 4th seeds Rocky Carson and David Horn upset top seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Sebastian Fernandez, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-8, in the semi-finals Friday. They'll face the winner of 2nd seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Sam Bredenbeck and 3rd seeds Robert Collins and Charlie Pratt, in the final on Saturday.

No surprises so far in singles play. In the men’s quarterfinals, top seed Jake Bredenbeck beat 9th seed Erik Garcia, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9, and will face 4th seed Thomas Carter in the semi-finals, as Carter defeated 5th seed Charles Pratt, 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9.

The other semi-final will be David Horn versus Daniel De La Rosa, although both of them needed five games to win their respective quarterfinals. Horn, the 2nd seed, went down 2-0 to 7th seed Robert Collins, but turned it around to win in five games, 7-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7. De La Rosa came back from a game down to eke out a win in the tie-breaker and defeat 6th seed Sam Bredenbeck, 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 11-4, 12-10.

In the women’s quarters, top seed Erika Manilla needed five games to fend off 8th seed Michelle Key, 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9. She’ll play 4th seed Hollie Scott in the semi-finals, as Scott defeated veteran Rhonda Rajsich, 11-13, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7.

In the other semi, 2nd seed Naomi Ros will play 6th seed Annie Sanchez. Ros narrowly defeated 7th seed Lexi York, 11-13, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10, in the quarters, while Sanchez had a walk-over win against Kelani Lawrence.

There are just three teams in Women’s Doubles: Key and Manilla are top seeds, York and Scott are 2nd seeds, with Ros and Sanchez 3rd seeds. Only one match has happened so far with York and Scott coming back from 2-1 down to defeat Ros and Sanchez, 11-5, 11-7, 10-12, 5-11, 11-6.

Matches are being streamed via the USAR YouTube channel and International Racquetball Tour channel.

2025 USA Racquetball National Indoor Championships
Pleasanton, California
US National Team Divisions

Men's US Team Singles

Round of 16

1) Jake Bredenbeck d. 16) John Wolfe, 11-2, 11-7, 11-4
9) Erik Garcia d. 8) Cole Sendrey, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 10-12, 11-3

5) Charles Pratt d. 12) Scott Burr, forfeit
4) Thomas Carter d. 13) Seth Sullivan, 11-0, 11-4, 11-5

3) Daniel De La Rosa d. 14) Alan Sharma, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5
6) Sam Bredenbeck d. 11) Tyler Breaden, 11-7, 11-6, 11-4

7) Robert Collins d. 10) Danny Lavely, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8
2) David Horn d. 15) Tony Jammal, 11-4, 11-3, 11-3

Quarterfinals

1) Jake Bredenbeck d. 9) Erik Garcia, 11-8, 11-8, 11-9
4) Thomas Carter d. 5) Charles Pratt, 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9

3) Daniel De La Rosa d. 6) Sam Bredenbeck, 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 11-4, 12-10
2) David Horn d. 7) Robert Collins, 7-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Jake Bredenbeck v. 4) Thomas Carter - Noon
2) David Horn v. 3) Daniel De La Rosa - 2 PM

Men's US Team Doubles

Quarterfinals

1) Daniel De La Rosa & Sebastian Fernandez - BYE
4) Rocky Carson & David Horn d. 5) Danny Lavely & Cole Sendrey, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5

3) Robert Collins & Charlie Pratt - BYE
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE

Semi-finals - Friday

4) Rocky Carson & David Horn d. 1) Daniel De La Rosa & Sebastian Fernandez, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-8
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 3) Robert Collins & Charlie Pratt - 8 PM

Final - Saturday

2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck or 3) Robert Collins & Charlie Pratt v. 4) Rocky Carson & David Horn - 5 PM

Women's US Team Singles

Round of 16

1) Erika Manilla - BYE
8) Michelle Key d. 9) Erica Williams, 11-7, 11-0, 11-2

5) Rhonda Rajsich - BYE
4) Hollie Scott - BYE

3) Kelani Lawrence - BYE
6) Annie Sanchez - BYE

7) Lexi York - BYE
2) Naomi Ros - BYE

Quarterfinals

1) Erika Manilla d. 8) Michelle Key, 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9
4) Hollie Scott d. 5) Rhonda Rajsich, 11-13, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7

6) Annie Sanchez d. 3) Kelani Lawrence, forfeit
2) Naomi Ros d. 7) Lexi York, 11-13, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 12-10

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Erika Manilla v. 4) Hollie Scott - 1 PM
2) Naomi Ros v. 6) Annie Sanchez - 3 PM

Women's US Team Doubles

Round robin

Lexi York & Hollie Scott d. Naomi Ros & Annie Sanchez, 11-5, 11-7, 10-12, 5-11, 11-6
Michelle Key & Erika Manilla v. Naomi Ros & Annie Sanchez - Friday 6 PM
Michelle Key & Erika Manilla v. Lexi York & Hollie Scott - Saturday 6 PM

Standings

1) Lexi York & Hollie Scott - 1-0
2) Michelle Key & Erika Manilla - 0-0
3) Naomi Rios & Annie Sanchez - 0-1

US Team Mixed Doubles

Quarterfinals

1) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott - BYE
5) Robert Collins & Annie Sanchez d. 4) Sam Bredenbeck & Lexi York, 11-8, 11-9, 4-11, 11-8

3) Erika Manilla & Erik Garcia d. 6) Naomi Ros & Cole Sendero, 11-7, 11-3, 9-11, 7-11, 11-2
Jake Bredenbeck & Michelle Key d. 7) Jesse Rita & Erica Williams, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5

Semi-finals

5) Robert Collins & Annie Sanchez d. 1) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6
3) Erika Manilla & Erik Garcia d. Jake Bredenbeck & Michelle Key, 2-11, 11-7, 11-4, 12-10

Final

3) Erika Manilla & Erik Garcia d. 5) Robert Collins & Annie Sanchez, 11-5, 7-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball....

Mexico & USA win gold in team finals at 2024 IRF World Championships

Mexico and the United States won the Women’s and Men’s Team competitions, respectively, at the 22nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday. Mexico’s win is their 7th consecutive Women’s Team title, while the United States won the Men’s Team title for a record extending 14th time.

Mexico beat Argentina in the women’s final, 2-0. Montserrat Mejia defeated Valeria Centellas, 11-9, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8, and then Paola Longoria beat Maria Jose Vargas, 12-14, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4.

On the mens’s side, Canada took the first match of the final, as Samuel Murray defeated Jake Bredenbeck, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8. The United States levelled the match, 1-1, as Daniel De La Rosa beat Coby Iwaasa, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-6. In the tie breaking third match, Sebastian Fernandez and Adam Manilla defeated Iwaasa and Murray, 12-10, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9, to win it for the USA.

The Mejia-Centellas match was odd, as Mejia didn’t play well. Centellas should have won the first game, and would if she hadn’t skipped more than a couple backhand shots that were unforced errors. Mejia survived and when she hit an ace for the game winning point, we thought, OK, she’s going to roll on from here.

Yet, she didn’t, as Centellas won game two. Mejia did win game three comfortably, but was then down in game four, 5-2. However, she managed to pull it together, tie the game 5-5, and go on to win it. Still it was anything but straight forward.

Vargas led for most of game one versus Longoria, yet Longoria had a chance to win it, when she was up 11-10. A Vargas forehand pinch shot prevented that, and she held on to win it 14-12.

However, from there Longoria was generally in control. Vargas only led once after game one: at 4-3 in game three. In game two, Longoria took a 7-1 lead, and despite calling a timeout at that point, Vargas didn’t get within three points, as Longoria won game two 11-7.

Game three was close until 5-5, and then Longoria got four straight points to lead 9-5. Vargas fought off two game points to get within one at 10-9, but a Longoria forehand winner ended it, 11-9.

Although they were close again early in game four, once Longoria had a lead late, Vargas’s energy seemed to sag, as if she was giving up. That’s a strange thing to say, but it seemed that way. Vargas skipped the last three points of the game with shots that she didn’t seem fully committed to. A sad ending, especially as it would have been fun to see a deciding doubles match.

In the first men’s match, Bredenbeck came out on fire, as he took a 6-1 lead. But Murray fought back, and got within one at 8-7 before Bredenbeck got the last few points to win it 11-7. Game two was the reverse, as Murray led from 3-2 on, and won 11-7. Murray carried over that momentum into game three, taking a 7-1 lead and going on to win 11-5.

They were close all the way in game four, with ties at 4-4, 5-5, and 8-8. But it was Murray who got the last few points to finish it. He hit a backhand from deep that got him to match point, and then won it with another backhand shot.

Although Iwaasa won the first game versus De La Rosa, it was the American who was in control after that, winning game two by a wide margin, and never being behind in games three or four.

That set up a doubles showdown. World Champions Iwaasa and Murray versus Adam Manilla and Sebastian Fernandez. Remember how we said that it’s difficult to win both the individual competition and the team competition? So it proved to be for the Canadians, as the Americans came out strong in game one.

The USA had a 6-1 lead in that game, but Canada caught up and tied it at 8-8 and they were back and forth from there. Canada had a chance to win at 10-9, but Iwaasa skipped a forehand shot that make it 10-10. Two skipped serve returns later and the USA had won game one, 12-10.

The USA had a big lead again in game two, and that time they didn’t give it up, winning 11-4.

In game three, they were close, and then the Canadians switched sides, when they were down 5-4. That seemed to refresh them, as they tied it at 5-5 and 6-6, and pushed on to win 11-6, keeping the match - and the final - alive.

In game four, the Americans again took an early lead at 5-2 and then 7-4. But Canada fought back and tied it at 8-8 and when they went ahead 9-8, the USA called a timeout.

When play resumed, Manilla hit a backhand pinch winner to tie it at 9-9. He followed that up with winners on the next two rallies to win the game, 11-9, and the final 2-1. That was a small part Manilla’s excellent play during the final, and he was clearly the man of the match.

If you missed any of the action from San Antonio - and there were many great matches - check out the IRF YouTube channel.

22nd IRF World Championships
August 24-31, 2024 - San Antonio, Texas, United States

Men’s Team Competition - Final - Saturday

1) United States d. 6) Canada, 2-1

Match 1: Samuel Murray d. Jake Bredenbeck, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8
Match 2: Daniel De La Rosa d. Coby Iwaasa, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-6
Match 3: Sebastian Fernandez & Adam Manilla d. Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray, 12-10, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9

Women’s Team Competition - Final - Saturday

1) Mexico d. 2) Argentina, 2-0

Match 1: Montserrat Mejia d. Valeria Centellas, 11-9, 8-11, 11-3, 11-8
Match 2: Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 12-14, 11-7, 11-9, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball....

Mexico, USA & Canada win gold at 2024 International Racquetball Federation World Championships

Mexico and the USA won two finals with Canada winning the other at the 22nd International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Antonio, Texas on Thursday. Mexicans took Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles with the USA winning Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles, and Canada winning Men’s Doubles.

Mexican Paola Longoria won Women’s Singles for a record extending 6th time, defeating Guatemalan Gabriela Martinez, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10, in the final. Longoria and Martinez have played four of the last five Women’s Singles finals with Longoria winning three times and Martinez once.

Daniel De La Rosa won an All-American Men’s Singles final, as he defeated Jake Bredenbeck, 11-9, 11-9, 1-11, 11-4. It’s the 16th time an American has won Men’s Singles at Worlds, and the first since 2021, when Alejandro Landa won it. It’s De La Rosa’s second World Championship, as he won Men’s Doubles with Alvaro Beltran two years ago, when he was representing Mexico.

Mexicans Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia won a closely contested Women’s Doubles final, as they hung on to beat Argentina’s Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, 11-3, 9-11, 15-13, 7-11, 11-7. It’s the third consecutive title for Mexico, but the first for Herrera and Mejia, who were runners up in 2018.

Those three finals were all won by the higher seed, but the top seeds in Men’s Doubles - Mexicans Eduardo Portillo and Andree Parrilla - lost to Canadians Coby Iwaasa and Samuel Murray, in a final that also went five games, though perhaps strangely none of the games were that close as Canada won 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-6. This is Canada’s first World Championship since 2006, when Christie Huczek (née Van Hees) won Women’s Singles, and the first Men's Doubles title for Canada.

De La Rosa and Hollie Scott won the Mixed Doubles title, as they defeated the top seeded Mexican team of Javier Mar and Mejia, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9, 14-12. That was De La Rosa’s third World Championship (and second of the day) and Scott’s first.

We expected good matches in all five finals, and they delivered. No final was decided in three straight games, and four of the five had multiple games decided by the minimum of two points. Of the 10 matches decided by two points, 4 went into extra points (i.e., were played past the minimum winning score of 11 points).

Match notes

Hollie Scott was the least experienced player in the Mixed Doubles final, but she came up big in game four, hitting five winners, as well as making two gets on another rally that led to a De La Rosa winner. In fact, she hit the match winner: a forehand splat shot off a lob serve to the right side.

The Men’s Doubles final was a streaky match, as four of the five games saw one side take a big lead that they didn’t give up. Only the third game was close all the way.

Mexico lost that game, so they needed to win game four. They won the first point of game four, and then got out to leads of 5-1 and 9-2 before closing it out at 11-4 to force a fifth game tie-breaker.

But in the breaker, it was Canada who scored first, and led all the way, at 3-0, 7-2, and 9-3. Mexico made it interesting at 9-5 and 10-6, but Murray won it then with a backhand shot that went over to the right side and handcuffed Parrilla.

Argentina won game four to force a tie-breaker in the Women’s Doubles final. In that breaker, they took the early lead over Mexico at 2-0 and 6-4. But at that point Vargas hit a loose ball that came back at her, causing an avoidable hinder and made the score 6-5 for Argentina. However, Argentina only scored one point after that.

The margins between elite players can be paper thin, and little things can make the difference.

Mexico score three more points to lead 8-6, so Argentina called a timeout. When play resumed Mendez hit a ball that was probably meant to be a cross court shot, but went into the middle and hit her partner Vargas, making the score 9-6.

A Mejia winner made it 10-6, but a Vargas winner denied them the first match point. But Herrera made good on the second match point, as the left-hander hit a forehand reverse pinch shot winner to the front right corner.

The Men’s Singles final was a contrast of styles, as De La Rosa is primarily a shooter and Bredenbeck a power player. Thus, De La Rosa mainly lob served during the match, while Bredenbeck drove serve. But the reason De La Rosa has been the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour for the last three seasons is that he can also play a power game, and that was on display during the final.

Longoria is also a player who is both a shooter and a power player, which is why she has dominated women’s racquetball for nearly twenty years. Martinez is a power player, and fully committed on the court, as she throws herself around it making some great gets to keep the rallies going.

But Longoria’s shots were generally more precise that Martinez’s, and that was the difference. Martinez’s efforts might keep rallies going, but too often - and even on offensive opportunities - she was just giving Longoria another opportunity to hit a winner, and Longoria doesn’t need many opportunities to hit winning shots.

Team competition

Play continues at Worlds, as they will move on to the Men’s and Women’s Team competition. Countries face off in a best of three matches: two singles matches and a doubles match. The order of the matches varies across the rounds, although the final will be singles, singles and doubles, if necessary.

If you missed any of the action, and all the finals are well worth seeing, check out the IRF YouTube channel.

22nd IRF World Championships
August 24-31, 2024 - San Antonio, Texas, United States

Men's Singles

Gold Medal Final - Thursday

2) Daniel De La Rosa (USA) d. 4) Jake Bredenbeck (USA), 11-9, 11-9, 1-11, 11-4

Consolation Final - Thursday

Woody Close (Eritrea) d. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic), 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7

Women's Singles

Gold Medal Final - Thursday

1) Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. 6) Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 12-10

Consolation - Final - Thursday

Danielle Ramsay (Canada) d. Paula Mansilla (Chile), 11-3, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5

Men's Doubles

Gold Medal Final - Thursday

3) Coby Iwaasa & Samuel Murray (Canada) d. 1) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo (Mexico), 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-6

Consolation - Final - Thursday

Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) d. Johan Igor & Alan Natera (Chile), forfeit

Women's Doubles

Gold Medal Final - Thursday

1) Monserrat Mejia & Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) d. 2) Natalia Mendez & Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina), 11-3, 9-11, 15-13, 7-11, 11-7

Consolation - Final - Thursday

Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Haeok Jeong & Sumin Lee (Korea), 11-6, 13-11, 11-9

Mixed Doubles

Gold Medal Final - Thursday

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott (USA) d. 1) Javier Mar & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico), 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 14-12

Consolation - Final - Thursday

Ramon De Leon & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) d. Andrés Acuña & Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica), forfeit

Follow the bouncing ball....

Stein wins twice at 2024 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships

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

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

Regardless, it was an odd end to the match.

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

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

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

Team standings

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

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

Intercollegiate participation

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

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

Quiz!

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

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

Women's Singles - Final

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

Women's Singles - 3rd Place

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

Women's Singles - Semi-finals

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

Women's Doubles - Final

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

Women's Doubles - 3rd Place

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

Women's Doubles - Semi-finals

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

Men's Singles - Final

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

Men's Singles - 3rd Place

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

Men's Singles - Semi-finals

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

Men's Doubles - Final

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

Men's Doubles - 3rd Place

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

Men's Doubles - Semi-finals

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

2024 Intercollegiate Championship - Team standings

Men’s Team

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

Women’s Team

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

Overall Team

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

USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Champions

Women's Singles

2024

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

2023

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

2022

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

2019

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

2018

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

2017

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

2016

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

2015

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

2014

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

2013

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

2012

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

2011

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

2010

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

2009

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

2008

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

2007

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

2006

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

Women's Doubles

2024

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

2023

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

2022

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

2019

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

2018

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

2017

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

2016

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

2015

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

2014

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

2013

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

2012

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

2011

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

2010

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

2009

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

2008

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

2007

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

2006

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

Men's Singles

2024

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

2023

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

2022

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

2019

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

2018

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

2017

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

2016

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

2015

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

2014

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

2013

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

2012

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

2011

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

2010

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

2009

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

2008

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

2007

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

2006

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

Men's Doubles

2024

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

2023

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

2022

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

2019

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

2018

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

2017

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

2016

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

2015

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

2014

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

2013

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

2012

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

2011

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

2010

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

2009

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

2008

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

2007

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

2006

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

Quiz answers!

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

Follow the bouncing ball....

De La Rosa & Scott win thrice at 2024 USAR National Indoor Championships

Daniel De La Rosa and Hollie Scott were triple winners on the weekend, as they both won their respective singles and doubles divisions, and teamed up to win mixed doubles at the 2024 USA Racquetball (USAR) National Indoor Championships at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. That should mean they will be the lead players for Team USA at the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in August, which will be played in San Antonio, Texas.

De La Rosa defeated Jake Bredenbeck, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5, in the Men’s Singles final. In the semi-finals, De La Rosa needed four games to get past Adam Manilla, 11-2, 11-3, 10-12, 11-9, while Bredenbeck took out Charlie Pratt in three straight games, 11-4, 12-10, 11-9. Pratt had the only upset of the quarterfinals, as he defeated 4th seed Thomas Carter, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9.

De La Rosa’s win is his 2nd consecutive USAR Men’s Singles title. He also won Men’s Doubles last year with Alejandro Landa. Landa retired at the end of 2023, so De La Rosa teamed up with Sebastian Fernandez to successfully defend his doubles title by defeating brothers Jake and Sam Bredenbeck, 11-7, 11-3, 11-5.

In the semi-finals, De La Rosa and Fernandez defeated the two lefty team of Manilla and Robert Collins, 11-7, 11-13, 11-5, 11-7, while the Bredenbecks defeated Pratt and Tony Carson that was helped by winning an 18-16 game - one of the largest scores we’ve seen (gotta love win by two), making the final score line, 11-9, 18-16, 9-11, 11-9.

Scott won the Women’s Final, as defending champion Erika Manilla forfeited after Scott won the first game, 11-5. Manilla seemed to have a lower back injury, as she put her left hand on her back a few times during game one. Manilla also wasn’t moving as freely as she usually does.

The women’s semi-finals were a doubles partner playoff, as Scott defeated her doubles partner, Kelani Lawrence, 12-10, 11-13, 11-9, 11-4, in one semi-final, while Manilla needed a tie-breaker to get past her doubles partner, Michelle Key, 14-12, 9-11, 11-2, 5-11, 11-8.

The Women's Doubles final was a rematch of the last year’s final that Manilla and Key won. They won the opening game of the final this year, but Lawrence and Scott came back to win the next three games - each by two points - and take the title, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9, 15-13. There were five game points in game four: one for Manilla and Key and four for Lawrence and Scott.

In the semi-finals, Lawrence and Scott beat Shane Diaz and Annie Roberts, 11-7, 12-14, 11-2, 11-9, while Manilla and Key defeated Naomi Ros and Lexi York, 11-5, 11-5, 12-14, 11-4.

The biggest upset of the championships happened in Mixed Doubles, as 4th seeds Thomas Carter and Kelani Lawrence knocked off the defending champions - and 2023 Pan American Games gold medalists - Adam Manilla and Erika Manilla, 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4, in the semi-finals.

However, Carter and Lawrence couldn’t finish the deal, as they lost in the final to De La Rosa and Scott, 11-4, 13-11, 11-5. De La Rosa and Scott were runners-up last year to the Manillas. They almost didn’t get to the final, as they needed five games to defeat Jake Bredenbeck and Michelle Key, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 11-8.

You can see some of the matches from Tempe - including all the finals - at the USA Racquetball YouTube channel.

2024 USA Racquetball National Indoor Championships
February 7-11, 2024 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Singles

Final

2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5

Semi-finals

1) Jake Bredenbeck d. 5) Charlie Pratt, 11-4, 12-10, 11-9
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 3) Adam Manilla, 11-2, 11-3, 10-12, 11-9

Quarterfinals

1) Jake Bredenbeck d. 8) Robert Collins, 13-11, 11-9, 11-2
5) Charlie Pratt d. 4) Thomas Carter, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9

3) Adam Manilla d. 6) Tony Carson, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 7) Sam Bredenbeck, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8

Round of 16

1) Jake Bredenbeck d. 16) Zack Wilson, 11-0, 11-5, 11-5
8) Robert Collins d. 9) Cole Sendrey, 11-2, 5-11, 11-9, 11-6

5) Charlie Pratt d. 12) Ty Hedalen, 11-6, 13-11, 11-3
4) Thomas Carter d. 13) DJ Mendoza, 11-3, 11-9, 11-4

3) Adam Manilla d. 14) Cody Elkins, 11-5, 11-1, 11-5
6) Tony Carson d. 11) Thomas Gerhardt, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7

7) Sam Bredenbeck d. 10) Brennen Jennings, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 15) Ryan King, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9

Round of 32

1) Jake Bredenbeck - BYE
16) Zack Wilson d. 17) Charles Rankin, 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8

9) Cole Sendrey - BYE
8) Robert Collins - BYE

5) Charlie Pratt - BYE
12) Ty Hedalen - BYE

13) DJ Mendoza - BYE
4) Thomas Carter - BYE

3) Adam Manilla - BYE
14) Cody Elkins d. 19) Leon Ruotsalainen, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8

11) Thomas Gerhardt - BYE
6) Tony Carson - BYE

7) Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
10) Brennen Jennings - BYE

15) Ryan King d. 18) Kyler Maisey, 11-5, 11-7, 11-13, 9-11, 11-9
2) Daniel De La Rosa - BYE

Men's Doubles

Final

2) Daniel De La Rosa & Sebastian Fernandez d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 11-7, 11-3, 11-5

Semi-finals

1) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 4) Tony Carson & Charlie Pratt, 11-9, 18-16, 9-11, 11-9
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Sebastian Fernandez d. 3) Robert Collins & Adam Manilla, 11-7, 11-13, 11-5, 11-7

Quarterfinals

1) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE
4) Tony Carson & Charlie Pratt d. 5) Thomas Carter & Cole Sendrey, 11-5, 12-10, 12-10

3) Robert Collins & Adam Manilla d. 6) DJ Mendoza & Brennen Jennings, 3-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-4
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Sebastian Fernandez d. 7) Lee Meinerz & Carlos Pando, 11-5, 11-8, 11-8

Women's Singles

Final

3) Hollie Scott d. 1) Erika Manilla, 11-5, injury forfeit

Semi-finals

1) Erika Manilla d. 4) Michelle Key, 14-12, 9-11, 11-2, 5-11, 11-8
3) Hollie Scott d. 2) Kelani Lawrence, 12-10, 11-13, 11-9, 11-4

Quarterfinals

1) Erika Manilla d. 8) Shane Diaz, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4
4) Michelle Key d. 5) Annie Roberts, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6

3) Hollie Scott d. 6) Naomi Ros, 11-7, 14-12, 11-8
2) Kelani Lawrence d. 7) Lexi York, 13-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-7

Round of 16

1) Erika Manilla - BYE
8) Shane Diaz d. 9) Carlee Jansz, 11-5, 11-8, 11-5

5) Annie Roberts - BYE
4) Michelle Key - BYE

3) Hollie Scott - BYE
6) Naomi Ros d. 11) Kelly Mortensen, 11-6, 11-0, 11-8

7) Lexi York d. 10) Khyathi Velpuri, 11-9, 11-2, 11-4
2) Kelani Lawrence - BYE

Women's Doubles

Final

2) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 1) Erika Manilla & Michelle Key, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9, 15-13

3rd place

4) Naomi Ros & Lexi York d. 3) Shane Diaz & Annie Roberts, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5

Semi-finals

1) Erika Manilla & Michelle Key d. 4) Naomi Ros & Lexi York, 11-5, 11-5, 12-14, 11-4
2) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 3) Shane Diaz & Annie Roberts, 11-7, 12-14, 11-2, 11-9

Quarterfinals

1) Erika Manilla & Michelle Key - BYE
4) Naomi Ros & Lexi York d. 5) Carlee Jansz & Katie Neils, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4

3) Shane Diaz & Annie Roberts d. 6) Erin Boadway & Erica Williams, 3-11, 11-2, 11-5, 11-8
2) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 7) Sunshine Arterburn & Race Ratley, forfeit

Mixed Doubles

Final

2) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott d. 4) Thomas Carter & Kelani Lawrence, 11-4, 13-11, 11-5

Semi-finals

4) Thomas Carter & Kelani Lawrence d. 1) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla, 11-6, 11-6, 9-11, 11-4
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott d. 3) Jake Bredenbeck & Michelle Key, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 11-8

Quarterfinals

1) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla d. 9) Walter Ramos Jr. & Erica Williams, 11-4, 11-0, 11-4
4) Thomas Carter & Kelani Lawrence d. 5) Sam Bredenbeck & Lexi York, 5-11, 11-8, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Michelle Key d. 6) Robert Collins & Annie Roberts, 11-2, 11-5, 11-3
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott d. 7) Naomi Ros & Cole Sendrey, 11-6, 11-9, 11-2

Round of 16

1) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla - BYE
9) Walter Ramos Jr. & Erica Williams d. 8) Katie Neils & Freddie Villalon, 11-6, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5

5) Sam Bredenbeck & Lexi York - BYE
4) Thomas Carter & Kelani Lawrence - BYE

3) Jake Bredenbeck & Michelle Key - BYE
6) Robert Collins & Annie Roberts - BYE

7) Naomi Ros & Cole Sendrey - BYE
2) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

2023 USA Racquetball National Junior Festival & Championships

The USA Racquetball (USAR) National Junior Festival and Championships happened up last week in Pleasanton, California, and there were some fun results which will be used to select players for the 2023 International Racquetball Federation World Junior Championships in Tarija, Bolivia, November 10-18. One hundred and eleven players competed in California, which is more than in the last two post-pandemic events, but down from years before that. The boy-girl numbers were 70-41 this year, which is a lower ratio of girls than the last two years, but about the same in actual numbers (41 this year is the same as last year & there were 38 in 2021).

This was the second year with U21 divisions, as the IRF introduced U21 at World Junior Championships last year. Also, there were Mixed Doubles categories, as the World Juniors has those categories also. Interestingly, a best of 3 games match format was used with side-out scoring, rather than the IRF match format of best of 5 games with rally scoring, which will be used for the World Juniors. The IRF match format used at last year’s USAR Junior Championships.

The results in Boys U21 was crazy, as from the quarterfinals on the lower seeded player won every match, except the 3rd place match. Moreover, three of the last year’s top four U21 finishers were back: Cody Elkins (Los Angeles), Assuan Castaneda (Hialeah, FL) and Samuel Schulze (Ocala, FL), but none of them made it past the quarters.

Instead, 10th seed Krish Thakur of Tracy, CA won title, defeating 8th seed Iain Dunn (Simi Valley, CA), 10-15, 15-6, 11-6, in the final. Thakur won all four of his matches in tie-breakers, including an 11-10 breaker in his semi-final match against 6th seed Julius Ellis (Stockton, CA), 15-8, 4-15, 11-10. In the other semi, Dunn beat 5th seed Tucker Elkins (Salem, OR), 15-11, 15-10. Elkins defeated Ellis, 15-5, 15-11, in the 3rd place match.

In contrast, the Girls U21 division was as expected, with top seed and defending champion Annie Roberts (Gresham, OR) defeating last year’s runner up Shane Diaz (San Antonio), 15-7, 15-4, in the final. In the semi-finals, Roberts beat 4th seed Erin Slutzky (Chesterfield, MO), 15-5, 15-9, while Diaz, the 3rd seed, upset 2nd seed Graci Wargo (Clearwater, FL), 15-7, 15-11.

Roberts’s win was her sixth consecutive USA Junior Championship in singles going back to a U14 win in 2017. That’s more consecutive titles than any other girl except Adrienne Haynes (née Fisher), who won seven titles from 1998 to 2004 (the first was a U12 title), which we believe to be the girls’ record for consecutive titles.

Roberts and Thakur faced off in the finals of U21 Mixed Doubles with Roberts and DJ Mendoza (San Antonio) getting the better of Thakur and Heather Mahoney (Penngrove, CA) and Krish Thakur (Tracy, CA), 15-7, 15-8. In the semi-finals, Robert and Mendoza defeated Dunn and Estfania Perez Picon (Manteca, CA), 15-12, 15-11, while Thakur and Mahoney beat siblings Nikita and Vedant Chauhan (San Ramon, CA), 15-7, 15-7.

Dunn did get a win in Boy’s U21 Doubles with Paul Saraceno (Simi Valley, CA), as they came out on top of a six team round robin with Ellis and Assuan Castaneda (Hialeah, FL) coming 2nd. Both had 4-1 records, but in their head to head match, which was one of the first matches of the tournament, Dunn and Saraceno defeated Ellis and Castaneda, 15-10, 15-14.

Diaz and Wargo won Girl’s U21 Doubles, as they defeated runners up Roberts and Khyathi Velpuri (Castle Rock, CO), 6-15, 15-14, 11-9. They also needed a breaker to beat Perez Picon and Erin Slutzky, 15-1, 13-15, 11-10.

Maybe the Boy’s U18 Doubles title should be renamed the Shea Cup, because for the fourth (4th!) consecutive time Josh Shea of Cortlandt Manor, New York won it and for the 2nd time in three years he did it with Vedant Chauhan (San Ramon, CA), as they went undefeated in a six team round robin. But they did need a couple of tie-breakers to do it. They had to come back from a game down to defeat Mendoza and Cole Sendrey (Frisco, TX), 8-15, 15-10, 11-6, and they eked out a win over Saraceno - who was Shea’s U18 doubles partner last year - and Benjamin Horner (Ankeny, IA), 15-6, 14-15, 11-10.

However, Shea lost in the Boy’s U18 Singles final, as Nikhil Prasad (Fremont, CA) defeated him 15-12, 15-11. In the semi-finals, Prasad, the 3rd seed, came back to narrowly defeat 2nd seed Sendry, 10-15, 15-10, 11-10, and Shea beat Mendoza, 15-14, 15-4. Prasad’s win is his 4th consecutive USAR Junior Nationals singles title.

Heather Mahoney of Penngrove, California and Naomi Ros of San Antonio won Girl’s U18 Doubles with three wins and no defeats against the other three teams. Indeed, they only surrendered six points in their three matches. Ros was also dominant in winning Girl’s U18 Singles as her opponents only got 8 points against her across four matches, and no more than 3 points in any one match.

Eshan Ali of Union City, CA was also impressive in winning Boy’s U16 Singles, as he won his matches in two straight games and didn’t give up more than 9 points in a game en route to the title, defeating Grant Williams (Wildwood, MO), 15-5, 15-6, in the final. In the semi-finals, Ali, the 3rd seed, upset 2nd seed London Townsend (Sherman Oaks, CA), 15-4, 15-5, while Williams knocked off top seed Juan Herrera II (Freeport, IL), 15-12, 8-15, 11-5. Of note, Williams was playing up in U16, as he came 3rd in Boy’s U14.

Ali also won Boy's U16 Doubles with Townsend, as they won a three team round robin, but they did need a tie-breaker to defeat Preston Anderson (Salem, OR) and Herrera, 14-15, 15-3, 11-6.

Top seed Sonya Shetty (Fremont, CA) won Girl’s U16 Singles by beating 2nd seed Thea Mattfeldt (Glendale, AZ), 15-4, 15-11. Shetty needed three games to defeat 4th seed Victoria Rodriguez (Anaheim, CA), 15-2, 11-15, 11-7, in the semis, while Mattfeldt beat 6th seed Alexus DeDios (Tyler, TX), 15-14, 15-5. Shetty and Rodriguez won Girl’s U16 Doubles, which was a three team round robin.

Given those boys and girls U16 results, you won’t be surprised that Ali and Shetty won U16 Mixed Doubles, beating Herrera and Mattfeldt, 15-4, 15-6, in the final. In the semis, Ali and Shetty defeated Alexus DeDios and Townsend, 15-3, 15-4, and Herrera and Mattfeldt beat Preston Anderson (Salem, OR) and Natalee DeDios (Tyler, TX), 15-13, 15-9.

Finally, the 2023 USAR National Junior Championships had some great matches. If you want to look back on some of the action, check out the USA Racquetball YouTube channel for a playlist of matches from Pleasanton.

2023 USA Racquetball National Junior Festival and Championships
June 21-25, 2023 - Pleasanton, California

Boy's U21 Singles - Final

10) Krish Thakur (Tracy, CA) d. 8) Iain Dunn (Simi Valley, CA), 10-15, 15-6, 11-6

3rd Place

5) Tucker Elkins (Salem, OR) d. 6) Julius Ellis (Stockton, CA), 15-5, 15-11

Semi-finals

8) Iain Dunn (Simi Valley, CA) d. 5) Tucker Elkins (Salem, OR), 15-11, 15-10
10) Krish Thakur (Tracy, CA) d. 6) Julius Ellis (Stockton, CA), 15-8, 4-15, 11-10

Boy's U18 Singles - Final

3) Nikhil Prasad (Fremont, CA) d. 1) Josh Shea (Cortlandt Manor, NY), 15-12, 15-11

3rd Place

2) Cole Sendrey (Frisco, TX) d. 4) DJ Mendoza (San Antonio, TX), 15-8, 15-8

Semi-finals

3) Nikhil Prasad (Fremont, CA) d. 2) Cole Sendrey (Frisco, TX), 10-15, 15-10, 11-10
1) Josh Shea (Cortlandt Manor, NY) d. 4) DJ Mendoza (San Antonio, TX), 15-4, 15-4

Boy's U16 Singles - Final

3) Eshan Ali (Union City, CA) d. 5) Grant Williams (Wildwood, MO), 15-5, 15-6

3rd Place

1) Juan Herrera II (Freeport, IL) d. 2) London Townsend (Sherman Oaks, CA), 15-10, 15-14

Semi-finals

5) Grant Williams (Wildwood, MO) d. 1) Juan Herrera II (Freeport, IL), 15-12, 8-15, 11-5
3) Eshan Ali (Union City, CA) d. 2) London Townsend (Sherman Oaks, CA), 15-4, 15-5

Boy's U14 Singles - Final

1) Nathan Rykhus (Stockton, CA) d. 2) Vaishant Mangalampalli (Fremont, CA), 15-7, 15-11

3rd Place

5) Grant Williams (Wildwood, MO) d. 3) Paul Delaney (Wildwood, MO), 15-14, 15-9

Semi-finals

1) Nathan Rykhus (Stockton, CA) d. 5) Grant Williams (Wildwood, MO), 15-7, 15-1
2) Vaishant Mangalampalli (Fremont, CA) d. 3) Paul Delaney (Wildwood, MO), 15-6, 15-1

Girl's U21 Singles - Final

1) Annie Roberts (Gresham, OR) d. 3) Shane Diaz (San Antonio), 15-7, 15-4

3rd Place

4) Erin Slutzky (Chesterfield, MO) d. 2) Graci Wargo (Clearwater, FL), forfeit

Semi-finals

1) Annie Roberts (Gresham, OR) d. 4) Erin Slutzky (Chesterfield, MO), 15-5, 15-9
3) Shane Diaz (San Antonio) d. 2) Graci Wargo (Clearwater, FL), 15-7, 15-11

Girl's U18 Singles - Round Robin

1. Naomi Ros (San Antonio) - 4-0
2. Brielle Fernando (Wheaton, IL) - 3-1
3. Gabbie Roseman (Des Peres, MO) - 2-2

Girl's U16 Singles - Final

1) Sonya Shetty (Fremont, CA) d. 2) Thea Mattfeldt (Glendale, AZ), 15-4, 15-11

3rd Place

4) Victoria Rodriguez (Anaheim, CA) d. 6) Alexus DeDios (Tyler, TX), 15-6, 15-13

Semi-finals

1) Sonya Shetty (Fremont, CA) d. 4) Victoria Rodriguez (Anaheim, CA), 15-2, 11-15, 11-7
2) Thea Mattfeldt (Glendale, AZ) d. 6) Alexus DeDios (Tyler, TX), 15-14, 15-5

Girl's U14 Singles - Final

1) Andrea Perez-Picon (Manteca, CA) d. 3) Aanshi Thakur (Tracy, CA), 15-1, 15-13

3rd Place

2) Elizabeth Denier (Champlin, MN) d. 4) Aarya Shetty (Fremont, CA), 15-14, 14-15, 11-7

Semi-finals

1) Andrea Perez-Picon (Manteca, CA) d. 4) Aarya Shetty (Fremont, CA), 15-2, 15-6
3) Aanshi Thakur (Tracy, CA) d. 2) Elizabeth Denier (Champlin, MN), 15-11, 15-9

Boy's U21 Doubles - Round Robin

1) Iain Dunn (Simi Valley, CA) & Paul Saraceno (Simi Valley, CA) - 4-1
2) Julius Ellis (Stockton, CA) & Assuan Castaneda (Hialeah, FL) - 4-1
3) Josh Shea (Cortlandt Manor, NY) & Krish Thakur (Tracy, CA) - 3-2

Boy's U18 Doubles - Round Robin

1) Vedant Chauhan (San Ramon, CA) & Josh Shea (Cortlandt Manor, NY) - 5-0
2) Nikhil Prasad (Fremont, CA) & Gatlin Sutherland (Great Falls, MT) - 4-1
3) DJ Mendoza (San Antonio) & Cole Sendrey (Frisco, TX) - 3-2

Boy's U16 Doubles - Round Robin

1) Eshan Ali (Union City, CA) & London Townsend (Sherman Oaks, CA) - 2-0
2) Preston Anderson (Salem, OR) & Juan Herrera II (Freeport, IL) - 1-1
3) Dominik Berghof (Irvine, CA) & Riley Edwards (Gresham, OR) - 0-2

Girl's U21 Doubles - Round Robin

1) Shane Diaz (San Antonio) & Graci Wargo (Clearwater, FL) 2-0
2) Annie Roberts (Gresham, OR) & Khyathi Velpuri (Castle Rock, CO) - 1-1
3) Estfania Perez Picon (Manteca, CA) & Erin Slutzky (Chesterfield, MO) - 0-2

Girl's U18 Doubles - Round Robin

1) Heather Mahoney (Penngrove, CA) & Naomi Ros (San Antonio) - 3-0
2) Brielle Fernando (Wheaton, IL) & Gabbie Roseman (Des Peres, MO) - 2-1
3) Kyla Davis (Wildwood, MO) & Thea Mattfeldt (Glendale, AZ) - 1-2

Girl's U16 Doubles - Round Robin

1) Victoria Rodriguez (Anaheim, CA) & Sonya Shetty (Fremont, CA) - 2-0
2) Alexus DeDios (Tyler, TX) & Natalee DeDios (Tyler, TX) - 1-1
3) Elizabeth Denier (Champlin, MN) & Montserrat Torres (Bellwood, IL) - 0-2

Mixed U21 Doubles - Final

2) DJ Mendoza (San Antonio) & Annie Roberts (Gresham, OR) d. 5) Heather Mahoney (Penngrove, CA) & Krish Thakur (Tracy, CA), 15-7, 15-8

3rd Place

8) Nikita Chauhan (San Ramon, CA) & Vedant Chauhan (San Ramon, CA) d. 3) Iain Dunn (Simi Valley, CA) & 3) Estfania Perez Picon (Manteca, CA), forfeit

Semi-finals

5) Heather Mahoney (Penngrove, CA) & Krish Thakur (Tracy, CA) d. 8) Nikita Chauhan (San Ramon, CA) & Vedant Chauhan (San Ramon, CA), 15-7, 15-7
2) DJ Mendoza (San Antonio) & Annie Roberts (Gresham, OR) d. 3) Iain Dunn (Simi Valley, CA) & Estfania Perez Picon (Manteca, CA), 15-12, 15-11

Mixed U18 Doubles - Round Robin

1) Naomi Ros (San Antonio) & Cole Sendrey (Frisco, TX) - 2-0
2) Vedant Chauhan (San Ramon, CA) & Heather Mahoney (Penngrove, CA) - 1-1
3) Brielle Fernando (Wheaton, IL) & Benjamin Horner (Ankeny, IA) - 0-2

Mixed U16 Doubles - Final

1) Eshan Ali (Union City, CA) & Sonya Shetty (Fremont, CA) d. 2) Juan Herrera II (Freeport, IL) & Thea Mattfeldt (Glendale, AZ), 15-4, 15-6

3rd Place

5) Alexus DeDios (Tyler, TX) & London Townsend (Sherman Oaks, CA) d. 3) Preston Anderson (Salem, OR) & Natalee DeDios (Tyler, TX), 9-15, 15-12, 11-10

Semi-finals

1) Eshan Ali (Union City, CA) & Sonya Shetty (Fremont, CA) d. 5) Alexus DeDios (Tyler, TX) & London Townsend (Sherman Oaks, CA), 15-3, 15-4
2) Juan Herrera II (Freeport, IL) & Thea Mattfeldt (Glendale, AZ) d. 3) Preston Anderson (Salem, OR) & Natalee DeDios (Tyler, TX), 15-13, 15-9

Follow the bouncing ball….

2023 USA Singles Qualifying & Canadian Racquetball Championships

Last week USA Racquetball (USAR) held its National Team Singles Qualifying event, and Racquetball Canada held its National Championship. There were some new winners and some repeat winners in both.

The USAR’s event was the National Adult Team Singles Qualifying in Memory of Geoff Peters (or the NATSQMGP) at the Glass Court club in Lombard, Illinois, where Geoff Peters played an instrumental part in supporting and developing racquetball for decades until his death in 2022. As a stand alone event, there were not many participants. Only five women and ten men competed for spots to make the USA National Team, which will compete at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile this October. That’s significantly fewer players than competed at the 2022 National Championships, when there were 19 players in Men’s Singles and 14 in Women’s Singles.

Daniel De La Rosa and Erika Manilla won the Men’s and Women’s events, respectively, in Illinois. In the Men’s Final, De La Rosa defeated Adam Manilla, who as the 5th seed was a surprise finalist, 3-11, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, while Manilla, Adam’s sister, defeated Kelani Lawrence in the women’s final, 11-3, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6.

This is the second USAR event De La Rosa has played. He has previously competed for Mexico, where he was born. Indeed, De La Rosa is the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Men’s Doubles, winning the title with Alvaro Beltran last year in De La Rosa’s hometown of San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

De La Rosa also won Men’s Doubles earlier this year with Alejandro Landa in Arizona, which was his first USAR National Team event. Thus, we believe that De La Rosa has double qualified to be on Team USA.

In the semi-finals, De La Rosa defeated Landa, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3, while Manilla upset top seed Jake Bredenbeck, 2-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-2. According USAR rules the semi-finalists will all be appointed to Team USA from which a travelling team will be created.

Of note, veteran Rocky Carson was in the draw, but was a late withdrawal. Carson has competed at every Pan Am Games with racquetball since 2003, winning gold in Men’s Singles in 2011 and 2015. However, it seems he will not be going to Chile.

In the Women’s semis, Erika Manilla came back from two games down to defeat Holly Scott, 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5, while Lawrence beat veteran Rhonda Rajsich, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6. Rajsich needed five games to get past Lexi York in the quarterfinals, and lost the 3rd Place match to Scott, 11-7, 11-5, 11-3. However, by making the semis Rajsich should qualify for Team USA.

The USA’s results at the 2023 Pan American Championships in April qualified them to send 3 men and 2 women to the Pan Am Games. On the women’s side, it seems like the players will be Manilla and Lawrence, as they were the singles finalists and also in the doubles final in February, when Manilla and Michelle De La Rosa defeated Lawrence and Scott.

The men’s side isn’t quite as clear. We understand that De La Rosa is clear to compete for the USA, so he should be going to Chile, as the winner of singles and doubles. Adam Manilla should also be going, as he was runner up in both singles and doubles. The third player could be Landa, as he won doubles with De La Rosa, and made the semis of singles.

But Landa lost the 3rd place match to Bredenbeck, 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8. However, Bredenbeck lost in the semi-finals of doubles, so maybe he’ll be on the outside looking in for Chile.

If you missed any of the matches from Lombard, check out the USA Racquetball YouTube channel.

2023 Racquetball Canada National Championships

Samuel Murray and Frédérique Lambert are the 2023 Racquetball Canada National Champions in Men's and Women's Singles, respectively, winning the titles last Saturday in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It’s Murray’s 5th consecutive title, and also Lambert’s 5th - and 3rd consecutive - title. In the Men’s Final, Murray beat 2nd seed Coby Iwaasa, 11-4, 12-10, 11-3, while Lambert defeated 4th seed Juliette Parent, 11-2, 11-7, 10-12, 11-4, in the Women’s Final.

Lambert also won Women’s Doubles with partner Michèle Morissette, as they defeated the other four teams competing. Indeed, they only lost two games across those four matches. They needed four games to beat Alexis Iwaasa and Danielle Ramsay, 11-5, 11-4, 13-15, 11-4, four games against sisters Juliette and Marjolaine Parent, winning 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8. The title is Lambert and Morissette’s 2nd consecutive, and overall it’s Lambert’s 3rd and Morissette’s 4th doubles titles.

Murray had a chance to win his 7th Men’s Doubles and 4th consecutive with his brother Tommy Murray, but they were upset in the final by 2nd seeds Iwaasa and Kurtis Cullen, 12-10, 11-9, 11-4. The win was Iwaasa’s 4th doubles title, and the 1st for Cullen.

Canada’s results at the 2023 Pan American Championships qualified them to send 2 men and 2 women to the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in October, and the likely candidates are Murray and Iwaasa on the men’s side and Lambert and Morissette on the women’s side.

If you missed any of the matches from Winnipeg, check out the Racquetball Canada YouTube channel.

2023 USA Racquetball Adult Team Singles Qualifying In Memory of Geoff Peters
Lombard, Illinois - May 25-28, 2023

Men's Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Jake Bredenbeck d. 8) James Black, 11-4, 11-3, 11-3
5) Adam Manilla d. 4) Thomas Carter, 9-11, 11-6, 14-12, 11-5

3) Alejandro Landa d. 6) Rocky Carson, forfeit
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 7) Sam Bredenbeck, 11-4, 14-16, 12-10, 11-7

Semi-finals

5) Adam Manilla d. 1) Jake Bredenbeck, 2-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-2
2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 3) Alejandro Landa, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3

Final

2) Daniel De La Rosa d. 5) Adam Manilla, 3-11, 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6

3rd place

1) Jake Bredenbeck d. 3) Alejandro Landa, 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8

Women's Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Kelani Lawrence - BYE
4) Rhonda Rajsich d. 5) Lexi York, 11-7, 11-6, 5-11, 9-11, 11-9

3) Hollie Scott - BYE
2) Erika Manilla - BYE

Semi-finals

1) Kelani Lawrence d. 4) Rhonda Rajsich, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6
2) Erika Manilla d. 3) Hollie Scott, 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5

Final

2) Erika Manilla d. 1) Kelani Lawrence, 11-3, 8-11, 11-7, 11-6

3rd place

3) Hollie Scott d. 4) Rhonda Rajsich, 11-7, 11-5, 11-3

2023 Racquetball Canada National Championships
May 23-27, 2023 - Winnipeg, Manitoba

Men's Open - Singles

Final

1) Samuel Murray d. 2) Coby Iwaasa, 11-4, 12-10, 11-3

3rd Place

5) Kurtis Cullen d. 6) Tanner Prentice, 11-5, 11-7, 11-9

Semi-finals

1) Samuel Murray d. 5) Kurtis Cullen, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6
2) Coby Iwaasa d. 6) Tanner Prentice, 11-2, 11-7, 11-8

Quarterfinals

1) Samuel Murray d. 19) Jeff Buller, 11-5, 11-7, 11-4
5) Kurtis Cullen d. 4) Lee Connell, 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-4

6) Tanner Prentice d. 3) Trevor Webb, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8
2) Coby Iwaasa d. 7) Nathan Jauvin, 11-4, 11-3, 11-1

Women's Open - Singles

Final

1) Frédérique Lambert d. 4) Juliette Parent, 11-2, 11-7, 10-12, 11-4

3rd place

3) Michèle Morissette d. 2) Christine Keay, forfeit

Semi-finals

1) Frédérique Lambert d. 3) Michèle Morissette, 11-4, 10-12, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5
4) Juliette Parent d. 2) Christine Keay, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8, 11-6

Quarterfinals

1) Frédérique Lambert - BYE
3) Michèle Morissette d. 5) Danielle Ramsay, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9

4) Juliette Parent d. 7) Marjolaine Parent, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10
2) Christine Keay - BYE

Men's Open - Doubles

Final

2) Kurtis Cullen & Coby Iwaasa d. 1) Samuel Murray & Tommy Murray , 12-10, 11-9, 11-4

3rd Place

3) Lee Connell & Trevor Webb d. 4) Nathan Jauvin & Michael Leduc, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-2

Semi-finals

1) Samuel Murray & Tommy Murray d. 4) Nathan Jauvin & Michael Leduc, 11-6, 11-3, 11-5
2) Kurtis Cullen & Coby Iwaasa d. 3) Lee Connell & Trevor Webb, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8

Quarterfinals

1) Samuel Murray & Tommy Murray d. 9) Devin Halko & Paul Shanks, 11-3, 11-5, 11-5
4) Nathan Jauvin & Michael Leduc d. 5) Naman Gauri & Christian Pocsai, 6-11, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-8

3) Lee Connell & Trevor Webb d. 6) Conrad Cole & Tanner Prentice, 11-9, 11-3, 12-10
2) Kurtis Cullen & Coby Iwaasa d. 7) Jeff Buller & David Serra, 11-4, 11-6, 9-11, 11-5

Women's Open - Doubles - Round robin

1) Frédérique Lambert & Michèle Morissette - 4 wins & 0 losses (12 games won, 2 lost)
2) Christine Keay & Cassie Prentice - 2-2 (7-7)
3) Alexis Iwaasa & Danielle Ramsay - 2-2 (7-6)
4) Juliette Parent & Marjolaine Parent - 2-2 (7-7)
5) Disney Linares & Ofelia Wilscam - 0-4 (1-12)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Two wins for Erika Manilla at 2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles & Singles Championships

Erika Manilla was the big winner at the USA Racquetball National Doubles and Singles Championships at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, as she won both Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Manilla and Michelle De La Rosa won Women’s Doubles by defeating the defending champions Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7. That title added to the Mixed Doubles title she won with her brother Adam Manilla by defeating Daniel De La Rosa and Scott, 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9.

It was the fourth consecutive year Manilla was in the Women’s Doubles final, and she’s won three of them, doing so previously with Aimee Roehler (then Ruiz) in 2020 and Rhonda Rajsich in 2021. Manilla and Roehler were runners up last year to Lawrence and Scott. She and Adam were also in the Mixed Doubles final last year, when Michelle De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa won. Thus, Manilla, who is just in her mid-20s, and is the current USA Racquetball Women's Singles champion, already has an impressive USA Racquetball championship record.

Daniel De La Rosa and Landa won Men’s Doubles, as they beat surprise finalists Wayne Antone and Adam Manilla, 15-13, 11-5, 11-8. The win is their first USA Racquetball doubles title together, De La Rosa’s first overall, and Landa’s second overall, as he won with Sudsy Monchik in 2020.

This was just the second time in the last seven championships that Rocky Carson didn’t win the title. The other being Landa and Monchik’s 2020 win. Carson and Charlie Pratt won three of the last four titles, and were two time defending champions. But they were upset in the semi-finals by Antone and Manilla, who ousted them after a five game marathon, 13-11, 6-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-8.

USA Racquetball is having a National Team Qualifying event for Men’s and Women’s Singles May 25-28 in Lombard, Illinois, which will give players another opportunity to make Team USA for the 2023 Pan American Championships in Guatemala in April, and 2023 Pan American Games in Chile in October. The Pan Am Championships are an annual event, but the Pan Am Games are a quadrennial event - like the Olympics. The Pan Am Games are the second largest multi-sport games after only the Summer Olympics. Many racquetball players consider the Pan Am Games their Olympics.

If you missed any of the action from Tempe, check out the USA Racquetball YouTube channel.

2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
February 1-5, 2023 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Semi-finals

4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla d. 1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt, 13-11, 6-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-8
3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-2

Final

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla, 15-13, 11-5, 11-8

3rd Place

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt v. 2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, double forfeit

Women's Doubles

Semi-finals

1) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 4) Aimee Roehler & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7
3) Erika Manilla & Michelle De La Rosa d. 2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6

Final

3) Erika Manilla & Michelle De La Rosa d. 1) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7

3rd Place

2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 4) Aimee Roehler & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3

Mixed Doubles

Final

2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla d. 4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott, 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9

3rd Place

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt, 11-9, 11-7, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball....

A new Mixed Doubles champion at 2023 USA Racquetball Championships

A new USA Racquetball Mixed Doubles champion will be crowned Saturday at the 2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles and Singles Championships at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, as the defending champions Michelle De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa lost in the semi-finals to 4th seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Hollie Scott, 14-12, 11-3, 11-9, as husband defeated wife in the De La Rosa showdown.

De La Rosa and Scott will play the 2nd seeded brother-sister team of Adam Manilla and Erika Manilla in the final, as the Manillas beat 6th seeds Sheryl Lotts and Charlie Pratt, 12-10, 11-1, 11-7, in the other semi-final.

Of the eight quarterfinal matches in Men’s and Women’s Doubles, six were over in three straight games with the higher seed winning each time. Indeed, there were no upsets in the quarters at all.

The closest match was in Women’s Doubles, as 3rd seeds Erika Manilla and Michelle De La Rosa lost the first game to 6th seeds Naomi Ros and Lexi York, but then came back win the next three games to take the match 3-1, winning 6-11, 11-7, 15-13, 11-6. Manilla and De La Rosa will play 2nd seeds Rhonda Rajsich and Sheryl Lotts in the semi-finals Saturday, as Rajsich and Lotts got a win over 7th seeds Erin Boadway and Fran Transfiguracion by forfeit.

On the top of the women’s draw, defending champions Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott will play former champions Aimee Roehler and Janel Tisinger-Ledkins in the other semi-final. Lawrence and Scott defeated 8th seeds Carlee Jansz and Katie Neils, 11-6, 11-3, 11-3, in the quarters, while Roehler and Tisinger-Ledkins beat 5th seeds Annie Roberts and Erin Slutzky, 11-3, 11-2, 11-1.

The defending men’s champions, Rocky Carson and Charlie Pratt beat 8th seeds Robert Collins and Danny Lavely, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5, and will face 4th seeds Wayne Antone and Adam Manilla in the semis, as Antone and Manilla defeated 5th seeds Jason Samora and Jeff Stark, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5, in the other semi.

Finally, 2nd seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Sam Bredenbeck beat 7th seeds Iain Dunn and Paul Saraceno, 11-1, 11-1, 11-5, and will take on 3rd seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa, who were winners over 6th seeds Thomas Gerhardt and Brent Walters, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5.

A reminder that the National Team Qualifying divisions are using the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) scoring system of five games to 11 points, win by two, with rally scoring, as that’s what the teams will be playing when they compete internationally this year at the 2023 Pan American Championships in April in Guatemala, and the 2023 Pan American Games in October in Santiago, Chile.

The Mixed Doubles final is Saturday night at 7 PM. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles semi-finals are Saturday with the finals on Sunday: Women at 10 AM and Men at noon. Check out the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball YouTube channel. Note the match times below are Mountain Standard time.

2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
February 1-5, 2023 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt d. 8) Robert Collins & Danny Lavely, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5
4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla d. 5) Jason Samora & Jeff Stark, 11-7, 11-9, 11-5

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 6) Thomas Gerhardt & Brent Walters, 11-7, 11-5, 11-5
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 7) Iain Dunn & Paul Saraceno, 11-1, 11-1, 11-5

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt v. 4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla - 4:40 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa - 2:20 PM

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott d. 8) Carlee Jansz & Katie Neils, 11-6, 11-3, 11-3
4) Aimee Roehler & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins d. 5) Annie Roberts & Erin Slutzky, 11-3, 11-2, 11-1

3) Erika Manilla & Michelle De La Rosa d. 6) Naomi Ros & Lexi York, 6-11, 11-7, 15-13, 11-6
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts d. 7) Erin Boadway & Fran Transfiguracion, forfeit

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 4) Aimee Roehler & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - 3:30 PM
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 3) Erika Manilla & Michelle De La Rosa - 1:10 PM

Mixed Doubles

Semi-finals - Friday

4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott d. 1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa, 14-12, 11-3, 11-9
2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla d. 6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt, 12-10, 11-1, 11-7

Final - Saturday

2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla v. 4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott - 7 PM

3rd Place - Saturday

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt -

Follow the bouncing ball....

De La Rosa v De La Rosa in Mixed Doubles at 2023 USA Racquetball Championships

The Mixed Doubles competition began Thursday at the 2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles and Singles Championships at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and it’s produced an interesting situation. Top seeds and defending champions Michelle De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa defeated the 8th seeded lefty-righty team of Robert Collins and Annie Roberts, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3, 11-6, and the 4th seeds Daniel De La Rosa and Hollie Scott beat another lefty-right team in 5th seeds Thomas Carter and Kelani Lawrence, 7-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8.

Thus, in semi-finals there will be a De La Rosa showdown, as wife Michelle plays husband Daniel. We know there’s a cliché you shouldn’t play mixed doubles with your spouse, but if you’re playing against your spouse, is that a win-win situation or lose-lose situation? Regardless, it’s going to happen Friday morning.

There could have been another family showdown on the other side of the draw, as the Bredenbeck brothers - Jake and Sam - could have met in the other semi-final. Sadly for them, neither won in the quarterfinals.

Sixth seeds Sheryl Lotts and Charlie Pratt got the only upset of the quarters by beating 3rd seeds Sam Bredenbeck and Lexi York, 11-1, 11-8, 11-9. Lotts and Pratt will play the 2nd seeded brother-sister team of Adam Manilla and Erika Manilla in the semis, as they came back to defeat 7th seeds Jake Bredenbeck and Janel Tisinger-Ledkins, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3, 7-11, 11-2.

A reminder that the National Team Qualifying divisions are using the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) scoring system of five games to 11 points, win by two, with rally scoring, as that’s what the teams will be playing when they compete internationally this year at the 2023 Pan American Championships in April in Guatemala, and the 2023 Pan American Games in October in Santiago, Chile.

Mixed Doubles play continues Friday with the semi-finals in the morning, and then the Mixed Doubles final will be Saturday night at 7 PM. The Men’s and Women’s Doubles will begin Friday afternoon. The Men’s and Women’s finals will be on Sunday. Check out the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball YouTube channel. Note the match times below are Mountain Standard time.

2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
February 1-5, 2023 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt v. 8) Robert Collins & Danny Lavely - 5:40 PM
4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla v. 5) Jason Samora & Jeff Stark - 3:30 PM

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 6) Thomas Gerhardt & Brent Walters - 7:40 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 7) Iain Dunn & Paul Saraceno - 1:20 PM

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 8) Carlee Jansz & Katie Neils - 6:40 PM
4) Aimee Roehler & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins v. 5) Annie Roberts &  Erin Slutzky - 12:20 PM

3) Erika Manilla & Michelle De La Rosa v. 6) Naomi Ros & Lexi York — 2:30 PM
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 7) Erin Boadway & Fran Transfiguracion - 4:40 PM

Mixed Doubles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa  - BYE
8) Robert Collins & Annie Roberts d. 9) Iain Dunn & Estefania Perez Picon, 11-7, 12-10, 11-8

5) Thomas Carter & Kelani Lawrence - BYE
4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott - BYE

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Lexi York  - BYE
6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt - BYE

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - BYE
2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla  - BYE

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa d. 8) Robert Collins & Annie Roberts, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3, 11-6
4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott d. 5) Thomas Carter & Kelani Lawrence, 7-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-8

6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt d. 3) Sam Bredenbeck & Lexi York, 11-1, 11-8, 11-9
2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla d. 7) Jake Bredenbeck & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins, 8-11, 11-8, 11-3, 7-11, 11-2

Semi-finals - Friday

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott - 10:10 AM
2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla v. 6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt - 11:20 AM

Follow the bouncing ball....

2023 USA Racquetball National Championships - Team Qualifying Doubles Preview

USA Racquetball is running both its National Doubles and Singles Championships together this week at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. But for National Team Qualifying purposes they will only be competing in Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Doubles divisions. USA Racquetball will have National Team Qualifying for Men’s and Women’s Singles May 25-28 in Lombard, Illinois.

Last year’s champions are the top seeds this year - Rocky Carson and Charlie Pratt in Men’s Doubles, Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott in Women’s Doubles and Michelle De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa in Mixed Doubles - but perhaps the most interesting - and baffling - name in the draw is Daniel De La Rosa. Yes, THAT Daniel De La Rosa.

De La Rosa is baffling, because he represented Mexico just last year, so we don’t think he would be eligible to represent the USA this year. Players can switch national allegiance, and Alejandro Landa, who is De La Rosa’s partner in Men’s Doubles, did so a few years ago. But our understanding is there needs to be a gap in international competitions of at least a year.

Now, this year’s biggest international event is the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile in October. Last year’s International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico - De La Rosa’s hometown - were in August, so there will be over 12 months between the 2022 World Championships and the 2023 Pan American Games. Perhaps that means De La Rosa would be eligible to represent the USA in Chile, although being in a major event for one nation in one calendar year and then for another country in the next calendar year seems to be stretching - if not actually breaking - the eligibility rule.

De La Rosa is also playing Mixed Doubles, although not with his wife Michelle, who as mentioned is the defending Mixed Doubles champion with Landa. Daniel De La Rosa is playing with Hollie Scott. They are the 4th seeds, so there could be a De La Rosa showdown in the Mixed Doubles semi-finals.

There are some notable names the Women’s Doubles draw. Former IRF World Champions Aimee Roehler and Janel Tisinger-Ledkins are the 4th seeds, and Rhonda Rajsich is back playing with Sheryl Lotts, and they are seeded 2nd. The semi-finals could be Roehler and Tisinger-Ledkins versus top seeds Lawrence and Scott, and Rajsich and Lotts versus 3rd seeds Erika Manilla and Michelle De La Rosa.

Mixed Doubles play begins Thursday, while Men’s and Women’s Doubles will begin Friday. The Mixed final will be Saturday night, while the Men’s and Women’s finals will be on Sunday. Check out the action live from Tempe via the USA Racquetball YouTube channel. Note the match times below are Mountain Standard time.

2023 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships
February 1-5, 2023 - Tempe, Arizona
US National Team Divisions

Men's Doubles

Round of 16

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt - BYE
8) Robert Collins & Danny Lavely d. 9) Jack Goldberg & Charles Rankin, forfeit

5) Jason Samora & Jeff Stark - BYE
4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla - BYE

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa - BYE
6) Thomas Gerhardt & Brent Walters - BYE

7) Iain Dunn & Paul Saraceno - BYE
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck - BYE

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Rocky Carson & Charlie Pratt v. 8) Robert Collins & Danny Lavely - 5:40 PM
4) Wayne Antone & Adam Manilla v. 5) Jason Samora & Jeff Stark - 3:30 PM

3) Daniel De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 6) Thomas Gerhardt & Brent Walters - 7:40 PM
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck v. 7) Iain Dunn & Paul Saraceno - 1:20 PM

Women's Doubles

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Kelani Lawrence & Hollie Scott v. 8) Carlee Jansz & Katie Neils - 6:40 PM
4) Aimee Roehler & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins v. 5) Annie Roberts & Erin Slutzky - 12:20 PM

3) Erika Manilla & Michelle De La Rosa v. 6) Naomi Ros & Lexi York — 2:30 PM
2) Rhonda Rajsich & Sheryl Lotts v. 7) Erin Boadway & Fran Transfiguracion - 4:40 PM

Mixed Doubles

Round of 16 - Thursday

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa - BYE
8) Robert Collins & Annie Roberts v. 9) Iain Dunn & Estefania Perez Picon - 11:15 AM

5) Thomas Carter & Kelani Lawrence - BYE
4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott - BYE

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Lexi York - BYE
6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt - BYE

7) Jake Bredenbeck & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - BYE
2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla - BYE

Quarterfinals - Thursday

1) Michelle De La Rosa & Alejandro Landa v. 8) Robert Collins & Annie Roberts or 9) Iain Dunn & Estefania Perez Picon - 7:25 PM
4) Daniel De La Rosa & Hollie Scott v. 5) Thomas Carter & Kelani Lawrence - 1:15 PM

3) Sam Bredenbeck & Lexi York v. 6) Sheryl Lotts & Charlie Pratt - 3:25 PM
2) Adam Manilla & Erika Manilla v. 7) Jake Bredenbeck & Janel Tisinger-Ledkins - 5:25 PM

Follow the bouncing ball....

USA Racquetball reveals financial difficulties

USA Racquetball (USAR) today issued a statement that partially detailed the dire financial straits the organization is in. We had speculated the USAR may have money troubles, when they made the appointment of Mike Grisz as the Executive Director, and that he would be working pro bono (i.e., without salary).

Today USAR stated they have restructured operations based on projected revenues, including memberships, which are approximately 5,000 or half what they were prior to the pandemic. Annual membership revenue is said to be down $125,000. The restructuring leaves USAR with one paid employee, and volunteers taking up the slack. That’s not a good situation.

Moreover, the operations of the USAR’s national championships, which is one of their most important activities, ran at a loss of $170,000 in 2022. That deficit combined with reduced revenues has put USAR in dire straits.

Thus, the USAR is making an appeal for financial donations in hopes of raising $100,000 by year end to give themselves a fresh start for 2023.

The importance of a National Sport Organization (NSO) cannot be overstated. It is the NSO that provides overview and guidance to a sport, especially in terms of rules of play, national championships, national teams, player ranking, and coach training. These provide the framework for a sport.

Without a strong NSO a sport’s profile within a country diminishes, because there would be no one carrying the torch for the sport. And internationally the country may miss competitions if there is no way to select players to represent the country, let alone support those players to go to an event. 2023 is a Pan American Games year, and the number of players a country can send to the Pan Am Games will be determined by how well a country does at the Pan American Championships in the spring. Thus, it’s important to have a strong showing at the Pan Am Championships, so that you can send as many players as possible to the Pan Am Games.

But USAR has struggled to send teams to international competitions - especially the Pan American Championships, which is an annual competition - even before its current financial situation. How are they going to do so in 2023? The US Olympic Committee may provide support for going to the 2023 Pan Am Games, which will be in Santiago, Chile, as it’s a multi-sport event second in size only to the Summer Olympics, but you have to qualify players to compete there.

Many players view the Pan Am Games as racquetball's Olympics, as it's the largest event that includes racquetball. While Pan Ams are not a global event, the best racquetball countries are in the Americas, so the Pan Am Games generally have the best racquetball players competing for gold.

Hopefully, the USAR’s appeal will be successful, and they can get to a more financially stable position. Racquetball originated in the United States, and the USA was the leading country for much of its history. They are still one of the leading countries, which makes the USAR’s predicament all the more poignant.

Follow the bouncing ball….

Weekend Round Up - Waselenchuk injury & Grisz appointment

Usually our weekend round is bits and bobs of tournament results, but today we have a couple of off court news items.

Waselenchuk injury

Kane Waselenchuk announced he completely tore his Achilles tendon last month at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Capitol Classic Racquetball Tournament in Millersville, Maryland. His announcement came during an interview Sunday night on Sudsy Monchik’s Beyond The Court YouTube channel. Waselenchuk underwent surgery for the injury on October 4, so he’ll be in rehabilitation for the injury soon.

How well Waselenchuk will be able to recover from the injury is anyone’s guess, and he received mixed messages from medical professions ahead of his surgery. Counting against him is the fact he’ll turn 41 next month. But counting for him is the fact that he’s an elite athlete, who is well aware of how to train properly and the benefits of doing so.

According to WebMD, people return to full activity 4-6 months after surgery, and a full recovery isn’t expected until a year afterwards with the possibility of never getting back to 100%. That means Waselenchuk might not be back to full fitness until he turns 43 next November. Of course, those are expectations for common people, and Waselenchuk is quite uncommon, so his recovery may be much better or faster or both than this guideline.

Many people are saddened by Waselenchuk’s absence from the IRT, which is understandable because he’s the best player of this era. Some are so disappointed that they have lost interest in racquetball, which is difficult to understand, because there are still good players and great matches to be seen. Are these players as good as Waselenchuk? Maybe not, but Waselenchuk was never going to play forever, so there was always going to be a point at which he left the scene.

Sadly, that point may come due to injury rather than Waselenchuk’s choice, but it was going to come. Recently, Roger Federer and Serena Williams retired from tennis, and their absences will be noticed and they’ll be missed. But we’re still going to watch tennis.

And we’re going to watch racquetball even without Waselenchuk.

Grisz named USA Racquetball Executive Director

On Friday, USA Racquetball (USAR) announced the appointment of Mike Grisz as their new Executive Director. Grisz was on the USAR Board of Directors, so for the third consecutive time a USAR board member has become the Executive Director. Grisz succeeds Mike Wedel, whose resignation was announced last month. Wedel held the position for four years succeeding Jason Thoerner. Like Grisz, both Wedel and Thoerner were USAR board members prior to becoming Executive Director.

If you were looking for a breath of fresh air from the new Executive Director, it’s difficult to see it coming from someone already within the organization. Do you need to hire a racquetball person as your Executive Director? Racquetball Canada’s last three Executive Directors have come from outside of racquetball, and they have all been positive for the organization. So, no it’s not necessary to hire a racquetball person to be the USA Racquetball Executive Director, and it could even help bring a new perspective to the table.

But Grisz could be a good choice for the position. From our brief interactions with him, he seems like a fine fellow. However, the Executive Director’s role is to serve at the will of the Board, so no one should be expecting Grisz to be a white knight riding in to solve all of USA Racquetball's problems.

We’re not sure what problems those are, although one may be finances, as part of the announcement in Grisz’s appointment is that he will serve the role unpaid. Explaining his decision to do so, Grisz said “I feel I owe this to the sport that has contributed so much to my life.” USAR President Stewart Solomon’s comment that “the Board is grateful that [Grisz] is able to volunteer his time” when “the association is still recovering from a reduced membership base” suggests the USAR isn’t in a good financial position.

Was the USAR Board in a situation where they were unsure of whether they could pay someone whatever the going rate is for a National Sport Organization’s Executive Director and Grisz, as a Board member, saw that difficulty and volunteered - literally - to fill the position? It could be that they took the path of least resistance in making this appointment.

But doing the easiest thing isn’t always the best thing. For example, if someone is not being paid, then people may not be as critical of the person, because “well, the person is doing it out of the kindness of his/her heart” and how can you be critical of someone who is doing that? Moreover, what is the USAR going to do for their next ED when they have to go from budgeting $0 for the position to something significant, because being the ED of a National Sport Organization is a big job that should command a significant salary, especially if you are looking to attract quality candidates for the job.

Again, Grisz could work out fine, but the situation suggests USA Racquetball isn’t in a good place right now.

US Open

Grisz stated that one of his objectives is to “enhance the US OPEN and all of the other National Events.” This was the first year the US Open was handled without Doug Ganim, who was its Tournament Director for the 25 previous US Opens. Many people were disappointed that the portable court, which was the primary feature of Ganim’s US Opens, was not used this year, although it seemed that using the portable court was not a possibility, which again we believe is due to finances. However, we think it would have been more disappointing to not have a US Open at all, so good on the USAR for continuing the US Open tradition even if the portable court was unavailable.

If you’re looking for why the US Open wasn’t a spectacle this year compared to years past, consider that Ganim ran that event exclusively, so he could give the event his full attention. Connor Shane ran it this year, as he is the USA Racquetball’s Director of National Events. There are 5 US National Championships plus the US Open on Shane’s plate. If you think six events seems like too much for just one person, we’d agree with you.

But USA Racquetball only has three staff members: Shane, Grisz, and Reneé Isherwood, who is the Director of Operations & National Teams. Three staff members is not many for a National Sport Organization. In comparison, USA Table Tennis has six staff members, and US Squash has 27 (twenty seven!) staff members plus five technology staff.

So, USAR is operating as a bare bones organization, and that can make it difficult for them to solve any of the problems (perceived or actual) that they have.

Thus, when Grisz said he’s “looking forward to a challenging … experience,” he’s undoubtedly going to have one.

Follow the bouncing ball…..