The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) has released its rankings following the last Tier 1 event of the 2008-09 season. No changes in the top 9 players, as Kane Waselenchuk - 10 time winner on tour this season - tops the list followed by Rocky Carson, who won twice, and Jack Huczek, winner of one IRT Tier 1 event.
Andy Hawthorne moved past Jason Thoerner to round out the top 10. Thoerner has been inactive the last few months due to work commitments, although he was on hand as referee in Chicago at the Motorola Pro Nationals.
In the second 10, Andres Herrera fell two spots to 16, passed by Travis Woodbury, now in 14th, and Hiroshi Shimizu (15th). Kris Odegard and Anthony Herrera flipped places with Odegard going to 17th and Herrera 18th.
Finally, Javier Moreno and Alejandro Landa finished in the top 20, 19th and 20th respectively, helped by their good performances at the Motorola Pro Nationals, where Moreno made the quarter finals and Landa the Round of 16.
2008-2009 Season End Rankings
May 11, 2009
Rank - Pro - Points - Previous Rank
1 Kane WASELENCHUK, 4928 - 1
2 Rocky CARSON, 3889 - 2
3 Jack HUCZEK, 3566 - 3
4 Alvaro BELTRAN, 3206 - 4
5 Jason MANNINO, 2535 - 5
6 Shane VANDERSON, 2498 -6
7 Mitch WILLIAMS, 2299 - 7
8 Ben CROFT, 2141 - 8
9 Chris CROWTHER, 1815 - 9
10 Andy HAWTHORNE, 1571 - 11
11 Jason THOERNER, 1455 - 10
12 Juan HERRERA, 1095 - 12
13 Alejandro HERRERA, 1069 - 13
14 Travis WOODBURY, 960 - 15
15 Hiroshi SHIMIZU, 934 - 16
16 Andres HERRERA, 893 - 14
17 Kris ODEGARD, 814 - 18
18 Anthony HERRERA, 801 - 17
19 Javier MORENO, 791 - 23
20 Alejandro LANDA, 701 - 22
Follow the bouncing ball....
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Happy 28th Birthday Shane Vanderson!
You finished the 2008-09 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season ranked 6th, which was down one spot from last season due to Kane Waselenchuk's return to the tour. You've been a top 10 player since the 2003-04 season, but haven't cracked the top four.
You've been in finals of IRT Tier 1 events twice, and in the semi-finals 12 times. Those final appearances were only a few weeks apart back in the spring of 2005. You played Cliff Swain in the 2005 San Diego Open, losing 3-1, and then played Jack Huczek in the final of the Red Swain Memorial event a few weeks later, also losing 3-1.
You've been a Team USA player four times, winning gold in doubles with Mike Dennison at the 2004 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Korea. You earned silver at the 2006 Worlds in singles, and both silver (in doubles with Dennison) and bronze (singles) at the 2004 Pan American Championships.
You showed great promise as a junior player, winning IRF World Junior titles 5 times in singles and 6 times in doubles. Then you were a collegiate champion while attending Baldwin Wallace College, where you were part of two men's collegiate championship teams in 2001 and 2002 helped by your singles championship in 2001 and doubles championship in 2002 with Andy Hawthorne. You also won doubles with Hawthorne in 2003.
Thus, early in your pro career it looked like that you were going to actualize some of the potential you showed as a junior, but of late there's been some inconsistency. You made two semi finals this year, including the US Open, when you defeated Jason Mannino in the quarter finals hitting shoulder high backhand and forehand shots that slid along the side wall and flat rolled when they got to the front wall.
Shots like that almost defy belief.
Yet to crack the top four you'll have to make those kind of shots more often. We believe you can do it, but wonder if the lack of progress lately indicates a lack of commitment to crack the top 4. With Waselenchuk, Huczek, and Rocky Carson all stating they are going to be working hard this summer to play even better next season, you'll need to be doing the same.
We hope you will, so you can provide another threat to win on any given weekend.
(note: IRT stats from Boss Consulting)
Follow the bouncing ball....
You've been in finals of IRT Tier 1 events twice, and in the semi-finals 12 times. Those final appearances were only a few weeks apart back in the spring of 2005. You played Cliff Swain in the 2005 San Diego Open, losing 3-1, and then played Jack Huczek in the final of the Red Swain Memorial event a few weeks later, also losing 3-1.
You've been a Team USA player four times, winning gold in doubles with Mike Dennison at the 2004 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Korea. You earned silver at the 2006 Worlds in singles, and both silver (in doubles with Dennison) and bronze (singles) at the 2004 Pan American Championships.
You showed great promise as a junior player, winning IRF World Junior titles 5 times in singles and 6 times in doubles. Then you were a collegiate champion while attending Baldwin Wallace College, where you were part of two men's collegiate championship teams in 2001 and 2002 helped by your singles championship in 2001 and doubles championship in 2002 with Andy Hawthorne. You also won doubles with Hawthorne in 2003.
Thus, early in your pro career it looked like that you were going to actualize some of the potential you showed as a junior, but of late there's been some inconsistency. You made two semi finals this year, including the US Open, when you defeated Jason Mannino in the quarter finals hitting shoulder high backhand and forehand shots that slid along the side wall and flat rolled when they got to the front wall.
Shots like that almost defy belief.
Yet to crack the top four you'll have to make those kind of shots more often. We believe you can do it, but wonder if the lack of progress lately indicates a lack of commitment to crack the top 4. With Waselenchuk, Huczek, and Rocky Carson all stating they are going to be working hard this summer to play even better next season, you'll need to be doing the same.
We hope you will, so you can provide another threat to win on any given weekend.
(note: IRT stats from Boss Consulting)
Follow the bouncing ball....
Monday, May 25, 2009
USA National Singles - Most Career Titles
Jack Huczek's US National Singles Championship this year put him into a three way tie for most top tier US Singles titles by a man at 4. Rocky Carson and Ed Andrews also have four titles.
There are five other men who won multiple championships: Adam Karp, Mike Bronfeld, Tim Doyle, Bill Schmidke and Charlie Brumfield, who all won two titles each. Curiously, all of those players won their titles in consecutive years except for Schmidke who's two titles came on either side of Brumfield's victories. Andrews's four wins were two pairs of back to back titles.
If Cheryl Gudinas Holmes had won on Sunday, she would have tied Michelle Gould for the most women's titles at 8. Gould won those titles over a 9 year span that was interrupted by Robin Levine, who also won the year after Gould took her last title.
Other women who've been multiple winners are Cindy Baxter, Rhonda Rajsich, Peggy Steding, and Jan Pasternak.
[note: titles here refers to the Open division from 1968 until 2007, when the US Team Qualifying Division was created, and to wins in that division from 2007 on]
USA Racquetball National Singles Titles
Men's (total) years
Jack Huczek (4) 2009, 2005, 2004, 2001
Rocky Carson (4) 2007, 2006, 2003, 2000
Ed Andrews (4) 1986, 1985, 1981, 1980
Adam Karp (2) 1999, 1998
Mike Bronfeld (2) 1995, 1994
Tim Doyle (2) 1990, 1989
Bill Schmidke (2) 1974, 1971
Charlie Brumfield (2) 1973, 1972
Women's
Michelle Gould (8) 1997, 1996, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (7) 2008, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999
Cindy Baxter (4) 1986, 1985, 1983, 1981
Rhonda Rajsich (3) 2007, 2006, 2004
Peggy Steding (3) 1975, 1974, 1973
Robin Levine (2) 1998, 1994
Jan Pasternak (2) 1972, 1971
Follow the bouncing ball....
There are five other men who won multiple championships: Adam Karp, Mike Bronfeld, Tim Doyle, Bill Schmidke and Charlie Brumfield, who all won two titles each. Curiously, all of those players won their titles in consecutive years except for Schmidke who's two titles came on either side of Brumfield's victories. Andrews's four wins were two pairs of back to back titles.
If Cheryl Gudinas Holmes had won on Sunday, she would have tied Michelle Gould for the most women's titles at 8. Gould won those titles over a 9 year span that was interrupted by Robin Levine, who also won the year after Gould took her last title.
Other women who've been multiple winners are Cindy Baxter, Rhonda Rajsich, Peggy Steding, and Jan Pasternak.
[note: titles here refers to the Open division from 1968 until 2007, when the US Team Qualifying Division was created, and to wins in that division from 2007 on]
USA Racquetball National Singles Titles
Men's (total) years
Jack Huczek (4) 2009, 2005, 2004, 2001
Rocky Carson (4) 2007, 2006, 2003, 2000
Ed Andrews (4) 1986, 1985, 1981, 1980
Adam Karp (2) 1999, 1998
Mike Bronfeld (2) 1995, 1994
Tim Doyle (2) 1990, 1989
Bill Schmidke (2) 1974, 1971
Charlie Brumfield (2) 1973, 1972
Women's
Michelle Gould (8) 1997, 1996, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989
Cheryl Gudinas Holmes (7) 2008, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999
Cindy Baxter (4) 1986, 1985, 1983, 1981
Rhonda Rajsich (3) 2007, 2006, 2004
Peggy Steding (3) 1975, 1974, 1973
Robin Levine (2) 1998, 1994
Jan Pasternak (2) 1972, 1971
Follow the bouncing ball....
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