Waselenchuk wins 2016 IRT New York City Pro-Am

Kane Waselenchuk won the first event of 2016 on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Sunday, as he captured the 2016 New York City Pro-Am in Syosset, New York, by defeating Rocky Carson in the final, 11-7, 11-5, 11-2. It’s the 6th title of the season for Waselenchuk, and 5th time he has defeated Carson in the final.

They were close early in game one, as it took over 15 rallies to get to 3-3. But from there Waselenchuk took an 8-3 lead. Carson got within three at 8-5, and 10-7, but no closer, as Waselenchuk won game one, 11-7.

Waselenchuk went wire to wire in game two and three. In game two, Waselenchuk went up 5-1. Carson again cut the lead to three points at 6-3, but couldn’t get closer, as Waselenchuk won 11-5.

In game three, Waselenchuk took a 6-0 before Carson got on the board. A drive serve to the left that cracked out for an ace got Waselenchuk to match point at 10-2. He won it as Carson skipped a serve return off a drive Z to the left side that Carson tried to hit a backhand pinch shot from.

In the semi-finals on Saturday, Waselenchuk beat Jose Rojas, 11-5, 11-0, 11-3, and Carson got the better of Jansen Allen, 11-9, 11-5, 11-8.

The IRT is again in action this coming weekend, when they will be in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the 38th Annual Lewis Pro-Am Tournament.

2016 New York City Open, January 14-17
Long Island, New York

Final

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 2) Rocky Carson, 11-7, 11-5, 11-2

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 5) Jose Rojas, 11-9, 11-5, 11-8
2) Rocky Carson d. 6) Jansen Allen, 11-5, 11-0, 11-3

Follow the bouncing ball….

Rojas and Allen through to the semi-finals at the 2016 IRT NYC Pro-Am

Jose Rojas and Jansen Allen were upset winners Friday at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 2016 New York City Pro-Am in Syosset, New York, as they both advanced to Saturday’s semi-finals. In the quarterfinals, Allen knocked off 3rd seed Alvaro Beltran, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10, 11-6, and Rojas beat 4th seed Daniel De La Rosa, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-3.

But they’ll each need to create another upset if Allen and Rojas are to meet in the final, which would be a meeting of Team USA doubles partners, as Allen and Rojas captured gold at last year’s Pan American Games. Standing the way of them reaching the final are IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk and IRT #2 Rocky Carson.

Waselenchuk and Carson both won their respective quarterfinal matches in three straight games, and none of those games was especially close. Waselenchuk beat Charlie Pratt, 11-3, 11-0, 11-4, and Carson defeated Marco Rojas (Jose's brother), 11-2, 11-6, 11-1.

The semi-finals will be shown on the IRT Network beginning at 4 PM and 5 PM Saturday with the final Sunday at noon. All times eastern.

2016 New York City Open, January 14-17
Long Island, New York

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Charlie Pratt, 11-3, 11-0, 11-4
5) Jose Rojas d. 4) Daniel De La Rosa, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-3

6) Jansen Allen d. 3) Alvaro Beltran, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10, 11-6
2) Rocky Carson d. 7) Marco Rojas, 11-2, 11-6, 11-1

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 5) Jose Rojas - 4 PM
2) Rocky Carson v. 6) Jansen Allen - 5 PM

Follow the bouncing ball….

2016 IRT NYC Pro-Am - Round of 16

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) has begun the second half of its season with the 2016 New York City Pro-Am on Long Island, New York, and the top players look rested, as they all played well in their first matches in the Round of 16 Friday. Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 IRT player, defeated Alejandro Herrera, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4, and IRT #2 Rocky Carson beat Jake Bredenbeck, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7.

Fourth seed Daniel De La Rosa also won in three straight games against Andree Parrilla, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4, but 3rd seed Alvaro Beltran had a tougher time of it, as he needed four games to defeat Mario Mercado, 11-3, 13-15, 11-6, 11-7.

There was one small upset in the 16s, as 9th seed Charlie Pratt defeated 8th seed Felipe Camacho, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7. Pratt will face Waselenchuk in the quarterfinals.

Look for the quarterfinals on the IRT Network beginning at 4 PM Friday. The semi-finals are scheduled for 4 PM and 5 PM Saturday with the final Sunday at noon. All times eastern.

2016 New York City Open, January 14-17
Long Island, New York

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Alejandro Herrera, 11-4, 11-4, 11-4
Charlie Pratt d. 8) Felipe Camacho, 11-5, 11-5, 11-7

5) Jose Rojas d. Nicolas Bousquet, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. Andree Parrilla, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4

3) Alvaro Beltran d. Mario Mercado, 11-3, 13-15, 11-6, 11-7
6) Jansen Allen d. Mauricio Zelada, 11-2, 11-8, 11-3

7) Marco Rojas d. Robert Collins, 11-4, 11-1, 11-5
2) Rocky Carson d. Jake Bredenbeck, 11-8, 11-4, 11-7

Round of 16 - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Charlie Pratt
4) Daniel De La Rosa v. 5) Jose Rojas

3) Alvaro Beltran v. 6) Jansen Allen
2) Rocky Carson v. 7) Marco Rojas

Follow the bouncing ball….