Weekend Round Up - Wins for Acuña, Parrilla & Meneses as well as USAR High School Championships

There were several racquetball events that wrapped on the weekend, and we want to do a run down of them. Fridley, Minnesota hosted the Minnesota Racquetball Hall of Fame Tournament - a Tier 3 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event - which featured three top 15 IRT players: Samuel Murray, Jake Bredenbeck and Andres Acuña, and Acuña, the 15th ranked IRT player, who the event beating the two IRT top 10 players in the process.

Acuña defeated top seed Samuel Murray (IRT #5), 15-10, 15-7, in the final, after beating 2nd seed Jake Bredenbeck (IRT #9), 15-10, 15-8, in the semi-finals. Murray defeated Jordy Alonso, 15-10, 15-5, in the other semi.

The Bredenbeck brothers won doubles, as Jake and Sam defeated Murray and Michael Leduc, 15-2, 15-4, in the final. They had a closer win in the semi-finals over Acuña and Alonso, 15-11, 15-14, while Murray and Leduc beat John Goth and Blake Hansen, 15-5, 15-14.

Another IRT event took place in Pueblo, Colorado, where Andree Parrilla won the Pueblo Athletic Club Shootout - a Tier 4 event. Parrilla beat David Horn, 15-2, 15-5. In the semi-finals, Parrilla defeated Nicholas Riffel, 15-7, 15-7, and Horn had to come back from a game down to get past Adam Manilla, 6-15, 15-13, 11-9.

Finally, at the Boston Open in Marlborough, Massachusetts, 4th seed Micaela Meneses won the Women’s Open title by defeating 2nd seed Carla Muñoz, 8-11, 11-10, 11-5, in the final. She knocked off top seed Kelani Lawrence, 11-4, 11-8, in one semi-final, while Muñoz held on to defeat 3rd seed Jenny Daza, 11-6, 4-11, 11-3, in the other semi.

USA Racquetball National High School Championships

The largest event that happened last week was the USA Racquetball (USAR) High School Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, where 346 kids were hitting the ball around. It’s a fabulous total, although the vast majority of the players - 289 - were from Missouri. Add on 30 kids from Oregon, and you have 92% of the players from two states. Indeed, there were players from just 8 states overall.

Nonetheless, having kids playing racquetball is great. And having hundreds of kids doing so is astounding.

Josh Shea was the only player from New York state, but he won the Boy’s #1 Singles title living up to his top seeding, although he did need a tie-breaker to defeat 2nd seed Andrew Gleason of Iowa, 15-4, 13-15, 11-3. The Girl’s #1 Singles final was also between the top seeds, as 2nd seed Naomi Ros of Texas upset top seed Heather Mahoney from California, 15-9, 15-6.

However, Mahoney did win the Girl’s #1 Doubles title with partner Ava Naworski. They were the 3rd seeds, and defeated 4th seeds Avery Oppermann and Gabbie Roseman of Missouri, 15-3, 15-11, in the final. The Boy’s #1 Doubles title went to top seeds Gabe Collins and Jacob Schmidt of Missouri who beat fellow Missourians and 3rd seeds Will Shorey and Jared Thornberry in two close games, 15-13, 15-14.

On the horizon

Coming up on the racquetball calendar will be the IRT’s 37th Annual Papa Nicholas Coffee Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois, March 17-20; that’s a Tier 1 event. The next Tier 1 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event is the Battle at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, April 29-May 1, but they’ll play outdoors in the 2022 Beach Bash in Hollywood, Florida March 24-27.

Internationally, the 33rd Pan American Championships will be in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, April 9-16, and racquetball is part of the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, July 7-22. Also, USA Racquetball (USAR) will have their 2022 National Doubles and Singles Championships in College Station, Texas on the campus of Texas A & M University May 25-29, and Racquetball Canada has announced its National Championships will happen in Brossard, Québec, May 24-28.

Thus, there are a lot of great events coming up over the next few months, and that will set the stage for the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico in August.

Minnesota Racquetball Hall of Fame Tournament - IRT Tier 3
March 3-6, 2022 - Fridley, Minnesota

IRT Singles - Final

3) Andres Acuña d. 1) Samuel Murray, 15-10, 15-7

IRT Singles - Semi-finals

1) Samuel Murray d. 5) Jordy Alonso, 15-10, 15-5
3) Andres Acuña d. 2) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-8

IRT Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Samuel Murray d. 8) John Goth, 15-9, 15-4
5) Jordy Alonso d. 4) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-1

3) Andres Acuña d. 6) Blake Hansen, 15-5, 15-6
2) Jake Bredenbeck d. 7) Lee Meinerz, 15-2, 15-3

IRT Doubles - Final

2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 1) Samuel Murray & Michael Leduc, 15-2, 15-4

IRT Singles - Semi-finals

1) Samuel Murray & Michael Leduc d. 4) John Goth & Blake Hansen, 15-5, 15-14
2) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 3) Andres Acuña & Jordy Alonso, 15-11, 15-14

Pueblo Athletic Club Shootout - IRT Tier 4
March 4-6, 2022 - Pueblo, Colorado

IRT Singles - Final

1) Andree Parrilla d. 3) David Horn, 15-2, 15-5

IRT Singles - Semi-finals

1) Andree Parrilla d. 2) Adam Manilla, 6-15, 15-13, 11-9
3) David Horn 4) Nicholas Riffel, 15-7, 15-7

Boston Open
March 4-6, 2022 - Marlborough, Massachusetts

Women’s Open Singles - Final

4) Micaela Meneses d. 2) Carla Muñoz, 8-11, 11-10, 11-5

Women’s Open Singles - Semi-final

4) Micaela Meneses d. 1) Kelani Lawrence, 11-4, 11-8
2) Carla Muñoz d. 3) Jenny Daza, 11-6, 4-11, 11-3

Women’s Open Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Kelani Lawrence d. 9) Tasha Kay, 11-0, 11-1
4) Micaela Meneses d. 5) Sheryl Lotts, 5-11, 11-9, 11-3

3) Jenny Daza d. 6) Camila Rivero, 11-9, 11-10
2) Carla Muñoz d. 7) Annie Roberts, 11-1, 5-11, 11-6

2022 USA Racquetball National High School Championships
March 2-6, 2022 - St. Louis, Missouri

Boy’s Singles #1 - Final

1) Josh Shea (Hendrick Hudson) d. 2) Andrew Gleason (Johnston School District), 15-4, 13-15, 11-3

Boy’s Singles #1 - Semi-finals

1) Josh Shea (Hendrick Hudson) d. 4) DJ Mendoza (Douglas Macarthur High School), 15-10, 15-6
2) Andrew Gleason (Johnston School District) d. 3) Benjamin Horner (Ankeny Centennial), 15-2, 15-12

Girl’s Singles #1 - Final

2) Naomi Ros (Douglas Macarthur High School) d. 1) Heather Mahoney (Casa Grade High School), 15-9, 15-6

Girl’s Singles #1 - Semi-finals

1) Heather Mahoney (Casa Grade High School) d. 4) Brielle Fernando (Beaverton High School), 15-7, 15-6
2) Naomi Ros (Douglas Macarthur High School) d. 3) Gabbie Roseman (Kirkwood High School), 15-6, 15-0

Boy’s Doubles #1 - Final

1) Gabe Collins & Jacob Schmidt (Christian Brothers College High School) d. 3) Will Shorey & Jared Thornberry (St. Louis University High School), 15-13, 15-14

Boy’s Doubles #1 - Semi-finals

1) Gabe Collins & Jacob Schmidt (Christian Brothers College High School) d. 4) Riley Edwards & Drake Howard (Barlow), 15-4, 15-8
3) Will Shorey & Jared Thornberry (St. Louis University High School) d. 7) Charlie Buren & Jonathon Ruck (Lafayette High School), 15-9, 15-10

Girl’s Doubles #1 - Final

3) Heather Mahoney & Ava Naworski (Casa Grade High School) d. 4) Avery Oppermann & Gabbie Roseman (Kirkwood High School), 15-3, 15-11

Girl’s Doubles #1 - Semi-finals

4) Avery Oppermann & Gabbie Roseman (Kirkwood High School) d. 1) Brielle Fernando & Payton Lemke (Beaverton High School), 15-13, 13-15, 11-4
3) Heather Mahoney & Ava Naworski (Casa Grade High School) d. 2) Hailey Fitts & Hannah Werk (Lafayette High School), 13-15, 15-1, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball….

2020 USA Racquetball High School Championships

The 2020 USA Racquetball High School Championships wrapped on the weekend in Portland, Oregon, and there are a couple of fun things to highlight from the event. In one of the most remarkable matches you could see anywhere, Antonio Rojas won the Boy’s #1 Singles division in a tie-breaker over Nikhil Prasad, 15-11, 12-15, 11-10.

That’s impressive enough, but Rojas did it by coming back from 10-2 down in the breaker. Prasad started out the breaker on fire, as he went up 5-0 in the blink of an eye. A second blink and it was 10-2.

After getting his 10th point, Prasad let out a big yell. The yell was his first of the game, and it seemed out of character. Rojas, who seems a more fiery kid, yelled more during the match than Prasad, and if that’s the kind of guy you are, then fair enough. But if it's not the kind of guy you are, then maybe it's best not to do so.

Now, these are kids, and we’re not interested in being critical of them. Athletic competitions are stressful situations, and many adults have lost their heads in the heat of the moment. Apparently, Prasad is only 14 and Rojas 17, and asking teen-agers to keep their emotions under control can be a big ask under normal circumstances. It’s a huge ask under stressful circumstances, like the tie-breaker of a championship match.

But the teaching point is that if you want to perform your best under stress - whether it’s in sport or not - you want to learn some emotional control. Emotions are great in the long run, because that’s where we get our motivation from, and they are what drive us to achieve our goals. However, in the moment of performance, emotions can be distracting, and you want to learn how to deal with them, so you can perform your best.

A forehand winner by Rojas denied Prasad his first match point, and that started Rojas’s comeback. Racquetball comebacks often involve good serving, and Rojas’s was no different, as he hit four aces and a service winner in his comeback; he also had an ace for his 2nd point of the game.

Prasad did get a sideout at 10-4, and called a timeout at that point. However, Rojas hit a forehand winner to escape Prasad’s 2nd match point. He got five points on consecutive rallies to make the score 10-9, so Prasad called his 2nd timeout.

When play resumed, Rojas double faulted - hitting two drive serves to the left - the serve that was getting him his aces. That wasn’t good, and you thought maybe that will be a fatal error.

But it wasn’t as Rojas hit a forehand return winner off a Prasad drive serve to the right side. Prasad had some success serving to the right, so it wasn’t an unexpected choice for his 3rd match point.

An ace to the left put Rojas on match point at 10-10. But then he skipped a drive serve! That doesn’t happen very often, and maybe reflected the stress of the moment. Yet Prasad couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity, as he skipped a forehand shot close to the right wall.

Rojas called his 2nd timeout to compose himself. But that didn’t work as Prasad hit a serve return backhand winner when play resumed. That was the first of four sideouts. Then with his 4th match point, Rojas hit a drive serve to the left for an ace to win the match, 11-10.

Prasad had 6 match points, but to be fair, he only skipped one of them, as Rojas hit winners on the other five. It was more a case of Rojas winning the match, rather than Prasad losing it.

If you want to see it again - and you do - check out the entire match out on the USAR Livestream channel, where you can watch some of the other action from Portland.

In girl’s play, Annie Roberts, the top seed, won the Girl’s #1 Singles division by defeating #2 Heather Mahoney, 15-3, 15-11, in what was a battle of two USA Junior Team members. Roberts also won the Girl’s #1 Doubles division with Kelsey Klinger, as they got the better of 10th seeds Arya Cyril and Esha Cyril, 15-8, 15-11.

The last four teams in the Boy’s #1 Doubles division were the 9th, 10th, 11th and 13th seeds. It’s always fun when lower seeds go deep in a draw, but having all four teams outside the top 8 seeds is incredible! Not sure any major event has ever had that happen.

Given that situation, perhaps it was most appropriate that the lowest seeds won the final, as 13th seeds Vedant Chauhan and Darren Lee defeated 10th seeds Cole Hartman and Nathan Soltis, 15-1, 15-8. In the semi-finals, Chauhan and Lee beat 9th seeds Cody Boucher and Brady Reynolds, 15-5, 15-3, while Hartman and Soltis defeated 11th Alec Growe and Adam Pendleton, 15-7, 15-3.

The next big USAR event will be the Intercollegiate Championships later this month at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, March 25-28.

2020 USA Racquetball High School Championships
Portland, Oregon - February 26 - March 1, 2020

Boy’s #1 - Singles - Final

1) Antonio Rojas d. 3) Nikhil Prasad, 15-11, 12-15, 11-10

Semi-Finals

1) Antonio Rojas d. 5) Julius Ellis, 15-1, 15-5
3) Nikhil Prasad d. 2) Vedant Chauhan, 8-15, 15-5, 11-7

Girl’s #1 - Singles - Final

1) Annie Roberts d. 2) Heather Mahoney, 15-3, 15-11

Semi-Finals

1) Annie Roberts d. 5) Erin Slutzky, 15-9, 15-10
2) Heather Mahoney d. 6) Shane Diaz, 15-6, 15-9

Boy’s #1 - Doubles - Final

13) Vedant Chauhan & Darren Lee d. 10) Cole Hartman & Nathan Soltis, 15-1, 15-8

Semi-Finals

13) Vedant Chauhan & Darren Lee d. 9) Cody Boucher & Brady Reynolds, 15-5, 15-3
10) Cole Hartman & Nathan Soltis d. 11) Alec Growe & Adam Pendleton, 15-7, 15-3

Girl’s #1 - Doubles - Final

1) Kelsey Klinger & Annie Roberts d. 10) Arya Cyril & Esha Cyril, 15-8, 15-11

Semi-Finals

1) Kelsey Klinger & Annie Roberts d. 4) Bella Bertarelli & Grace Maloney, 15-3, 15-3
10) Arya Cyril & Esha Cyril d. 6) Hannah Carver & Megan Carver, 13-15, 15-14, 11-7

Follow the bouncing ball….

2019 IRF World Junior Championships - Sunday Results

Girl’s Singles took center stage on Sunday at the 2019 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships began Saturday in San José, Costa Rica. There were also doubles matches, which we’ll put in a separate post.

There were a few tie-breakers in Girl’s Singles. One in Girl’s U18 had Abigail Solana of Costa Rica defeating Josefina Toro of Chile, 15-4, 7-15, 11-1. There weren’t any tie-breakers in Girl’s U16 with the closest match being Mexican Ximena Martinez’s win over the host country’s Sofia Freer of Costa Rica, 15-10, 15-13.

The closest matches were in Girl’s U14, which had two tie-breakers. In one, Bolivian Natalia Mita narrowly defeated Mexican Angela Ortega, 15-14, 10-15, 11-10, while in the other Costa Rica’s Jimena Gomez and Ireland’s Thea Coleman also played a very close match with Gomez coming out on top, 14-15, 15-13, 11-8.

The Girl’s U18 final will likely be between Bolivians Saturday - Valeria Centellas and Angelica Barrios, who have both impressed on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) as well as representing Bolivia at senior events, including earning bronze medals in the Women’s Team event at this year’s Pan American Games. Both won their first matches comfortably with Centellas defeating Nikita Chauhan (USA), 15-5, 15-4, and Barrios beating Graciana Wargo (USA), 15-0, 15-1.

Group stage play continues Monday and Tuesday with the medal round beginning on Wednesday. The group stage results will be used to seed players for the medal round.

31st IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San José, Costa Rica - November 9-16, 2019

U18 Girl's Singles

Group A

Saturday - Marifer Gutierrez (Mexico) d. Camila Wilscam (Canada), 15-8, 15-0

Monday - Camila Wilscam (Canada) v. Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador)

Tuesday - Marifer Gutierrez (Mexico) v. Ana Sarmiento (Ecuador)

Group B

Saturday - Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. Nikita Chauhan (USA), 15-5, 15-4

Monday - Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. Aranxa Anguizola (Costa Rica)

Tuesday - Nikita Chauhan (USA) v. Aranxa Anguizola (Costa Rica)

Group C

Saturday - Anna Rivera (Mexico) d. Cassie Prentice (Canada), 15-8, 15-13

Monday - Cassie Prentice (Canada) v. Martina Katz (Argentina)

Tuesday - Anna Rivera (Mexico) v. Martina Katz (Argentina)

Group D

Saturday - Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Graciana Wargo (USA), 15-0, 15-1
Abigail Solana (Costa Rica) d. Josefina Toro (Chile), 15-4, 7-15, 11-1

Monday - Graciana Wargo (USA) v. Josefina Toro (Chile)
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. Abigail Solana (Costa Rica)

Tuesday - Graciana Wargo (USA) v. Abigail Solana (Costa Rica)
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. Josefina Toro (Chile)

U16 Girl's Singles

Group A

Saturday - Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) d. Fabiana Landi (Ecuador), 15-0, 15-5

Monday - Fabiana Landi (Ecuador) v. Erin Slutzky (USA)

Tuesday - Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) v. Erin Slutzky (USA)

Group B

Saturday - Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) d. Annie Roberts (USA), 15-4, 15-13

Monday - Annie Roberts (USA) v. Adriana Valdez (Ecuador)

Tuesday - Micaela Meneses (Bolivia) v. Adriana Valdez (Ecuador)

Group C

Sunday - Ximena Martinez (Mexico) d. Sofia Freer (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-13

Monday - Sofia Freer (Costa Rica) v. Jasmin Aguilar (Guatemala)

Tuesday - Ximena Martinez (Mexico) v. Jasmin Aguilar (Guatemala)

Group D

Saturday - Martina Katz (Argentina) d. Suniaris Rodriguez (Cuba), 15-4, 15-2
Fernanda Mendez (Bolivia) d. Kelly-Marie Barrett (Canada), 15-0, 15-1

Monday - Martina Katz (Argentina) v. Kelly-Marie Barrett (Canada)
Fernanda Mendez (Bolivia) v. Suniaris Rodriguez (Cuba)

Tuesday - Fernanda Mendez (Bolivia) v. Martina Katz (Argentina)
Suniaris Rodriguez (Cuba) v. Kelly-Marie Barrett (Canada)

Group E

Saturday - Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Juliette Parent (Canada), 15-9, 15-5
Loraine Felipe (Cuba) d. Andrea Reyes (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-7

Monday - Juliette Parent (Canada) v. Loraine Felipe (Cuba)
Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. Andrea Reyes (Guatemala)

Tuesday - Juliette Parent (Canada) v. Andrea Reyes (Guatemala)
Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. Loraine Felipe (Cuba)

U14 Girl's Singles

Group A

Sunday - Heather Mahoney (USA) d. Ofelia Wilscam (Canada), 15-3, 15-2
Anna Aguilar (Guatemala) d. Angela Villacreses (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-0

Monday - Heather Mahoney (USA) v. Angela Villacreses (Ecuador)
Ofelia Wilscam (Canada) v. Anna Aguilar (Guatemala)

Tuesday - Heather Mahoney (USA) v. Anna Aguilar (Guatemala)
Ofelia Wilscam (Canada) v. Angela Villacreses (Ecuador)

Group B

Sunday - Natalia Mita (Bolivia) d. Angela Ortega (Mexico), 15-14, 10-15, 11-10
Paula Mansilla (Chile) d. Sarah Ainsworth (Ireland), 15-8, 15-12

Monday - Natalia Mita (Bolivia) v. Paula Mansilla (Chile)
Angela Ortega (Mexico) v. Sarah Ainsworth (Ireland)

Tuesday - Natalia Mita (Bolivia) v. Sarah Ainsworth (Ireland)
Angela Ortega (Mexico) v. Paula Mansilla (Chile)

Group C

Sunday - Ava Kaiser (USA) d. Tamara Wilscam (Canada), 15-6, 15-4
Jasmin Aguilar (Guatemala) d. Kenia Brenes (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-2

Monday - Ava Kaiser (USA) v. Kenia Brenes (Costa Rica)
Tamara Wilscam (Canada) v. Jasmin Aguilar (Guatemala)

Tuesday - Ava Kaiser (USA) v. Jasmin Aguilar (Guatemala)
Tamara Wilscam (Canada) v. Kenia Brenes (Costa Rica)

Group D

Sunday - Camila Rivero (Bolivia) d. Gisele Nieto (Mexico), 15-3, 15-3
Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) d. Thea Coleman (Ireland), 14-15, 15-13, 11-8

Monday - Gisele Nieto (Mexico) v. Thea Coleman (Ireland)
Camila Rivero (Bolivia) v. Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica)

Tuesday - Gisele Nieto (Mexico) v. Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica)
Camila Rivero (Bolivia) v. Thea Coleman (Ireland)

U18 Boy's Singles

Group A

Monday - Sean Sauvé (Canada) v. Jose Pablo Cardona (Guatemala)

Tuesday - Emir Martinez (Mexico) v. Jose Pablo Cardona (Guatemala)

Group B

Monday - Nathan Martinez (Guatemala) v. Kyle Dick (Canada)

Tuesday - Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) v. Kyle Dick (Canada)

Group C

Sunday - Jose Ramos (Mexico) v. Diego Garcia (Argentina)
Pablo Freer (Costa Rica) v. Juan Segovia (Colombia)

Tuesday - Jose Ramos (Mexico) v. Juan Segovia (Colombia)
Pablo Freer (Costa Rica) v. Diego Garcia (Argentina)

Group D

Monday - Charlie Chavez (Bolivia) v. Esteban De Janon (Ecuador)
Johan Igor (Chile) v. Ben Baron (USA)

Tuesday - Charlie Chavez (Bolivia) v. Johan Igor (Chile)
Esteban De Janon (Ecuador) v. Ben Baron (USA)

Group E

Monday - Micah Farmer (USA) v. Rafael Gatica (Chile)
Juan Flores (Ecuador) v. Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica)

Tuesday - Juan Flores (Ecuador) v. Micah Farmer (USA)
Rafael Gatica (Chile) v. Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica)

U16 Boy's Singles

Group A

Monday - Diego Gatica (Chile) v. Victor Seguria (Costa Rica)

Tuesday - Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) v. Victor Seguria (Costa Rica)

Group B

Monday - Jaime Mansilla (Chile) v. Felipe Guillen (Costa Rica)

Tuesday - Hector Barrios (Bolivia) v. Jaime Mansilla (Chile)

Group C

Monday - Juan Segovia (Colombia) v. Andrew Gleason (USA)
Aldo Caraveo (Mexico) v. Namwoo Lee (Korea)

Tuesday - Juan Segovia (Colombia) v. Aldo Caraveo (Mexico)
Namwoo Lee (Korea) v. Andrew Gleason (USA)

Group D

Monday - Nathan Jauvin (Canada) v. Pablo Vera (Ecuador)
Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia) v. Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina)

Tuesday - Nathan Jauvin (Canada) v. Adrian Jaldin (Bolivia)
Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina) v. Pablo Vera (Ecuador)

Group E

Monday - Josue Bermeo (Ecuador) v. Naman Gauri (Canada)
Timothy Hansen (USA) v. Bayron Rosil (Guatemala)

Tuesday - Josue Bermeo (Ecuador) v. Bayron Rosil (Guatemala)
Timothy Hansen (USA) v. Naman Gauri (Canada)

U14 Boy's Singles

Group A

Monday - Santiago Gamboa (Costa Rica) v. Hector Sierra (Guatemala)

Tuesday - Nikhil Prasad (USA) v. Hector Sierra (Guatemala)

Group B

Monday - Juan Rodriguez (Colombia) v. Jose Pablo Caseres (Guatemala)

Tuesday - Jhonatan Flores (Bolivia) v. Juan Rodriguez (Colombia)

Group C

Monday - Antonio Sanchez (Costa Rica) v. Christian Pocsai (Canada)

Tuesday - Vedant Chauhan (USA) v. Christian Pocsai (Canada)

Group D

Monday - Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) v. Seunghwan Hong (Korea)
Matias Guzman (Chile) v. Duvan Torres (Colombia)

Tuesday - Ezequiel Subieta (Bolivia) v. Duvan Torres (Colombia)
Matias Guzman (Chile) v. Seunghwan Hong (Korea)

Group E

Monday - Luis Renteria (Mexico) v. Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland)
Asher Pocsai (Canada) v. Adrian Carchi (Ecuador)

Tuesday - Asher Pocsai (Canada) v. Luis Renteria (Mexico)
Keelan O’Gorman (Ireland) v. Adrian Carchi (Ecuador)

Group F

Monday - Bruno Vasquez (Ecuador) v. Manuel Oyhanart (Argentina)
Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) v. Daniel Hanrahan (Ireland)

Tuesday - Bruno Vasquez (Ecuador) v. Daniel Hanrahan (Ireland)
Jorge Gutierrez (Mexico) v. Manuel Oyhanart (Argentina)

Follow the bouncing ball….

Top 10 Racquetball Stories of 2017

We have come down to the last weekday of 2017, so it’s time to reflect on the racquetball year that was. There have been several significant events and great outcomes in racquetball this year, and here’s what The Racquetball Blog thought were the most important.

Top Racquetball Stories of 2017

10. Junior Worlds Performances. The Bolivian girls won the Girls Team title for the first time at the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Championships this year by sweeping singles and doubles in U14 and U16 and taking both bronze medals in U18 singles. Also, Montserrat Mejia of Mexico defeated Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala to win Girls U18 Singles, and Mauro Rojas of the USA won Boys U18 Singles by beating Eduardo Portillo of Mexico.

9. Frédérique Lambert. Lambert has emerged as Paola Longoria’s primary rival, finishing the 2016-17 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season as the #2 player. She was a finalist at the US Open for the first time in 2017, and has finished 2nd to Longoria in that event as well as the other two events she’s played this season. This despite being a 4th year medical student in her hometown of Montreal. 2018 is an International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships year, and we are looking forward to a Lambert-Longoria final in Women’s Singles, because if there’s one woman who could prevent Longoria from a 4th World Championship, it’s Lambert. 

8. Sudsy Monchik. Monchik made a successful return to competitive racquetball in 2017. He played the US Open for the first time in 11 years, and made it to the quarterfinals. Then he won doubles at the World Racquetball Tour (WRT) Utah event with Sebastian Franco. Monchik has coached the Ecuador team for the past two years, although he resigned from that position earlier this year. But the experience clearly inspired him to pursue competitive racquetball again. He’s going to play doubles with Rocky Carson at the 2018 USA Racquetball Doubles Championship. If they win - and we wouldn’t bet against them - Monchik would qualify to play at the IRF World Championships, which he has never done.

7. Rhonda Rajsich. Rajsich won Women’s Singles at the 2017 Pan American Championships in Costa Rica by defeating Paola Longoria, the two time defending champion, in three games. It was Rajsich’s first international singles title since 2011, when she also won singles at the Pan American Championship. Overall, Rajsich has won three Women’s Singles and two Women’s Doubles titles at Pan Am Championships. Additionally, Rajsich won the US Team Qualifying division at the USA Racquetball National Singles Championships for the 7th consecutive time and 10th time overall. At 39, Rajsich is still holding the torch high for women's racquetball in the USA.

6. Samantha Salas. In June, Salas won the Paola Longoria Challenge in Chihuahua, Mexico, her 2nd career Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) victory. She did it in dramatic fashion by coming back from two games down to defeat Longoria in the semi-finals, and then beat Rhonda Rajsich in three straight games in the final. Perhaps making Salas’s accomplishment even more impressive is that almost immediately after the win, she had shoulder surgery, which had been planned in advance, so presumably she wasn't 100% in that tournament, but still found a way to win it. Salas hasn't played on the LPRT this season, but plans to return in 2018.

5. David Horn. Horn won 4 events on the World Racquetball Tour (WRT), including 3 of the last 4 events of the year, and finished as the WRT Player of the Year as the #1 player at year’s end. Horn was also a coach with the US Junior Team under Pratt. Horn is an interesting player, because he came to racquetball later than other players. Yet he’s worked hard to develop his racquetball skills, and it’s paying off for him. 

4. Charlie Pratt. Pratt had a journeyman career on the IRT until December, when he won the Tournament of Champions in Portland, Oregon. That makes him the 36th man to win an IRT Tier 1 event. Pratt also represented the USA for the 1st time, and was a finalist at the 2017 Pan American Championships in Costa Rica. Pratt was also the Head Coach of the USA Junior Team for the 2017 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Championships in Minneapolis, where they won three gold medals in the World Cup divisions and finished 3rd overall as a team. It was a good showing for the USA, especially considering Pratt was leading the team for the first time. 

3. Paola Longoria. Longoria was named the Univision Female Athlete of the Year, which was a great honour for her. She won her 7th consecutive US Open and 8th overall, and is clearly the best women’s player currently. Yet, 2017 wasn’t her strongest year on tour, although she remains the #1 women’s player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT). Two losses were why it wasn’t Longoria’s best year. Two losses in one year for other players would be amazing, but for Longoria who has been undefeated in a year previously, it’s sub-par. We don’t think the losses are indicative of any sort of decline for the 28 year old, although her main rivals are now younger not older, but that being said she lost to older players in 2017, as Rajsich defeated her at the Pan American Championships and Salas beat her on the LPRT in June. 

2. Kane Waselenchuk. Waselenchuk went through the 2016-17 IRT season undefeated. Not just without losing a match, but without losing a game. A GAME! It’s astounding, and adds more fuel to the argument that he is the best male racquetball player ever, which is an argument The Racquetball Blog would be happy to make at any time. He won’t repeat that feat this season, as he dropped games at the US Open, but he won the Open for the 10th straight time and 13th overall. As we have suggested before, you should see Waselenchuk live, as he’s something to see and you won’t see the likes of him again any time soon. 

1. IRT changes hands. The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is the longest existing professional racquetball tour, and it changed hands in 2017. John Scott, owner of the IRT Network, led an investors group that took over the IRT from the leadership of Jason Mannino, who had led the organization since 2011. That was a significant move in itself, but then the recent news that the IRT will change its match format makes this change even more significant moving forward. The Racquetball Blog is on record as being against the change in match format, but we know that Scott and his group have the best interests of racquetball at heart, and we wish them well. 

Honorable mentions: Cristina Amaya, who won gold at the 2017 Bolivarian Games and was also a runner up in Women’s Doubles at the 2017 US Open with Adriana Riveros - both were career firsts. The US Open Men’s Doubles final, which was won by Waselenchuk and Ben Croft in a tie-breaker over Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa, as some are saying this was the best racquetball match ever. Alejandro Landa won Men’s Singles and Doubles (with Polo Gutierrez) at the 2017 Pan American Championships in Costa Rica.

As you see, 2017 was a great year for racquetball, and we trust that 2018 will be also. 2018 will mark be a significant anniversary for The Racquetball Blog, as it will be our 10th year. Over the past decade we have put out 2589 articles on racquetball, so about 5 a week. We hope that you’ve enjoyed reading them, and we welcome your comments. The Racquetball Blog is also on Facebook and Twitter (@racquetballblog).

Here’s to another year of following the bouncing ball.

Follow the bouncing ball….

2016 USA Racquetball Junior Olympics

The 2016 USA Racquetball Junior Olympics happened on the weekend at the Life Time Fitness club in Fridley, Minnesota, and there were plenty of close matches, but unlike some other years, only one boy was a double winner across the U14, U16, and U18 divisions, which was Antonio Rojas of Stockton, Calif., as he defeated Akul Ramayani of Poughkeepsie, NY, 11-15, 15-12, 11-9, in the Boy's U14 final, and then teamed up with Ramayani to win the U14 doubles title, beating Nick Birnel (Bellingham, WA) and Jay Ferrer (Clearwater, FL), 15-7, 15-4, in the final.

Wayne Antone IV of Eugene, Oregon won Boy's U18 Singles by defeating Kevin Vazquez of Miami, FL, 15-12, 15-9. Jake Birnel (Bellingham, WA) and Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA) won the Boy's U18 Doubles with a close two game match against Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, MN) and and Justus Benson (Sun Prairie, WI), 15-13, 15-13.

However, Barth was able to successfully defended his Boy's U16 Singles title, as he defeated Ramayani, 15-14, 15-0, in the final. The Boy's U16 Doubles title went to Californians Ricardo Diaz (Stockton, CA) and Dane Elkins (Los Angeles), who beat Julian Singh (Pleasanton, CA) and Mitchell Turner (Salem, OR), 15-3, 15-14, in the final.

On the girl's side, the big winner was Jordan Cooperrider of Palm Harbor, FL, who defeated her doubles partner, Erika Manilla of Centennial, CO in the Girl's U18 Singles final, 15-14, 15-13, and teamed up with Manilla to take the doubles title also, beating Karina Quintanilla (Harlingen, TX) and Daniela Torres (San Antonio, TX), 15-6, 15-0.

Newcomer Ingrid Robledo of San Diego defeated Briana Jacquet of Phoenix, 7-15, 15-4, 11-7, to win Girl's U16 Singles title, and the two won Girl's U16 Doubles together. In Girl's U14, Nikita Chauhan of San Ramon, CA was the double winner, as she defeated Heather Mahoney (Penngrove, CA), 6-15, 15-5, 11-4, in the singles final, and won the doubles round robin competition with Elena Dent of Lumberton, NC.

If you missed the action from Minnesota on the weekend, you can see some of the matches archived at the 2016 USA Racquetball Junior Olympics Livestream channel.

2016 USA Racquetball Junior Olympics
Fridley, Minnesota

Boy's U14

Final

Antonio Rojas (Stockton, CA) d. Akul Ramayani (Poughkeepsie, NY), 11-15, 15-12, 11-9

3rd place

Sahil Thacker (Tracy, CA) d. Krish Thacker (Tracy, CA), forfeit

Semi-finals

Akul Ramayani (Poughkeepsie, NY) d. Krish Thacker (Tracy, CA), 15-6, 15-14
Antonio Rojas (Stockton, CA) d. Sahil Thacker (Tracy, CA), 13-14, 15-13, 11-8

Boy's U16

Final

Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, MN) d. Akul Ramayani (Poughkeepsie, NY), 15-14, 15-0

3rd place

Dane Elkins (Los Angeles) d. Sahil Thakur (Tracy, CA), 14-15, 15-10, 11-5

Semi-finals

Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, MN) d. Sahil Thakur (Tracy, CA), 14-15, 15-10, 11-2
Akul Ramayani (Poughkeepsie, NY) d. Dane Elkins (Los Angeles), 1-15, 15-4, 11-8

Boy's U18

Final

Wayne Antone IV (Eugene, OR) d. Kevin Vazquez (Miami, FL), 15-12, 15-9

3rd place

Jake Birnel (Bellingham, WA) d. Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA), forfeit

Semi-Finals

Wayne Antone IV (Eugene, OR) d. d. Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA), 15-10, 2-15, 11-8
Kevin Vazquez (Miami, FL) d. Jake Birnel (Bellingham, WA), 7-15, 15-7, 11-10

Girl's U14

Final

Nikita Chauhan (San Ramon, CA) d. Heather Mahoney (Penngrove, CA), 6-15, 15-5, 11-4

3rd place

Elena Dent (Lumberton, NC) d. Graciana Wargo (Clearwater, FL), 12-15, 15-7, 11-6

Semi-Final

Nikita Chauhan (San Ramon, CA) d. Graciana Wargo (Clearwater, FL), 15-9, 15-8
Heather Mahoney (Penngrove, CA) d. Elena Dent (Lumberton, NC), 11-15, 15-5, 11-6

Girl's U16

Final

Ingrid Robledo (San Diego) d. Briana Jacquet (Phoenix, AZ), 7-15, 15-4, 11-7

3rd place

Nikita Chauhan (San Ramon, CA) d. Annie Roberts (Gresham, OR), 15-14, 15-11

Semi-finals

Ingrid Robledo (San Diego) d. Annie Roberts (Gresham, OR), 15-5, 15-0
Briana Jacquet (Phoenix, AZ) d. Nikita Chauhan (San Ramon, CA), 15-5, 15-8

Girl's U18

Final

Jordan Cooperrider (Palm Harbor, FL) d. Erika Manilla (Centennial, CO), 15-14, 15-13

3rd place

Hollie Scott (Lynden, WA) d. Karina Quintanilla (Harlingen, TX), 15-2, 15-2

Semi-finals

Erika Manilla (Centennial, CO) d. Karina Quintanilla (Harlingen, TX), 15-6, 15-5
Jordan Cooperrider (Palm Harbor, FL) d. Hollie Scott (Lynden, WA), 15-10, 7-15, 11-7

Boy's U18 Doubles - Final

Jake Birnel (Bellingham, WA) & Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA) d. Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, MN) & Justus Benson (Sun Prairie, WI), 15-13, 15-13

3rd place

Jeremy Dixon (Downers Grover, IL) & Gavin Usher (Portland, OR) d. Wayne Antone IV (Eugene, OR) & Kevin Vazquez (Miami, FL), forfeit

Semi-finals

Jake Birnel (Bellingham, WA) & Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA) d. Jeremy Dixon (Downers Grover, IL) & Gavin Usher (Portland, OR), 15-5, 15-5
Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, MN) & Justus Benson (Sun Prairie, WI) d. Wayne Antone IV (Eugene, OR) & Kevin Vazquez (Miami, FL), 15-13, 8-15, 11-9

Boy's U16 Doubles

Final

Ricardo Diaz (Stockton, CA) & Dane Elkins (Los Angeles) d. Julian Singh (Pleasanton, CA) & Mitchell Turner (Salem, OR), 15-3, 15-14

3rd Place

Ben Baron (Phoenix) & Benjamin Hyman (Denver) d. Micah Farmer (Trophy Club, Texas) & David Marsden (Arlington, TX), 5-15, 15-12, 11-9

Semi-finals

Julian Singh (Pleasanton, CA) & Mitchell Turner (Salem, OR) d. Micah Farmer (Trophy Club, Texas) & David Marsden (Arlington, TX), 15-11, 15-5
Ricardo Diaz (Stockton, CA) & Dane Elkins (Los Angeles) d. Ben Baron (Phoenix) & Benjamin Hyman (Denver), 15-6, 15-12

Boy's U14 Doubles

Final

Akul Ramayani (Poughkeepsie, NY) & Antonio Rojas (Stockton, CA) d. Nick Birnel (Bellingham, WA) & Jay Ferrer (Clearwater, FL), 15-7, 15-4

3rd place

Cayden Akins (Keller, TX) & Brian Barberis (McKinney, TX) d. Ivan Hernandez (Norwalk, CA) & Aidan Tu (Danville, CA), 15-6, 15-3

Semi-finals

Nick Birnel (Bellingham, WA) & Jay Ferrer (Clearwater, FL) d. Cayden Akins (Keller, TX) & Brian Barberis (McKinney, TX), 15-9, 15-11
Akul Ramayani (Poughkeepsie, NY) & Antonio Rojas (Stockton, CA) d. Ivan Hernandez (Norwalk, CA) & Aidan Tu (Danville, CA), 15-4, 15-2

Girl's U18 Doubles - Final

Jordan Cooperrider (Palm Harbor, FL) & Erika Manilla (Centennial, CO) d. Karina Quintanilla (Harlingen, TX) & Daniela Torres (San Antonio, TX), 15-6, 15-0

Girl's U16 Doubles - Round Robin

1st - Brian Jacquet (Phoenix) & Ingrid Robledo (San Diego)
2nd - Adriana Ramierez (San Juan, PR) & Frances Vasquez (San Juan, PR)
3rd - Emmalie Kernan (Douglasville, GA) & Alanna Shea (Cortland Manor, NY)

Girl's U14 Doubles - Round Robin

1st - Nikita Chauhan (San Ramon, CA) & Elena Dent (Lumberton, NC)
2nd - Hannah Carver (Spokane, WA) & Megan Carver (Spokane, WA)
3rd - Morgan Hansen (Hudson, IA) & Rei McCOrmick (Urbandele, IA)
4th - Lily Caldwell (Grand Junction, CO) & Sadie Hansen (Hudson, IA)

Follow the bouncing ball….

2015 IRF World Juniors - Girl's Semi-finals

A Dominican Republic girl has made the final of Girl's U18 for the first time since 1994, as Maria Cespedes defeated American Lexi York in the semi-finals, 11-15, 15-7, 11-2, at the 27th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, so she did it at home, making the victory extra special. In 1994, Claudine Garcia won Girl's U18 at World Juniors.

In the final, Cespedes will face Bolivian Natalia Mendez, who won the other semi-final against Monserrat Perez of Mexico, 15-0, 15-6.

Cespedes was up in game one against York at 8-2, but the American came back and took the lead, as she got to game point at 14-9. York closed out game one with a Z serve to the right side - a glass wall - which resulted in a weak return into the back wall, and then York hit a forehand kill shot down the line.

In game two, they were close all the way to 7-7. But from there Cespedes took over, as she scored eight unanswered points to level the match at a game apiece.

In the breaker, Cespedes jumped out to the early lead, going up 5-0 quickly. York took a timeout, and got on the board, when she made it 6-1. But despite scoring a second point immediately after her first, the writing was on the wall for York, as Cespedes went on to close it out at 11-2.

York served well in her quarterfinal match against Canadian Danielle Drury, but in the semis, Cespedes outserved York, and that made the difference.

But Americans are not shut out of girl's finals, as in somewhat of a surprise result, American Jordan Cooperrider defeated Mexican Monserrat Meija, 15-5, 15-11, in the semi-finals of Girl's U16. Cooperrider will face Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala in the final, as Martinez took out Bolivian Wanda Carvajal in the other semi, 15-11, 15-9.

Mexican girls were in both Girl's U14 semi-finals, but neither won, as they were defeated the two Bolivian girls. Romina Rivero of Bolivia defeated Ana Laura Flores of Mexico, 15-11, 15-10, and Angelica Barrios of Bolivia beat Delia Aguiar of Mexico, 15-7, 15-5.

It was an unfortunate day for Mexico in the Girl's divisions, as Mexicans could have been in all three singles finals, but no Mexican won her semi-final match.

Perhaps for the first time ever, the Girl's U18 Doubles final will not involve Bolivia, Mexico or the USA. Instead, Costa Rica and Guatemala will playoff for the title on Saturday.

Costa Ricans Melania Sauma and Sofia Soley defeated Bolivians Natalia Mendez and Wanda Carvajal, 15-8, 7-15, 11-3, while Guatemalans Gabriela Martinez and Andrea Martinez advanced after two close games with Mexicans Mariel Morales and Montserrat Perez, 15-13, 15-13.

In what was effectively the final of Girl's U16 Doubles, although it was a round robin format, the two undefeated teams met on Friday, and the Americans Cooperrider and Erika Manilla came back from a game down to defeat the Mexicans Meija and Andrea Ramirez, 13-15, 15-5, 11-5, and claim the title.

The finals will be Saturday, and you watch some of them live via the IRF website.

27th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Girl's U18 Singles - Semi-finals

Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Lexi York (USA), 11-15, 15-7, 11-2
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Monserrat Perez (Mexico), 15-0, 15-6

Girl's U18 Singles - Final

Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) v. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) - Saturday 11 AM

Girl's U16 Singles - Semi-finals

Jordan Cooperrider (USA) d. Monserrat Mejia (Mexico), 15-5, 15-11
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia), 15-11, 15-9

Girl's U16 Singles - Final

Jordan Cooperrider (USA) v. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - Saturday 11 AM

Girl's U14 Singles - Semi-finals

Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. Ana Laura Flores (Mexico), 15-11, 15-10
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Delia Aguiar (Mexico), 15-7, 15-5

Girl's U14 Singles - Final

Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. Romina Rivero (Bolivia) - Saturday 11 AM

Girl's U18 Doubles - Semi-finals

Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) d. Natalia Mendez & Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia), 15-8, 7-15, 11-3
Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) d. Mariel Morales & Montserrat Perez (Mexico), 15-13, 15-13

Girl's U18 Doubles - Final

Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) v. Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) - Saturday 1 PM

Girl's U16 Doubles - Round Robin (wins & losses)

Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) - 4 & 0
Monserrat Mejia & Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) - 3 & 1
Angelica Barrios & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) - 1 & 2
Maria Jose Munoz & Ivana Sempertegui (Ecuador) - 1 & 2
Alexis Iwaasa & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - 0 & 4

Girl's U14 Doubles - Round Robin (wins & losses)

Ana Laura Flores & Ana Cristina Rivera (Mexico) - 5 & 0
Alejandra Jimenez Castillo & Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Rep.) - 4 & 1
Ana Lucia Sarmiento & Nathalia Pinero (Ecuador) - 3 & 2
Mary Ellen Phelan & Leanne Ryan (Ireland) - 1 & 4
Elena Dent & Graciana Wargo (USA) - 1 & 4
Juliette Parent & Cassie Prentice (Canada) - 1 & 4

Follow the bouncing ball....

2015 IRF World Junior Girl's Quarterfinals

There were three tie-breakers in the quarterfinals of Girl's U18 at the 27th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and after it was all done the four remaining players represent four different countries.

We believe one of those countries - the Dominican Republic - has not had a girl in the U18 semi-finals ever before, but Maria Cespedes has made that breakthrough for the Dominican, as she defeated Melania Sauma of Costa Rica, 5-15, 15-7, 11-6, in the quarterfinals Thursday.

Her opponent in the semis will be American Lexi York, who defeated Canadian Danielle Drury, 12-15, 15-5, 11-7, on the strength of some great drive serving.

On the other side other draw, Monserrat Perez won a Mexican standoff with Maritza Franco Gonzalez, 15-5, 13-15, 11-7, and will play Bolivian Natalia Mendez in the semis, as Mendez defeated Sofia Soley, 15-2, 15-9.

Four different countries are also represented in the Girl's U16 semis. As anticipated Monserrat Mejia of Mexico, Jordan Cooperrider of the USA, and Ana Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala, all reached the semis, as did Wanda Carvajal of Bolivia.

It will be Mexico versus Bolivia in both Girl's U14 semi-finals, as Ana Laura Flores of Mexico faces Romina Rivero of Bolivia, and Angelica Barrios of Bolivia will take on Delia Aguilar of Mexico.

When one side wins game one by a big score, and other side wins game two by a big score, you have to expect that the tie-breaker will be close, and so it was in Girl's U18 Doubles quarterfinal match between Mexico and the USA. Surprisingly, the Mexican team hadn't won a match during the preliminary stage, but when it counted Mariel Morales and Montserrat Perez managed to come through and narrowly defeated Americans Lexi York and Holly Scott, 15-4, 4-15, 11-10.

The Mexicans will face Guatemalans Gabriela Martinez and Andrea Martinez in the semi-finals, they defeated Dominicans Merinanllely Delgado and Maria Cespedes, 15-11, 14-15, 11-4.

On the top side of the draw, Melania Sauma and Sofia Soley of Costa Rica beat Paula Padilla and Lissel Padilla of Honduras, 15-5, 15-7, and Bolivians Natalia Mendez and Wanda Carvajal defeated Canadians Danielle Drury and Michele Morissette, 15-6, 15-6.

Friday is semi-final day in Santo Domingo with the finals on Saturday. For a link to live streaming of some of the matches from Santo Domingo go to the IRF website.

27th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Girl's U18 Singles - Quarterfinals

Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 5-15, 15-7, 11-6
Lexi York (USA) d. Danielle Drury (Canada), 12-15, 15-5, 11-7

Monserrat Perez (Mexico) d. Maritza Franco Gonzalez (Mexico), 15-5, 13-15, 11-7
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) d. Sofia Soley (Costa Rica), 15-2, 15-9

Girl's U18 Singles - Semi-finals

Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) v. Lexi York (USA)
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) v. Monserrat Perez (Mexico)

Girl's U16 Singles - Quarterfinals

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Paula Padilla (Honduras), 15-0, 15-5
Jordan Cooperrider (USA) d. Jennifer Gomez (Mexico), 15-11, 15-4

Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia) d. Alexis Iwaasa (Canada), 15-7, 15-8
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Erika Manilla (USA), 15-11, 15-9

Girl's U16 Singles - Semi-finals

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. Jordan Cooperrider (USA)
Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia) v. Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)

Girl's U14 Singles - Quarterfinals

Ana Laura Flores (Mexico) d. Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Republic), 15-8, 15-10
Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. Briana Jacquet (USA), 15-11, 15-14

Delia Aguiar (Mexico) d. Mary Ellen Phelan (Ireland), 15-4, 15-5
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) d. Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic), 15-3, 15-2

Girl's U14 Singles - Semi-finals

Ana Laura Flores (Mexico) v. Romina Rivero (Bolivia)
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) v. Delia Aguiar (Mexico)

Girl's U18 Doubles - Quarterfinals

Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) d. Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras), 15-5, 15-7
Natalia Mendez & Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia) d. Danielle Drury & Michele Morissette (Canada), 15-6, 15-6

Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) d. Merinanllely Delgado & Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.), 15-11, 14-15, 11-4
Mariel Morales & Montserrat Perez (Mexico) d. Lexi York & Holly Scott (USA), 15-4, 4-15, 11-10

Girl's U18 Doubles - Semi-finals

Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) v. Natalia Mendez & Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia)
Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) v. Mariel Morales & Montserrat Perez (Mexico)

Girl's U16 Doubles - Round Robin (wins & losses)

Monserrat Mejia & Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) - 2 & 0
Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) - 2 & 0
Angelica Barrios & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) - 1 & 1
Maria Jose Munoz & Ivana Sempertegui (Ecuador) - 1 & 2
Alexis Iwaasa & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - 0 & 4

Girl's U14 Doubles - Round Robin (wins & losses)

Alejandra Jimenez Castillo & Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Rep.) - 3 & 0
Ana Laura Flores & Ana Cristina Rivera (Mexico) - 3 & 0
Ana Lucia Sarmiento & Nathalia Pinero (Ecuador) - 2 & 1
Mary Ellen Phelan & Leanne Ryan (Ireland) - 1 & 2
Elena Dent & Graciana Wargo (USA) - 0 & 3
Juliette Parent & Cassie Prentice (Canada) - 0 & 3

Follow the bouncing ball....

2015 World Junior Championships - Girl's Draws

The Girl's elimination draws for the 27th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and we have them for you below.

The most dramatic girls match of the day was likely between Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala and Monserrat Meija of Mexico in Girl's U16. Meija, a bronze medalist last year in U14, narrowly defeated Martinez, last year's U14 gold medalist, 15-14, 4-15, 11-4.

Meija was ahead in the first game 12-7, but Martinez got to game point first at 14-13. However, she couldn't get the last point, which gave Meija the opportunity to win it, and she made no mistake on a forehand set up in front court for the game winner.

Game two was all Martinez, as she went out to a 14-0 lead before Meija even got on the board. But Meija got a few points back before Martinez finished it at 15-4. However, those few points may have turned the tide of the match, as Meija used the momentum to start strong in game three, going out to a 7-0 lead before Martinez got on the board.

Martinez cut the lead to 7-3, but Meija responded with two points of her own. A Meija forehand skip gave Martinez back the serve, and after she hit an ace one might have thought momentum was now on her side.

However, that was the last point Martinez got, as Meija got the serve back with a forehand cross court and got to match point off a backhand skip by Martinez. Meija won it with a backhand pinch shot in the front court.

The win gets Meija the top seed in the division with Martinez on the bottom of the draw, and a potential second round match with 2nd seed Erika Manilla of the USA.

In what is probably a first for international racquetball, a Dominican player is seeded #1 in an elimination round draw, as Maria Cespedes is the top seed in Girl's U18. She earned that spot with wins over Andrea Martinez of Guatemala and Montserrat Perez of Mexico in the group stage.

In Girl's U14, Ana Laura Flores of Mexico is the top seed, and will try to better her showing of a year ago, when she was a bronze medalist in U14.

The elimination rounds begin Wednesday with the quarter finals on Thursday, semi-finals on Friday and finals on Saturday.

There will be live streaming of matches Santo Domingo beginning Thursday.

27th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Girl's U18 Singles - Round of 16

Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Michele Morissette (Canada) v. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica)

Danielle Drury (Canada) v. Andrea Martinez (Guatemala)
Lexi York (USA) v. Merinanllely Delgado (Dominican Republic)

Maritza Franco Gonzalez (Mexico) - BYE
Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. Lissel Padilla (Honduras)

Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) v. Brittany Click (USA)
Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) - BYE

Girl's U16 Singles - Round of 16

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE
Paula Padilla (Honduras) v. Ivana Sempertegui (Ecuador)

Jennifer Gomez (Mexico) v. Flavia Meneses (Bolivia)
Jordan Cooperrider (USA) v. Daniela Herrera (Colombia)

Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) v. Frances Vasquez Souchet (Puerto Rico)
Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia) v. Marjolaine Parent (Canada)

Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador)
Erika Manilla (USA) v. So Eun Lee (South Korea)

Girl's U14 Singles - Round of 32

Ana Laura Flores (Mexico) - BYE
Josefa Parada (Chile) v. Leanne Ryan (Ireland)

Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Rep.) - BYE
Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecudaor) - BYE

Nathalia Pinero (Ecuador) - BYE
Briana Jacquet (USA) - BYE

Daniela Herrera (Colombia) - BYE
Romina Rivero (Bolivia) - BYE

Delia Aguiar (Mexico) - BYE
Juliette Parent (Canada) - BYE

Charleen Tono (Puerto Rico) - BYE
Mary Ellen Phelan (Ireland) - BYE

Alejandra Jimenez (Dominican Republic) - BYE
Nikita Chauhan (USA) - BYE

Cassie Prentice (Canada) - BYE
Angelica Barrios (Bolivia) - BYE

Girl's U18 Doubles - Quarterfinals

Melania Sauma & Sofia Soley (Costa Rica) v. Paula Padilla & Lissel Padilla (Honduras)
Natalia Mendez & Wanda Carvajal (Bolivia) v. Danielle Drury & Michele Morissette (Canada)

Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) v. Merinanllely Delgado & Maria Cespedes (Dominican Rep.)
Lexi York & Holly Scott (USA) v. Mariel Morales & Montserrat Perez (Mexico)

Girl's U16 Doubles - Round Robin (wins & losses)

Monserrat Mejia & Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) - 2 & 0
Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) - 2 & 0
Angelica Barrios & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) - 1 & 1
Maria Jose Munoz & Ivana Sempertegui (Ecuador) - 1 & 2
Alexis Iwaasa & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - 0 & 3

Girl's U14 Doubles - Round Robin (wins & losses)

Alejandra Jimenez Castillo & Rodaliza Perdomo (Dominican Rep.) - 2 & 0
Ana Laura Flores & Ana Cristina Rivera (Mexico) - 2 & 0
Mary Ellen Phelan & Leanne Ryan (Ireland) - 1 & 1
Ana Lucia Sarmiento & Nathalia Pinero (Ecuador) - 1 & 1
Elena Dent & Graciana Wargo (USA) - 0 & 2
Juliette Parent & Cassie Prentice (Canada) - 0 & 2

Follow the bouncing ball....