Saturday, January 15, 2011

2011 New York City Pro-Am - Waselenchuk withdraws from semi-finals

Shock news from the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) as top seed Kane Waselenchuk has withdrawn from the New York City Pro-Am in Syosset, New York due to illness. In a notice on the IRT website, an apologetic Waselenchuk states he's been "very sick with flu like symptoms" this past week, so he's withdrawn from his semi-final match versus Jack Huczek, who will advance to Sunday's final.

The loss ends Waslenchuk's match winning streak at 81. Although the loss didn't come on court, so one could still say Waselenchuk hasn't been beaten on court in over two years. In that period there have been other tournaments that Waselenchuk has missed due to illness or injury, including the Corona Open in November.

Huczek will face IRT #2 Rocky Carson, who defeated Shane Vanderson in the other semi-final, 12-10, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7. Vanderson was playing in his first semi-final of the season.

Afterwards Vanderson said he felt like he "played well enough to win," but there were a "couple loose points" that made the difference. He credited Carson's play saying Carson always takes advantage of any loose points.

Carson credited Vanderson for hitting good shots early in the match, when he wasn't. In fact, Carson got so frustrated with himself that he got a technical for hitting the ball after the rally was over.

But he turned it around, and felt the "last game was as good as I've played all tournament."

Both players denied looking ahead to a final without Waselenchuk. Vanderson said "Rocky's too good to look ahead."

The IRT Network will web-cast the New York Pro-Am final Sunday at noon EST.

2011 New York City Pro-Am - Syosset, New York
Semi-finals


Jack Huczek d. Kane Waselenchuk, fft
Rocky Carson d. Shane Vanderson, 12-10, 9-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-7

Final

Rocky Carson v. Jack Huczek Noon PM EST

Follow the bouncing ball....

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