Alejandro Landa won his 2nd International Racquetball Tour (IRT) tournament Sunday, when he defeated Alvaro Beltran, 11-15, 11-7, 11-8, in the final of the IRT Mercedes Benz of Ft. Mitchell Raising Some Racquet for Kids tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio. Landa won his first career IRT event earlier this season at the Lewis Drug Pro-Am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The win lifts Landa into elite company, as he now has a winning record in IRT finals (2-1). According to the Pro Racquetball Stats database only eight other players (who have been in multiple finals) have winning records in finals.
Unsurprisingly, Kane Waselenchuk has the best record in final matches, winning an astounding 109 times against 10 losses (91.6%). But the player with the second best final winning percentage may be a surprise, as it’s Brett Harnett, who won 16 times against 5 losses over 21 finals (76.2%). That’s ahead of Marty Hogan (60-22, 73.2%), Sudsy Monchik (43-24, 64.2%), Cliff Swain (71-42, 62.8%), Charlie Brumfield (16-11, 59.3%), Gregg Peck (4-3, 57.1%) and Jason Mannino (22-18, 55%).
(note: Sebastian Franco and Charlie Pratt have 100% records in finals, but have only played once).
Early in the final, it did not look like Landa was going to join that company, as Beltran played very well in game one, and controlled it most of the way. But it was a long game. For example with Beltran up 9-6, the game stalled, as they played twelve rallies at that score, and after eleven of them, Beltran took a timeout.
Landa broke the deadlock, but he was only able to score once, making it 9-7, before Beltran took the serve back with a forehand pinch return off a Landa drive serve to the right side. That led to four unanswered points, as Beltran made it 13-7.
However, Landa responded with a run of three points to cut the deficit to 13-10. But another winning serve return by Beltran - this time a backhand pinch off a drive Z to the left - stopped Landa’s run.
They traded a few sideouts, and then Beltran made it 14-10 with a great backhand splat shot. Beltran’s backhand pinch shots were very good in game one. Landa did prevent Beltran’s first game point with a forehand return down the line off one of Beltran’s signature lob serves to the right side.
Landa put one more point on the board to make it 14-11, but then a backhand cross court shot got Beltran the serve back. He ended the game with a backhand shot that hit Landa, and the referee judged it to be a straight in shot, so Landa was given a penalty hinder, and Beltran got his 15th point, winning game one 15-11.
Game two started out like game one, as Beltran took the early lead at 5-1. But Landa came back and tied it at 6-6. They were back and forth in the mid-part of game two with 17 rallies taking place to score 4 points in going from 6-6 to 9-7 in favour of Landa.
But from there, Landa rolled, scoring six unanswered points with Beltran serving only once during that period. After being down early in game two, Landa outscored Beltran 14-2, and he definitely had momentum going into the tie-breaker.
In the breaker, Landa’s momentum continued, as he went up 6-1, although that took 27 rallies, so it didn’t happen quickly. Beltran kept fighting, but he didn’t get within two until Landa was already on game point at 10-8.
After being unsuccessful on his first two match points, Landa called a timeout before his third. When play resumed a long rally ensued, which included a great diving get by Landa, but it was ended by Beltran with a flat forehand pinch shot.
But Beltran couldn’t capitalize on that opportunity, as Landa drove a serve return into the middle that forced Beltran to try to hit it between his legs, which resulted in a skip.
On match point #4, Landa won it with a backhand down the line that was just out of Beltran’s reach. He had lob served to the left side, and Beltran returned it straight in, but the return was in the middle of the court, which allowed Landa to drive it down the left side close to the wall, and out of Beltran’s reach.
If you missed the action from Cincinnati, you can see some of it via the IRT YouTube channel, although the latest videos are currently mislabelled as “2018 Shamrock Shootout.”
The 2017-18 IRT season concludes later this month at the Florida IRT Regional Championships in Sarasota, Florida, April 26-29. But the IRT players are also participating in the World Doubles Open Championship in Denver, May 2-6.
2018 IRT Mercedes Benz of Ft. Mitchell Raising Some Racquet for Kids, April 5-8, 2018
Cincinnati, Ohio
Final
4) Alejandro Landa d. 3) Alvaro Beltran, 11-15, 15-7, 11-8
Follow the bouncing ball….
Showing posts with label stats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stats. Show all posts
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
2015-16 IRT Season Review & Statistical Abstract
The 2016-17 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) kicks off Thursday with the Novasors Ghost of Georgetown event in Kansas City, Kansas, so now's the time to review last season.
Kane Waselenchuk was the IRT's #1 player for the 8th straight season, as he won all 10 of the IRT events he entered. Rocky Carson again finished #2, winning three times on tour last season. But Daniel De La Rosa, a finalist in four the last five IRT events last season, moved up to #3 ahead of Alvaro Beltran, who dropped to #4.
Jose Rojas finished 5th, with Jansen Allen and Jose's brother Marco Rojas, who both moved up a spot from the season before to 6th and 7th. Ben Croft, who was 6th in 2014-15, finished 30th as a result of missing time due to his shoulder injury.
Rounding out the top 10 were three surprises. Felipe Camacho was 8th, up from 19th the season before, with Sebastian Franco 9th (from 31st in 2014-15), and 10th was Mario Mercado (117th in 2014-15). Safe to say no one saw that happening.
But they are good, younger players, and bring some more diversity to the IRT, as Camacho is Costa Rican, Franco Colombian and Mercado is originally from Bolivia but is now living in Colombia.
The new faces continued in the next ten, as six players were ranked between 11-20 who were not in the top 20 in 2014-15. That included Mauricio Zelada at 12th (23rd in 2014-15), Jake Bredenbeck 13th (29th), Scott McClellan 14th (28th), Andree Parrilla at 17th (25th), and Brad Schopieray 19th (60th). Special note to Troy Warigon who finished last season at 18th despite having no IRT ranking points in 2014-15.
Top 20 IRT rankings - Final Rankings 2016
Rank - Player - Country - Points
1) Kane Waselenchuk (Canada): 4262
2) Rocky Carson (USA): 3835.73
4) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico): 2953.73
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico): 2666
5) Jose Rojas (USA): 2465.67
6) Jansen Allen (USA): 1947
7) Marco Rojas (USA): 1670
8) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica): 1543
9) Sebastian Franco (Colombia): 1533.8
10) Mario Mercado (Bolivia): 1436.8
11) Robert Collins (USA): 1174.8
12) Mauricio Zelada (USA): 1092.13
13) Jake Bredenbeck (USA): 1060.8
14) Scott McClellan (USA): 860.13
15) Matthew Majxner (USA): 850.13
16) Charlie Pratt (USA): 746.8
17) Andree Parrilla (Mexico): 678
18) Troy Warigon (USA): 618.8
19) Brad Schopieray (USA): 524
20) Jose Diaz (USA): 481.8
Tournament by tournament
As suggested by the rankings, there were some new names in the semi-finals last season. Names like Camacho, Franco, Schopieray, Mercado and Bredenbeck. That's always nice to see, but there were not any new names in the finals, and when Kane Waselenchuk's name was in the final, it was on the winning side.
Waselenchuk did miss some of the events, which is not unusual for him, and it was generally due to injury, or in one case an emergency hernia surgery. He came back shortly after that surgery, but wasn't fully recovered and had to default a Round of 16 match in Sarasota. Nonetheless, Waselenchuk is clearly the #1 IRT player, when fully fit, as long as his health holds out, we expect that he'll finish on top again this season. Waselenchuk will be 35 in November, but racquetball players have been able to play at a high level at more advanced ages than that.
A case in point of playing well after 35 is Rocky Carson. Carson is 37, and still solidly the IRT's #2 player. Some will undoubtedly suggest that will change this season with the good play of Daniel De La Rosa, who is 14 years younger that Carson. De La Rosa was in the final of four of the last five IRT events last season. However, Carson won two of those events, including a win over De La Rosa. Also, Carson defeated De La Rosa this summer at the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, so while there is an age advantage for De La Rosa, he's going to have to prove himself on the court if he's going move ahead in the rankings this season.
Regarding the other top players, Alvaro Beltran is a year older than Carson, yet he remains an elite player, and won an event last season, so he's still a force to be reckoned with. Jose Rojas seemed to have things on track in Sioux Falls, where he was runner up to Waselenchuk, but he only had one semi-final appearance after that, which was disappointing. Can he be more consistent this season?
Whether Ben Croft can come back from the shoulder injury and surgery that kept out most of last season is another question to be answered this season. Also, will any of those new names that have appeared in the top 20 last season take another step forward in their development and threaten the top players?
2016-17 Schedule
Last season there was a crazy period that saw players competing five consecutive weekends in the fall. This season is more spaced out with 13 events on the schedule: 5 before the new year and 8 in 2017. Twelve of the 13 events were on the schedule last year with the new one being the Monterrey Open in Monterrey, Mexico December 1-4, 2016.
The 2016-17 season begins Thursday with the Novasors Ghost of Georgetown Kansas City Open in Kansas City. That will be followed by the US Open in Minneapolis, October 5-9, when Waselenchuk will try to win a 12th US Open title.
2015-16 IRT Season - Event Summary
Event - Final - Semi-Finalists
Kansas City: Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson - SF: Jose Rojas & Felipe Camacho
US Open: Waselenchuk d. Daniel De La Rosa - SF: Alvaro Beltran & Carson
US Open Doubles: Waselenchuk & Ben Croft d. Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - SF: Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas and Jansen Allen & Charlie Pratt
San Marcos: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: Beltran & Sebastian Franco
Atlanta: Beltran d. Carson - SF: De La Rosa & J. Rojas
Davison: Carson d. J. Rojas - SF: Cliff Swain & Brad Schopieray
Garden City: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: Franco & Beltran
St Louis: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: De La Roas & Mario Mercado
New York City: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: J. Rojas & Allen
Sioux Falls: Waselenchuk d. Jose Rojas - SF: De La Rosa & Rocky Carson
Lombard, IL: Waselenchuk d. Daniel De La Rosa - SF: Beltran & Bredenbeck
Huber Heights, OH: Carson d. Beltran - SF: De La Rosa & Franco
Sarasota, FL: Carson d. De La Rosa - SF: Beltran & Franco
Portland: Waselenchuk d. De La Rosa - SF: J. Rojas & Carson
Reseda, CA: Waselenchuk d. De La Rosa - SF: Beltran & Carson
The 2015-16 IRT Statistical Abstract
Total matches played: 380
Percentage of 3 game matches: 60.3 (229 of 380)
Percentage of 4 game matches: 24.7 (94)
Percentage of 5 game matches: 12.1 (46)
Percentage of matches that were defaults or data was incomplete: 2.9 (11)
Most 5 game matches played: 9 - Daniel De La Rosa (5 wins, 4 losses)
2nd most 5 game matches played: 7 - Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson (both 4 wins, 3 losses)
Most points for in a victory: 53 - (i) Thomas Fuhrmann d. Mario Mercado, 11-2, 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 14-12, at the US Open; (ii) Tony Carson d. Mauricio Zelada, 11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-1, 13-11, in Sioux Falls
Most points scored in a loss: 50 - Rocky Carson loses to Daniel De La Rosa, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, at the US Open
Most points in a 5 game match: 102 - Daniel De La Rosa d. Rocky Carson, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, at the US Open
Most points in a 4 game match: 82 - Mauricio Zelada d. Juan Herrera, 11-5, 11-13, 12-10, 11-9 in Lombard, Illinois
Most points in a 3 game match: 72 - Matthew Majxner d. Brian Simpson, 11-9, 13-11, 15-13, in St Louis
Largest margin of victory 5 game match: 19 - Matthew Majxner d. Jonathan Justice, 11-4, 11-3, 10-12, 8-11, 11-2, in Atlanta
Largest margin of victory 4 game match: 24 - Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 11-5, 11-0, 11-13, 11-2, in Kansas City
Largest margin of victory 3 game match: 32 - Rocky Carson d. Jeremy Best, 11-1, 11-0, 11-0, in Atlanta
Smallest margin of victory 5 game match: -9 - Teobaldo Fumero d. Fernando Rios, 11-9, 1-11, 3-11, 11-6, 11-9, at the US Open
Smallest margin of victory 4 game match: 0 - Sebastian Franco d. Felipe Camacho, 11-8, 12-10, 3-11, 11-8, in Lombard, Illinois
Smallest margin of victory 3 game match: 6 - (i) Matthew Majxner d. Brian Simpson, 11-9, 13-11, 15-13, in St Louis; (ii) Daniel De La Rosa d. Jake Bredenbeck, 12-10, 12-10, 11-9 in Huber Heights, Ohio
Follow the bouncing ball....
Kane Waselenchuk was the IRT's #1 player for the 8th straight season, as he won all 10 of the IRT events he entered. Rocky Carson again finished #2, winning three times on tour last season. But Daniel De La Rosa, a finalist in four the last five IRT events last season, moved up to #3 ahead of Alvaro Beltran, who dropped to #4.
Jose Rojas finished 5th, with Jansen Allen and Jose's brother Marco Rojas, who both moved up a spot from the season before to 6th and 7th. Ben Croft, who was 6th in 2014-15, finished 30th as a result of missing time due to his shoulder injury.
Rounding out the top 10 were three surprises. Felipe Camacho was 8th, up from 19th the season before, with Sebastian Franco 9th (from 31st in 2014-15), and 10th was Mario Mercado (117th in 2014-15). Safe to say no one saw that happening.
But they are good, younger players, and bring some more diversity to the IRT, as Camacho is Costa Rican, Franco Colombian and Mercado is originally from Bolivia but is now living in Colombia.
The new faces continued in the next ten, as six players were ranked between 11-20 who were not in the top 20 in 2014-15. That included Mauricio Zelada at 12th (23rd in 2014-15), Jake Bredenbeck 13th (29th), Scott McClellan 14th (28th), Andree Parrilla at 17th (25th), and Brad Schopieray 19th (60th). Special note to Troy Warigon who finished last season at 18th despite having no IRT ranking points in 2014-15.
Top 20 IRT rankings - Final Rankings 2016
Rank - Player - Country - Points
1) Kane Waselenchuk (Canada): 4262
2) Rocky Carson (USA): 3835.73
4) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico): 2953.73
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico): 2666
5) Jose Rojas (USA): 2465.67
6) Jansen Allen (USA): 1947
7) Marco Rojas (USA): 1670
8) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica): 1543
9) Sebastian Franco (Colombia): 1533.8
10) Mario Mercado (Bolivia): 1436.8
11) Robert Collins (USA): 1174.8
12) Mauricio Zelada (USA): 1092.13
13) Jake Bredenbeck (USA): 1060.8
14) Scott McClellan (USA): 860.13
15) Matthew Majxner (USA): 850.13
16) Charlie Pratt (USA): 746.8
17) Andree Parrilla (Mexico): 678
18) Troy Warigon (USA): 618.8
19) Brad Schopieray (USA): 524
20) Jose Diaz (USA): 481.8
Tournament by tournament
As suggested by the rankings, there were some new names in the semi-finals last season. Names like Camacho, Franco, Schopieray, Mercado and Bredenbeck. That's always nice to see, but there were not any new names in the finals, and when Kane Waselenchuk's name was in the final, it was on the winning side.
Waselenchuk did miss some of the events, which is not unusual for him, and it was generally due to injury, or in one case an emergency hernia surgery. He came back shortly after that surgery, but wasn't fully recovered and had to default a Round of 16 match in Sarasota. Nonetheless, Waselenchuk is clearly the #1 IRT player, when fully fit, as long as his health holds out, we expect that he'll finish on top again this season. Waselenchuk will be 35 in November, but racquetball players have been able to play at a high level at more advanced ages than that.
A case in point of playing well after 35 is Rocky Carson. Carson is 37, and still solidly the IRT's #2 player. Some will undoubtedly suggest that will change this season with the good play of Daniel De La Rosa, who is 14 years younger that Carson. De La Rosa was in the final of four of the last five IRT events last season. However, Carson won two of those events, including a win over De La Rosa. Also, Carson defeated De La Rosa this summer at the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, so while there is an age advantage for De La Rosa, he's going to have to prove himself on the court if he's going move ahead in the rankings this season.
Regarding the other top players, Alvaro Beltran is a year older than Carson, yet he remains an elite player, and won an event last season, so he's still a force to be reckoned with. Jose Rojas seemed to have things on track in Sioux Falls, where he was runner up to Waselenchuk, but he only had one semi-final appearance after that, which was disappointing. Can he be more consistent this season?
Whether Ben Croft can come back from the shoulder injury and surgery that kept out most of last season is another question to be answered this season. Also, will any of those new names that have appeared in the top 20 last season take another step forward in their development and threaten the top players?
2016-17 Schedule
Last season there was a crazy period that saw players competing five consecutive weekends in the fall. This season is more spaced out with 13 events on the schedule: 5 before the new year and 8 in 2017. Twelve of the 13 events were on the schedule last year with the new one being the Monterrey Open in Monterrey, Mexico December 1-4, 2016.
The 2016-17 season begins Thursday with the Novasors Ghost of Georgetown Kansas City Open in Kansas City. That will be followed by the US Open in Minneapolis, October 5-9, when Waselenchuk will try to win a 12th US Open title.
2015-16 IRT Season - Event Summary
Event - Final - Semi-Finalists
Kansas City: Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson - SF: Jose Rojas & Felipe Camacho
US Open: Waselenchuk d. Daniel De La Rosa - SF: Alvaro Beltran & Carson
US Open Doubles: Waselenchuk & Ben Croft d. Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - SF: Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas and Jansen Allen & Charlie Pratt
San Marcos: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: Beltran & Sebastian Franco
Atlanta: Beltran d. Carson - SF: De La Rosa & J. Rojas
Davison: Carson d. J. Rojas - SF: Cliff Swain & Brad Schopieray
Garden City: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: Franco & Beltran
St Louis: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: De La Roas & Mario Mercado
New York City: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: J. Rojas & Allen
Sioux Falls: Waselenchuk d. Jose Rojas - SF: De La Rosa & Rocky Carson
Lombard, IL: Waselenchuk d. Daniel De La Rosa - SF: Beltran & Bredenbeck
Huber Heights, OH: Carson d. Beltran - SF: De La Rosa & Franco
Sarasota, FL: Carson d. De La Rosa - SF: Beltran & Franco
Portland: Waselenchuk d. De La Rosa - SF: J. Rojas & Carson
Reseda, CA: Waselenchuk d. De La Rosa - SF: Beltran & Carson
The 2015-16 IRT Statistical Abstract
Total matches played: 380
Percentage of 3 game matches: 60.3 (229 of 380)
Percentage of 4 game matches: 24.7 (94)
Percentage of 5 game matches: 12.1 (46)
Percentage of matches that were defaults or data was incomplete: 2.9 (11)
Most 5 game matches played: 9 - Daniel De La Rosa (5 wins, 4 losses)
2nd most 5 game matches played: 7 - Alvaro Beltran & Rocky Carson (both 4 wins, 3 losses)
Most points for in a victory: 53 - (i) Thomas Fuhrmann d. Mario Mercado, 11-2, 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 14-12, at the US Open; (ii) Tony Carson d. Mauricio Zelada, 11-6, 9-11, 9-11, 11-1, 13-11, in Sioux Falls
Most points scored in a loss: 50 - Rocky Carson loses to Daniel De La Rosa, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, at the US Open
Most points in a 5 game match: 102 - Daniel De La Rosa d. Rocky Carson, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, at the US Open
Most points in a 4 game match: 82 - Mauricio Zelada d. Juan Herrera, 11-5, 11-13, 12-10, 11-9 in Lombard, Illinois
Most points in a 3 game match: 72 - Matthew Majxner d. Brian Simpson, 11-9, 13-11, 15-13, in St Louis
Largest margin of victory 5 game match: 19 - Matthew Majxner d. Jonathan Justice, 11-4, 11-3, 10-12, 8-11, 11-2, in Atlanta
Largest margin of victory 4 game match: 24 - Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 11-5, 11-0, 11-13, 11-2, in Kansas City
Largest margin of victory 3 game match: 32 - Rocky Carson d. Jeremy Best, 11-1, 11-0, 11-0, in Atlanta
Smallest margin of victory 5 game match: -9 - Teobaldo Fumero d. Fernando Rios, 11-9, 1-11, 3-11, 11-6, 11-9, at the US Open
Smallest margin of victory 4 game match: 0 - Sebastian Franco d. Felipe Camacho, 11-8, 12-10, 3-11, 11-8, in Lombard, Illinois
Smallest margin of victory 3 game match: 6 - (i) Matthew Majxner d. Brian Simpson, 11-9, 13-11, 15-13, in St Louis; (ii) Daniel De La Rosa d. Jake Bredenbeck, 12-10, 12-10, 11-9 in Huber Heights, Ohio
Follow the bouncing ball....
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
LPRT Statistical Abstract for 2015-16
The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) begins its 2016-17 season this weekend, so it's a good time to review what happened last season. 2015-16 was a season dominated by Paola Longoria, who was undefeated, as she won all 11 LPRT Tier 1 or Grand Slam events. It looks like she'll have a chance to win more than that in 2016-17, as there are 8 events on the schedule prior to Christmas, and presumably more than three after Christmas.
Longoria going undefeated was not too surprising, as she had done so in three previous seasons: 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. But what was somewhat surprising was that Rhonda Rajsich finished #2, as Maria Jose Vargas was #2 in 2014-15, and then at 22, looked to be on the rise compared to veteran Rajsich, who's 14 years Vargas's elder.
Thus, Rajsich had a renaissance last season, which made her results at the World Championships last summer puzzling. She lost in the Round of 16 to Gabriela Martinez, and needed tie-breakers to win her two group stage matches. So, it's difficult to know what to expect from Rajsich this season.
Frédérique Lambert was the player on the rise the second half of last season, as she was in two finals and two semi-finals in the last five events. Moreover, Lambert was up 2-1 on Longoria in the last event of season, although Longoria did win that match. Lambert finished 4th last season, behind Rajsich and Vargas, but could well finish higher this season.
Of note, only one USA player was in the top 10 at season's end. That was Rajsich at #2. That's the fewest USA players in the top 10 ever. Ten seasons ago eight of the top 10 were USA players, and even in 2014-15 there were four.
So, some of the questions for the coming season are how many events will Longoria win? Who will be the #2 player behind Longoria? And how many USA players will be in the top 10?
2015-16 Statistical Abstract
There were 248 LPRT matches last season, which was down from 279 in 2014-15, and 296 in 2013-14, but about the same as 2012-13, when there were 249 matches that season.
There was a slight decrease in the number of different players making the quarterfinals or better at a LPRT event last season, as 16 players did so, compared to 20 in 2014-15, 22 in 2013-14, and 19 in 2012-13, and 13 in 2011-12. But some of those players did so for the first time, including Carla Muñoz, Adriana Riveros, Maria Renee Rodriguez and Masiel Rivera.
2015-16 LPRT Season Summary by Player
LPRT Rank - Player - Wins - 2nds - Semi-finals - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria - 11 wins
2) Rhonda Rajsich - 5 seconds, 5 semi-finals, 1 quarterfinal
3) Maria Jose Vargas - 4 seconds, 3 semi-finals, 1 quarterfinal
4) Frédérique Lambert - 2 seconds, 3 semi-finals, 6 quarterfinals
5) Samantha Salas - 5 semi-finals, 2 quarterfinals
6) Jessica Parrilla - 1 semi-final, 6 quarterfinals
7) Sofia Rascon - 6 quarterfinals
8) Alexandra Herrera - 1 semi-final, 5 quarterfinals
9) Susana Acosta - 4 quarterfinals
10) Cristina Amaya - 4 quarterfinals
11) Michelle Key - 3 quarterfinals
12) Carla Muñoz - 2 quarterfinals
13) Veronica Sotomayor - 3 semi-finals
14) Adriana Riveros - 1 semi-final, 2 quarterfinals
15) Maria Renee Rodriguez - 1 quarterfinal
16) Masiel Rivera - 1 quarterfinal
2015-16 LPRT Season Summary by Tournament
Tournament - Final - Semi Finalists
Cali, Colombia - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-13, 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
US Open - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Jose Vargas
St Luis Potosi, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-0, 11-1, 11-5 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Monterrey, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 9-11, 11-8, 11-1, 11-2 - Samantha Salas & Maria Jose Vargas
Arlington, VA - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-1, 11-1, 11-0 - Samantha Salas & Veronica Sotomayor
Cincinnati - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-3, 11-8, 11-4 - Frédérique Lambert & Adriana Riveros
Overland Park, Kansas - Paola Longoria d. Frédérique Lambert, 11-2, 11-2, 11-4 - Alexandra Herrera & Rhonda Rajsich
New Jersey Open - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 11-2 - Frédérique Lambert & Maria Jose Vargas
San Antonio - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 - Veronica Sotomayor & Rhonda Rajsich
Stockton - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-5, 9-11, 10-12, 11-3, 11-1 - Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla
Tour Rosa Mexicano - Paola Longoria d. Frédérique Lambert, 6-11, 11-6, 3-11, 11-9, 11-2 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT)
2015-16 Statistical Abstract
Matches going 3 games: 147 (59.3%)
Matches going 4 games: 64 (25.8%)
Matches going 5 games: 35 (14.1%)
Total matches: 248 (2 forfeits)
Most Points in a match: 103 - Jessica Parrilla d. Sheryl Lotts, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9, at the New Jersey Open
Fewest points in a match: 33 - Alexandra Herrera d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0, at US Open
Most Points in a win: 54 - Jessica Parrilla d. Sheryl Lotts, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9, at the New Jersey Open
Most Points in a loss: 49 - Jessica Parrilla d. Sheryl Lotts, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9, at the New Jersey Open
Smallest difference in total points between match winner & loser: -5 - Laura Brandt d. Lynn Fonseca, 6-11, 11-7, 3-11, 12-10, 11-9 at US Open
2nd Smallest difference in total points between match winner & loser: -3 - Frédérique Lambert d. Jessica Parrilla, 2-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-3, 12-10 at Monterrey
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria going undefeated was not too surprising, as she had done so in three previous seasons: 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. But what was somewhat surprising was that Rhonda Rajsich finished #2, as Maria Jose Vargas was #2 in 2014-15, and then at 22, looked to be on the rise compared to veteran Rajsich, who's 14 years Vargas's elder.
Thus, Rajsich had a renaissance last season, which made her results at the World Championships last summer puzzling. She lost in the Round of 16 to Gabriela Martinez, and needed tie-breakers to win her two group stage matches. So, it's difficult to know what to expect from Rajsich this season.
Frédérique Lambert was the player on the rise the second half of last season, as she was in two finals and two semi-finals in the last five events. Moreover, Lambert was up 2-1 on Longoria in the last event of season, although Longoria did win that match. Lambert finished 4th last season, behind Rajsich and Vargas, but could well finish higher this season.
Of note, only one USA player was in the top 10 at season's end. That was Rajsich at #2. That's the fewest USA players in the top 10 ever. Ten seasons ago eight of the top 10 were USA players, and even in 2014-15 there were four.
So, some of the questions for the coming season are how many events will Longoria win? Who will be the #2 player behind Longoria? And how many USA players will be in the top 10?
2015-16 Statistical Abstract
There were 248 LPRT matches last season, which was down from 279 in 2014-15, and 296 in 2013-14, but about the same as 2012-13, when there were 249 matches that season.
There was a slight decrease in the number of different players making the quarterfinals or better at a LPRT event last season, as 16 players did so, compared to 20 in 2014-15, 22 in 2013-14, and 19 in 2012-13, and 13 in 2011-12. But some of those players did so for the first time, including Carla Muñoz, Adriana Riveros, Maria Renee Rodriguez and Masiel Rivera.
2015-16 LPRT Season Summary by Player
LPRT Rank - Player - Wins - 2nds - Semi-finals - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria - 11 wins
2) Rhonda Rajsich - 5 seconds, 5 semi-finals, 1 quarterfinal
3) Maria Jose Vargas - 4 seconds, 3 semi-finals, 1 quarterfinal
4) Frédérique Lambert - 2 seconds, 3 semi-finals, 6 quarterfinals
5) Samantha Salas - 5 semi-finals, 2 quarterfinals
6) Jessica Parrilla - 1 semi-final, 6 quarterfinals
7) Sofia Rascon - 6 quarterfinals
8) Alexandra Herrera - 1 semi-final, 5 quarterfinals
9) Susana Acosta - 4 quarterfinals
10) Cristina Amaya - 4 quarterfinals
11) Michelle Key - 3 quarterfinals
12) Carla Muñoz - 2 quarterfinals
13) Veronica Sotomayor - 3 semi-finals
14) Adriana Riveros - 1 semi-final, 2 quarterfinals
15) Maria Renee Rodriguez - 1 quarterfinal
16) Masiel Rivera - 1 quarterfinal
2015-16 LPRT Season Summary by Tournament
Tournament - Final - Semi Finalists
Cali, Colombia - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-13, 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
US Open - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-7, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, Veronica Sotomayor & Maria Jose Vargas
St Luis Potosi, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-0, 11-1, 11-5 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Monterrey, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 9-11, 11-8, 11-1, 11-2 - Samantha Salas & Maria Jose Vargas
Arlington, VA - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-1, 11-1, 11-0 - Samantha Salas & Veronica Sotomayor
Cincinnati - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-3, 11-8, 11-4 - Frédérique Lambert & Adriana Riveros
Overland Park, Kansas - Paola Longoria d. Frédérique Lambert, 11-2, 11-2, 11-4 - Alexandra Herrera & Rhonda Rajsich
New Jersey Open - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4, 11-2 - Frédérique Lambert & Maria Jose Vargas
San Antonio - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 - Veronica Sotomayor & Rhonda Rajsich
Stockton - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-5, 9-11, 10-12, 11-3, 11-1 - Frédérique Lambert & Jessica Parrilla
Tour Rosa Mexicano - Paola Longoria d. Frédérique Lambert, 6-11, 11-6, 3-11, 11-9, 11-2 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT)
2015-16 Statistical Abstract
Matches going 3 games: 147 (59.3%)
Matches going 4 games: 64 (25.8%)
Matches going 5 games: 35 (14.1%)
Total matches: 248 (2 forfeits)
Most Points in a match: 103 - Jessica Parrilla d. Sheryl Lotts, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9, at the New Jersey Open
Fewest points in a match: 33 - Alexandra Herrera d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0, at US Open
Most Points in a win: 54 - Jessica Parrilla d. Sheryl Lotts, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9, at the New Jersey Open
Most Points in a loss: 49 - Jessica Parrilla d. Sheryl Lotts, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9, at the New Jersey Open
Smallest difference in total points between match winner & loser: -5 - Laura Brandt d. Lynn Fonseca, 6-11, 11-7, 3-11, 12-10, 11-9 at US Open
2nd Smallest difference in total points between match winner & loser: -3 - Frédérique Lambert d. Jessica Parrilla, 2-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-3, 12-10 at Monterrey
Follow the bouncing ball….
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
2015-16 IRT First Half Season Review
The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) begins the second half of its 2015-16 season this weekend with the NYC Open on Long Island, New York, and will be followed immediately with the Lewis Drug Pro-Am next weekend in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Thus, it's a good time to look back on the first half of the season.
With five wins over seven events, Kane Waselenchuk is clearly the #1 IRT player this season. The two events he didn't win are events he didn't play in, although the record has him as losing in Davison, that was a late withdrawal. Waselenchuk also won the US Open doubles event for the second year, as he and Ben Croft successfully defended their title from a year ago.
Similarly, Rocky Carson is a solid #2 with one win and five runner up finishes in the first half of the season. But after Carson, it's a muddy picture. Alvaro Beltran is the only other winner this season, but he's also lost in the Round of 16 three times. Daniel De La Rosa reached the US Open final for the first time in his career, but has also lost in the 16s twice and only been a semi-finalist twice. Jose Rojas only has one loss in the 16s and a runner up finish to Carson, so he's arguably ahead of Beltran and De La Rosa, although it's really splitting hairs between the three.
The first half of the season also saw some breakthrough results, as Felipe Camacho, Sebastian Franco, Mario Mercado and Brad Schopieray all reached the semi-finals for the first times in their careers. Franco was a semi-finalist twice. Those four players are from four different countries, giving the IRT a real international flavour. Camacho is Costa Rican, Franco Colombian, Mercado Bolivian and Schopieray is American.
At the other end of the spectrum, Cliff Swain reached the semi-finals for the 163rd time in his career, when he got the semis in Davison. In most of his semi-final appearances (110 times), the six time IRT #1 Swain advanced to the final, but this year the now 49 year old lost to Rocky Carson. Swain's 163 semi-final or better IRT appearances alone would tie him for 8th on the all time appearances list with Chris Crowther. Swain's 285 appearances overall is by far the most career IRT appearances. Ruben Gonzalez is a distant second at 216.
Schedule
What marked the first half of the IRT season was five Tier 1 events on consecutive weekends, which is a crazy schedule. Only 8 players played in all seven first half events: Carson, Jose Rojas, Beltran, Jansen Allen, Felipe Camacho, Robert Collins, Mauricio Zelada, and Mario Mercado. De La Rosa was technically in all seven events, but he was a late withdrawal from the Garden City event.
The second half schedule is more forgiving, as there are back to back events twice, with the first ones this weekend and next. Then there's two months until the IRT is in action again with back to back events in early March in Edinburg, Texas and Lombard, Illinois.
After that the IRT will be in Huber Heights, Ohio for the 2016 Raising Some Racquet for Kids, in Minneapolis, which will host the IRT Pro Nationals, in Sarasota for the Florida IRT Pro-Am, and then finishes up in Portland Oregon with the Pro Kennex Tournament of Champions.
Thus, there are 15 events on the IRT schedule this season, which will make for a good racquetball season.
2015-16 IRT Season - Event Summary
Event - Final - Semi-Finalists
Kansas City: Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson - SF: Jose Rojas & Felipe Camacho
US Open: Waselenchuk d. Daniel De La Rosa - SF: Alvaro Beltran & Carson
US Open Doubles: Waselenchuk & Ben Croft d. Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - SF: Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas and Jansen Allen & Charlie Pratt
San Marcos: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: Beltran & Sebastian Franco
Atlanta: Beltran d. Carson - SF: De La Rosa & J. Rojas
Davison: Carson d. J. Rojas - SF: Cliff Swain & Brad Schopieray
Garden City: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: Franco & Beltran
St Louis: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: De La Roas & Mario Mercado
Top 20 IRT rankings - January 12, 2016
Rank - Player - Country - Points
1) Kane Waselenchuk (Canada): 4440
2) Rocky Carson (USA): 3738
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico): 2486
4) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico): 2346
5) Jose Rojas (USA): 2187
6) Jansen Allen (USA): 1833
7) Marco Rojas (USA): 1688
8) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica): 1254
9) Charlie Pratt (USA): 1179
10) Robert Collins (USA): 1124
11) Ben Croft (USA): 933
12) Mauricio Zelada (USA): 838
13) Matthew Majxner (USA): 817
14) Sebastian Franco (Colombia): 769
15) Mario Mercado (Bolivia): 736
16) Jose Diaz (USA): 582
17) Scott McClellan (USA): 580
18) Brad Schopieray (USA): 494
19) Filip Vesely (USA): 432
20) Tim Landeryou (Canada): 362
The 2015-16 IRT Statistical Abstract (first half of season)
Total matches played: 210
Percentage of 3 game matches: 60.5 (127 of 210)
Percentage of 4 game matches: 22.4 (47)
Percentage of 5 game matches: 14.3 (30)
Percentage of matches that were defaults or data was incomplete: 2.9 (6)
Most 5 game matches played: 7 - Daniel De La Rosa (4 wins, 3 losses)
2nd most 5 game matches played: 6 - Alvaro Beltran (4 wins, 2 losses)
Most points for in a victory: 53 - Thomas Fuhrmann d. Mario Mercado, 11-2, 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 14-12, at the US Open
Most points scored in a loss: 50 - Rocky Carson loses to Daniel De La Rosa, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, at the US Open
Most points in a 5 game match: 102 - Daniel De La Rosa d. Rocky Carson, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, at the US Open
Most points in a 4 game match: 80 - Andree Parrilla d. Mario Mercado, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 in San Marcos
Most points in a 3 game match: 72 - Matthew Majxner d. Brian Simpson, 11-9, 13-11, 15-13, in St Louis
Largest margin of victory 5 game match: 19 - Matthew Majxner d. Jonathan Justice, 11-4, 11-3, 10-12, 8-11, 11-2, in Atlanta
Largest margin of victory 4 game match: 24 - Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 11-5, 11-0, 11-13, 11-2, in Kansas City
Largest margin of victory 3 game match: 32 - Rocky Carson d. Jeremy Best, 11-1, 11-0, 11-0, in Atlanta
Smallest margin of victory 5 game match: -9 - Teobaldo Fumero d. Fernando Rios, 11-9, 1-11, 3-11, 11-6, 11-9, at the US Open
Smallest margin of victory 4 game match: 3 - Mauricio Zelada d. Dylan Reid, 13-11, 2-11, 11-6, 11-6, in St Louis
Smallest margin of victory 3 game match: 6 - Matthew Majxner d. Brian Simpson, 11-9, 13-11, 15-13, in St Louis
Follow the bouncing ball....
With five wins over seven events, Kane Waselenchuk is clearly the #1 IRT player this season. The two events he didn't win are events he didn't play in, although the record has him as losing in Davison, that was a late withdrawal. Waselenchuk also won the US Open doubles event for the second year, as he and Ben Croft successfully defended their title from a year ago.
Similarly, Rocky Carson is a solid #2 with one win and five runner up finishes in the first half of the season. But after Carson, it's a muddy picture. Alvaro Beltran is the only other winner this season, but he's also lost in the Round of 16 three times. Daniel De La Rosa reached the US Open final for the first time in his career, but has also lost in the 16s twice and only been a semi-finalist twice. Jose Rojas only has one loss in the 16s and a runner up finish to Carson, so he's arguably ahead of Beltran and De La Rosa, although it's really splitting hairs between the three.
The first half of the season also saw some breakthrough results, as Felipe Camacho, Sebastian Franco, Mario Mercado and Brad Schopieray all reached the semi-finals for the first times in their careers. Franco was a semi-finalist twice. Those four players are from four different countries, giving the IRT a real international flavour. Camacho is Costa Rican, Franco Colombian, Mercado Bolivian and Schopieray is American.
At the other end of the spectrum, Cliff Swain reached the semi-finals for the 163rd time in his career, when he got the semis in Davison. In most of his semi-final appearances (110 times), the six time IRT #1 Swain advanced to the final, but this year the now 49 year old lost to Rocky Carson. Swain's 163 semi-final or better IRT appearances alone would tie him for 8th on the all time appearances list with Chris Crowther. Swain's 285 appearances overall is by far the most career IRT appearances. Ruben Gonzalez is a distant second at 216.
Schedule
What marked the first half of the IRT season was five Tier 1 events on consecutive weekends, which is a crazy schedule. Only 8 players played in all seven first half events: Carson, Jose Rojas, Beltran, Jansen Allen, Felipe Camacho, Robert Collins, Mauricio Zelada, and Mario Mercado. De La Rosa was technically in all seven events, but he was a late withdrawal from the Garden City event.
The second half schedule is more forgiving, as there are back to back events twice, with the first ones this weekend and next. Then there's two months until the IRT is in action again with back to back events in early March in Edinburg, Texas and Lombard, Illinois.
After that the IRT will be in Huber Heights, Ohio for the 2016 Raising Some Racquet for Kids, in Minneapolis, which will host the IRT Pro Nationals, in Sarasota for the Florida IRT Pro-Am, and then finishes up in Portland Oregon with the Pro Kennex Tournament of Champions.
Thus, there are 15 events on the IRT schedule this season, which will make for a good racquetball season.
2015-16 IRT Season - Event Summary
Event - Final - Semi-Finalists
Kansas City: Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson - SF: Jose Rojas & Felipe Camacho
US Open: Waselenchuk d. Daniel De La Rosa - SF: Alvaro Beltran & Carson
US Open Doubles: Waselenchuk & Ben Croft d. Jake Bredenbeck & Jose Diaz - SF: Jose Rojas & Marco Rojas and Jansen Allen & Charlie Pratt
San Marcos: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: Beltran & Sebastian Franco
Atlanta: Beltran d. Carson - SF: De La Rosa & J. Rojas
Davison: Carson d. J. Rojas - SF: Cliff Swain & Brad Schopieray
Garden City: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: Franco & Beltran
St Louis: Waselenchuk d. Carson - SF: De La Roas & Mario Mercado
Top 20 IRT rankings - January 12, 2016
Rank - Player - Country - Points
1) Kane Waselenchuk (Canada): 4440
2) Rocky Carson (USA): 3738
3) Alvaro Beltran (Mexico): 2486
4) Daniel De La Rosa (Mexico): 2346
5) Jose Rojas (USA): 2187
6) Jansen Allen (USA): 1833
7) Marco Rojas (USA): 1688
8) Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica): 1254
9) Charlie Pratt (USA): 1179
10) Robert Collins (USA): 1124
11) Ben Croft (USA): 933
12) Mauricio Zelada (USA): 838
13) Matthew Majxner (USA): 817
14) Sebastian Franco (Colombia): 769
15) Mario Mercado (Bolivia): 736
16) Jose Diaz (USA): 582
17) Scott McClellan (USA): 580
18) Brad Schopieray (USA): 494
19) Filip Vesely (USA): 432
20) Tim Landeryou (Canada): 362
The 2015-16 IRT Statistical Abstract (first half of season)
Total matches played: 210
Percentage of 3 game matches: 60.5 (127 of 210)
Percentage of 4 game matches: 22.4 (47)
Percentage of 5 game matches: 14.3 (30)
Percentage of matches that were defaults or data was incomplete: 2.9 (6)
Most 5 game matches played: 7 - Daniel De La Rosa (4 wins, 3 losses)
2nd most 5 game matches played: 6 - Alvaro Beltran (4 wins, 2 losses)
Most points for in a victory: 53 - Thomas Fuhrmann d. Mario Mercado, 11-2, 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 14-12, at the US Open
Most points scored in a loss: 50 - Rocky Carson loses to Daniel De La Rosa, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, at the US Open
Most points in a 5 game match: 102 - Daniel De La Rosa d. Rocky Carson, 11-9, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, at the US Open
Most points in a 4 game match: 80 - Andree Parrilla d. Mario Mercado, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 in San Marcos
Most points in a 3 game match: 72 - Matthew Majxner d. Brian Simpson, 11-9, 13-11, 15-13, in St Louis
Largest margin of victory 5 game match: 19 - Matthew Majxner d. Jonathan Justice, 11-4, 11-3, 10-12, 8-11, 11-2, in Atlanta
Largest margin of victory 4 game match: 24 - Kane Waselenchuk d. Rocky Carson, 11-5, 11-0, 11-13, 11-2, in Kansas City
Largest margin of victory 3 game match: 32 - Rocky Carson d. Jeremy Best, 11-1, 11-0, 11-0, in Atlanta
Smallest margin of victory 5 game match: -9 - Teobaldo Fumero d. Fernando Rios, 11-9, 1-11, 3-11, 11-6, 11-9, at the US Open
Smallest margin of victory 4 game match: 3 - Mauricio Zelada d. Dylan Reid, 13-11, 2-11, 11-6, 11-6, in St Louis
Smallest margin of victory 3 game match: 6 - Matthew Majxner d. Brian Simpson, 11-9, 13-11, 15-13, in St Louis
Follow the bouncing ball....
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Ten years of IRF World Juniors: 2006-2015
The International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Championships World Cup competition has players compete in three age divisions: 18 and under, or U18, U16, and U14. World Juniors does have competitions for younger ages, but those are a different competition (the Esprit Cup). Thus, a junior racquetball player has six years of World Cup eligibility, although sometimes a player will play in the U14 division even though they are younger than 13.
The Racquetball Blog staff combed through its records of World Junior World Cup results, and has compiled a list of how players have done over the last 10 years, which is the period for which we have complete records.
To make comparisons, we assigned points for bronze, silver and gold medal finishes. We gave 1 point for a bronze medal, 2 pts for silver and 4 pts for gold. Given that point system here’s the top 10 players over the last decade of World Juniors.
IRF World Juniors Performances 2006-2015
Boys
1. Marco Rojas (USA) - 29 points = 6 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze
2. Cristian Longoria (Mexico) - 24 pts = 6, 0, 0
3. Jose Rojas (USA) - 24 pts = 5, 2, 0
4. Carlos Keller (Bolivia) - 24 pts = 4, 3, 2
5. Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) - 22 pts = 5, 1, 0
6. Jose Diaz (USA) - 20 pts = 4, 2, 0
7. Alejandro Cardona (Mexico) - 18 pts = 3, 3, 0
8. Erik Garcia (Mexico) - 17 pts = 4, 0, 1
9. Javier Mar (Mexico) - 16 pts = 4, 0, 0
10. Taylor Knoth (USA) - 15 pts = 2, 2, 3
Girls
1. Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) - 30 points = 6, 2, 2
2. Diana Aguilar (Mexico) - 28 pts = 6, 2, 0
3. Aubrey O’brien (USA) - 26 pts = 5, 2, 2
4. Natalia Mendez (Bolivia) - 24 pts = 3, 5, 2
5. Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) - 23 pts = 5, 1, 1
6. Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - 22 pts = 4, 2, 2
7. Paola Longoria (Mexico) - 20 pts = 4, 2, 0
8. Ximena Gonzalez (Mexico) - 20 pts = 3, 4, 0
9. Danielle Key (USA) - 19 pts = 4, 0, 3
10. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) - 17 pts = 3, 1, 3
Over the last decade Maria Jose Vargas has had the best record at World Juniors, followed by Marco Rojas. Cristian Longoria and Diana Aguilar still have junior eligibility left. Longoria has two years, and Aguilar one. Aguilar’s total might have been higher, but she was absent from this year’s World Juniors due to injury. Similarly, Rojas missed World Juniors in 2011 due to injury.
Longoria has been perfect the last three years, winning singles and doubles in U14 once and U16 twice, but as he wasn’t on the team in his first year of U14 eligibility, so he won’t have a perfect record of World Cup outcomes.
Has any junior been perfect?
The data we have prior to 2006 is only for gold medalists, but if we include that data back to 2000, then the highest points are for Longoria’s older sister Paola, who had 48 points on the strength of 11 gold medals and 2 silver medals in seven years of World Cup competition (Longoria won gold in Girl’s U14 Doubles at age 12). But again that’s not a perfect gold medal record. Does anyone have a perfect record in World Cup competition at World Juniors?
Perhaps the player who came closest is Mexican David Ortega, who won gold in boy’s doubles with Ruben Estrada six straight years, and also won gold in his first five years of singles play. But in his last year of juniors, Ortega lost to Jose Rojas in the quarterfinals of Boy's U18, and Rojas was playing two singles divisions that year, as he also played Boy’s U16 Singles that year (2007), and won that title.
In perhaps a bit of irony (or revenge), Estrada defeated Rojas in the U18 final in 2007, which was Estrada only singles title.
Bringing it back to current players, Natalia Mendez also has a year of junior eligibility left, and Gabriela Martinez has three years left, although to maximize her points, she’ll need to make sure she has a doubles partner for all of those years.
Kudos to Erik Garcia of Mexico, who won gold in doubles his last three years of juniors (and 4 of last 5), and he not a left handed player. Also, Costa Ricans Melania Sauma and Sofia Soley have won gold in girl’s doubles three of the last four years. The year they didn’t - 2013 - Soley didn’t compete at World Juniors due to injury.
Does this mean anything?
There is much discussion of kids being the future of the sport, and people projecting junior stars as superstars of the future. But that’s tricky business. Junior sports performances don’t predict adult sports performances very well.
Kane Waselenchuk never won a World Cup division at World Juniors. In fact, he didn’t play many times at World Juniors. But Paola Longoria played a lot, did well, and continues to do so as an adult.
Of the other top International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) players, some did well as juniors, like Vargas, and Rocky Carson, who won Boy’s U18 three times. But other weren’t especially great as juniors. Alvaro Beltran and Daniel De La Rosa never won gold in the World Cup divisions. Michelle Key only won one gold medal at World Juniors, and Rhonda Rajsich three.
Yet some who did well as juniors fade away. There are 270 players in the database from the last decade (plus the gold medalists back to 2000). Many of those players you’ve never heard of or have forgotten about, because they stopped playing after their junior years even if they won multiple championships. We’re not sure if Ortega is still playing, for example. Going back a bit further, Canadian Lisa Kerr won Girl’s U18 twice - in 1997 and 1998 - but she stopped playing a year or two later. Currently, Kerr has taken up an appointment as a law professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, proving life can be good after racquetball.
Nonetheless it’s interesting to reflect on recent junior performances. It’s fun that there are five countries represented in the top 10 girl’s of the last decade. The boy’s is a split between Mexicans and Americans with one Bolivian, Carlos Keller, which somewhat supports our point last week about how Bolivians will show up at World Juniors who you’ve never heard of, yet they will still win.
Consider that Mario Mercado arrived at World Juniors last year having never won a World Cup medal, and proceeded to win gold in Boy’s U18, beating Canadian Coby Iwaasa in the semi-finals, and defending champion and fellow Bolivian Conrado Moscoso in the final. Holy coming out of nowhere, Batman!
Surprises of that sort are what makes sport fun, and why people want to keep playing for as long as they can.
Follow the bouncing ball….
Monday, October 5, 2015
LPRT 2014-15 Statistical Abstract
We had an relatively unusual situation coming into the 2015-16 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season this year, as the #1 player Paola Longoria was not coming off an undefeated season. Longoria remains clearly the best women's racquetball player on earth - reinforced by her three gold medals at last summer's Pan American Games - but she lost twice last season after going three seasons undefeated.
One of Longoria's losses was in the tournament the week after the US Open and to former #1 Rhonda Rajsich, so that could be excused as a post-US Open hangover. The other loss was to Frédérique Lambert in the semi-finals in New Jersey. Yet it's Maria Jose Vargas who is the LPRT's #2 player.
Those four - Longoria, Vargas, Rajsich and Lambert - are ahead of the rest of the field. Samantha Salas, Cristina Amaya, and Veronica Sotomayor, are the next tier with perhaps Michelle Key and Sofia Rascon as well. The thing to note about those nine players is that only two of them are American.
There were four USA players in the top 10 at season's end. Rajsich was #3, Key #7, Cheryl Gudinas #9 and Da'monique Davis #10. That was up one from three in the pervious season, which was the fewest USA players in the top 10 ever. We're still looking for the next great American player. The player who is going to be able to challenge for #1, and take the torch from Rajsich, who had taken it from Gudinas, who had taken it from Jackie Paraiso, who had taken it Michelle Gould, and so on. Maybe Key will be that player, but that remains to be seen.
Longoria's prowess, and the development of the young women who have begun to play regularly on the LPRT the last couple of seasons, will be things to watch for this season.
2014-15 Statistical Abstract
There were 279 LPRT matches last season, which was down from 296 last season, but up from 249 in 2012-13 and 171 in 2011-12. We've got a run down of some stats from those matches below.
The LPRT continues to be very competitive with 20 players making quarterfinals or better last season. Twenty two different players were quarterfinalists in 2013-14, and 19 in 2012-13, and 13 in 2011-12.
2014-15 LPRT Season Summary by Player
LPRT Rank - Player - Wins - 2nds - Semi-finals - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria - 10 wins, 1 seconds, 1 semi-finals, 0 quarterfinals
2) Maria Jose Vargas - 2 wins, 7 seconds, 4 semi-finals
3) Rhonda Rajsich - 1 win, 4 seconds, 6 semi-finals, 2 quarterfinals
4) Frédérique Lambert - 1 second, 4 semi-finals, 6 quarterfinals
5) Samantha Salas - 6 semi-finals, 2 quarterfinal
6) Cristina Amaya - 3 semi-final, 5 quarterfinals
7) Michelle Key - 5 quarterfinals
8) Sofia Rascon - 6 quarterfinals
9) Cheryl Gudinas - 4 quarterfinals
10) Da'monique Davis - 5 quarterfinals
11) Susana Acosta - 4 quarterfinals
12) Veronica Sotomayor - 6 quarterfinals
13) Alexandra Herrera - 1 semi-final
14) Sheryl Lotts - 1 quarterfinal
15) Jessica Parrilla - 1 quarterfinal
18) Kimberly Thomas - 1 quarterfinal
19) Maria Paz Muñoz - 1 quarterfinal
20) Lucia Gonzalez - 1 quarterfinal
25) Diana Aguilar - 1 quarterfinal
26) Ximena Gonzalez - 1 quarterfinal
2014-15 LPRT Season Summary by Tournament
Tournament - Final - Semi Finalists
St Luis Potosi, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-6, 12-10, 11-2 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Huixquilucan, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-8, 2-11, 11-3, 11-7 - Frédérique Lambert & Rhonda Rajsich
US Open - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-5, 11-3, 11-8 - Cristina Amaya & Rhonda Rajsich
Stockton - Rhonda Rajsich d. Paola Longoria, 11-9, 5-11, 14-12, 5-11, 11-4 - Maria Jose Vargas & Frédérique Lambert
Arlington, VA - Maria Jose Vargas d. Rhonda Rajsich, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 13-11 - Alexandra Herrera & Samantha Salas
Cincinnati - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Overland Park, Kansas - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-1, 11-2, 11-4 - Samantha Salas & Maria Jose Vargas
Warren, N.J. - Maria Jose Vargas d. Frédérique Lambert, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 - Rhonda Rajsich & Paola Longoria
Fountain Valley, Calif. - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 - Samantha Salas & Cristina Amaya
Denver - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-9, 11-1, 11-1 - Frédérique Lambert & Rhonda Rajsich
San Antonio - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-2 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Herndon, Virginia - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-1 - Frédérique Lambert & Maria Jose Vargas
Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT)
2014-15 Statistical Abstract
Matches going 3 games: 169 (60.6%)
Matches going 4 games: 70 (25.1%)
Matches going 5 games: 38 (13.6%)
Total matches: 279 (2 injury forfeits)
Most Points in a match: 98 by (i) Maria Paz Muñoz d. Kimberly Thomas, 10-12, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 13-11 at Overland Park, Kansas & (ii) Cristina Amaya d. Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9 at Denver.
Fewest points in a match: 33 - Alexandra Herrera d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0, at Denver
2nd fewest points: 34 - Veronica Sotomayor d. Heather Hojat, 11-0, 11-1, 11-0, at San Antonio
Most Points in a win: 54 - Maria Jose Vargas v. Rhonda Rajsich, 9-11, 11-5, 10-12, 13-11, 11-4 at San Antonio
2nd Most Points in a win: 53 - Maria Paz Muñoz v. Kimberly Thomas, 10-12, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 13-11 at Overland Park, Kansas
Most Points in a loss: 49 - Rhonda Rajsich v. Cristina Amaya, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9 at Denver
Smallest difference in total points between match winner & loser: -3 in (i) Regina Franco's win v. Monserrat Mejia, 11-8, 3-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-5 (Huixquilucan), (ii) Kimberly Thomas's win v. Susana Acosta, 0-11, 14-12, 12-10, 11-7, at San Luis Potosi, (iii) Rhonda Rajsich's win v. Veronica Sotomayor, 11-9, 4-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6 at US Open.
Follow the bouncing ball….
One of Longoria's losses was in the tournament the week after the US Open and to former #1 Rhonda Rajsich, so that could be excused as a post-US Open hangover. The other loss was to Frédérique Lambert in the semi-finals in New Jersey. Yet it's Maria Jose Vargas who is the LPRT's #2 player.
Those four - Longoria, Vargas, Rajsich and Lambert - are ahead of the rest of the field. Samantha Salas, Cristina Amaya, and Veronica Sotomayor, are the next tier with perhaps Michelle Key and Sofia Rascon as well. The thing to note about those nine players is that only two of them are American.
There were four USA players in the top 10 at season's end. Rajsich was #3, Key #7, Cheryl Gudinas #9 and Da'monique Davis #10. That was up one from three in the pervious season, which was the fewest USA players in the top 10 ever. We're still looking for the next great American player. The player who is going to be able to challenge for #1, and take the torch from Rajsich, who had taken it from Gudinas, who had taken it from Jackie Paraiso, who had taken it Michelle Gould, and so on. Maybe Key will be that player, but that remains to be seen.
Longoria's prowess, and the development of the young women who have begun to play regularly on the LPRT the last couple of seasons, will be things to watch for this season.
2014-15 Statistical Abstract
There were 279 LPRT matches last season, which was down from 296 last season, but up from 249 in 2012-13 and 171 in 2011-12. We've got a run down of some stats from those matches below.
The LPRT continues to be very competitive with 20 players making quarterfinals or better last season. Twenty two different players were quarterfinalists in 2013-14, and 19 in 2012-13, and 13 in 2011-12.
2014-15 LPRT Season Summary by Player
LPRT Rank - Player - Wins - 2nds - Semi-finals - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria - 10 wins, 1 seconds, 1 semi-finals, 0 quarterfinals
2) Maria Jose Vargas - 2 wins, 7 seconds, 4 semi-finals
3) Rhonda Rajsich - 1 win, 4 seconds, 6 semi-finals, 2 quarterfinals
4) Frédérique Lambert - 1 second, 4 semi-finals, 6 quarterfinals
5) Samantha Salas - 6 semi-finals, 2 quarterfinal
6) Cristina Amaya - 3 semi-final, 5 quarterfinals
7) Michelle Key - 5 quarterfinals
8) Sofia Rascon - 6 quarterfinals
9) Cheryl Gudinas - 4 quarterfinals
10) Da'monique Davis - 5 quarterfinals
11) Susana Acosta - 4 quarterfinals
12) Veronica Sotomayor - 6 quarterfinals
13) Alexandra Herrera - 1 semi-final
14) Sheryl Lotts - 1 quarterfinal
15) Jessica Parrilla - 1 quarterfinal
18) Kimberly Thomas - 1 quarterfinal
19) Maria Paz Muñoz - 1 quarterfinal
20) Lucia Gonzalez - 1 quarterfinal
25) Diana Aguilar - 1 quarterfinal
26) Ximena Gonzalez - 1 quarterfinal
2014-15 LPRT Season Summary by Tournament
Tournament - Final - Semi Finalists
St Luis Potosi, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-6, 12-10, 11-2 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Huixquilucan, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-8, 2-11, 11-3, 11-7 - Frédérique Lambert & Rhonda Rajsich
US Open - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-5, 11-3, 11-8 - Cristina Amaya & Rhonda Rajsich
Stockton - Rhonda Rajsich d. Paola Longoria, 11-9, 5-11, 14-12, 5-11, 11-4 - Maria Jose Vargas & Frédérique Lambert
Arlington, VA - Maria Jose Vargas d. Rhonda Rajsich, 5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 13-11 - Alexandra Herrera & Samantha Salas
Cincinnati - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 12-10, 11-7, 11-5 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Overland Park, Kansas - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-1, 11-2, 11-4 - Samantha Salas & Maria Jose Vargas
Warren, N.J. - Maria Jose Vargas d. Frédérique Lambert, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 - Rhonda Rajsich & Paola Longoria
Fountain Valley, Calif. - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6 - Samantha Salas & Cristina Amaya
Denver - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-9, 11-1, 11-1 - Frédérique Lambert & Rhonda Rajsich
San Antonio - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 11-2 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Herndon, Virginia - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 11-1 - Frédérique Lambert & Maria Jose Vargas
Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT)
2014-15 Statistical Abstract
Matches going 3 games: 169 (60.6%)
Matches going 4 games: 70 (25.1%)
Matches going 5 games: 38 (13.6%)
Total matches: 279 (2 injury forfeits)
Most Points in a match: 98 by (i) Maria Paz Muñoz d. Kimberly Thomas, 10-12, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 13-11 at Overland Park, Kansas & (ii) Cristina Amaya d. Rhonda Rajsich, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9 at Denver.
Fewest points in a match: 33 - Alexandra Herrera d. T. J. Baumbaugh, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0, at Denver
2nd fewest points: 34 - Veronica Sotomayor d. Heather Hojat, 11-0, 11-1, 11-0, at San Antonio
Most Points in a win: 54 - Maria Jose Vargas v. Rhonda Rajsich, 9-11, 11-5, 10-12, 13-11, 11-4 at San Antonio
2nd Most Points in a win: 53 - Maria Paz Muñoz v. Kimberly Thomas, 10-12, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7, 13-11 at Overland Park, Kansas
Most Points in a loss: 49 - Rhonda Rajsich v. Cristina Amaya, 7-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9 at Denver
Smallest difference in total points between match winner & loser: -3 in (i) Regina Franco's win v. Monserrat Mejia, 11-8, 3-11, 12-10, 5-11, 11-5 (Huixquilucan), (ii) Kimberly Thomas's win v. Susana Acosta, 0-11, 14-12, 12-10, 11-7, at San Luis Potosi, (iii) Rhonda Rajsich's win v. Veronica Sotomayor, 11-9, 4-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-6 at US Open.
Follow the bouncing ball….
Monday, June 29, 2015
2015 USA Racquetball Junior Olympics - Review
The USA Racquetball Junior Olympics wrapped up on Sunday in Stockton, California. We have a summary of the results below, but we noting the number of participants. There were 193 players in Stockton, which is up from 154 in 2014 and 143 in 2013.
A large part of the increase is due to the number of Californians participating. Call it the host state bump. Sixty five Californians participated this year, up from 25 in 2014, and 21 in 2013. Last year when Colorado hosted the event there were 21 Colorado players in the event, compared to 9 this year. Two years ago, Iowa hosted the Junior Olympics, and there were 22 Iowans participating compared to six this year. The 2016 Junior Olympics will be in Minnesota, so based on the host state bump, we'd expected about 25 Minnesotans in the draw, as there were eight Minnesotans in Stockton.
More significantly, the number of girls participating has increased for the second consecutive year. There were 59 girls playing in Stockton compared to 44 in Colorado and 31 in Iowa. Girls made up 30.6% of the participants this year, up slightly from last year’s 28.6%, but significantly up from 21.7% in 2013.
Curiously, the number of girls in the lower age divisions is greater than the number in the older age divisions. Twenty six girls played in the U14, U16 and U18 divisions while 33 played in the age divisions below that. Whether all those younger players will continue to play into their teenage years remains to be seen.
Nonetheless, for several years now, we’ve been wondering where the female participation in USA racquetball events has been. It’s nice to see that the girls numbers are up at the Junior Olympics.
Traditionally in junior events, the Boy’s U16 is the largest, and this year was no exception, as 37 players were entered in that division in Stockton, compared to 33 in Boy’s U14 and 14 Boy’s U18.
You can see some of the matches from the 2015 USA Racquetball Junior Olympics at the In-Shape Sport West Lane in Stockton, California via the USA Racquetball Livestream channel.
2015 USA Racquetball Junior Olympics
Stockton, California
Boy's U14
1st - Akul Ramayani (Poughkeepsie, NY)
2nd - Antonio Rojas (Stockton, CA)
3rd - Sahil Thakur (Tracy, CA)
4th - Mitchell Turner (Salem, OR)
Boy's U16
1st - Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, MN)
2nd - Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA)
3rd - Kevin Vazquez (Miami, FL)
4th - Wayne Antone IV (Eugene, OR)
Boy's U18
1st - Sam Bredenbeck (Marine On St Croix, MN)
2nd - Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA)
3rd - Jake Birnel (Bellingham, WA)
4th Thomas Carter (Murrysville, PA)
Girl's U14
1st - Briana Jacquet (Phoenix, AZ)
2nd - Kaitlyn Boyle (Beaverton, OR)
3rd - Nikita Chauhan (San Ramon, CA)
4th - Elena Dent (Lumberton, NC)
Girl's U16
1st - Erika Manilla (Centennial, CO)
2nd - Jordan Cooperrider (Palm Harbor, FL)
3rd - Hollie Scott (Lynden, WA)
4th - Kristine Holman (Salem, OR)
Girl's U18
1st - Lexi York (Milwakie, Ore.)
2nd - Brittany Click (Huffman, TX)
3rd - Karina Quintanilla (Harlingen, TX)
4th - Kara Piepenbrink (Tampa, FL)
5th - Aadhilakshmi Balasubramanian (Belle Mead, NJ)
Boy's U18 Doubles
1st - Sam Bredenbeck (Marine On St Croix, Minn.) & Jake Birnel (Bellingham, WA)
2nd - Thomas Carter (Murrysville, PA) & Kyle Ulliman (Westerville, PA)
3rd - Hayden Farmer (Trophy Club, TX) & Carlos Reyes (Janesville, WI)
4th - Luis Avila (Wilmington, CA) & Justin Ide (Beaverton, OR)
5th - Lukas Le (Arlington, TX) & Nicholas Pavloski (Kingwood, TX)
6th - Eric McEnnis (Port St. Lucie, FL) & Trevor John (Reno, NV)
Boy's U16 Doubles
1st - Wayne Antone IV (Eugene, OR) & Kevin Vazquez (Miami, FL)
2nd - Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, MN) & Justus Benson (Sun Prairie, WI)
3rd - Ellis Syke (Coon Rapids, MN) & Noah Little (Ayden, NC)
4th - Justin Ide (Beaverton, OR) & Gavin Usher (Portland, OR)
Boy's U14 Doubles
1st - Julian Singh (Pleasanton, CA) & Mitchell Turner (Salem, OR)
2nd - Brian Barberis (McKinney, TX) & Nick Birnel (Bellingham, WA)
3rd - Ben Baron (Phoenix) & Tommy Andraos (Laguna Niguel, CA)
4th - Micah Farmer (Trophy Club, Texas) & Lucas Shoemaker (Bettendorf, IA)
Girl's U16/U18 Doubles
1st - Jordan Cooperrider (Palm Harbor, Fla.) & Erika Manilla (Centennial, Col.)
2nd - Hollie Scott (Lynden, WA) & Lexi York (Milwakie, Ore.)
3rd - Karina Quintanilla (Harlingen, Tex.) & Daniela Torres (San Antonio, Tex.)
5th - Kristine Holman (Salem, Ore.) & Madison Kerzel (Salem, Ore.)
6th - Alanna Shea (Cortland Manor, NY) & Reena Sheth (Amawalk, NY)
Girl's U14 Doubles
1st - Brian Jacquet (Phoenix) & Kaitlyn Boyle (Beaverton, OR)
2nd - Graciana Wargo (Clearwater, FL) & Elena Dent (Lumberton, NC)
3rd - Nikita Chauhan (San Ramon, CA) & Megan Carver (Spokane, WA)
Follow the bouncing ball….
A large part of the increase is due to the number of Californians participating. Call it the host state bump. Sixty five Californians participated this year, up from 25 in 2014, and 21 in 2013. Last year when Colorado hosted the event there were 21 Colorado players in the event, compared to 9 this year. Two years ago, Iowa hosted the Junior Olympics, and there were 22 Iowans participating compared to six this year. The 2016 Junior Olympics will be in Minnesota, so based on the host state bump, we'd expected about 25 Minnesotans in the draw, as there were eight Minnesotans in Stockton.
More significantly, the number of girls participating has increased for the second consecutive year. There were 59 girls playing in Stockton compared to 44 in Colorado and 31 in Iowa. Girls made up 30.6% of the participants this year, up slightly from last year’s 28.6%, but significantly up from 21.7% in 2013.
Curiously, the number of girls in the lower age divisions is greater than the number in the older age divisions. Twenty six girls played in the U14, U16 and U18 divisions while 33 played in the age divisions below that. Whether all those younger players will continue to play into their teenage years remains to be seen.
Nonetheless, for several years now, we’ve been wondering where the female participation in USA racquetball events has been. It’s nice to see that the girls numbers are up at the Junior Olympics.
Traditionally in junior events, the Boy’s U16 is the largest, and this year was no exception, as 37 players were entered in that division in Stockton, compared to 33 in Boy’s U14 and 14 Boy’s U18.
You can see some of the matches from the 2015 USA Racquetball Junior Olympics at the In-Shape Sport West Lane in Stockton, California via the USA Racquetball Livestream channel.
2015 USA Racquetball Junior Olympics
Stockton, California
Boy's U14
1st - Akul Ramayani (Poughkeepsie, NY)
2nd - Antonio Rojas (Stockton, CA)
3rd - Sahil Thakur (Tracy, CA)
4th - Mitchell Turner (Salem, OR)
Boy's U16
1st - Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, MN)
2nd - Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA)
3rd - Kevin Vazquez (Miami, FL)
4th - Wayne Antone IV (Eugene, OR)
Boy's U18
1st - Sam Bredenbeck (Marine On St Croix, MN)
2nd - Mauro Rojas (Stockton, CA)
3rd - Jake Birnel (Bellingham, WA)
4th Thomas Carter (Murrysville, PA)
Girl's U14
1st - Briana Jacquet (Phoenix, AZ)
2nd - Kaitlyn Boyle (Beaverton, OR)
3rd - Nikita Chauhan (San Ramon, CA)
4th - Elena Dent (Lumberton, NC)
Girl's U16
1st - Erika Manilla (Centennial, CO)
2nd - Jordan Cooperrider (Palm Harbor, FL)
3rd - Hollie Scott (Lynden, WA)
4th - Kristine Holman (Salem, OR)
Girl's U18
1st - Lexi York (Milwakie, Ore.)
2nd - Brittany Click (Huffman, TX)
3rd - Karina Quintanilla (Harlingen, TX)
4th - Kara Piepenbrink (Tampa, FL)
5th - Aadhilakshmi Balasubramanian (Belle Mead, NJ)
Boy's U18 Doubles
1st - Sam Bredenbeck (Marine On St Croix, Minn.) & Jake Birnel (Bellingham, WA)
2nd - Thomas Carter (Murrysville, PA) & Kyle Ulliman (Westerville, PA)
3rd - Hayden Farmer (Trophy Club, TX) & Carlos Reyes (Janesville, WI)
4th - Luis Avila (Wilmington, CA) & Justin Ide (Beaverton, OR)
5th - Lukas Le (Arlington, TX) & Nicholas Pavloski (Kingwood, TX)
6th - Eric McEnnis (Port St. Lucie, FL) & Trevor John (Reno, NV)
Boy's U16 Doubles
1st - Wayne Antone IV (Eugene, OR) & Kevin Vazquez (Miami, FL)
2nd - Jordan Barth (Cold Spring, MN) & Justus Benson (Sun Prairie, WI)
3rd - Ellis Syke (Coon Rapids, MN) & Noah Little (Ayden, NC)
4th - Justin Ide (Beaverton, OR) & Gavin Usher (Portland, OR)
Boy's U14 Doubles
1st - Julian Singh (Pleasanton, CA) & Mitchell Turner (Salem, OR)
2nd - Brian Barberis (McKinney, TX) & Nick Birnel (Bellingham, WA)
3rd - Ben Baron (Phoenix) & Tommy Andraos (Laguna Niguel, CA)
4th - Micah Farmer (Trophy Club, Texas) & Lucas Shoemaker (Bettendorf, IA)
Girl's U16/U18 Doubles
1st - Jordan Cooperrider (Palm Harbor, Fla.) & Erika Manilla (Centennial, Col.)
2nd - Hollie Scott (Lynden, WA) & Lexi York (Milwakie, Ore.)
3rd - Karina Quintanilla (Harlingen, Tex.) & Daniela Torres (San Antonio, Tex.)
5th - Kristine Holman (Salem, Ore.) & Madison Kerzel (Salem, Ore.)
6th - Alanna Shea (Cortland Manor, NY) & Reena Sheth (Amawalk, NY)
Girl's U14 Doubles
1st - Brian Jacquet (Phoenix) & Kaitlyn Boyle (Beaverton, OR)
2nd - Graciana Wargo (Clearwater, FL) & Elena Dent (Lumberton, NC)
3rd - Nikita Chauhan (San Ramon, CA) & Megan Carver (Spokane, WA)
Follow the bouncing ball….
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Intercollegiate Racquetball - A review
The 2015 USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Championships wrapped up at the end of March, but as the Pan American Championships were going on last week, we didn't have a chance to review the collegiate champs and where they fit in with recent champions.
With her second title, Kelani Bailey of Shenandoah University joined an impressive list of multiple intercollegiate champions, including two time winners Sharon Jackson, Adrienne Fisher, Kristen Walsh, Christie Van Hees, Cindy Doyle, Crystal Fried, Kathy Gluvna, Barbara Faulkenberry, and three time winners Kristen Walsh and Tammy Brockbank.
Of the 10 women to previously win multiple collegiate, 9 of them played for their country internationally. Only Fisher hasn't. Van Hees and Fried played for Canada and the rest for the USA.
Thus, Bailey, who's been on the USA Junior Team, will likely be making a USA Team appearance in the future.
Elizabeth Simmons and Lindsay Rasmussen of the University of Arizona also won a second time in Women's Doubles, and their titles are back to back. A few teams have done that in the past including Jackson and Kara Mazer (2009, 2010), Lisa Faquin and Renee Trammell (1982, 1983) and Robin Levine and Kelly Pullis, who won three consecutive titles: 1987-1989.
Some other women won multiple doubles titles, but not with the same partners, including two time winners Ashley Willhite, Da'monique Davis, Kristen Walsh, Elle Summers, Susana Acosta, Britt Engel, Chris Deer, Heather Dunn, Jen Yokota, three time winner Mazer, and Jackson, who won Women's Doubles all four years at Alambama, twice with Mazer and once each with Brittany Travers and Madeleine Angles.
2015 Men's Intercollegiate Champion Adam Manilla of the University of Colorado-Boulder isn't yet a multiple champion in Men's Singles or Men's Doubles, but he did win both those divisions this year, taking the doubles title with Nick Riffel. Thus, he joins a short list of men to have won both titles in the same year.
The list includes Taylor Knoth, Jansen Allen, Jose Rojas, Tony Carson, Ben Croft, Javier Moreno, Luis Bustillos, Shane Wood, and Andy Roberts. In fact in the last eleven years, the Men's Singles champion has also won Men's Doubles eight times, including Manilla's victories this year.
Predictive of future excellence?
Bailey and Manilla had great wins this year, but will they win more in the future? As they were multiple winners (in different ways), the players that had similar achievements in the past did go on to bigger things, which suggests Bailey and Manilla will also.
But it's not a sure thing. One of the interesting things from the list of the top four intercollegiate finishers from 5-10 years ago, and see what names are recognizable. Or put another way, wonder what happened to the players who's names aren't recognizable, which happens especially with the 3rd and 4th place finishers.
Thirty women finished in the top four in Women's Singles or Women's Doubles at intercollegiates between 2006-2010, and ten of them have active rankings in the USA Racquetball database (two players aren't in the database and the others come up as a zero ranking). Of those ten, six played on the Ladies Profession Racquetball Tour (LPRT) this year.
Thirty men also finished in the top four in Men's Singles or Men's Doubles at intercollegiates between 2006-2010. Sixteen of them have current USA Racquetball rankings, and three others played International Racquetball Tour (IRT) events in the intervening years. Of the sixteen, six are currently in the top IRT 20.
Of course, not having a current ranking doesn't mean the person isn't still playing racquetball, but for people who were highly competitive players, it's not a good sign that they haven't played a tournament in the last 13 months (the period covered by the USA Racquetball rankings).
Thus, excellence at one level is somewhat predictive of excellence at a higher level, although some of the players who were successful at intercollegiate had already established themselves as good players on the pro tours.
Playing beyond university
People recently talked to us about trying to capture racquetball players who are introduced to racquetball in university to keep them playing after they graduate. It's a great idea, and the data presented above suggest that not everyone is being captured out of university, although again tournament ranking is not an absolute measure of racquetball involvement.
But we think it'll be tricky to implement any strategy to retain collegiate racquetballers, as the period people spend at university is often separate from the rest of their lives.
This is especially so if people go away to university. Then after graduating people often move somewhere else, where they may or may not have easy access to racquetball courts. Thus, even if they were regular racquetball players in university, they may not be afterwards simply due to court access.
Nevertheless, marketing to graduating university players is an idea worth pursuing. We support any initiative to bring more people to racquetball, and especially initiatives aimed at the under 35 demographic, which is currently underrepresented in racquetball.
USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Champions
Women's Singles
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
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. Brittany Travers & Sharon Jackson (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. Kara Mazur & Sharon Jackson (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
2015
1) Adam Manilla (Colorado)
2) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific)
3) Dylan Reid (Washington University)
4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State)
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)
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
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)
Follow the bouncing ball....
With her second title, Kelani Bailey of Shenandoah University joined an impressive list of multiple intercollegiate champions, including two time winners Sharon Jackson, Adrienne Fisher, Kristen Walsh, Christie Van Hees, Cindy Doyle, Crystal Fried, Kathy Gluvna, Barbara Faulkenberry, and three time winners Kristen Walsh and Tammy Brockbank.
Of the 10 women to previously win multiple collegiate, 9 of them played for their country internationally. Only Fisher hasn't. Van Hees and Fried played for Canada and the rest for the USA.
Thus, Bailey, who's been on the USA Junior Team, will likely be making a USA Team appearance in the future.
Elizabeth Simmons and Lindsay Rasmussen of the University of Arizona also won a second time in Women's Doubles, and their titles are back to back. A few teams have done that in the past including Jackson and Kara Mazer (2009, 2010), Lisa Faquin and Renee Trammell (1982, 1983) and Robin Levine and Kelly Pullis, who won three consecutive titles: 1987-1989.
Some other women won multiple doubles titles, but not with the same partners, including two time winners Ashley Willhite, Da'monique Davis, Kristen Walsh, Elle Summers, Susana Acosta, Britt Engel, Chris Deer, Heather Dunn, Jen Yokota, three time winner Mazer, and Jackson, who won Women's Doubles all four years at Alambama, twice with Mazer and once each with Brittany Travers and Madeleine Angles.
2015 Men's Intercollegiate Champion Adam Manilla of the University of Colorado-Boulder isn't yet a multiple champion in Men's Singles or Men's Doubles, but he did win both those divisions this year, taking the doubles title with Nick Riffel. Thus, he joins a short list of men to have won both titles in the same year.
The list includes Taylor Knoth, Jansen Allen, Jose Rojas, Tony Carson, Ben Croft, Javier Moreno, Luis Bustillos, Shane Wood, and Andy Roberts. In fact in the last eleven years, the Men's Singles champion has also won Men's Doubles eight times, including Manilla's victories this year.
Predictive of future excellence?
Bailey and Manilla had great wins this year, but will they win more in the future? As they were multiple winners (in different ways), the players that had similar achievements in the past did go on to bigger things, which suggests Bailey and Manilla will also.
But it's not a sure thing. One of the interesting things from the list of the top four intercollegiate finishers from 5-10 years ago, and see what names are recognizable. Or put another way, wonder what happened to the players who's names aren't recognizable, which happens especially with the 3rd and 4th place finishers.
Thirty women finished in the top four in Women's Singles or Women's Doubles at intercollegiates between 2006-2010, and ten of them have active rankings in the USA Racquetball database (two players aren't in the database and the others come up as a zero ranking). Of those ten, six played on the Ladies Profession Racquetball Tour (LPRT) this year.
Thirty men also finished in the top four in Men's Singles or Men's Doubles at intercollegiates between 2006-2010. Sixteen of them have current USA Racquetball rankings, and three others played International Racquetball Tour (IRT) events in the intervening years. Of the sixteen, six are currently in the top IRT 20.
Of course, not having a current ranking doesn't mean the person isn't still playing racquetball, but for people who were highly competitive players, it's not a good sign that they haven't played a tournament in the last 13 months (the period covered by the USA Racquetball rankings).
Thus, excellence at one level is somewhat predictive of excellence at a higher level, although some of the players who were successful at intercollegiate had already established themselves as good players on the pro tours.
Playing beyond university
People recently talked to us about trying to capture racquetball players who are introduced to racquetball in university to keep them playing after they graduate. It's a great idea, and the data presented above suggest that not everyone is being captured out of university, although again tournament ranking is not an absolute measure of racquetball involvement.
But we think it'll be tricky to implement any strategy to retain collegiate racquetballers, as the period people spend at university is often separate from the rest of their lives.
This is especially so if people go away to university. Then after graduating people often move somewhere else, where they may or may not have easy access to racquetball courts. Thus, even if they were regular racquetball players in university, they may not be afterwards simply due to court access.
Nevertheless, marketing to graduating university players is an idea worth pursuing. We support any initiative to bring more people to racquetball, and especially initiatives aimed at the under 35 demographic, which is currently underrepresented in racquetball.
USA Racquetball Intercollegiate Champions
Women's Singles
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
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. Brittany Travers & Sharon Jackson (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. Kara Mazur & Sharon Jackson (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
2015
1) Adam Manilla (Colorado)
2) Marco Rojas (University of the Pacific)
3) Dylan Reid (Washington University)
4) Brad Schopieray (Colorado State)
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)
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
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)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Waselenchuk at the US Open
Kane Waselenchuk turned 33 on Sunday, but he's shown no signs of slowing down. He did have a recurrence of his inner-ear condition, which kept him out of the last two International Racquetball Tour (IRT) events, but the IRT has announced that Waselenchuk will play in this weekend's 24th Annual Turkey Shoot in Garden City, Kansas, which is certainly good news.
Last month, Waselenchuk won his 10th US Open title, which was his 10th consecutive title (though not ten US Opens in a row, as he didn't compete in 2006 and 2007), and we've got a review of Waselenchuk's US Open streak.
Prior to the streak
Waselenchuk's first US Open was 2000, when he reached the quarterfinals, losing to then World Champion Alvaro Beltran in five games. Significantly, Waselenchuk knocked off then defending champion Jason Mannino in the Round of 32, and did so in four games.
In the next two years, Cliff Swain ended Waselenchuk's US Open run. Swain defeated Waselenchuk in five games in the quarters in 2001 and in four games in the semi-finals in 2002.
Wins begin
Waselenchuk's winning streak began in 2003. He's won 55 straight US Open matches since then. Rocky Carson has been Waselenchuk's most frequent opponent (6 times), followed by Beltran (4) and Huczek (4). Waselenchuk's also played Swain and Alejandro Landa three times.
In his 10 title years, Waselenchuk's only lost 10 games. Three to Carson and Beltran, two to Huczek and one each to Mitch Williams and Tony Carson.
In terms of most average points against Waselenchuk, Beltran has the highest average with 23.5, followed by Huczek (22.0), Williams (21.5) and R. Carson (20). (note: this is for players who've played Waselenchuk more than once).
Waselenchuk's handed out donuts ten times during his title years, including one to Swain in the 2004 final, which is the only 11-0 game ever in a US Open final.
The streak began in Memphis and continues in Minneapolis. It's been played on two different show courts. But the outcome has been the same: Waselenchuk wins.
Barring major injury, it's difficult to imagine other outcomes for at least the next few years.
Follow the bouncing ball….
Last month, Waselenchuk won his 10th US Open title, which was his 10th consecutive title (though not ten US Opens in a row, as he didn't compete in 2006 and 2007), and we've got a review of Waselenchuk's US Open streak.
Prior to the streak
Waselenchuk's first US Open was 2000, when he reached the quarterfinals, losing to then World Champion Alvaro Beltran in five games. Significantly, Waselenchuk knocked off then defending champion Jason Mannino in the Round of 32, and did so in four games.
In the next two years, Cliff Swain ended Waselenchuk's US Open run. Swain defeated Waselenchuk in five games in the quarters in 2001 and in four games in the semi-finals in 2002.
Wins begin
Waselenchuk's winning streak began in 2003. He's won 55 straight US Open matches since then. Rocky Carson has been Waselenchuk's most frequent opponent (6 times), followed by Beltran (4) and Huczek (4). Waselenchuk's also played Swain and Alejandro Landa three times.
In his 10 title years, Waselenchuk's only lost 10 games. Three to Carson and Beltran, two to Huczek and one each to Mitch Williams and Tony Carson.
In terms of most average points against Waselenchuk, Beltran has the highest average with 23.5, followed by Huczek (22.0), Williams (21.5) and R. Carson (20). (note: this is for players who've played Waselenchuk more than once).
Waselenchuk's handed out donuts ten times during his title years, including one to Swain in the 2004 final, which is the only 11-0 game ever in a US Open final.
The streak began in Memphis and continues in Minneapolis. It's been played on two different show courts. But the outcome has been the same: Waselenchuk wins.
Barring major injury, it's difficult to imagine other outcomes for at least the next few years.
Follow the bouncing ball….
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Longoria's winning streak ends - A review
All things must end. And in sports this truism is seen more obviously, and often painfully, than in other activities. So it is that Paola Longoria's winning streak ended last month after three and half years, and 142 women's pro matches (at Tier 1 or Grand Slam events).
That's an incredible accomplishment that began with a win over Laura Brandt in New Orleans in May 2011, and ended with a win over Frédérique Lambert last month in Stockton, California. Rhonda Rajsich defeated Longoria in Stockton prior to the streak beginning and Rajsich beat her again in Stockton to end the streak.
One might excuse Longoria if she passes up playing in Stockton again, although Longoria did win there in 2013, but didn't face Rajsich in that event.
During her 39 month streak, Longoria only lost 18 games in those 142 matches. She served up 32 donuts, and only surrendered 4.41 pts per game.
Longoria beat 35 opponents during the streak. Rajsich lost to her the most: 22 times, followed by Samantha Salas (16) and Maria Jose Vargas (12). Sheryl Lotts, who lost to Longoria seven times in that period, has the distinction of getting the most donuts with four.
But Lotts is also one of only six players who won a game against Longoria during the streak. Curiously, Lotts won that game after being blanked in the first two games of that match, which happened in the Round of 16 in Miami earlier this year. Other game winners against Longoria during the streak were Rajsich (9 games), Vargas (5), and Salas, Jennifer Saunders and Cheryl Gudinas, who each won one game.
Internationally, Longoria is still on a winning streak, which began three years ago at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. During that period, Longoria has won 34 matches, and only lost four games. Three of those to Rajsich and one to Cristina Amaya.
Longoria's only given up 5.94 points per game in those international matches, which use a two games to 15 and tie-breaker to 11 format, and served up five donuts in winning two International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, two Pan American Championships, as well as the 2011 Pan Am Games and 2013 World Games.
Women's racquetball records are incomplete, but we believe these are the longest winning streaks in women's racquetball. Together they suggest a strong argument for Longoria being the great women's player ever.
Where will Longoria go from here?
There are several good young players coming up, including Vargas and Lambert. The mean age of this year's US Open quarterfinalists was 23. Longoria, 25, was the second oldest US Open quarterfinalist behind Rajsich, 35. Thus, Longoria's main competition, which has been older than her with players like Gudinas, Rajsich and Kerri Wachtel, will likely be pushed by younger players.
But Rajsich's win in Stockton demonstrated she still has a lot of game, and Rajsich provided more evidence of that this past weekend, as she and Longoria played an exhibition match in San Luis Potosi, which Rajsich won 4-11, 12-10, 3-11, 11-7, 11-7.
Thus, while Longoria's streak has ended, this may be the beginning of an even more exciting time for women's racquetball.
The next Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event is next month in Monterrey, Mexico with the Paola Longoria Invitational December 3-7.
Follow the bouncing ball….
That's an incredible accomplishment that began with a win over Laura Brandt in New Orleans in May 2011, and ended with a win over Frédérique Lambert last month in Stockton, California. Rhonda Rajsich defeated Longoria in Stockton prior to the streak beginning and Rajsich beat her again in Stockton to end the streak.
One might excuse Longoria if she passes up playing in Stockton again, although Longoria did win there in 2013, but didn't face Rajsich in that event.
During her 39 month streak, Longoria only lost 18 games in those 142 matches. She served up 32 donuts, and only surrendered 4.41 pts per game.
Longoria beat 35 opponents during the streak. Rajsich lost to her the most: 22 times, followed by Samantha Salas (16) and Maria Jose Vargas (12). Sheryl Lotts, who lost to Longoria seven times in that period, has the distinction of getting the most donuts with four.
But Lotts is also one of only six players who won a game against Longoria during the streak. Curiously, Lotts won that game after being blanked in the first two games of that match, which happened in the Round of 16 in Miami earlier this year. Other game winners against Longoria during the streak were Rajsich (9 games), Vargas (5), and Salas, Jennifer Saunders and Cheryl Gudinas, who each won one game.
Internationally, Longoria is still on a winning streak, which began three years ago at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. During that period, Longoria has won 34 matches, and only lost four games. Three of those to Rajsich and one to Cristina Amaya.
Longoria's only given up 5.94 points per game in those international matches, which use a two games to 15 and tie-breaker to 11 format, and served up five donuts in winning two International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, two Pan American Championships, as well as the 2011 Pan Am Games and 2013 World Games.
Women's racquetball records are incomplete, but we believe these are the longest winning streaks in women's racquetball. Together they suggest a strong argument for Longoria being the great women's player ever.
Where will Longoria go from here?
There are several good young players coming up, including Vargas and Lambert. The mean age of this year's US Open quarterfinalists was 23. Longoria, 25, was the second oldest US Open quarterfinalist behind Rajsich, 35. Thus, Longoria's main competition, which has been older than her with players like Gudinas, Rajsich and Kerri Wachtel, will likely be pushed by younger players.
But Rajsich's win in Stockton demonstrated she still has a lot of game, and Rajsich provided more evidence of that this past weekend, as she and Longoria played an exhibition match in San Luis Potosi, which Rajsich won 4-11, 12-10, 3-11, 11-7, 11-7.
Thus, while Longoria's streak has ended, this may be the beginning of an even more exciting time for women's racquetball.
The next Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event is next month in Monterrey, Mexico with the Paola Longoria Invitational December 3-7.
Follow the bouncing ball….
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
2014-15 IRT Season Preview
The International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) 2014-15 season begins Thursday in San Marcos, Texas with the Krowning Moment Bobcat Open. We'll review last season for you below, but first here's the Tier 1 and Grand Slam IRT tournament schedule for 2014-15.
September 18-21 - Krowning Moment Bobcat Open - San Marcos, Tex.
September 25-28 - Novascors Kansas City Open - Kansas City
October 8-12 - UnitedHealthcare US Open - Minneapolis
October 16-19 - Pete Pierce's St Louis Party with the Pros - St Louis
November 6-9 - Red Swain Shootout - Davison, Mich.
November 13-16 - 24th Annual Turkey Shootout - Garden City, Kan.
November 20-23 - Long Beach Open Doubles - Long Beach, Calif.
December 4-7 - Kitsap Splat Pro/Am - Washington
December 11-14 - Rollout New Jersey Open - Fairfield, N.J.
January 8-11 - Coast to Coast California Open - Fountain Valley, Calif.
January 15-18 - Cactus Salon NYC Pro/Am - Long Island, N.Y.
January 22-25 - Lewis Drug Pro/Am - Sioux Falls, S.D.
March 6-8 - Florida IRT Pro/Am - Florida
March 12-15 - Shamrock Shootout - Lombard, Ill.
April 23-26 - IRT Pro Nationals - TBD
April 30-May 3 - Stockton Pro/Am - Stockton, Calif.
May 14-17 - Pro Kennex Tournament of Champions - Portland, Ore.
Seventeen events is six more than last season, which is great, although sometimes the events announced at the start of the season don't all occur. But it is a promising schedule.
The most interesting aspect of the schedule is that most of the events will occur before the new year, which is a change from what has usually happened in recent seasons, when most events happened after January 1.
All eleven events from last year are back on the schedule with eight new additions, including this weekend's Krowning Moment Bobcat Open. Returning to the schedule from a season away is the Party with the Pros in St Louis, but rather than be in the spring it's going to be in the October.
One of the intriguing additions to the schedule is a pro doubles event in Long Beach, Calif. at the end of November. This is a follow up to last year's popular doubles in Sioux Falls, and there will also be a pro doubles event in the US Open. More pro doubles will be an exciting addition to the IRT schedule.
Now, let's review last year's results. First, a rundown of results by event, and then a summary of the players who finished in the quarters or better over the season.
2013-14 IRT Season - Event Summary
Event - Final - Semi-Finalists
Kansas City: J. Rojas d. R. Carson - Semis: Waslenchuk, Beltran
US Open : Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Croft, Beltran
Davison: Beltran d. De La Rosa - Semis: Swain, R. Carson
Garden City: R. Carson d. Beltran - Semis: Croft, J. Rojas
New Jersey Open: Waselenchuk d. J. Rojas - Semis: Beltran, R. Carson
California Open: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: J. Rojas, Beltran
New York City: Waselenchuk d. Beltran - Semis: Marco Rojas, De La Rosa
Sioux Falls: Waselenchuk d. Beltran - Semis: Crowther, R. Carson
Florida Spring Break: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: T. Carson, C. Pratt
Stockton: Waselenchuk d. Beltran - Semis: J. Rojas, R. Carson
Portland: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: De La Rosa, Croft
2013-14 IRT Season - Player Summary
IRT Rank - Player - Wins - Seconds - Semis - Quarters
1) Kane Waselenchuk - 8 wins, 0 seconds, 1 semi-finals, 0 quarters
2) Alvaro Beltran - 1 win, 4 seconds, 4 semis, 2 qtr
2) Rocky Carson - 1 win, 5 seconds, 4 semis, 1 qtrs
4) Jose Rojas - 1 win, 1 second, 3 semis, 4 qrts
5) Daniel De La Rosa - 1 second, 2 semis, 7 qtrs
6) Chris Crowther - 1 semi, 7 qtrs
7) Ben Croft - 3 semis, 4 qtrs
8) Tony Carson - 1 semi, 4 qrts
9) Jansen Allen - 8 qtrs
10) Marco Rojas - 1 semi, 5 qtrs
11) Charlie Pratt - 1 qrt
13) Cliff Swain - 1 semi, 1 qtr
17) David Horn - 1 qtr
The 2013-14 IRT Statistical Abstract
Total matches played: 372
Percentage of 3 game matches: 56.5 (210 of 372)
Percentage of 4 game matches: 23.1 (86)
Percentage of 5 game matches: 13.4 (50)
Percentage of matches that were defaults or data was incomplete: 6.5 (24)
Most points for in a victory: 54 - (i) Mike Green d. Charlie Pratt, 11-4, 11-1, 13-15, 8-11, 11-3, (ii) Jansen Allen d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-3, 8-11, 13-15, 11-7, 11-5, in Sioux Falls, & (iii) Alvaro Beltran d. Cliff Swain, 11-13, 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-7, in Stockton
Most points scored in a loss: 48 - (i) Joshua Hungerford against Mauricio Zelada, 6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8, at the US Open, & (ii) David Horn against Jose Rojas, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-6, 14-12, in Stockton
Most points in a 5 game match: 101 - Jose Rojas d. David Horn, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-6, 14-12, in Stockton
Most points in a 4 game match: 81 - Alex Ackermann d. Joseph Palazzo, 13-11, 13-11, 8-11, 11-3 in the New Jersey Open
Most points in a 3 game match: 70 - Mike Harmon d. Shai Manzuri, 11-9, 14-12, 13-11 in US Open
Largest margin of victory 5 game match: 22 - Coby Iwaasa over Alex Ackermann, 9-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-0, in the US Open
Largest margin of victory 4 game match: 26 - Coby Iwaasa over Seung Jun Jeon, 11-3, 7-11, 11-0, 11-0 in the US Open
Largest margin of victory 3 game match: 33 by Jose Daniel Ugalda over Tyler Freeman, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0 in the US Open
Smallest margin of victory 5 game match: -4 - Mauricio Zelada d. Joshua Hungerford, 6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8, at the US Open
Smallest margin of victory 4 game match: 2 - Daniel De La Rosa d. Alex Ackerman, 11-7, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7 in the Red Swain Memorial
Smallest margin of victory 3 game match: 6 - Mike Harmon d. Shai Manzuri, 11-9, 14-12, 13-11, at the US Open
Waselenchuk loses once & then wins out
Kane Waselenchuk, once again finished on top of the IRT standings, although for the first time since 2009, he lost a completed match. But that happened in the first tournament of the season, when Jose Rojas defeated him in the semi-finals of the Ghost of Georgetown tournament.
However, Waselenchuk won all of his other matches, although he did miss two events after the US Open due to injury. Injuries were the only way that Waselenchuk lost over the previous four seasons, and we fully expect him to be dominant again this season.
Waselenchuk's skill level is unquestionable. The real question is what the other players' skill levels are at.
Are the other players are getting worse?
Some results suggest that the rest of the field may have taken a step backwards last season, as in 2012-13, 20 players reached the quarterfinals or better, but only 12 players did so last season. There was one more event in 2012-13 versus 2013-14, so one more opportunity to reach the quarters, but that still seems like a significant decrease.
Further, if we look at qualifier wins - these are wins by a player who qualified for the Round of 16 by playing in at least the Round of 32 and possibly higher - the evidence is also troubling, as only nine times did a player who qualified for the Round of 16 advance past that round. Five players accounted for the nine times: Jansen Allen (three times), Marco Rojas and Charlie Pratt (both twice), once each by David Horn and veteran Cliff Swain, who isn't someone that is going to play a large part in the future of the IRT.
But perhaps the issue is not that the younger players haven't improved themselves, but rather than established players have stepped up their skills, so that these results are due to a concentration of excellence at the top rather than a reduction of excellence in the next level of players.
Some players have improved
Daniel De La Rosa is one example of a player who has stepped up his level of play, as he raised his ranking from 9th at the end of 2012-13 to 5th last season. Furthermore, Alvaro Beltran won an IRT event for the first time in his long career, which help him finish tied for 2nd with Rocky Carson.
Also, both Jansen Allen and Marco Rojas finished in the top 10 of the season ending rankings last year with Allen rising from 17th the year before to 9th and Rojas going up from 13th to 10th.
Clearly, some players are raising their game.
Moreover, two seasons ago 14 players reached the quarterfinals or better, which is approximately what the figure was last season (12), so maybe the 2012-13 number of 20 doing so is the outlier that we shouldn't worry about.
Certainly with a 17 tournament schedule there will be plenty of opportunities for young players to demonstrate that they are improving their skills. And we'll happily relate their progress this season to you here at The Racquetball Blog.
Follow the bouncing ball....
September 18-21 - Krowning Moment Bobcat Open - San Marcos, Tex.
September 25-28 - Novascors Kansas City Open - Kansas City
October 8-12 - UnitedHealthcare US Open - Minneapolis
October 16-19 - Pete Pierce's St Louis Party with the Pros - St Louis
November 6-9 - Red Swain Shootout - Davison, Mich.
November 13-16 - 24th Annual Turkey Shootout - Garden City, Kan.
November 20-23 - Long Beach Open Doubles - Long Beach, Calif.
December 4-7 - Kitsap Splat Pro/Am - Washington
December 11-14 - Rollout New Jersey Open - Fairfield, N.J.
January 8-11 - Coast to Coast California Open - Fountain Valley, Calif.
January 15-18 - Cactus Salon NYC Pro/Am - Long Island, N.Y.
January 22-25 - Lewis Drug Pro/Am - Sioux Falls, S.D.
March 6-8 - Florida IRT Pro/Am - Florida
March 12-15 - Shamrock Shootout - Lombard, Ill.
April 23-26 - IRT Pro Nationals - TBD
April 30-May 3 - Stockton Pro/Am - Stockton, Calif.
May 14-17 - Pro Kennex Tournament of Champions - Portland, Ore.
Seventeen events is six more than last season, which is great, although sometimes the events announced at the start of the season don't all occur. But it is a promising schedule.
The most interesting aspect of the schedule is that most of the events will occur before the new year, which is a change from what has usually happened in recent seasons, when most events happened after January 1.
All eleven events from last year are back on the schedule with eight new additions, including this weekend's Krowning Moment Bobcat Open. Returning to the schedule from a season away is the Party with the Pros in St Louis, but rather than be in the spring it's going to be in the October.
One of the intriguing additions to the schedule is a pro doubles event in Long Beach, Calif. at the end of November. This is a follow up to last year's popular doubles in Sioux Falls, and there will also be a pro doubles event in the US Open. More pro doubles will be an exciting addition to the IRT schedule.
Now, let's review last year's results. First, a rundown of results by event, and then a summary of the players who finished in the quarters or better over the season.
2013-14 IRT Season - Event Summary
Event - Final - Semi-Finalists
Kansas City: J. Rojas d. R. Carson - Semis: Waslenchuk, Beltran
US Open : Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Croft, Beltran
Davison: Beltran d. De La Rosa - Semis: Swain, R. Carson
Garden City: R. Carson d. Beltran - Semis: Croft, J. Rojas
New Jersey Open: Waselenchuk d. J. Rojas - Semis: Beltran, R. Carson
California Open: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: J. Rojas, Beltran
New York City: Waselenchuk d. Beltran - Semis: Marco Rojas, De La Rosa
Sioux Falls: Waselenchuk d. Beltran - Semis: Crowther, R. Carson
Florida Spring Break: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: T. Carson, C. Pratt
Stockton: Waselenchuk d. Beltran - Semis: J. Rojas, R. Carson
Portland: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: De La Rosa, Croft
2013-14 IRT Season - Player Summary
IRT Rank - Player - Wins - Seconds - Semis - Quarters
1) Kane Waselenchuk - 8 wins, 0 seconds, 1 semi-finals, 0 quarters
2) Alvaro Beltran - 1 win, 4 seconds, 4 semis, 2 qtr
2) Rocky Carson - 1 win, 5 seconds, 4 semis, 1 qtrs
4) Jose Rojas - 1 win, 1 second, 3 semis, 4 qrts
5) Daniel De La Rosa - 1 second, 2 semis, 7 qtrs
6) Chris Crowther - 1 semi, 7 qtrs
7) Ben Croft - 3 semis, 4 qtrs
8) Tony Carson - 1 semi, 4 qrts
9) Jansen Allen - 8 qtrs
10) Marco Rojas - 1 semi, 5 qtrs
11) Charlie Pratt - 1 qrt
13) Cliff Swain - 1 semi, 1 qtr
17) David Horn - 1 qtr
The 2013-14 IRT Statistical Abstract
Total matches played: 372
Percentage of 3 game matches: 56.5 (210 of 372)
Percentage of 4 game matches: 23.1 (86)
Percentage of 5 game matches: 13.4 (50)
Percentage of matches that were defaults or data was incomplete: 6.5 (24)
Most points for in a victory: 54 - (i) Mike Green d. Charlie Pratt, 11-4, 11-1, 13-15, 8-11, 11-3, (ii) Jansen Allen d. Andy Hawthorne, 11-3, 8-11, 13-15, 11-7, 11-5, in Sioux Falls, & (iii) Alvaro Beltran d. Cliff Swain, 11-13, 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-7, in Stockton
Most points scored in a loss: 48 - (i) Joshua Hungerford against Mauricio Zelada, 6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8, at the US Open, & (ii) David Horn against Jose Rojas, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-6, 14-12, in Stockton
Most points in a 5 game match: 101 - Jose Rojas d. David Horn, 11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 11-6, 14-12, in Stockton
Most points in a 4 game match: 81 - Alex Ackermann d. Joseph Palazzo, 13-11, 13-11, 8-11, 11-3 in the New Jersey Open
Most points in a 3 game match: 70 - Mike Harmon d. Shai Manzuri, 11-9, 14-12, 13-11 in US Open
Largest margin of victory 5 game match: 22 - Coby Iwaasa over Alex Ackermann, 9-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-0, in the US Open
Largest margin of victory 4 game match: 26 - Coby Iwaasa over Seung Jun Jeon, 11-3, 7-11, 11-0, 11-0 in the US Open
Largest margin of victory 3 game match: 33 by Jose Daniel Ugalda over Tyler Freeman, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0 in the US Open
Smallest margin of victory 5 game match: -4 - Mauricio Zelada d. Joshua Hungerford, 6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8, at the US Open
Smallest margin of victory 4 game match: 2 - Daniel De La Rosa d. Alex Ackerman, 11-7, 11-9, 3-11, 11-7 in the Red Swain Memorial
Smallest margin of victory 3 game match: 6 - Mike Harmon d. Shai Manzuri, 11-9, 14-12, 13-11, at the US Open
Waselenchuk loses once & then wins out
Kane Waselenchuk, once again finished on top of the IRT standings, although for the first time since 2009, he lost a completed match. But that happened in the first tournament of the season, when Jose Rojas defeated him in the semi-finals of the Ghost of Georgetown tournament.
However, Waselenchuk won all of his other matches, although he did miss two events after the US Open due to injury. Injuries were the only way that Waselenchuk lost over the previous four seasons, and we fully expect him to be dominant again this season.
Waselenchuk's skill level is unquestionable. The real question is what the other players' skill levels are at.
Are the other players are getting worse?
Some results suggest that the rest of the field may have taken a step backwards last season, as in 2012-13, 20 players reached the quarterfinals or better, but only 12 players did so last season. There was one more event in 2012-13 versus 2013-14, so one more opportunity to reach the quarters, but that still seems like a significant decrease.
Further, if we look at qualifier wins - these are wins by a player who qualified for the Round of 16 by playing in at least the Round of 32 and possibly higher - the evidence is also troubling, as only nine times did a player who qualified for the Round of 16 advance past that round. Five players accounted for the nine times: Jansen Allen (three times), Marco Rojas and Charlie Pratt (both twice), once each by David Horn and veteran Cliff Swain, who isn't someone that is going to play a large part in the future of the IRT.
But perhaps the issue is not that the younger players haven't improved themselves, but rather than established players have stepped up their skills, so that these results are due to a concentration of excellence at the top rather than a reduction of excellence in the next level of players.
Some players have improved
Daniel De La Rosa is one example of a player who has stepped up his level of play, as he raised his ranking from 9th at the end of 2012-13 to 5th last season. Furthermore, Alvaro Beltran won an IRT event for the first time in his long career, which help him finish tied for 2nd with Rocky Carson.
Also, both Jansen Allen and Marco Rojas finished in the top 10 of the season ending rankings last year with Allen rising from 17th the year before to 9th and Rojas going up from 13th to 10th.
Clearly, some players are raising their game.
Moreover, two seasons ago 14 players reached the quarterfinals or better, which is approximately what the figure was last season (12), so maybe the 2012-13 number of 20 doing so is the outlier that we shouldn't worry about.
Certainly with a 17 tournament schedule there will be plenty of opportunities for young players to demonstrate that they are improving their skills. And we'll happily relate their progress this season to you here at The Racquetball Blog.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, August 14, 2014
All time women's professional tour wins
The history of racquetball has not been well documented, and this is true even for the professional tours. Here at The Racquetball Blog we've been trying to put together a complete list of results for the women's professional racquetball tour, which has had various names - WPRA, WIRT, LPRA, WPRO and currently LPRT.
But it's been difficult. Sometimes even when we've found articles for tournaments, the report has failed to mention scores for the matches, which is the second most important piece of information about a match after the knowing which player won.
From what we have found to date, we have the following table of players with the most wins on the women's pro tour. If you want to talk about who are the best women's racquetball players of all time, these are the players that need to be in the discussion.
Women's Professional Racquetball Career Records (unofficial)
(players in italics still active)
Player - Wins - 2nds - Win % - SFs - QFs - Total
Lynn Adams - 45 - 18 - 71.4% - 3 - 1 - 67
Paola Longoria - 45 - 11 - 80.4% - 3 - 4 - 63
Michelle Gould - 43 - 2 - 95.6% - 3 - 2 - 50
Cheryl Gudinas - 39 - 39 - 50.0% - 50 - 22 - 150
Rhonda Rajsich - 26 - 44 - 37.1% - 33 - 26 - 129
Heather McKay - 19 - 20 - 48.7% - 3 - 1 - 43
Shannon Wright - 19 - 6 - 76.0% - 11 - 0 - 36
Jackie Paraiso - 18 - 26 - 40.% - 19 - 19 - 82
Christie Huczek - 16 - 11 - 59.3% - 9 - 6 - 42
Notes: Win % is for final matches only (Win % = wins / wins + 2nds). Total = (Wins + 2nds + SF + QF), not total tournaments played as players may have lost prior to reaching the quarter finals.
As you can see, Paola Longoria and Lynn Adams are tied with 45 wins a piece, so if Longoria wins this weekend she could be the winningest player in women's pro racquetball history. "Could be" because we're unsure of how many tour wins Adams had.
We do know that when Adams was inducted into the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame is cited her winning 325 of 369 matches, but where that information comes from is a mystery. Also, Adams won a DP Nationals in the mid-80s that was a big money tournament with all the best players, but it doesn't seem like that was part of the pro tour at that time, so it's not included in the above total. There may have been other events like that.
Thus, our records aren't complete. For example, we're not sure what happened in the 1989-90 season, when Adams would have been at her peak.
Obvious from the table is how many tournaments Cheryl Gudinas and Rhonda Rajsich have played. Of course, this is a product of their longevity in the sport and also that there have been generally more tournaments per season since 2000, than there were prior to 2000.
Also, Michelle Gould's winning percentage of 95.6 is phenomenal. According to the records we've found, Gould only lost twice in the finals. Curiously, both of the losses were to Marci Drexler.
It might seem strange to cut the list at nine players, but these are the players who have double digit win totals. THe next most wins is Peggy Steding with seven. Other women with multiple wins on tour are Caryn McKinney (6), Dexler (5), Kerri Wachtel (4), Janell Marriott (2) and Malia Bailey (2).
History is made every moment of every day, but the history that could be made this weekend with a win by Longoria could be a little more special than usual.
You can be sure that we'll make a note of it.
Follow the bouncing ball….
But it's been difficult. Sometimes even when we've found articles for tournaments, the report has failed to mention scores for the matches, which is the second most important piece of information about a match after the knowing which player won.
From what we have found to date, we have the following table of players with the most wins on the women's pro tour. If you want to talk about who are the best women's racquetball players of all time, these are the players that need to be in the discussion.
Women's Professional Racquetball Career Records (unofficial)
(players in italics still active)
Player - Wins - 2nds - Win % - SFs - QFs - Total
Lynn Adams - 45 - 18 - 71.4% - 3 - 1 - 67
Paola Longoria - 45 - 11 - 80.4% - 3 - 4 - 63
Michelle Gould - 43 - 2 - 95.6% - 3 - 2 - 50
Cheryl Gudinas - 39 - 39 - 50.0% - 50 - 22 - 150
Rhonda Rajsich - 26 - 44 - 37.1% - 33 - 26 - 129
Heather McKay - 19 - 20 - 48.7% - 3 - 1 - 43
Shannon Wright - 19 - 6 - 76.0% - 11 - 0 - 36
Jackie Paraiso - 18 - 26 - 40.% - 19 - 19 - 82
Christie Huczek - 16 - 11 - 59.3% - 9 - 6 - 42
Notes: Win % is for final matches only (Win % = wins / wins + 2nds). Total = (Wins + 2nds + SF + QF), not total tournaments played as players may have lost prior to reaching the quarter finals.
As you can see, Paola Longoria and Lynn Adams are tied with 45 wins a piece, so if Longoria wins this weekend she could be the winningest player in women's pro racquetball history. "Could be" because we're unsure of how many tour wins Adams had.
We do know that when Adams was inducted into the USA Racquetball Hall of Fame is cited her winning 325 of 369 matches, but where that information comes from is a mystery. Also, Adams won a DP Nationals in the mid-80s that was a big money tournament with all the best players, but it doesn't seem like that was part of the pro tour at that time, so it's not included in the above total. There may have been other events like that.
Thus, our records aren't complete. For example, we're not sure what happened in the 1989-90 season, when Adams would have been at her peak.
Obvious from the table is how many tournaments Cheryl Gudinas and Rhonda Rajsich have played. Of course, this is a product of their longevity in the sport and also that there have been generally more tournaments per season since 2000, than there were prior to 2000.
Also, Michelle Gould's winning percentage of 95.6 is phenomenal. According to the records we've found, Gould only lost twice in the finals. Curiously, both of the losses were to Marci Drexler.
It might seem strange to cut the list at nine players, but these are the players who have double digit win totals. THe next most wins is Peggy Steding with seven. Other women with multiple wins on tour are Caryn McKinney (6), Dexler (5), Kerri Wachtel (4), Janell Marriott (2) and Malia Bailey (2).
History is made every moment of every day, but the history that could be made this weekend with a win by Longoria could be a little more special than usual.
You can be sure that we'll make a note of it.
Follow the bouncing ball….
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
2013-14 LPRT Season Review & Statistical Abstract
Before the 2014-15 Ladies Pro Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season starts, let's review the 2013-14 LPRT season. You likely haven't forgotten that Paola Longoria was undefeated last season, and that was her third consecutive undefeated season. This begs the question: will she lose this season?
Longoria was forced to a tie-breaker in the finals of the last two LPRT events last season (once by Rhonda Rajsich and once by Maria Jose Vargas) while she was winning finals in three straight games early in the season. Also, last year saw several good young players, such as Vargas, play regularly on tour - helped in part by the LPRT Scholarship program - and that raised the level of competitiveness of the tour and should continue to do so this season.
However, we don't recommend betting against the favourite. Ever, really.
Greatest ever?
In the men's game, people often talk about Kane Waselenchuk, the current #1 player, in the context of the greatest players ever, but that hasn't happened much in the women's game, which is kind of strange. Perhaps the reason is that the players Waselenchuk is compared to - Cliff Swain and Sudsy Monchik - were active relatively recently (the late 90s and early 2000s), while the players we'd want to compare Longoria to - Lynn Adams, Heather McKay and Michelle Gould - played longer ago.
Some of the other elite women players who have been active since 2000 should also be in the "Best Ever" discussion. Players like Jackie Paraiso, Cheryl Gudinas, Christie Van Hees and Rajsich. Longoria's competed against all of them and undoubtedly has a winning record against them.
However, Longoria has come along at a time when the elite players were aging. Consider the top 5 players in each of the five women's pro seasons prior to last season. Of the twenty five slots, players under 30 years old and not name Longoria occupied only five of those slots (20%). Those five slots were shared by three players: Samantha Salas (2), Adrienne Haynes (2) and Kristen Bellows, yet in their careers those three players have only been to a few finals. Salas and Bellow have played in five pro finals and each has one once. Fisher has only been in one final in her career. In comparison, Rajsich has been a finalist 70 times and Gudinas 78.
It's always difficult to answer the "All Time Best" question, but it's perhaps even more difficult to put Longoria's accomplishments in an overall context than usual.
One thing is certain: Longoria's beating everyone she faces.
Statistical Abstract
There were 296 LPRT matches last season, which was up from 249 in 2012-13 and 171 in 2011-12. We've got a run down of some stats from those matches below.
The first thing to note is that last season was more competitive than past seasons, as 22 players made the quarter finals or better last season compared with 19 the year before and 13 in 2011-12.
From the curiosity department: Frédérique Lambert was on the winning and losing side in matches with the smallest difference in total points between match winner & loser. She defeated Sharon Jackson despite having ten fewer points, 3-11, 11-8, 11-7, 0-11, 11-9 to win in Stockton, but also lost in Miami against Jordan Cooperrider, 2-11, 11-5, 2-11, 11-9, 11-9, although she scored eight more points.
2013-14 LPRT Season Summary by Player
LPRT Rank - Player - Wins - 2nds - Semi-finals - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria - 12 wins, 0 seconds, 0 semi-finals, 0 quarterfinals
2) Rhonda Rajsich - 6 seconds, 3 semi-finals, 2 quarterfinals
3) Maria Jose Vargas - 3 seconds, 8 semi-finals
4) Samantha Salas - 8 semi-finals, 1 quarterfinal
5) Cristina Amaya - 1 second, 1 semi-final, 6 quarterfinals
6) Frédérique Lambert - 1 second, 2 semi-finals, 3 quarterfinals
7) Aubrey Kirch - 8 quarterfinals
8) Susana Acosta - 1 semi-final, 3 quarterfinals
9) Veronica Sotomayor - 1 second, 4 quarterfinals
10) Da'monique Davis - 4 quarterfinals
11) Cheryl Gudinas - 5 quarterfinals
12) Sofia Rascon - 1 semi-final
13) Adrienne Haynes - 1 quarterfinal
14) Maria Paz Muñoz - 2 quarterfinals
15) Michelle Key - 1 quarterfinal
16) Sharon Jackson - 1 quarterfinal
17) Jennifer Saunders - 2 quarterfinals
20) T.J. Baumbaugh - 1 quarterfinal
22) Linda Tyler - 1 quarterfinal
25) Janel Tisinger - 1 quarterfinal
27) Jackie Paraiso - 1 quarterfinal
37) Lucia Gonzalez - 1 quarterfinal
2013-14 LPRT Season Summary by Tournament
Tournament - Final - Semi Finalists
Stockton - Paola Longoria d. Veronica Sotomayor, 11-1, 11-9, 11-3 - Sofia Rascon & Maria Jose Vargas
Toluca, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Cristina Amaya, 11-1, 11-3, 11-7 - Maria Jose Vargas & Frédérique Lambert
US Open - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-4, 11-1, 11-7 - Samantha Salas & Susana Acosta
Arlington, VA - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5 - Maria Jose Vargas & Cristina Amaya
Monterrey, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-9, 13-11, 11-4 - Samantha Salas & Maria Jose Vargas
Cincinnati - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 5-11, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4 - Maria Jose Vargas & Frédérique Lambert
Overland Park, Kansas - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Warren, N.J. - Paola Longoria d. Frédérique Lambert, 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 - Samantha Salas & Maria Jose Vargas
Miami - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-2, 11-1, 11-3 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Reseda, Calif. - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 - Samantha Salas & Maria Jose Vargas
San Antonio - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 6-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7 - Samantha Salas & Maria Jose Vargas
Herndon, Virginia - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-2, 3-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-3 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT)
2013-14 Statistical Abstract
Matches going 3 games: 173 (58.4%)
Matches going 4 games: 74 (25%)
Matches going 5 games: 45 (15.2%)
Total matches: 296 (3 results forfeit, 1 absent score)
Most Points in a match: 102 by Susana Acosta & Janel Tisinger at US Open, where Acosta won 11-13, 8-11, 12-10, 11-4, 12-10
2nd Most Points in a match: 98 by Cristina Amaya & Cheryl Gudinas at Christmas Classic, where Amaya won 12-14, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-7
Fewest points in a match: 36 on four occasions: (i) Cheryl Gudinas d. Jocelyn Loredo, 11-1, 11-1, 11-1, at Cincinnati, (ii) Alexandra Herrera d. Cecilia Orozco, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2, at San Antonio, (iii) Maria Jose Vargas d. Carlina Luque, 11-2, 11-1, 11-0, at San Antonio, (iv) Sofia Rascon d. Erin Rivera, 11-1, 11-1, 11-1, at Toluca, Mexico
Most Points in a win: 54 (i) Susana Acosta against Janel Tisinger at US Open & (ii) Cristina Amaya against Cheryl Gudinas at Christmas Classic
2nd Most Points in a win: 53 - Aubrey Kirch against Janel Tisinger at Reseda, Calif.
Most Points in a loss: 50 by Michelle Key versus Aubrey Kirch at New Jersey Open
2nd Most Points in a loss: 48 by (i) Janel Tisinger versus Susana Acosta at US Open, (ii) Jennifer Saunders versus Aubrey Kirch at US Open
Smallest difference in total points between match winner & loser: -10 in Frédérique Lambert's win against Sharon Jackson, 3-11, 11-8, 11-7, 0-11, 11-9
2nd smallest difference in total points: -8 in Jordan Cooperrider's win against Frédérique Lambert, 2-11, 11-5, 2-11, 11-9, 11-9
Follow the bouncing ball….
Longoria was forced to a tie-breaker in the finals of the last two LPRT events last season (once by Rhonda Rajsich and once by Maria Jose Vargas) while she was winning finals in three straight games early in the season. Also, last year saw several good young players, such as Vargas, play regularly on tour - helped in part by the LPRT Scholarship program - and that raised the level of competitiveness of the tour and should continue to do so this season.
However, we don't recommend betting against the favourite. Ever, really.
Greatest ever?
In the men's game, people often talk about Kane Waselenchuk, the current #1 player, in the context of the greatest players ever, but that hasn't happened much in the women's game, which is kind of strange. Perhaps the reason is that the players Waselenchuk is compared to - Cliff Swain and Sudsy Monchik - were active relatively recently (the late 90s and early 2000s), while the players we'd want to compare Longoria to - Lynn Adams, Heather McKay and Michelle Gould - played longer ago.
Some of the other elite women players who have been active since 2000 should also be in the "Best Ever" discussion. Players like Jackie Paraiso, Cheryl Gudinas, Christie Van Hees and Rajsich. Longoria's competed against all of them and undoubtedly has a winning record against them.
However, Longoria has come along at a time when the elite players were aging. Consider the top 5 players in each of the five women's pro seasons prior to last season. Of the twenty five slots, players under 30 years old and not name Longoria occupied only five of those slots (20%). Those five slots were shared by three players: Samantha Salas (2), Adrienne Haynes (2) and Kristen Bellows, yet in their careers those three players have only been to a few finals. Salas and Bellow have played in five pro finals and each has one once. Fisher has only been in one final in her career. In comparison, Rajsich has been a finalist 70 times and Gudinas 78.
It's always difficult to answer the "All Time Best" question, but it's perhaps even more difficult to put Longoria's accomplishments in an overall context than usual.
One thing is certain: Longoria's beating everyone she faces.
Statistical Abstract
There were 296 LPRT matches last season, which was up from 249 in 2012-13 and 171 in 2011-12. We've got a run down of some stats from those matches below.
The first thing to note is that last season was more competitive than past seasons, as 22 players made the quarter finals or better last season compared with 19 the year before and 13 in 2011-12.
From the curiosity department: Frédérique Lambert was on the winning and losing side in matches with the smallest difference in total points between match winner & loser. She defeated Sharon Jackson despite having ten fewer points, 3-11, 11-8, 11-7, 0-11, 11-9 to win in Stockton, but also lost in Miami against Jordan Cooperrider, 2-11, 11-5, 2-11, 11-9, 11-9, although she scored eight more points.
2013-14 LPRT Season Summary by Player
LPRT Rank - Player - Wins - 2nds - Semi-finals - Quarterfinals
1) Paola Longoria - 12 wins, 0 seconds, 0 semi-finals, 0 quarterfinals
2) Rhonda Rajsich - 6 seconds, 3 semi-finals, 2 quarterfinals
3) Maria Jose Vargas - 3 seconds, 8 semi-finals
4) Samantha Salas - 8 semi-finals, 1 quarterfinal
5) Cristina Amaya - 1 second, 1 semi-final, 6 quarterfinals
6) Frédérique Lambert - 1 second, 2 semi-finals, 3 quarterfinals
7) Aubrey Kirch - 8 quarterfinals
8) Susana Acosta - 1 semi-final, 3 quarterfinals
9) Veronica Sotomayor - 1 second, 4 quarterfinals
10) Da'monique Davis - 4 quarterfinals
11) Cheryl Gudinas - 5 quarterfinals
12) Sofia Rascon - 1 semi-final
13) Adrienne Haynes - 1 quarterfinal
14) Maria Paz Muñoz - 2 quarterfinals
15) Michelle Key - 1 quarterfinal
16) Sharon Jackson - 1 quarterfinal
17) Jennifer Saunders - 2 quarterfinals
20) T.J. Baumbaugh - 1 quarterfinal
22) Linda Tyler - 1 quarterfinal
25) Janel Tisinger - 1 quarterfinal
27) Jackie Paraiso - 1 quarterfinal
37) Lucia Gonzalez - 1 quarterfinal
2013-14 LPRT Season Summary by Tournament
Tournament - Final - Semi Finalists
Stockton - Paola Longoria d. Veronica Sotomayor, 11-1, 11-9, 11-3 - Sofia Rascon & Maria Jose Vargas
Toluca, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Cristina Amaya, 11-1, 11-3, 11-7 - Maria Jose Vargas & Frédérique Lambert
US Open - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-4, 11-1, 11-7 - Samantha Salas & Susana Acosta
Arlington, VA - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-2, 11-5, 11-5 - Maria Jose Vargas & Cristina Amaya
Monterrey, Mexico - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 11-9, 13-11, 11-4 - Samantha Salas & Maria Jose Vargas
Cincinnati - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 5-11, 11-2, 11-1, 11-4 - Maria Jose Vargas & Frédérique Lambert
Overland Park, Kansas - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Warren, N.J. - Paola Longoria d. Frédérique Lambert, 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 - Samantha Salas & Maria Jose Vargas
Miami - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-2, 11-1, 11-3 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Reseda, Calif. - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 - Samantha Salas & Maria Jose Vargas
San Antonio - Paola Longoria d. Rhonda Rajsich, 6-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7 - Samantha Salas & Maria Jose Vargas
Herndon, Virginia - Paola Longoria d. Maria Jose Vargas, 11-2, 3-11, 8-11, 11-3, 11-3 - Samantha Salas & Rhonda Rajsich
Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT)
2013-14 Statistical Abstract
Matches going 3 games: 173 (58.4%)
Matches going 4 games: 74 (25%)
Matches going 5 games: 45 (15.2%)
Total matches: 296 (3 results forfeit, 1 absent score)
Most Points in a match: 102 by Susana Acosta & Janel Tisinger at US Open, where Acosta won 11-13, 8-11, 12-10, 11-4, 12-10
2nd Most Points in a match: 98 by Cristina Amaya & Cheryl Gudinas at Christmas Classic, where Amaya won 12-14, 9-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-7
Fewest points in a match: 36 on four occasions: (i) Cheryl Gudinas d. Jocelyn Loredo, 11-1, 11-1, 11-1, at Cincinnati, (ii) Alexandra Herrera d. Cecilia Orozco, 11-0, 11-1, 11-2, at San Antonio, (iii) Maria Jose Vargas d. Carlina Luque, 11-2, 11-1, 11-0, at San Antonio, (iv) Sofia Rascon d. Erin Rivera, 11-1, 11-1, 11-1, at Toluca, Mexico
Most Points in a win: 54 (i) Susana Acosta against Janel Tisinger at US Open & (ii) Cristina Amaya against Cheryl Gudinas at Christmas Classic
2nd Most Points in a win: 53 - Aubrey Kirch against Janel Tisinger at Reseda, Calif.
Most Points in a loss: 50 by Michelle Key versus Aubrey Kirch at New Jersey Open
2nd Most Points in a loss: 48 by (i) Janel Tisinger versus Susana Acosta at US Open, (ii) Jennifer Saunders versus Aubrey Kirch at US Open
Smallest difference in total points between match winner & loser: -10 in Frédérique Lambert's win against Sharon Jackson, 3-11, 11-8, 11-7, 0-11, 11-9
2nd smallest difference in total points: -8 in Jordan Cooperrider's win against Frédérique Lambert, 2-11, 11-5, 2-11, 11-9, 11-9
Follow the bouncing ball….
Monday, June 9, 2014
2014 IRF World Championships Preview
On Friday, the 17th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships opening ceremonies will happen in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Worlds were last in Canada in 1992 in Montreal.
Mexican Team
We've got confirmation on who's playing for Mexico this year. Paola Longoria will lead the Mexican team and play Women's Singles and Doubles with Samantha Salas, who will also play Women's Singles. Their men's team will be Alvaro Beltran and Polo Gutierrez in Men's Singles with Daniel De La Rosa and Edson Martinez as the Men's Doubles team.
Historical tidbits
Sixty-four gold medals have been awarded at the 16 previous World Championships: one each in Women's Singles and Doubles and Men's Singles and Doubles. Mexicans and Canadians have won 16 of those 64 medals with Americans winning the other 48.
The USA has swept the four medal categories five times: in 1981, 1992, 1996, 2004, and 2008. The USA has won at at least two of the four individual event medals at every World Championship, except the last one.
In 2012, Mexico won three of the four individual competitions: Women's Singles and Doubles (Longoria and Longoria & Salas) and Men's Doubles (Beltran and Javier Moreno). Rocky Carson was the only American gold medalist two years ago.
Three players competing this year are among those tied for second most career Worlds gold medals: Beltran, Carson, and Longoria. By winning in Burlington, two of them could become the sole player in second all time behind American Jackie Paraiso, who's won seven World Championships in women's doubles.
Only two of the three, because Beltran and Carson are both playing Men's Singles, so only one of them can win gold in Burlington.
Team Competition Change
There's a change in the tournament format this year, as there will be no team competition. Previously, there were separate competitions for the individual titles and then a team competition with countries playing off against each other in a best of three match format involving two singles matches and a doubles match.
But this year, there will be a preliminary round of matches with players in groups of three or four players, and then an elimination round. This format has been used in recent Junior World and Pan Am Championship competitions.
Overall, players from over 20 countries will be competing, and the semi-final and final matches can be viewed via the IRF Network.
Play begins June 14 with three days of pool play followed by an off day and then the elimination rounds on Wednesday leading to the finals on June 21.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Mexican Team
We've got confirmation on who's playing for Mexico this year. Paola Longoria will lead the Mexican team and play Women's Singles and Doubles with Samantha Salas, who will also play Women's Singles. Their men's team will be Alvaro Beltran and Polo Gutierrez in Men's Singles with Daniel De La Rosa and Edson Martinez as the Men's Doubles team.
Historical tidbits
Sixty-four gold medals have been awarded at the 16 previous World Championships: one each in Women's Singles and Doubles and Men's Singles and Doubles. Mexicans and Canadians have won 16 of those 64 medals with Americans winning the other 48.
The USA has swept the four medal categories five times: in 1981, 1992, 1996, 2004, and 2008. The USA has won at at least two of the four individual event medals at every World Championship, except the last one.
In 2012, Mexico won three of the four individual competitions: Women's Singles and Doubles (Longoria and Longoria & Salas) and Men's Doubles (Beltran and Javier Moreno). Rocky Carson was the only American gold medalist two years ago.
Three players competing this year are among those tied for second most career Worlds gold medals: Beltran, Carson, and Longoria. By winning in Burlington, two of them could become the sole player in second all time behind American Jackie Paraiso, who's won seven World Championships in women's doubles.
Only two of the three, because Beltran and Carson are both playing Men's Singles, so only one of them can win gold in Burlington.
Team Competition Change
There's a change in the tournament format this year, as there will be no team competition. Previously, there were separate competitions for the individual titles and then a team competition with countries playing off against each other in a best of three match format involving two singles matches and a doubles match.
But this year, there will be a preliminary round of matches with players in groups of three or four players, and then an elimination round. This format has been used in recent Junior World and Pan Am Championship competitions.
Overall, players from over 20 countries will be competing, and the semi-final and final matches can be viewed via the IRF Network.
Play begins June 14 with three days of pool play followed by an off day and then the elimination rounds on Wednesday leading to the finals on June 21.
Follow the bouncing ball....
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
LPRT 2014 California Regionals Preview
The Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) has released the draw for this weekend's LPRT California Regionals Tournament, and it's a complete draw of 32 players. Paola Longoria will once again try to extend her tournament winning streak, and she'll need to play five matches to do it.
There are interesting matches right off the hop with 8th seed Da'monique Davis up against former #1 Jacqueline Paraiso, 13th seed Maria Paz Muñoz against US National Doubles Champion Janel Tisinger, 15th seed Carla Muñoz versus 18th seed Jessica Parrilla, and 2nd seed Rhonda Rajsich facing former top 4 player Kristen Bellows.
Longoria's winning streak
Longoria's winning streak began in May 2011 at the Ektelon World Championships in New Orleans. Since then, Longoria has won every singles pro event she's entered. That's 29 Tier 1 or Grand Slam events and 2 satellite events, or 31 titles in a row.
Since May 2011, there have been three times someone other Longoria has won a women's pro event. In August 2011, Rajsich won the Texas Open; Longoria didn't play that event.
Tisinger won the 3 Wall Ball World Championships in Las Vegas in Septemeber of last year, which happened simultaneously with the Albierto Mexxicano de Racquetas event in Toluda, Mexico, so Longoria wasn't in Las Vegas.
Finally, the Paola Longoria Invitational tournament in Monterrey last December had a doubles event that Rajsich and Maria Jose Vargas won, as they defeated Longoria and Samantha Salas in the final.
Nevertheless, there have been few period of sporting excellence as great as Longoria's. Former racquetball great Heather McKay was a champion in squash prior to playing racquetball, and McKay's squash record was amazing, as she lost only twice over a period of 20 years.
Longoria has a ways to go before getting to that point, but at only 24 time is on her side.
Matches from Reseda can be viewed live via the LPRT Network with a tentatively beginning with the Round of 16 at 4 PM PDT on Friday. Certainly, the Quarterfinals will be broadcast from 9 AM PDT on Saturday.
2014 LPRT California Regionals
Reseda, California
Round of 32
1 Paola Longoria v. 32 Roxanne Rehling
16 Hailey Miller v. 17 Linda Scales
9 Cheryl Gudinas v. 24 Cecilia Orozco
8 Da'monique Davis v. 25 Jacqueline Paraiso
5 Cristina Amaya v. 28 Kelly Gremley
12 Adrienne Haynes v. 21 Sheryl Lotts
13 Maria Paz Munoz v. 20 Janel Tisinger
4 Samantha Salas Solis v. 29 Cheyenne Hayes
3 Maria Jose Vargas v. 30 Erika Manilla
14 Sofia Rascon v. 19 Carolina Luque
11 Aubrey Kirch v. 22 Michelle Key
6 Susana Acosta v. 27 Masiel Rivera
7 Frederique Lambert v. 26 Alexandra Herrera
10 Veronica Sotomayor v. 23 Maria Renee Rodriguez
15 Carla Munoz v. 18 Jessica Parrilla
2 Rhonda Rajsich v. 31 Kristen Bellows
Follow the bouncing ball….
There are interesting matches right off the hop with 8th seed Da'monique Davis up against former #1 Jacqueline Paraiso, 13th seed Maria Paz Muñoz against US National Doubles Champion Janel Tisinger, 15th seed Carla Muñoz versus 18th seed Jessica Parrilla, and 2nd seed Rhonda Rajsich facing former top 4 player Kristen Bellows.
Longoria's winning streak
Longoria's winning streak began in May 2011 at the Ektelon World Championships in New Orleans. Since then, Longoria has won every singles pro event she's entered. That's 29 Tier 1 or Grand Slam events and 2 satellite events, or 31 titles in a row.
Since May 2011, there have been three times someone other Longoria has won a women's pro event. In August 2011, Rajsich won the Texas Open; Longoria didn't play that event.
Tisinger won the 3 Wall Ball World Championships in Las Vegas in Septemeber of last year, which happened simultaneously with the Albierto Mexxicano de Racquetas event in Toluda, Mexico, so Longoria wasn't in Las Vegas.
Finally, the Paola Longoria Invitational tournament in Monterrey last December had a doubles event that Rajsich and Maria Jose Vargas won, as they defeated Longoria and Samantha Salas in the final.
Nevertheless, there have been few period of sporting excellence as great as Longoria's. Former racquetball great Heather McKay was a champion in squash prior to playing racquetball, and McKay's squash record was amazing, as she lost only twice over a period of 20 years.
Longoria has a ways to go before getting to that point, but at only 24 time is on her side.
Matches from Reseda can be viewed live via the LPRT Network with a tentatively beginning with the Round of 16 at 4 PM PDT on Friday. Certainly, the Quarterfinals will be broadcast from 9 AM PDT on Saturday.
2014 LPRT California Regionals
Reseda, California
Round of 32
1 Paola Longoria v. 32 Roxanne Rehling
16 Hailey Miller v. 17 Linda Scales
9 Cheryl Gudinas v. 24 Cecilia Orozco
8 Da'monique Davis v. 25 Jacqueline Paraiso
5 Cristina Amaya v. 28 Kelly Gremley
12 Adrienne Haynes v. 21 Sheryl Lotts
13 Maria Paz Munoz v. 20 Janel Tisinger
4 Samantha Salas Solis v. 29 Cheyenne Hayes
3 Maria Jose Vargas v. 30 Erika Manilla
14 Sofia Rascon v. 19 Carolina Luque
11 Aubrey Kirch v. 22 Michelle Key
6 Susana Acosta v. 27 Masiel Rivera
7 Frederique Lambert v. 26 Alexandra Herrera
10 Veronica Sotomayor v. 23 Maria Renee Rodriguez
15 Carla Munoz v. 18 Jessica Parrilla
2 Rhonda Rajsich v. 31 Kristen Bellows
Follow the bouncing ball….
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
LPRT Rankings - Longoria #1, Vargas at #4
Paola Longoria and Rhonda Rajsich the #1 and #2 players on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) following the Paola Longoria Invitational tournament last weekend in Monterrey, Mexico. But Cristina Amaya's time at #3 was short lived as she has fallen to #5 with Samantha Salas and Maria Jose Vargas, the semi-finalists in Monterrey, moving ahead of her into #3 and #4, respectively.
Vargas's #4 ranking is a career high for the 2012 World Junior U18 Champion.
Susana Acosta in 6th is the last of the players with over 600 points. Then there are six players in the 300 point range.
Veteran Cheryl Gudinas leads that pack, and is the 7th ranked player overall. Then it's Da'monique Davis, up from 10th, Adrienne Haynes 9th, Jennifer Saunders 10th, Veronica Sotomayor 11th, and Frédérique Lambert in 12th.
Grace Hughes is 13th, Maria Paz Muñoz 14th, and T. J. Baumbaugh 15th.
Finally, the top 20 rounds out with Hailey Miller (16), Carla Muñoz (17), Linda Scales (18), Sofia Rascon (19), and Aubrey Kirch (20).
Notable in her absence. Kerri Wachtel has dropped out of the top 20. Wachtel's announced in the fall that she will no longer be a regular tour player, and her inactivity has dropped her to 21st.
However, Wachtel should be in action at the next LPRT event as the Wilson Tour for Hope is in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio January 24-26.
Longoria's Streak
Longoria hasn't lost a women's pro match since May 2011, a 31 month period. In that span, she's won 98 matches in Tier 1 or Grand Slam events, and another 10 in satellite events, for a total of 108.
LPRT Rankings - December 17, 2013
Rank - Name - Country - Points
1 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 2380.00
2 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1274.00
3 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 662.50
4 Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) 650.50
5 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 625.00
6 Susana Acosta (Mexico) 601.50
7 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 358.00
8 Adrienne Haynes (USA) 347.00
9 Da'monique Davis (USA) 354.75
10 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 343.75
11 Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) 338.00
12 Frédérique Lambert (Canada) 301.50
13 Grace Hughes (USA) 252.00
14 Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) 239.50
15 T.J. Baumbaugh (USA) 230.75
16 Hailey Miller (USA) 200.75
17 Carla Muñoz (Chile) 193.50
18 Linda Scales (USA) 190.25
19 Sofia Rascon (Mexico) 188.75
20 Aubrey Kirch (USA) 180.50
Follow the bouncing ball....
Vargas's #4 ranking is a career high for the 2012 World Junior U18 Champion.
Susana Acosta in 6th is the last of the players with over 600 points. Then there are six players in the 300 point range.
Veteran Cheryl Gudinas leads that pack, and is the 7th ranked player overall. Then it's Da'monique Davis, up from 10th, Adrienne Haynes 9th, Jennifer Saunders 10th, Veronica Sotomayor 11th, and Frédérique Lambert in 12th.
Grace Hughes is 13th, Maria Paz Muñoz 14th, and T. J. Baumbaugh 15th.
Finally, the top 20 rounds out with Hailey Miller (16), Carla Muñoz (17), Linda Scales (18), Sofia Rascon (19), and Aubrey Kirch (20).
Notable in her absence. Kerri Wachtel has dropped out of the top 20. Wachtel's announced in the fall that she will no longer be a regular tour player, and her inactivity has dropped her to 21st.
However, Wachtel should be in action at the next LPRT event as the Wilson Tour for Hope is in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio January 24-26.
Longoria's Streak
Longoria hasn't lost a women's pro match since May 2011, a 31 month period. In that span, she's won 98 matches in Tier 1 or Grand Slam events, and another 10 in satellite events, for a total of 108.
LPRT Rankings - December 17, 2013
Rank - Name - Country - Points
1 Paola Longoria (Mexico) 2380.00
2 Rhonda Rajsich (USA) 1274.00
3 Samantha Salas (Mexico) 662.50
4 Maria Jose Vargas (Bolivia) 650.50
5 Cristina Amaya (Colombia) 625.00
6 Susana Acosta (Mexico) 601.50
7 Cheryl Gudinas (USA) 358.00
8 Adrienne Haynes (USA) 347.00
9 Da'monique Davis (USA) 354.75
10 Jennifer Saunders (Canada) 343.75
11 Veronica Sotomayor (Ecuador) 338.00
12 Frédérique Lambert (Canada) 301.50
13 Grace Hughes (USA) 252.00
14 Maria Paz Muñoz (Ecuador) 239.50
15 T.J. Baumbaugh (USA) 230.75
16 Hailey Miller (USA) 200.75
17 Carla Muñoz (Chile) 193.50
18 Linda Scales (USA) 190.25
19 Sofia Rascon (Mexico) 188.75
20 Aubrey Kirch (USA) 180.50
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, September 9, 2013
2013-14 IRT Season Preview
The International Racquetball Tour's (IRT's) 2013-14 season begins this week with The Ghost of Georgetown racquetball tournament in Overland Park, Kansas. Thus, it's a good time to remind you what happened in the 12 Tier 1 or Grand Slam events last season.
IRT Rank - Player - Wins - Seconds - Semis - Quarters
1) Kane Waselenchuk - 9 wins, 1 seconds, 0 semi-finals, 0 quarters
2) Rocky Carson - 3 win, 5 seconds, 4 semis, 0 qtrs
3) Alvaro Beltran - 3 seconds, 4 semis, 3 qtr
4) Jose Rojas - 1 seconds, 5 semis, 4 qrts
5) Chris Crowther - 3 semi, 8 qtrs
6) Ben Croft - 2 seconds, 3 semis, 4 qtrs
7) Tony Carson - 8 qrts
8) Shane Vanderson - 1 semis, 3 qtrs
9) Daniel De La Rosa - 1 semi, 3 qtrs
10) Javier Moreno - 4 qtrs
11) Alex Ackermann - 2 qtrs
12) Andy Hawthorne - 1 qtr
13) Marco Rojas - 1 semi, 1 qtr
14) Jose Diaz - 1 qtr
15) Alejandro Landa - 1 semis, 2 qtr
16) Anthony Herrera - 1 qtr
17) Jansen Allen - 1 qtr
19) Nick Montalbano - 1 semi
21) Charlie Pratt - 1 qrt
35) Fernando Rios - 1 qtr
Event - Final - Semi-Finalists
Kansas City Final: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: Beltran, J. Rojas
US Open Final: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Beltran, Crowther
Davison Final: Waselenchuk d. Beltran - Semis: Vanderson, R. Carson
New Jersey Open Final: R. Carson d. Beltran - Semis: Crowther, Montalbano
California Open Final: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: Landa, Beltran
New York City Final: R. Carson d. J. Rojas - Semis: Crowther, Beltran
Florida Spring Break Final: Waselenchuk d. Croft - Semis: J. Rojas, R. Carson
Denver Final: R. Carson d. Waselenchuk - Semis: Croft, J. Rojas
St Louis Final: Waselenchuk d. Beltran - Semis: M. Rojas, R. Carson
Portland Final: Waselenchuk d. Croft - Semis: J. Rojas, R. Carson
Stockton Final: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: Croft, De La Rosa
Ektelon Nationals Final: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: J. Rojas, Croft
The 2012-13 IRT Statistical Abstract
Total matches played: 479
Percentage of 3 game matches: 57.4 (275 of 479)
Percentage of 4 game matches: 22.5 (108)
Percentage of 5 game matches: 14.0 (67)
Percentage of matches that were defaults or data was incomplete: 6.3 (30)
Most points scored in a victory
53 - (i) John Behm d. Arthur Schmeiser, 13-11, 8-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, in the NYC Pro-Am, (ii) Alex Ackermann d. Andy Hawthorne, 9-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-4, 11-5, in the New Jersey Open, & (iii) Alvaro Beltran d. Rocky Carson, 11-[-1], 11-1, 10-12, 9-11, 11-1
Most points scored in a loss
52 - Alvaro Beltran in loss to Ben Croft, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 4-11, 12-10, in the Denver Pro-Am
2nd most: 51 - (i) Alejandro Landa in loss to Daniel De La Rosa, 11-13, 11-8, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9, in the California Open, & (ii) Nick Montalbano in lose to Jose Rojas, 12-10, 10-12, 2-11, 11-9, 11-9, in the New Jersey Open
Most points in a...
5 game match: 102 - Daniel De La Rosa d. Alejandro Landa, 11-13, 11-8, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9, in the California Open
4 game match: 90 - Alex Ackermann d. Anthony Herrera, 13-11, 12-10, 9-11, 13-11 in the US Open
3 game match: 68 - Nick Montalbano d. Eric Muller, 11-7, 13-11, 14-12 in the New Jersey Open
Largest margin of victory
5 game match: 22 - Taylor Knoth d. Brad Schopieray, 11-4, 10-12, 9-11, 11-1, 11-2, in Portland
4 game match: 26 - Andrew Clarke d. Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 11-13, 11-0, 11-1, 11-4 in the Denver Pro-Am
3 game match: 33 by Roberto Santandar over Eli Mireles, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0 in the New Jersey Open
Smallest margin of victory
5 game match: -9 - Alvaro Beltran d. Ben Croft, 1-11, 11-8, 11-7, 2-11, 11-8 in the Kansas City Pro-Am
4 game match: 1 - David Horn d. Jansen Allen, 12-10, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9 in the Kansas City Pro-Am
3 game match: 8 - (i) Nick Montalbano d. Eric Muller, 11-7, 13-11, 14-12 in the New Jersey Open & (ii) Alejandro Landa d. Jose Rojas, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8, in the California Open
Waselenchuk dominance continues
Kane Waselenchuk maintained his dominant position in men's pro racquetball last season, although for the second consecutive season he missed some tournaments due to injury and he had to retire during the final of the Denver Pro-Am. Waselenchuk's will be 32 in November and he plays more racquetball matches than most of the other IRT players (although he generally only plays Tier 1 and Grand Slam events while most other players will enter some lower Tier events during the season), so he's got relatively more mileage on his body than others.
However, Waselenchuk's game level is still very high, and there seems little reason to doubt that he will again dominate the IRT this season.
The rest of the field
Waselenchuk's only lost on court in the past few season when he's been injured. You have to go back to January 2009 for his last on court loss. Will this be the season he loses again on court? We wouldn't place any bets on that, at least not without getting really good odds.
However, if he was to do so, who would do it? Rocky Carson re-established himself as the #2 IRT player last season, as he was the only other player to win any tournaments. We believe that it's possible for him to beat Waselenchuk, but clearly it's not an easy task.
It looked like Carson had an opportunity in the California Open, when Waselenchuk seemed to be injured late in the match (and he missed the tournament the next week), and Carson was ahead when they played in the Denver final prior to Waselenchuk injuring his knee that led him to retire after the third game.
So, Carson could beat Waselenchuk. Who else?
Alvaro Beltran is the last person to do (and we anticipated that), and he did reach three finals last season, losing twice to Waselenchuk and once to Carson. But Beltran's in his mid-30s now, so time's not on his side. Beltran's game style - good drive serves, lob serves tight to the right wall, and hitting winner off of diving gets - matches up well against Waselenchuk, but that style demands a lot of energy and fitness, which hasn't always been Beltran's strongest suit.
Ben Croft didn't win an event last season, as he did the season before. But he did improve his drive serve and did take a game off of Waselenchuk in one of the two finals they played together. However, one game isn't a match, but if Croft continues to improve his game, it's conceivable that he could get the better of Waselenchuk.
Like Croft, Jose Rojas won a tournament two seasons ago but not last season. He started last season poorly, but that was likely due to finishing up his college studies. With that done, he played well the in the second half of the season and is the youngest of the players in the top 4, so time is on side more than anyone else.
New blood
Six more players reached the quarter finals or better at an IRT event last season than in the season before (20 v. 14), so there have been some new faces in the later rounds of IRT events.
Daniel De La Rosa has been the best of the new players, as he finished 9th in the IRT rankings with one semi-final appearance and three quarter final appearances. De La Rosa is an exciting young player from Mexico, whose arm speed with his forehand shot is blurringly fast. He's younger than Rojas and if he plays the full season it will certainly be interesting to see how he does.
Alejandro Landa, another Mexican, also did well last season despite not playing the whole year. But in four events he had one semi-final and two quarter final finishes.
There were also some young Americans who did well last season, including Marco Rojas, Jose Diaz, Jansen Allen, and Nick Montalbano. Thus, we could see even an greater variety of players in the semi-finals and finals this season.
But in the end, we still like Waselenchuk's chances to dominate the IRT this season. He's tied with Cliff Swain for most IRT tournament wins all time at 70, and this time next week he may be the winningest IRT player ever. Considering Waselenchuk's won 70 tournaments in 108 tournament appearances* (64.8 winning percentage), and you can understand why people talk about him as the best ever.
This is sport, however, so strange things can happen, and probably will. And we'll be sure to cover it all for you during the 2013-14 IRT season.
* Note - The IRT Historical Archive lists 114 tournament appearances for Waselenchuk, but six of those were tournaments where he didn't play a single match; effectively, he wasn't there, so we've removed those events from the calculation here.
Follow the bouncing ball....
IRT Rank - Player - Wins - Seconds - Semis - Quarters
1) Kane Waselenchuk - 9 wins, 1 seconds, 0 semi-finals, 0 quarters
2) Rocky Carson - 3 win, 5 seconds, 4 semis, 0 qtrs
3) Alvaro Beltran - 3 seconds, 4 semis, 3 qtr
4) Jose Rojas - 1 seconds, 5 semis, 4 qrts
5) Chris Crowther - 3 semi, 8 qtrs
6) Ben Croft - 2 seconds, 3 semis, 4 qtrs
7) Tony Carson - 8 qrts
8) Shane Vanderson - 1 semis, 3 qtrs
9) Daniel De La Rosa - 1 semi, 3 qtrs
10) Javier Moreno - 4 qtrs
11) Alex Ackermann - 2 qtrs
12) Andy Hawthorne - 1 qtr
13) Marco Rojas - 1 semi, 1 qtr
14) Jose Diaz - 1 qtr
15) Alejandro Landa - 1 semis, 2 qtr
16) Anthony Herrera - 1 qtr
17) Jansen Allen - 1 qtr
19) Nick Montalbano - 1 semi
21) Charlie Pratt - 1 qrt
35) Fernando Rios - 1 qtr
Event - Final - Semi-Finalists
Kansas City Final: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: Beltran, J. Rojas
US Open Final: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Beltran, Crowther
Davison Final: Waselenchuk d. Beltran - Semis: Vanderson, R. Carson
New Jersey Open Final: R. Carson d. Beltran - Semis: Crowther, Montalbano
California Open Final: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: Landa, Beltran
New York City Final: R. Carson d. J. Rojas - Semis: Crowther, Beltran
Florida Spring Break Final: Waselenchuk d. Croft - Semis: J. Rojas, R. Carson
Denver Final: R. Carson d. Waselenchuk - Semis: Croft, J. Rojas
St Louis Final: Waselenchuk d. Beltran - Semis: M. Rojas, R. Carson
Portland Final: Waselenchuk d. Croft - Semis: J. Rojas, R. Carson
Stockton Final: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: Croft, De La Rosa
Ektelon Nationals Final: Waselenchuk d. R. Carson - Semis: J. Rojas, Croft
The 2012-13 IRT Statistical Abstract
Total matches played: 479
Percentage of 3 game matches: 57.4 (275 of 479)
Percentage of 4 game matches: 22.5 (108)
Percentage of 5 game matches: 14.0 (67)
Percentage of matches that were defaults or data was incomplete: 6.3 (30)
Most points scored in a victory
53 - (i) John Behm d. Arthur Schmeiser, 13-11, 8-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-7, in the NYC Pro-Am, (ii) Alex Ackermann d. Andy Hawthorne, 9-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-4, 11-5, in the New Jersey Open, & (iii) Alvaro Beltran d. Rocky Carson, 11-[-1], 11-1, 10-12, 9-11, 11-1
Most points scored in a loss
52 - Alvaro Beltran in loss to Ben Croft, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 4-11, 12-10, in the Denver Pro-Am
2nd most: 51 - (i) Alejandro Landa in loss to Daniel De La Rosa, 11-13, 11-8, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9, in the California Open, & (ii) Nick Montalbano in lose to Jose Rojas, 12-10, 10-12, 2-11, 11-9, 11-9, in the New Jersey Open
Most points in a...
5 game match: 102 - Daniel De La Rosa d. Alejandro Landa, 11-13, 11-8, 12-10, 6-11, 11-9, in the California Open
4 game match: 90 - Alex Ackermann d. Anthony Herrera, 13-11, 12-10, 9-11, 13-11 in the US Open
3 game match: 68 - Nick Montalbano d. Eric Muller, 11-7, 13-11, 14-12 in the New Jersey Open
Largest margin of victory
5 game match: 22 - Taylor Knoth d. Brad Schopieray, 11-4, 10-12, 9-11, 11-1, 11-2, in Portland
4 game match: 26 - Andrew Clarke d. Alexi David Cocco Hayes, 11-13, 11-0, 11-1, 11-4 in the Denver Pro-Am
3 game match: 33 by Roberto Santandar over Eli Mireles, 11-0, 11-0, 11-0 in the New Jersey Open
Smallest margin of victory
5 game match: -9 - Alvaro Beltran d. Ben Croft, 1-11, 11-8, 11-7, 2-11, 11-8 in the Kansas City Pro-Am
4 game match: 1 - David Horn d. Jansen Allen, 12-10, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9 in the Kansas City Pro-Am
3 game match: 8 - (i) Nick Montalbano d. Eric Muller, 11-7, 13-11, 14-12 in the New Jersey Open & (ii) Alejandro Landa d. Jose Rojas, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8, in the California Open
Waselenchuk dominance continues
Kane Waselenchuk maintained his dominant position in men's pro racquetball last season, although for the second consecutive season he missed some tournaments due to injury and he had to retire during the final of the Denver Pro-Am. Waselenchuk's will be 32 in November and he plays more racquetball matches than most of the other IRT players (although he generally only plays Tier 1 and Grand Slam events while most other players will enter some lower Tier events during the season), so he's got relatively more mileage on his body than others.
However, Waselenchuk's game level is still very high, and there seems little reason to doubt that he will again dominate the IRT this season.
The rest of the field
Waselenchuk's only lost on court in the past few season when he's been injured. You have to go back to January 2009 for his last on court loss. Will this be the season he loses again on court? We wouldn't place any bets on that, at least not without getting really good odds.
However, if he was to do so, who would do it? Rocky Carson re-established himself as the #2 IRT player last season, as he was the only other player to win any tournaments. We believe that it's possible for him to beat Waselenchuk, but clearly it's not an easy task.
It looked like Carson had an opportunity in the California Open, when Waselenchuk seemed to be injured late in the match (and he missed the tournament the next week), and Carson was ahead when they played in the Denver final prior to Waselenchuk injuring his knee that led him to retire after the third game.
So, Carson could beat Waselenchuk. Who else?
Alvaro Beltran is the last person to do (and we anticipated that), and he did reach three finals last season, losing twice to Waselenchuk and once to Carson. But Beltran's in his mid-30s now, so time's not on his side. Beltran's game style - good drive serves, lob serves tight to the right wall, and hitting winner off of diving gets - matches up well against Waselenchuk, but that style demands a lot of energy and fitness, which hasn't always been Beltran's strongest suit.
Ben Croft didn't win an event last season, as he did the season before. But he did improve his drive serve and did take a game off of Waselenchuk in one of the two finals they played together. However, one game isn't a match, but if Croft continues to improve his game, it's conceivable that he could get the better of Waselenchuk.
Like Croft, Jose Rojas won a tournament two seasons ago but not last season. He started last season poorly, but that was likely due to finishing up his college studies. With that done, he played well the in the second half of the season and is the youngest of the players in the top 4, so time is on side more than anyone else.
New blood
Six more players reached the quarter finals or better at an IRT event last season than in the season before (20 v. 14), so there have been some new faces in the later rounds of IRT events.
Daniel De La Rosa has been the best of the new players, as he finished 9th in the IRT rankings with one semi-final appearance and three quarter final appearances. De La Rosa is an exciting young player from Mexico, whose arm speed with his forehand shot is blurringly fast. He's younger than Rojas and if he plays the full season it will certainly be interesting to see how he does.
Alejandro Landa, another Mexican, also did well last season despite not playing the whole year. But in four events he had one semi-final and two quarter final finishes.
There were also some young Americans who did well last season, including Marco Rojas, Jose Diaz, Jansen Allen, and Nick Montalbano. Thus, we could see even an greater variety of players in the semi-finals and finals this season.
But in the end, we still like Waselenchuk's chances to dominate the IRT this season. He's tied with Cliff Swain for most IRT tournament wins all time at 70, and this time next week he may be the winningest IRT player ever. Considering Waselenchuk's won 70 tournaments in 108 tournament appearances* (64.8 winning percentage), and you can understand why people talk about him as the best ever.
This is sport, however, so strange things can happen, and probably will. And we'll be sure to cover it all for you during the 2013-14 IRT season.
* Note - The IRT Historical Archive lists 114 tournament appearances for Waselenchuk, but six of those were tournaments where he didn't play a single match; effectively, he wasn't there, so we've removed those events from the calculation here.
Follow the bouncing ball....
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