36th Pan American Racquetball Championships begin Saturday

The XXXVI Pan American Championships begin in Guatemala City on Saturday. Twelve countries are competing compared with 10 last year, so the competition should be a bit higher. There were no Mexican women last year, or any Bolivians, but this year there is a full Mexican team, as well as Bolivian men and a full Ecuador team.

Mexicans Alexandra Herrera and Montserrat Mejia are medal favourites for women’s singles, along with Argentine Natalia Mendez, Chilean Carla Muñoz and Canadian Frédérique Lambert. Dark horses for the podium would include American Michelle Key, Guatemalan Maria Renee Rodriguez, Argentine Valeria Centellas and Dominican Merynanyelly Delgado.

In women’s doubles, Mexicans Herrera and Samantha Salas and Argentina’s Centellas and Mendez are likely finalists with Chile’s Paula Mansilla and Muñoz, Americans Key and Lexi York, and Dominicans Maria Cespedes and Delgado as possible medalists.

On the men’s side, the favourites in singles are Bolivians Carlos Keller and Conrrado Moscoso, who have both won two men’s singles Pan Am Championships. The main challengers to the Bolivians should be Costa Rican Andrés Acuña, American Jake Bredenbeck, Canadian Samuel Murray, Chilean Alan Natera, and the Mexicans Javier Mar and Sebastian Fernandez.

In doubles, last year’s champions - Costa Rican Acuña and Gabriel Garcia - are back, so they could repeat again, but will face stiff challenges from Bolivians Kadim Carrasco and Moscoso, Mexicans Sebastian Hernandez and Erick Trujillo, Ecuadorians Jose Daniel Ugalde and Juan Francisco Cueva, American brothers Jake and Sam Bredenbeck, as well as Canadians Kurtis Cullen and Trevor Webb and Argentina’s Diego Garcia and Gerson Miranda Martinez.

Interestingly, Ricardo Monroy is playing doubles for the Dominican Republic, with whom he’s coached for several years. But he’s won both singles and doubles at the Pan American Championships for his native Bolivia, doing so in 2010 and 2012, respectively. He’ll be teaming up with Ramon De Leon this year.

The draws are available through the R2 Sports website. Also, some of the matches are being streamed live, so check out the IRF Facebook page or the IRF YouTube channel for matches.

XXXVI Pan American Racquetball Championships
Guatemala City, Guatemala - April 12-19, 2025

Women's Singles

Group 1 - Saturday

Michelle Key (USA) v. Jamileth Sipac (Guatemala) - 11:30 AM
Natalia Mendez (Argentina) - BYE

Group 2 - Saturday

Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala) v. Lexi York (USA) - 11:30 AM
Frédérique Lambert (Canada) - BYE

Group 3 - Saturday

Maria Cespedes (Dominican Republic) v. Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 11:30 AM
Valeria Centellas (Argentina) - BYE

Group 4 - Saturday

Juliette Parent (Canada) v. Maria Angela Villascreses (Ecuador) - 11:30 AM
Alexandra Herrera (Mexico) v. Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica) - 11:30 AM

Group 5 - Saturday

Montserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) - 10:45 AM
Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) v. Paula Mansilla (Chile) - 11:30 AM

Men's Singles

Group 1 - Saturday

Gerson Miranda Martinez (Argentina) v. Edwin Galicia (Guatemala) - 10 AM
Javier Mar (Mexico) - BYE

Group 2 - Saturday

Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Erik Mendoza (Peru) - 10 AM
Leyton Gouldie (Canada) v. Alan Natera (Chile) - 10 AM

Group 3 - Saturday

Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) v. David Gonzalez (Peru) - 10:45 AM
Diego Garcia (Argentina) v. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) - 10:45 AM

Group 4 - Saturday

Carlos Keller (Bolivia) v. Christian Menendez (Cuba) - 10 AM
Samuel Murray (Canada) v. Rodrigo Salgado Jr. (Chile) - 10:45 AM

Group 5 - Saturday

Jake Bredenbeck (USA) v. Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - 10 AM
Felipe Camacho (Costa Rica) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador) - 10:45 AM

Group 6 - Saturday

Andrés Acuña (Costa Rica) v. Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) - 10 AM
Thomas Carter (USA) v. Diego Pimentel (Dominican Republic) - 10:45 AM

Women's Doubles

Group 1 - Saturday

Valeria Centellas & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. Larissa Faeth & Jimena Gomez (Costa Rica) - 3:15 PM
Jamileth Sipac & Isabella Wer (Guatemala) v. Paula Mansilla & Carla Muñoz (Chile) - 3:15 PM

Group 2 - Saturday

Alexandra Herrera & Samantha Salas (Mexico) v. Chloe Jauvin & Ofelia Wilscam (Canada) - 3:15 PM
Michelle Key & Lexi York (USA) v. Maria Cespedes & Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic) - 3:15 PM

Men's Doubles

Group 1 - Saturday

Andrés Acuña & Gabriel Garcia (Costa Rica) v. David Gonzalez & Erik Mendoza (Peru) - 2:30 PM
Jose Caceres & Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala) v. Alan Natera & Rodrigo Salgado Jr. (Chile) - 1:45 PM

Group 2 - Saturday

Sebastian Hernandez & Erick Trujillo (Mexico) v. Raul Martinez Gutierrez & Christhian Menendez (Cuba) - 2:30 PM
Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck (USA) v. Ramon De Leon & Ricardo Monroy (Dominican Republic) - 2:30 PM

Group 3 - Saturday

Kurtis Cullen & Trevor Webb (Canada) v. Diego Garcia & Gerson Miranda Martinez (Argentina) - 2:30 PM
Kadim Carrasco & Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) v. Jose Daniel Ugalde & Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador) - 2:30 PM

Mixed Doubles

Group 1 - Saturday

Edwin Galicia & Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. Merynanyelly Delgado & Ramon De Leon (Dominican Republic) - 4:45 PM
Sam Bredenbeck & Michelle Key (USA) - BYE

Group 2 - Saturday

Carla Muñoz & Alan Natera (Chile) v. Martin Carchi & Maria Angela Villacreses (Ecuador) - 4:45 PM
Frédérique Lambert & Samuel Murray (Canada) - BYE

Group 3 - Saturday

Gerson Miranda & Natalia Mendez (Argentina) v. Andrés Acuña & Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica) - 4:45 PM
Rodrigo Montoya & Samantha Salas (Mexico) - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Bredenbeck wins 2025 IRT Shamrock Shootout

Jake Bredenbeck won his 3rd International Racquetball Tour (IRT) title on the weekend, as he defeated Eduardo Portillo, 15-11, 15-3, in the final of the 40th Annual Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Illinois. Portillo was also in the doubles final, but he and Andree Parrilla lost to Javier Mar and Rodrigo Montoya, 15-4, 15-7.

There were surprises throughout the tournament, as none of the top four seeds made the semi-finals. Bredenbeck, seeded 8th, beat 5th seed Parrilla, 15-11, 15-12, in one semi, while Portillo, the 10th seed, narrowly defeated 11th seed Javier Mar, 10-15, 15-9, 11-9, in the other semi-final.

In the quarterfinals, Bredenbeck won the first game against IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk, 15-8, and then Waselenchuk forfeited the match due to a nagging injury he picked up while playing last weekend in Minneapolis. Waselenchuk certainly wasn’t moving as well as we are used to seeing during game one.

In the other quarterfinals, there were two surprisingly lop-sided wins with Portillo beating 2nd seed Andrés Acuña, 15-3, 15-0, and Mar defeating Samuel Murray, 15-5, 15-1, and one close tie-breaker, as Parrilla eked out a victory over current U18 World Junior Champion Jhonathan Flores, 4-15, 15-12, 11-10.

Earlier in the tournament, Murray - playing his first IRT event since winning in Sioux Falls last year - upset 3rd seed Rodrigo Montoya, 15-11, 15-6, in the Round of 32. Also, Flores took out 4th seed Alan Natera, 15-9, 15-6, in the Round of 16. Flores and Murray teamed up in doubles and ousted Jake and Sam Bredenbeck in the 16s, 15-14, 7-15, 11-4, but lost in the quarterfinals to Acuña and Natera, 15-10, 8-15, 11-5.

Flores and Murray’s matches were two of the eight tie-breakers out of 13 doubles matches played in Lombard. However, Mar and Montoya won all their matches in two straight games - no tie-breakers needed - in winning the title. Indeed, they only gave up more than 10 points in one of the six games they played with their opponents averaging 7.3 points a game.

On a sad note, this may have been the last IRT event at the Glass Court Swim and Fitness club in Lombard, as it is up for sale, so it’s unclear what the future holds for what has been one of the premier venues for racquetball over several decades, hosting many IRT and Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour events, as well as USA Racquetball tournaments.

The next IRT main event will be the World Singles and Doubles Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, September 4-7. If you missed any of the action from Lombard, check out the IRT YouTube channel.

40th Annual Papa Nicholas IRT Shamrock Shootout
Lombard, Illinois - March 13-16, 2025

IRT Singles - Final

8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 10) Eduardo Portillo, 15-11, 15-3

Semi-finals

8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 5) Andree Parrilla, 15-11, 15-12
10) Eduardo Portillo d. 11) Javier Mar, 10-15, 15-9, 11-9

Quarterfinals

8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 1) Kane Waselenchuk, 15-8, injury forfeit
5) Andree Parrilla d. 20) Jhonathan Flores, 4-15, 15-12, 11-10

11) Javier Mar d. 35) Samuel Murray, 15-5, 15-1
10) Eduardo Portillo d. 2) Andrés Acuña, 15-3, 15-0

Round of 16

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 17) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-11, 15-5
8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 9) Jaime Martell, 15-12, 15-4

5) Andree Parrilla d. 12) Thomas Carter, 15-9, 15-8
20) Jhonathan Flores d. 4) Alan Natera, 15-9, 15-6

35) Samuel Murray d. 19) Gerson Miranda Martinez, 15-5, 15-8
11) Javier Mar d. 6) Jordy Alonso, 15-6, 13-10, injury forfeit

10) Eduardo Portillo d. 7) Erick Trujillo, 15-5, 15-6
2) Andrés Acuña d. 15) Robert Collins, 15-11, 15-3

Round of 32

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 33) Jhoel Alexis Acha Portugal, 15-4, 15-6
17) Sam Bredenbeck d. 16) Cole Sendrey, 15-13, 15-6

9) Jaime Martell d. 24) David Horn, 14-15, 15-10, 11-0
8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 25) Blase Zera, 15-3, 15-8

5) Andree Parrilla d. 28) Esteban Reque, 15-6, 15-7
12) Thomas Carter d. 21) Kadim Carrasco, 15-2, 15-0

20) Jhonathan Flores d. 13) Diego Gastelum, 15-7, 15-6
4) Alan Natera d. 29) Benjamin Horner, 6-15, 15-8, 11-7

35) Samuel Murray d. 3) Rodrigo Montoya, 15-11, 15-6
19) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 14) Carlos Ramirez, 11-15, 15-0, 11-1

11) Javier Mar d. 22) Jim Douglas, 15-3, 15-1
6) Jordy Alonso d. 27) Migel Angel Arteaga Guzman, 15-3, 15-4

7) Erick Trujillo d. 26) DJ Mendoza, 15-12, 15-3
10) Eduardo Portillo d. 23) John Wolfe, 15-4, 15-13

15) Robert Collins d. 18) Diego Garcia, forfeit
2) Andrés Acuña d. 34) Santiago Castillo, 15-3, 15-1

Round of 64

32) Jhoel Alexis Acha Portugal d. 32) Jose Luis De Alba Cardenas, 15-5, 15-10
28) Esteban Reque d. 37) Grant Williams, 15-6, 15-7
29) Benjamin Horner d. 36) Juan Herrera II, 6-15, 15-8, 11-7

35) Samuel Murray d. 30) Hector Barrios, 15-5, 15-3
31) Santiago Castillo d. 34) James Black, 15-4, 15-10

IRT Doubles - Final

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 2) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo, 15-4, 15-7

Semi-finals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo, 15-12, 15-6
2) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 3) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera, 11-15, 15-10, 11-3

Quarterfinals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell, 15-9, 15-6
4) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo d. 12) Hector Barrios & Jhoel Alexis Acha Portugal, 11-15, 15-2, 11-7

3) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera d. 11) Jhonatan Flores & Samuel Murray, 15-10, 8-15, 11-5
2) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo d. 10) Gerson Miranda Martinez & Diego Garcia, 7-15, 15-12, 11-8

Round of 16

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
9) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell d. 8) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey, 7-15, 15-5, 11-1

12) Hector Barrios & Jhoel Alexis Acha Portugal d. 5) Kadim Carrasco & David Horn, 14-15, 15-7, 11-6
4) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo d. 13) DJ Mendoza & Esteban Reque, 15-9, 15-7

3) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera d. 14) Victor Migliore & Kyle Ulliman, 15-14, 15-10
11) Jhonatan Flores & Samuel Murray d. 6) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 15-14, 7-15, 11-4

10) Gerson Miranda Martinez & Diego Garcia d. 7) Robert Collins & Carlos Ramirez, 14-15, 15-12, 11-2
2) Andree Parrilla & Eduardo Portillo - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk wins 2025 IRT Minnesota Hall of Fame tournament

Kane Waselenchuk continues to be a dominant force on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) well into his fourth decade, as he won the Minnesota Racquetball Hall of Fame presented by KWM Gutterman in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the weekend, his 2nd win in as many IRT events this year.

On Sunday, Waselenchuk defeated surprise finalist Alan Natera in three games, 15-7, 12-15, 11-4. Natera, the 7th seed, reached the final after 3rd seed Rodrigo Montoya forfeited their semi-final match as he hurt his pectoral muscle during his quarterfinal match with Gerson Miranda Martinez.

Montoya did eke out a win over Miranda, 11-15, 15-0, 11-10, but he wasn’t able to compete against Natera.

In the other semi-final, Waselenchuk defeated 4th seed Andrés Acuña, 15-12, 15-14.

There were several upsets during the weekend, and none was bigger than 31st seed David Horn’s win over 2nd seed Conrrado Moscoso, 15-13, 15-0. They were close in game one, when Moscoso twisted his left knee. He took his injury timeout, but was clearly hampered from then on.

Moscoso didn’t forfeit the match, but he probably should have, as he clearly wasn’t able to move very well. Indeed, in game two, Moscoso hardly moved at all, as Horn served it out.

Sixth seeds Jordy Alonso and Erick Trujillo won the the doubles event, as they got a win over top seeds Javier Mar and Montoya by injury forfeit. It’s the first IRT doubles title for Alonso and the 2nd for Trujillo, who won in Canoga Park last year with Montoya.

Alonso and Trujillo also got a injury forfeit win in the semi-finals, which was over 2nd seeds Moscoso and Kadim Carrasco. In the other semi-final, Mar and Montoya beat 4th seeds Hector Barrios and Andree Parrilla, 15-6, 15-11.

The IRT is back at it this weekend when the 40th Annual Papa Nicholas Shamrock Shootout takes place in Lombard, Illinois, March 13-16. If you missed any of the action from Minneapolis check out the IRT YouTube channel.

Minnesota Racquetball Hall of Fame presented by KWM Gutterman
Minneapolis, Minnesota - March 3-6, 2025

IRT Singles - Final

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 7) Alan Natera, 15-7, 12-15, 11-4

Semi-finals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 4) Andrés Acuña, 15-12, 15-14
7) Alan Natera d. 3) Rodrigo Montoya, injury forfeit

Quarterfinals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 24) Diego Garcia, 15-7, 15-4
4) Andrés Acuña d. 5) Andree Parrilla, 15-7, 15-8

3) Rodrigo Montoya d. 27) Gerson Miranda Martinez, 11-15, 15-0, 11-10
7) Alan Natera d. 31) David Horn, 15-11, 15-13

Round of 16

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 16) Sam Bredenbeck, 15-4, 15-1
24) Diego Garcia d. 8) Jake Bredenbeck, 15-8, 9-15, 11-7

5) Andree Parrilla d. 21) Jhonatan Flores, 13-15, 15-13, 11-10
4) Andrés Acuña d. 13) Diego Gastelum, 15-3, 15-14

3) Rodrigo Montoya d. 19) John Goth, 15-1, 15-4
27) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 11) Thomas Carter, 15-10, 15-4

7) Alan Natera d. 10) Jaime Martell, 15-6, 15-4
31) David Horn d. 18) Cole Sendrey, 15-13, 15-6

Round of 32

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 32) Jose Caceres, 15-2, 15-1
16) Sam Bredenbeck d. 17) Kadim Carrasco, 11-15, 15-10, 11-10

24) Diego Garcia d. 9) Jordy Alonso, 15-10, 15-2
8) Jake Bredenbeck d. 25) Blase Zera, 15-1, 15-2

5) Andree Parrilla d. 28) DJ Mendoza, 15-9, 15-8
21) Jhonatan Flores d. 12) Javier Mar, 6-15, 15-14, 11-7

13) Diego Gastelum d. 20) Jim Douglas, 15-6, 15-0
4) Andrés Acuña d. 29) Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman, 15-2, 12-15, 11-0

3) Rodrigo Montoya d. 35) Set Cubillos, 15-5, 15-4
19) John Goth d. 14) Carlos Ramirez, 15-6, 15-3

11) Thomas Carter d. 22) John Wolfe, 15-1, 15-7
27) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 6) Erick Trujillo, 15-10, 2-15, 11-8

7) Alan Natera d. 26) Juan Salvatierra, 15-6, 15-7
10) Jaime Martell d. 23) Edwin Galicia, 15-12, 15-9

18) Cole Sendrey d. 15) Robert Collins, 15-8, 15-12
31) David Horn d. 2) Conrrado Moscoso, 15-13, 15-0

Round of 64

32) Jose Caceres d. 33) Benjamin Horner, 15-2, 15-6
28) DJ Mendoza d. 37) Jhoel Alexis Acha Portugal, 15-11, 15-12
29) Miguel Angel Arteaga Guzman d. 36) Jose Luis De Alba Cardenas, 15-6, 15-7

35) Set Cubillos d. 30) Esteban Reque, 15-7, 15-5
27) Gerson Miranda Martinez d. 38) Santiago Castillo, 15-7, 15-2
26) Juan Salvatierra d. 39) Reza Mousavi, 15-4, 15-1
31) David Horn d. 34) Lee Meinerz, 15-5, 15-5

IRT Doubles - Final

6) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo d. 1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya, injury forfeit

Semi-finals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 4) Hector Barrios & Andree Parrilla, 15-6, 15-11
6) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo d. 2) Conrrado Moscoso & Kadim Carrasco, forfeit

Quarterfinals

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya d. 9) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell, 15-5, 15-8
4) Hector Barrios & Andree Parrilla d. 5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck, 15-10, 15-10

6) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo d. 3) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera, 15-12, 13-15, 11-6
2) Conrrado Moscoso & Kadim Carrasco d. 10) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra, 10-15, 15-13, 11-8

Round of 16

1) Javier Mar & Rodrigo Montoya - BYE
9) Thomas Carter & Jaime Martell d. 8) Diego Gastelum & Cole Sendrey, 15-7, 15-9

5) Jake Bredenbeck & Sam Bredenbeck d. 12) Jhonatan Flores & David Horn, 15-2, 15-14
4) Hector Barrios & Andree Parrilla d. 13) DJ Mendoza & Esteban Reque, 15-6, 15-10

3) Andrés Acuña & Alan Natera d. 14) Lee Meinerz & Carlos Pando, 15-6, 15-2
6) Jordy Alonso & Erick Trujillo d. 11) Diego Garcia & Gerson Miranda Martinez, 7-15, 15-5, 11-3

10) Edwin Galicia & Juan Salvatierra d. 7) Robert Collins & Carlos Ramirez, 15-9, 15-8
2) Conrrado Moscoso & Kadim Carrasco - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….