Monday, November 28, 2016

Beltran, Longoria win San Luis Open

Alvaro Beltran won the San Luis Open - an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) satellite event - in San Luis Potosi, Mexico on the weekend. But he needed a tie-breaker to win it, as Edson Martinez pushed him to five games in the final before Beltran came out on top, 11-7, 7-11, 11-2, 1-11, 11-7.

Martinez also played a five game match in the semi-finals, as he came back from 2-1 down to defeat Andree Parrilla, 10-12, 11-5, 6-11, 11-5, 11-4. In the other semi-final, Beltran beat Jordy Alonso in three straight games, 11-5, 11-1, 11-6.

Also of note, Paola Longoria won Women's Open at the San Luis Open, as she defeated Jessica Parrilla, 15-5, 15-3, in the final. Monserrat Mejia took 3rd place by beating Maritza Franco, 15-11, 15-5.

In the semi-finals, Longoria beat Franco, 15-1, 15-0, while Parrilla defeated Monserrat Mejia, 15-4, 15-5.

The next IRT Tier 1 event is the Coast to Coast California Open in Oakridge, California, January 5-8, 2017. But the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) will be in action at the 25th Annual NES Associates Christmas Classic, December 9-11 in Laurel, Maryland.

San Luis Open 2016
San Luis Potosi, Mexico - November 25-27, 2016

Men's Open

Final


Alvaro Beltran d. Edson Martinez, 11-7, 7-11, 11-2, 1-11, 11-7

Semi-finals

Alvaro Beltran d. Jordy Alonso, 11-5, 11-1, 11-6
Edson Martinez d. Andree Parrilla, 10-12, 11-5, 6-11, 11-5, 11-4

Quarterfinals

Alvaro Beltran d. Fabian Parrilla, 11-0, 11-0, 11-7
Jordy Alonso d. Augstin Tristan, 11-9, 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6

Edson Martinez d. Alfonso Aguilar, 11-7, 11-3, 11-5
Andree Parrilla d. Ruben Martinez, 11-3, 11-3, 11-8

Women's Open

Final


Paola Longoria d. Jessica Parrilla, 15-5, 15-3

3rd Place

Monserrat Mejia d. Maritza Franco, 15-11, 15-5

Semi-finals

Paola Longoria d. Maritza Franco, 15-1, 15-0
Jessica Parrilla d. Monserrat Mejia, 15-4, 15-5

Quarterfinals

Paola Longoria d. Ana Kristin Rivera, 15-4, 15-0
Maritza Franco d. Ana Laura Flores, 8-15, 15-8, 11-9

Monserrat Mejia d. Nancy Enriquez, 15-2, 15-8
Jessica Parrilla d. Erin Rivera, 15-6, 15-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event - Valleyfield, Québec

Samuel Murray and Jennifer Saunders won the Men's and Women's divisions, respectively, at the Canadian Racquetball National Team Selection Event on Sunday in Valleyfield, Québec. Murray won by defeating James Landeryou in the Men's final, 15-4, 15-4, while Saunders beat Michèle Morissette, 15-7, 15-8, in the Women's final.

The Men's final was surprising in that neither of the top seeds - #1 Mike Green and #2 Tim Landeryou - were in the final, as they both lost in the semi-finals. Murray defeated Tim Landeryou in the semi-finals, 15-9, 15-13, while James Landeryou, Tim's younger brother, upset Canada's #1 player Mike Green, 15-11, 0-15, 11-8. It's not often you lose a game at zero, but still win the match, yet James Landeryou did that in the semis.

On the Women's side, Saunders defeated 5th seed Danielle Drury, 15-5, 15-4, in one semi-final, while Morissette outlasted 2nd seed Valerie Fallu, 15-13, 5-15, 11-2, in the other.

The next Racquetball Canada National Team Selection Event will be in Calgary, February 3-5, 2017. The results from Valleyfield and Calgary, as well as the 2016 Canadian National Championships, will be used to determine the players that will represent Canada in the 2017 Pan American Championships in Costa Rica in April.

2016 Racquetball Canada Selection Event
November 25-27, Valleyfield, Québec

Men's Open

Final


3) Samuel Murray d. 5) James Landeryou, 15-4, 15-4

Semi-finals

5) James Landeryou d. 1) Mike Green, 15-11, 0-15, 11-8
3) Samuel Murray d. 2) Tim Landeryou, 15-9, 15-13

Quarterfinals

1) Mike Green d. 8) Nathaniel Husulak, 15-9, 15-8
5) James Landeryou d. 4) Pedro Castro, 15-6, 5-15, 11-3

3) Samuel Murray d. 6) Nicolas Bousquet, 15-9, 15-2
2) Tim Landeryou d. 7) Tommy Murray, 15-7, 12-15, 13-11

Women's Open

Final


1) Jennifer Saunders d. 3) Michèle Morissette, 15-7, 15-8

3rd place

2) Valerie Fallu d. 5) Danielle Drury, 14-16, 15-7, 12-10

Semi-finals

1) Jennifer Saunders d. 5) Danielle Drury, 15-5, 15-4
3) Michèle Morissette d. 2) Valerie Fallu, 15-13, 5-15, 11-2

Quarterfinals

1) Jennifer Saunders d. 8) Marjolaine Parent, 15-2, 15-0
5) Danielle Drury d. 4) Christine Richardson, 15-3, 9-15, 11-9

3) Michèle Morissette d. 6) Cassie Prentice, 15-7, 15-1
2) Valerie Fallu d. 7) Juliette Parent, 15-1, 15-1

Follow the bouncing ball….

Monday, November 21, 2016

2016 IRF World Junior Championships - SUMMARY

The 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships wrapped up on Saturday in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. As expected, the home country came out on top of the overall standings, as they were tops in both boy’s and girl’s competitions. Leading the Mexico team was Cristian Longoria, who won gold in both Boy’s U18 Singles and Doubles. This was the fourth consecutive year Longoria won both singles and doubles at World Juniors, and his second consecutive year winning doubles with Gerardo Franco. Longoria has one more year of junior eligibility, so he could do it again in 2017.

Perhaps surprising to some, Longoria’s win in Boy’s U18 Singles was Mexico’s first in that division since 2007, when Ruben Estrada won gold in Coachabomba, Bolivia. In contrast, Longoria and Franco’s gold in U18 Doubles is Mexico’s fourth in a row.

Longoria’s younger team-mate, Eduardo Portillo was also a double gold medalist, as he won both Boy’s U16 Singles and U16 Doubles. But in Boy’s U14, there was no double gold winner, although Diego Garcia of Bolivia won gold in Boy’s U14 Singles and silver in Doubles, so he was close to a double gold achievment.

A three other boys were double medalists: Cristian Miña and Fernando Ruiz of Bolivia, and Jose Ramos of Mexico.

On the girl’s side, Gabriela Martinez was a double gold medalist, winning Girl’s U16 Singles and U18 Doubles with her sister Andrea. Those two gold give Martinez a total of six World Junior gold medals, and this with two years of junior eligibility to go.

Romina Rivero of Bolivia was also a double gold medalist, as she won gold in Girl’s U14 Singles and Doubles. Her singles gold medal was her second gold in U14 in as many years.

Six girls were double medalists, including Americans Erika Manilla and Jordan Cooperrider, Guadalupe Griffin and Monserrat Mejia of Mexico, Valeria Centallas of Bolivia, and Alexis Iwaasa of Canada.

The IRF will be posting videos of the matches that were recorded in San Luis Potosi on their IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Singles

GOLD: Erika Manilla (USA)
SILVER: Melania Sauma (Costa Rica)
BRONZE: Jordan Cooperrider (USA) and Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador)

Boy's U18 Singles

GOLD: Cristian Longoria (Mexico)
SILVER: Cristhian Miña (Bolivia)
BRONZE: Wayne Antone (USA) and Set Cubillos (Colombia)

Girl's U16 Singles

GOLD: Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
SILVER: Monserrat Mejia (Mexico)
BRONZE: Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) and Andrea Ramirez (Mexico)

Boy's U16 Singles

GOLD: Eduardo Portillo (Mexico)
SILVER: Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico)
BRONZE: Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) and Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia)

Girl's U14 Singles

GOLD: Romina Rivero (Bolivia)
SILVER: Delia Aguilar (Mexico)
BRONZE: Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) and Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico)

Boy's U14 Singles

GOLD: Diego Garcia (Bolivia)
SILVER: Jose Ramos (Mexico)
BRONZE: Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) and Felipe Cardona (Colombia)

Girl's U18 Doubles

GOLD: Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala)
SILVER: Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA)
BRONZE: Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico) and Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia)

Boy's U18 Doubles

GOLD: Gerardo Franco & Cristian Longoria (Mexico)
SILVER: Jake Birnel & Mauro Rojas (USA)
BRONZE: Prado Mendoza & Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) and Christian Chavez & Jorge Ochoa (Ecuador)

Girl's U16 Doubles

GOLD: Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico)
SILVER: Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA)
BRONZE: Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada)

Boy's U16 Doubles

GOLD: Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez (Mexico)
SILVER: Fernando Ruiz & Bernardo Valencia (Bolivia)
BRONZE: Sergio Acuña & Pablo Freer (Costa Rica) and Johan Adasme & Ari Weissbrot (Chile)

Girl's U14 Doubles

GOLD: Valeria Centellas & Romina Rivero (Bolivia)
SILVER: Guadalupe Griffin & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico)
BRONZE: Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) and Nathalia Pinero & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador)

Boy's U14 Doubles

GOLD: Martin Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico)
SILVER: Roberto Arellano & Diego Garcia (Bolivia)
BRONZE: Ian Frattinger & Sean Sauvé (Canada) and Juan Flores & Esteban Jano (Ecuador)

Girls Team Points

GOLD: Mexico - 992
SILVER: USA - 764
BRONZE: Bolivia - 692
4) Guatemala - 412
5) Costa Rica - 328
6) Ecuador & Canada - 316
8) Korea - 60
9) Colombia - 48
10) Chile - 40
11) Puerto Rico - 28

Boys Team Points

GOLD: Mexico - 1332
SILVER: Bolivia - 988
BRONZE: USA - 620
4) Costa Rica - 496
5) Ecuador - 400
6) Canada - 378
7) Guatemala - 256
8) Chile - 246
9) Colombia - 196
10) Honduras - 160
11) Korea - 66
12) Argentina - 38

Overall Team Points

GOLD: Mexico - 2324
SILVER: Bolivia - 1680
BRONZE: USA - 1384
4) Costa Rica - 824
5) Ecuador - 716
6) Canada - 694
7) Guatemala - 668
8) Chile - 286
9) Colombia - 244
10) Honduras - 160
11) Korea - 126
12) Argentina - 38
13) Puerto Rico - 28

Follow the bouncing ball....

Weekend Round Up - Scott, Carter & Cullen win

There were some smaller events this past weekend, as well as the big ones on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT). In Bremerton, Washington at the Kitsap Splat tournament, Hollie Scott won women’s open by defeating Linda Tyler, 15-7, 15-4, in the final. Scott got to the final by defeating Cheyenne Hayes in one semi-final, 15-7, 15-6, while Tyler beat Samantha Simmons, 15-11, 15-12, in the other semi.

Thomas Carter won the 25th Annual Turkey Shoot tournament - a Tier 3 IRT event - in Lombard, Illinois. Carter defeated Juan Herrera, 11-6, 11-3, 7-3, injury forfeit, in the final. In the semi-finals, Carter beat Alok Mehta, 11-5, 11-6, 11-1, and Herrera defeated Jeremy Dixon, 11-0, 11-1, 11-6.

Kurtis Cullen won Grumpy Garry’s Racquetball Extravaganza III - a Tier 5 IRT event - in Brandon, Manitoba on the weekend. Cullen defeated Sam Morrissette, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7, in the final. In the semi-finals, Cullen defeated Cam Wachs, 11-0, 11-4, 11-4, while Morrissette upset Lee Connell, 11-8, 11-2, 14-12.

2016 Kitsap Splat! November 18-20, 2016
Bremerton, Washington


Women’s Open - Final

Hollie Scott d. Linda Tyler, 15-7, 15-4

Semi-finals

Linda Tyler d. Samantha Simmons, 15-11, 15-12
Hollie Scott d. Cheyenne Hayes. 15-7, 15-6

25th Annual Turkey Shoot - Tier 3 IRT - November 18-20, 2016
Lombard, Illinois


Final

Thomas Carter d. Juan Herrera, 11-6, 11-3, 7-3, injury forfeit

Semi-finals

Juan Herrera d. Jeremy Dixon, 11-0, 11-1, 11-6
Thomas Carter d. Alok Mehta, 11-5, 11-6, 11-1

Grumpy Garry’s Racquetball Extravaganza III - November 18-20, 2016
Brandon, Manitoba


Final

Kurtis Cullen d. Sam Morrissette, 11-3, 11-5, 11-7

Semi-finals

Sam Morrissette d. Lee Connell, 11-8, 11-2, 14-12
Kurtis Cullen d. Cam Wachs, 11-0, 11-4, 11-4

Follow the bouncing ball….

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Mexico wins 4 of 6 doubles title at 2016 IRF World Junior Championships

The Mexico won four of the six doubles titles at the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, including gold in Boy's U18, as Gerardo Franco and Cristian Longoria beat the USA's Jake Birnel and Mauro Rojas, 15-11, 15-9.

However in Girl's U18, the sisters from Guatemala - Gabriela and Andrea Martinez - came out on top of a double round robin competition. They were level with the USA's Jordan Cooperrider and Erika Manilla for wins and losses at 5-1. But Guatemala and the USA were split in the head to head matches, with Guatemala winning their games by a wider margin than the USA won theirs, so the gold goes to Guatemala.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Doubles - Double Round Robin*

Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) d. Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia), 15-1, 15-4
Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) d. Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico), 15-14, 15-7

Final Standings

1) Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) - 5-1
2) Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) - 5-1
3) Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico) - 2-4
4) Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) - 0-6

Boy's U18 Doubles - Final

1) Gerardo Franco & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. 2) Jake Birnel & Mauro Rojas (USA), 15-11, 15-9

Girl's U16 Doubles - Double Round Robin*

Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA), 15-3, 15-1
Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - BYE

Final Standings

Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - 4-0
Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA) - 2-2
Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - 0-4

Boy's U16 Doubles - Final

1) Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez (Mexico) d. 2) Fernando Ruiz & Bernardo Valencia (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-12

Girl's U14 Doubles - Final

3) Valeria Centellas & Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. 1) Guadalupe Griffin & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico), 15-11, 15-13

Boy's U14 Doubles - Final

1) Martin Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. 3) Roberto Arellano & Diego Garcia (Bolivia), 15-6, 15-8

Note: A double round robin format has each team playing the other teams twice, rather than only once in a regular round robin format.

Follow the bouncing ball....

Longoria wins 2016 LPRT Kitsap Splat

Paola Longoria won the 2016 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Kitsap Splat in Bremerton, Washington Saturday by defeating fellow Mexican Alexandra Herrera, 11-4, 11-5, 12-10, in the final. Earlier in the day, Longoria beat Adrienne Haynes in the semi-finals, 11-1, 11-1, 11-2.

In the other semi, left-hander Herrera defeated Jessica Parrilla, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8.

If you missed any of this weekend's LPRT action, check out their LPRT LiveStream channel to see it or see it again.

The LPRT will be in action next at their traditional Christmas Classic in Laurel, Maryland, December 9-11.

2016 Kitsap Splat! November 18-20, 2016
Bremerton, Washington


Final - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 3) Alexandra Herrera, 11-4, 11-5, 12-10

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria d. 5) Adrienne Haynes, 11-1, 11-1, 11-2
3) Alexandra Herrera d. 2) Jessica Parrilla, 11-4, 11-8, 11-8

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria d. 8) Hollie Scott, 11-3, 11-4, 11-1
5) Adrienne Haynes d. 4) Cristina Amaya, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6, 4-1, injury forfeit

3) Alexandra Herrera d. 6) Cecilia Pratt, 11-3, 11-1, 11-5
2) Jessica Parrilla d. 7) Samantha Simmons, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6

Follow the bouncing ball….

Waselenchuk wins 2016 IRT St Louis Winter Rollout

It was number 1 versus number 2 at the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) St Louis Winter Rollout tournament in St Louis, Missouri Saturday, and as usual Kane Waselenchuk, IRT #1, defeated Rocky Carson, IRT #2, 11-6, 11-4, 11-1, to win his 102nd IRT tournament.

In the semi-finals, Waselenchuk beat Jose Rojas, 11-2, 11-6, 12-10, and Carson defeated Alvaro Beltran, 2-11, 11-4, 11-1, 11-9.

Some of the IRT pros played doubles in St. Louis, and Felipe Camacho and Samuel Murray came out on top via a pair of tie-breaker wins. In the final, Camacho and Murray beat Sebastian Franco and Mario Mercado, 15-10, 6-15, 11-6, while in the semis, they defeated Charlie Pratt and Dylan Reid, 15-8, 11-15, 11-10. Franco and Mercado beat Matthew Davenport & Joe Koch, 15-13, 15-1, in other semi.

The IRT is now off until January, when they'll play three Tier 1 tournaments in as many weeks starting with the Coast to Coast California Open in Oakridge, California January 5-8.

2016 St Louis Winter Rollout - November 17-19, 2016
St Louis, Missouri


Final

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 2) Rocky Carson, 11-6, 11-4, 11-1

Semi-finals

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. 4) Jose Rojas, 11-2, 11-6, 12-10
2) Rocky Carson d. 6) Alvaro Beltran, 2-11, 11-4, 11-1, 11-9

Doubles Final

Felipe Camacho & Samuel Murray d. Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado, 15-10, 6-15, 11-6

Doubles Semi-finals

Sebastian Franco & Mario Mercado d. Matthew Davenport & Joe Koch, 15-13, 15-1
Felipe Camacho & Samuel Murray d. Charlie Pratt & Dylan Reid, 15-8, 11-15, 11-10

Follow the bouncing ball….

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Singles champions at 2016 IRF World Junior Championships

The singles champions at the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico come from four countries with two each from Bolivia and Mexico and one each from Guatemala and the USA.

It was the girls' divisions that had champions from three different countries, as American Erika Manilla defeated Costa Rican Melania Sauma, 15-13, 15-3, to win Girl's U18, Guatemalan Gabriela Martinez repeated as Girl's U16 champion with a win over Mexico's Monserrat Mejia in the final, 15-13, 15-7, and Bolivian Romina Rivero won a tie-breaker against Mexican Delia Aguilar, 10-15, 15-14, 11-5, to win Girl's U14.

Mexicans won the two older boys' divisions - U18 and U16 - with Bolivia taking the youngest one - Boy's U14. Cristian Longoria of Mexico beat Cristhian Miña of Bolivia, 15-10, 15-12, to win Boy's U18. Boy's U16 was a Mexico-Mexico battle with Eduardo Portillo getting the best of Sebastian Fernandez, 15-9, 15-14. Finally, Diego Garcia of Bolivia beat Jose Ramos of Mexico, 15-1, 13-15, 11-3, to win Boy's U14.

The IRF will be putting up videos of matches from World Juniors on their IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Singles - Final

1) Erika Manilla (USA) d. 6) Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-13, 15-3

Boy's U18 Singles - Final

1) Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. 3) Cristhian Miña (Bolivia), 15-10, 15-12

Girl's U16 Singles - Final

2) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 4) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico), 15-13, 15-7

Boy's U16 Singles - Final

1) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. 3) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico), 15-9, 15-14

Girl's U14 Singles - Final

3) Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. 4) Delia Aguilar (Mexico), 10-15, 15-14, 11-5

Boy's U14 Singles - Final

1) Diego Garcia (Bolivia) d. 2) Jose Ramos (Mexico), 15-1, 13-15, 11-3

Follow the bouncing ball....

2016 LPRT Kitsap Splat - Quarterfinals and Round of 16

Adrienne Haynes has made a semi-final for the first time since February of 2013, as she defeated Cristina Amaya in the quarterfinals Friday at the 2016 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Kitsap Splat in Bremerton, Washington. Haynes was up 2-1 in games, and up in the fourth game when Amaya had to retire due to injury. Haynes won 9-11, 11-2, 11-6, 4-1, injury forfeit.

Haynes plays the winner of LPRT #1 Paola Longoria and Hollie Scott in one semi-final, which 2nd seed Jessica Parrilla and 3rd seed Alexandra Herrera will face off in the other semi.

The LPRT semi-finals can be seen live Saturday via the LPRT LiveStream channel at 1 and 2 PM with the final scheduled for 7 PM Saturday night. All time Pacific.

2016 Kitsap Splat! November 18-20, 2016
Bremerton, Washington


Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
8) Hollie Scott d. 9) Linda Tyler, 11-5, 11-3, 11-9

4) Cristina Amaya - BYE
5) Adrienne Haynes - BYE

3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
6) Cecilia Pratt d. 11) Grace Hughes, 11-4, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7

7) Samantha Simmons v. 10) Cheyenne Hayes, 5-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-2, 11-6
2) Jessica Parrilla - BYE

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Paola Longoria v. 8) Hollie Scott
5) Adrienne Haynes d. 4) Cristina Amaya, 9-11, 11-2, 11-6, 4-1, injury forfeit

3) Alexandra Herrera d. 6) Cecilia Pratt, 11-3, 11-1, 11-5
2) Jessica Parrilla d. 7) Samantha Simmons

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Paola Longoria or 8) Hollie Scott v. 5) Adrienne Haynes
2) Jessica Parrilla v. 3) Alexandra Herrera

Follow the bouncing ball….

2016 IRT St Louis Winter Rollout

It's a bit of a case of the usual suspects in the semi-finals of the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) St Louis Winter Rollout tournament in St Louis, Missouri. Kane Waselenchuk, IRT #1, and Rocky Carson, IRT #2, are both in the semis, and joining them are Alvaro Beltran and Jose Rojas.

Daniel De La Rosa, IRT #3, is the surprise absentee, but Beltran defeated De La Rosa in the quarterfinals Friday, 11-5, 11-8, 11-5. Beltran will play Carson in the semis Saturday, as Carson beat Jansen Allen, 11-1, 11-3, 11-4, in the quarters.

On the top side of the draw, Waselenchuk faces Jose Rojas in the other semi-final. In the quarters, Waselenchuk beat Mario Mercado, 11-6, 11-1, 11-0, and Rojas defeated Charlie Pratt in four games, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-1.

The semi-finals will go Saturday at 11 AM and noon, and will be streamed live via the IRT Network with the final Saturday at 7 PM. All times Central.

2016 St Louis Winter Rollout - November 17-19, 2016
St Louis, Missouri


Round of 16 - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Dylan Reid, 11-3, 11-1, 11-7
Mario Mercado d. 8) Marco Rojas, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5

Charlie Pratt d. 5) Sebastian Franco, 7-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-6
4) Jose Rojas d. Scott McClellan, 11-5, 11-1, 11-5

3) Daniel De La Rosa d. David Horn, 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-7
6) Alvaro Beltran d. Robert Collins, 11-8, 11-6, 11-8

7) Jansen Allen d. Felipe Camacho, 5-11, 11-2, 11-8, 11-2
2) Rocky Carson d. Samuel Murray, 11-3, 11-8, 12-10

Quarterfinals - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk d. Mario Mercado, 11-6, 11-1, 11-0
4) Jose Rojas d. Charlie Pratt, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-1

6) Alvaro Beltran d. 3) Daniel De La Rosa, 11-5, 11-8, 11-5
2) Rocky Carson d. 7) Jansen Allen, 11-1, 11-3, 11-4

Semi-finals - Saturday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. 4) Jose Rojas
2) Rocky Carson v. 6) Alvaro Beltran

Follow the bouncing ball….

Doubles semi-finals at 2016 IRF World Junior Championships

The Bolivia-Mexico dominance shows itself in the doubles semi-finals as it did in the singles semis at the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, as three of the six finals will be Bolivia versus Mexico. The exceptions are in the U18 divisions, and Girl's U16, where Bolivia doesn't have a team.

Huge result in Girl's U18, as Guatemalans Gabriela and Andrea Martinez defeated the USA team of Erika Manilla and Jordan Cooperrider Friday, 15-9, 15-0, to put both teams on 4-1 in the double round robin. The first time they met, earlier in the week, the USA won by scores of 15-13, 15-5. But by beating the USA by a greater score in their second meeting Guatemala may have earned themselves the gold medal, if they can win their last match against Bolivians Brenda Laime and Flavia Meneses, who are winless so far this week.

In Boy's U18, Mexico will play the USA as Mexicans Gerardo Franco and Cristian Longoria defeated Bolivians Prado Mendoza and Cristhian Miña, 15-10, 15-3, in the semi-finals, and the USA's Jake Birnel and Mauro Rojas beat Christian Chavez and Jorge Ochoa of Ecuador, 15-9, 15-9.

That gave the Bolivians a chance, and they tied the score at 14-14, with the 13th and 14th points coming off American skips, one each by Coooperrider and Manilla. The USA called a timeout at that point, and when play resumed, they got the serve back via a Cooperrider forehand pinch serve return winner. The USA won it on the next rally as Manilla hit a strong backhand cross court.

The top four seeds all got through to the semis across the divisions except in Boy's U14, when Canadians Ian Frattinger and Sean Sauvé, who were 5th seeds, beat 4th seeds Antonio Rojas and Sahil Thakur of the USA, 10-15, 15-5, 11-8.

Look for live streaming of matches from San Luis Potosi via the IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Doubles - Double Round Robin*

Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) d. Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA), 15-9, 15-0
Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico) d. Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia), 15-13, 15-8

Saturday

Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) v. Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia)
Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) v. Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico)

Standings

1) Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) - 4-1
2) Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) - 4-1
2) Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico) - 2-3
4) Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) - 0-5

Boy's U18 Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Gerardo Franco & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. 4) Prado Mendoza & Cristhian Miña (Bolivia), 15-10, 15-3
2) Jake Birnel & Mauro Rojas (USA) d. 3) Christian Chavez & Jorge Ochoa (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-9

Boy's U18 Doubles - Final

1) Gerardo Franco & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) v. 2) Jake Birnel & Mauro Rojas (USA)

Girl's U16 Doubles - Double Round Robin*

Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada), 15-0, 15-0 - forfeit
Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA) - BYE

Saturday

Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA)
Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - BYE

Standings

Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - 3-0
Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA) - 2-1
Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - 0-4

Boy's U16 Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez (Mexico) d. 4) Sergio Acuña & Pablo Freer (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-5
2) Fernando Ruiz & Bernardo Valencia (Bolivia) d. 3) Johan Adasme & Ari Weissbrot (Chile), 14-15, 15-4, 11-0

Boy's U16 Doubles - Final

1) Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez (Mexico) v. 2) Fernando Ruiz & Bernardo Valencia (Bolivia)

Girl's U14 Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Guadalupe Griffin & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico) - BYE
4) Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 5) Juliette Parent & Cassie Prentice (Canada), 15-0, 15-3

3) Valeria Centellas & Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. 6) Nikita Chauhan & Elena Dent (USA), 15-8, 10-15, 11-5
2) Nathalia Pinero & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Yun Chaeen & Cho Seungmin (Korea), 15-2, 15-2

Girl's U14 Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Guadalupe Griffin & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico) d. 4) Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-6, 9-15, 11-5
3) Valeria Centellas & Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. 2) Nathalia Pinero & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador), 15-3, 15-5

Girl's U14 Doubles - Final

1) Guadalupe Griffin & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico) v. 3) Valeria Centellas & Romina Rivero (Bolivia)

Boy's U14 Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Martin Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. 5) Ian Frattinger & Sean Sauvé (Canada), 11-15, 15-8, 11-7
3) Roberto Arellano & Diego Garcia (Bolivia) d. 2) Juan Flores & Esteban Jano (Ecuador), 15-6, 15-6

Boy's U14 Doubles - Final

1) Martin Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) v. 3) Roberto Arellano & Diego Garcia (Bolivia)

Note: A double round robin format has each team playing the other teams twice, rather than only once in a regular round robin format.

Follow the bouncing ball....

Semi-finals at 2016 World Junior Championships

The semi-finals at the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico have produced Bolivia and Mexico finalists in most divisions. An exception is Girl's U18, where American Erika Manilla will play Costa Rican Melania Sauma in the final.

In the semi-finals, Manilla defeated team-mate Jordan Cooperrider in a tie-breaker, 15-9, 13-15, 11-7, while Sauma beat Maria Jose Muñoz of Ecuador, 15-10, 15-7.

In Boy's U18, it's Mexico versus Bolivia as Cristian Longoria of Mexico defeated the USA's Wayne Antone, 15-10, 15-8, in one semi-final, while Bolivian Cristhian Miña beat Set Cubillos of Colombia, 15-3, 15-5, in the other.

The other exception to the Bolivia-Mexico rule is in Girl's U16, as the defending champion Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala will play Mexico's Monserrat Mejia. In the semi-finals, Martinez defeated Andrea Ramirez of Mexico, 15-1, 15-9, and Mejia beat Alexis Iwaasa of Canada, 15-3, 15-6.

Note, earlier we'd reported that in Boy’s U16, as Marco Sarmiento of Honduras had defeated Fernando Ruiz of Bolivia in the quarterfinals, which would have given Honduras its first medal at World Junior, but it appears that was an error, as Ruiz was in the semi-finals. However, Ruiz lost to Mexico's Eduardo Portillo, 15-4, 15-10. Portillo will play fellow Mexican Sebastian Fernandez in the final, as Fernandez squeaked out a tie-breaker win over the other Bolivian player Gerson Miranda, 15-11, 9-15, 11-10.

You can watch some of the matches live from San Luis Potosi via the IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Singles - Semi-finals

1) Erika Manilla (USA) d. 4) Jordan Cooperrider (USA), 15-9, 13-15, 11-7
6) Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. 7) Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador), 15-10, 15-7

Girl's U18 Singles - Final

1) Erika Manilla (USA) v. 6) Melania Sauma (Costa Rica)

Boy's U18 Singles - Semi-finals

1) Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. 4) Wayne Antone (USA), 15-10, 15-8
3) Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) d. 10) Set Cubillos (Colombia), 15-3, 15-5

Boy's U18 Singles - Final

1) Cristian Longoria (Mexico) v. 3) Cristhian Miña (Bolivia)

Girl's U16 Singles - Semi-finals

4) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. 1) Alexis Iwaasa (Canada), 15-3, 15-6
2) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 3) Andrea Ramirez (Mexico), 15-1, 15-9

Girl's U16 Singles - Final

2) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. 4) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico)

Boy's U16 Singles - Semi-finals

1) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. 4) Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia), 15-4, 15-10
3) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) d. 2) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia), 15-11, 9-15, 11-10

Boy's U16 Singles - Final

1) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. 3) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico)

Girl's U14 Singles - Semi-finals

4) Delia Aguilar (Mexico) d. 1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia), 0-15, 15-4, 11-7
3) Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. 2) Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico), 15-6, 15-13

Girl's U14 Singles - Final

3) Romina Rivero (Bolivia) v. 4) Delia Aguilar (Mexico)

Boy's U14 Singles - Semi-finals

1) Diego Garcia (Bolivia) d. 4) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico), 15-1, 15-0
2) Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. 14) Felipe Cardona (Colombia), 15-6, 15-3

Boy's U14 Singles - Final

1) Diego Garcia (Bolivia) v. 2) Jose Ramos (Mexico)

Follow the bouncing ball....

Thursday, November 17, 2016

2016 IRF World Junior Championships - Doubles quarterfinals

The doubles quarterfinals Thursday at the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico have determined who will be on the podium come Saturday, although they will still need to determine who is standing where on that podium.

The USA team of Erika Manilla and Jordan Cooperrider continue to look like they will be on top of the podium for the Girl’s U18 division, as they won their fourth in as many matches Wednesday. However, the Bolivians Brenda Laime and Flavia Meneses gave them a scare in game two, before Manilla and Cooperrider won in two straight games. But in game two, the Bolivians were up 10-2. The USA team came back and went ahead at 14-10, but couldn’t close it then.

That gave the Bolivians a chance, and they tied the score at 14-14, with the 13th and 14th points coming off American skips, one each by Coooperrider and Manilla. The USA called a timeout at that point, and when play resumed, they got the serve back via a Cooperrider forehand pinch serve return winner. The USA won it on the next rally as Manilla hit a strong backhand cross court.

The top four seeds all got through to the semis across the divisions except in Boy's U14, when Canadians Ian Frattinger and Sean Sauvé, who were 5th seeds, beat 4th seeds Antonio Rojas and Sahil Thakur of the USA, 10-15, 15-5, 11-8.

Look for live streaming of matches from San Luis Potosi via the IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Doubles - Double Round Robin*

Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) d. Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia), 15-7, 15-14
Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) d. Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico), 15-8, 15-7

Standings

1) Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) - 4-0
2) Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) - 3-1
2) Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico) - 1-3
4) Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) - 0-4

Boy's U18 Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Gerardo Franco & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
4) Prado Mendoza & Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) d. 5) Devin Halko & Trevor Webb (Canada), 15-7, 15-11

3) Christian Chavez & Jorge Ochoa (Ecuador) d. 6) Alexander Pirie & Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-7
2) Jake Birnel & Mauro Rojas (USA) - BYE

Boy's U18 Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Gerardo Franco & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) v. 4) Prado Mendoza & Cristhian Miña (Bolivia)
2) Jake Birnel & Mauro Rojas (USA) v. 3) Christian Chavez & Jorge Ochoa (Ecuador)

Girl's U16 Doubles - Double Round Robin*

Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA) d. Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada), 15-1, 15-3
Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE

Standings

Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - 2-0
Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA) - 2-1
Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - 0-3

Boy's U16 Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez (Mexico) d. 8) Sergio Ortega & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-4, 15-5
4) Sergio Acuña & Pablo Freer (Costa Rica) d. 5) Ricardo Diaz & Dane Elkins (USA), 15-7, 15-4

3) Johan Adasme & Ari Weissbrot (Chile) d. 6) Geovani Mendoza & Javier Nathan (Guatemala), 15-13, 15-4
2) Fernando Ruiz & Bernardo Valencia (Bolivia) d. 7) Spencer Bell & Kaleb Osborne (Canada), 15-7, 15-8

Boy's U16 Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez (Mexico) v. 4) Sergio Acuña & Pablo Freer (Costa Rica)
2) Fernando Ruiz & Bernardo Valencia (Bolivia) v. 3) Johan Adasme & Ari Weissbrot (Chile)

Girl's U14 Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Guadalupe Griffin & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico) - BYE
4) Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 5) Juliette Parent & Cassie Prentice (Canada), 15-0, 15-3

3) Valeria Centellas & Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. 6) Nikita Chauhan & Elena Dent (USA), 15-8, 10-15, 11-5
2) Nathalia Pinero & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Yun Chaeen & Cho Seungmin (Korea), 15-2, 15-2

Girl's U14 Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Guadalupe Griffin & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico) v. 4) Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)
2) Nathalia Pinero & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. 3) Valeria Centellas & Romina Rivero (Bolivia)

Boy's U14 Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Martin Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. 8) Jose Cardona & Luis Perez (Guatemala), 15-7, 15-2
5) Ian Frattinger & Sean Sauvé (Canada) d. 4) Antonio Rojas & Sahil Thakur (USA), 10-15, 15-5, 11-8

3) Roberto Arellano & Diego Garcia (Bolivia) d. 6) Esteban Rodriguez & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica), 8-15, 15-1, 11-3
2) Juan Flores & Esteban Jano (Ecuador) d. 7) Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile), 15-5, 15-1

Boy's U14 Doubles - Semi-finals

1) Martin Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) v. 5) Ian Frattinger & Sean Sauvé (Canada)
2) Juan Flores & Esteban Jano (Ecuador) v. 3) Roberto Arellano & Diego Garcia (Bolivia)

Note: A double round robin format has each team playing the other teams twice, rather than only once in a regular round robin format.

Follow the bouncing ball....

Pro racquetball preview: St Louis & Bremerton

Almost lost in this week of International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Championships racquetball is that there are two professional events this weekend, as both the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) and Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) are in action starting Friday.

The IRT is in St Louis for the St Louis Racquetball Winter Rollout, while the LPRT is in Bremerton, Washington with the Kitsap Splat!. Each of these events has a small field of players, which must be due in part to World Juniors. Some of the players who have competed on the pro tours this season are competing at World Juniors - like Gabriela Martinez, Jordan Cooperrider and Cristian Longoria, while others are coaching there - like Veronica Sotomayor, Cheryl Gudinas, and Kelani Bailey, or even refereeing - like Natalia Mendez.

Nevertheless, the shows are going on, and the #1 men’s and women’s players are at the respective events looking to extend their winning streaks. In St Louis, Kane Waselenchuk, the IRT’s top player heads a field of 16 that has 11 of the top 12 IRT players, while in Washington state, Paola Longoria, the top LPRT player, is the top of a field of 11 players with four of the top seven LPRT players.

Thus, there should be some tasty matches in St Louis, but they will probably harder to come by in Bremerton.

The IRT Round of 16 will be streamed live Friday from 10 AM via the IRT Network with the quarterfinals Friday afternoon from 4 PM on, and note the semi-finals will be Saturday morning at 11 AM and noon with the final Saturday at 7 PM. All times Central.

The LPRT will be available live via the LPRT LiveStream channel. The Round of 16 begins at Noon on Friday with the quarterfinals on Friday from 4 PM on. The semi-finals will be 1 and 2 PM.

2016 St Louis Winter Rollout - November 17-19, 2016
St Louis, Missouri


Round of 16 - Friday

1) Kane Waselenchuk v. Dylan Reid - 11 AM
8) Marco Rojas v. Mario Mercado - 11 AM

5) Sebastian Franco v. Charlie Pratt - 1 PM
4) Jose Rojas v. Scott McClellan - 1 PM

3) Daniel De La Rosa v. David Horn - Noon
6) Alvaro Beltran v. Robert Collins - Noon

7) Jansen Allen v. Felipe Camacho - 10 AM
2) Rocky Carson v. Samuel Murray - 10 AM

2016 Kitsap Splat! November 18-20, 2016
Bremerton, Washington


Round of 16 - Friday

1) Paola Longoria - BYE
8) Hollie Scott v. 9) Linda Tyler

4) Cristina Amaya - BYE
5) Adrienne Haynes - BYE

3) Alexandra Herrera - BYE
6) Cecilia Pratt v. 11) Grace Hughes

7) Samantha Simmons v. 10) Cheyenne Hayes
2) Jessica Parrilla - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball….

Quarterfinal day at 2016 IRF World Junior Championships

It’s quarterfinal day at the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, so a win today puts you on the podium, as you’ll be in semi-finals no Friday. Knowing you’re playing for a medal can add pressure to a match.

Defending champion in Girl’s U16, Ana Gabriela Martinez of Guatemala may have felt some of that pressure as her opponent Brenda Laime of Bolivia was on fire in game one, and got to game point first, leading 14-13. However, Laime wasn’t able to close it out, and Martinez took advantage by scoring two straight points to game one and then cruised through game two, winning the match 15-14, 15-4.

Canadian Alexis Iwaasa, top seed in Girl’s U16, may have felt that pressure, as despite being a World Juniors veteran, she’s not won a medal in singles play. And early in her match against American Briana Jacquet it didn’t look like that would change, as Jacquet was playing well, using a variety of serves that kept Iwaasa off balance. Jacquet took game one, 15-6. But in game two, Iwaasa found a serve that Jacquet had difficulty with: a drive Z to the left - Jacquet’s backhand, and she used it to win game two, 15-9, forcing a tie-breaker.

In the breaker, Iwaasa scored the first two points, but Jacquet took the next six to lead 6-2, and looked good to get the upset win. However, Iwaasa came back and tied the game at 8-8, as she continued to use the Z serve to the left, although she did hit a drive to the right side that stuck in the back corner for an ace.

At 8-8, a questionable avoidable was called on Iwaasa, which she appealed. The line-judges agreed with the referee’s avoidable call, so Jacquet got the serve back. Yet she didn’t take advantage of the opportunity, as Jacquet double faulted.

With the serve back, Iwaasa scored three answered points to win the match, 5-15, 15-9, 11-8, and assure herself her first medal in singles at the World Juniors. In the semi-finals, Iwaasa will face Monserrat Mejia of Mexico, who beat Maria Jose Muñoz of Ecuador, 15-6, 15-5, in the quarters.

As close as the Iwaasa-Jacquet match was, it wasn’t as close as the battle in Girl’s U14 between top seed Valeria Centellas of Bolivia and 8th seed Maricruz Ortiz of Costa Rica, as it took Centellas three games to win it with only two points separating then in the third game and only a single point in the first two games. Centalles won 15-14, 14-15, 11-9.

Some seismic upsets in Girl’s U18, as 6th seed Melania Sauma of Costa Rica and 7th seed Maria Jose Muñoz of Ecuador both won on the bottom half of the draw, so one of them will play for gold as they will face off in the semi-finals on Friday. Sauma, the 6th seed, defeated 3rd seed Flavia Meneses of Bolivia, 15-7, 15-9, in one quarterfinal with Muñoz beating 2nd seed Erin Rivera of Mexico, 15-8, 3-15, 11-8.

On the top half of the Girl’s U18 draw, there will be a face off between two Americans, as Erika Manilla defeated Andrea Martinez of Guatemala, 15-7, 15-6, in one quarterfinal, and Jordan Cooperrider beat Denisse Maldonado of Mexico, 15-10, 15-4.

This is the first year since 2010 that the Girl’s U18 semi-finals has not had a player from either Mexico or Bolivia.

In Boy’s U18, there were no upsets in the quarterfinals, but there were two tie-breakers. Top seed Cristian Longoria of Mexico won easily, defeating 8th seed Alexander Pirie of Costa Rica, 15-0, 15-4. Longoria will face 4th seed Wayne Antone, who an All-American match with team-mate Kevin Vazquez, 15-12, 3-15, 11-9.

On the other side of the draw, 3rd seed Cristhian Miña of Bolivia will play 10th seed Set Cubillos in the semis, as Miña beat Trevor Webb of Canada), 15-6, 15-1, and Cubillos outlasted Bolivian Noe Rivera, 15-10, 12-15, 11-3.

A significant result in Boy’s U16, as 5th seed Marco Sarmiento of Honduras upset 4th seed Fernando Ruiz of Bolivia, 15-11, 15-10. The significance is that Sarmiento’s may assure him of the first medal for Honduras in boy’s singles at World Juniors.

You can watch some of the matches live from San Luis Potosi via the IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Erika Manilla (USA) d. 8) Andrea Martinez (Guatemala), 15-7, 15-6
4) Jordan Cooperrider (USA) d. 5) Denisse Maldonado (Mexico), 15-10, 15-4

6) Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. 3) Flavia Meneses (Bolivia), 15-7, 15-9
7) Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador) d. 2) Erin Rivera (Mexico), 15-8, 3-15, 11-8

Girl's U18 Singles - Semi-finals

1) Erika Manilla (USA) v. 4) Jordan Cooperrider (USA)
6) Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) v. 7) Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador)

Boy's U18 Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. 8) Alexander Pirie (Costa Rica), 15-0, 15-4
4) Wayne Antone (USA) d. 5) Kevin Vazquez (USA), 15-12, 3-15, 11-9

3) Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) d. 11) Trevor Webb (Canada), 15-6, 15-1
10) Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. 15) Noe Rivera (Bolivia), 15-10, 12-15, 11-3

Boy's U18 Singles - Semi-finals

1) Cristian Longoria (Mexico) v. 4) Wayne Antone (USA)
3) Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) v. 10) Set Cubillos (Colombia)

Girl's U16 Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) d. 8) Briana Jacquet (USA), 6-15, 15-9, 11-8
4) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. 12) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-6, 15-5

3) Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) d. 6) Ingrid Robledo (USA), 15-4, 15-14
2) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. 7) Brenda Laime (Bolivia), 15-14, 15-4

Girl's U16 Singles - Semi-finals

1) Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) v. 4) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico)
2) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. 3) Andrea Ramirez (Mexico)

Boy's U16 Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. 9) Sergio Acuña (Costa Rica), 15-1, 15-2
5) Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) d. 4) Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia), 15-11, 15-10

3) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) d. 6) Andres Montero (Costa Rica), 12-15, 15-9, 11-0
2) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) d. 10) Dane Elkins (USA), 15-9, 15-2

Boy's U16 Singles - Semi-finals

1) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. 5) Marco Sarmiento (Honduras)
2) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) v. 3) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico)

Girl's U14 Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. 8) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-14, 14-15, 11-9
4) Delia Aguilar (Mexico) d. 12) Elena Dent (USA), 11-15, 15-2, 11-1

3) Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. 11) Sofia Freer (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-2
2) Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) d. 7) Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador), 15-7, 15-1

Girl's U14 Singles - Semi-finals

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. 4) Delia Aguilar (Mexico)
2) Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) v. 3) Romina Rivero (Bolivia)

Boy's U14 Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Diego Garcia (Bolivia) d. 9) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-0
4) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) d. 5) Antonio Rojas (USA), 5-15, 15-12, 11-6

14) Felipe Cardona (Colombia) v. 11) Jose Cardona (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-13
2) Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. 7) Sahil Thakur (USA), 7-15, 15-5, 11-1

Boy's U14 Singles - Semi-finals

1) Diego Garcia (Bolivia) v. 4) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico)
2) Jose Ramos (Mexico) v. 14) Felipe Cardona (Colombia)

Follow the bouncing ball....

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

2016 World Junior Championships - Wednesday Doubles Results

There were only a few doubles matches Wednesday at the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. In the Girl’s U18 division, the USA team of Erika Manilla and Jordan Cooperrider are in the driver’s seat, as they have won all three of their matches with three more to come. They beat the Mexican team of Mariel Morales and Erin Rivera (Mexico), 15-6, 15-4, Wednesday.

The Girl’s U18 Doubles division is playing a double round robin format, so each team is playing the other teams twice. As Manilla and Cooperrider have defeated the other three teams in two straight games, one would have to think that the gold is theirs to lose. The Guatemala team of Gabriela Martinez and Andrea Martinez are in 2nd place at 2-1 after they defeated Bolivians Brenda Laime and Flavia Meneses, 15-11, 15-0.

Look for live streaming of matches from San Luis Potosi via the IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Doubles - Double Round Robin*

Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) d. Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico), 15-6, 15-4
Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) d. Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia), 15-11, 15-0

Standings

1) Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) - 3-0
2) Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) - 2-1
2) Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico) - 1-2
4) Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) - 0-3

Boy's U18 Doubles Thursday

1) Gerardo Franco & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
4) Prado Mendoza & Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) v. 5) Devin Halko & Trevor Webb (Canada)

3) Christian Chavez & Jorge Ochoa (Ecuador) v. 6) Alexander Pirie & Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica)
2) Jake Birnel & Mauro Rojas (USA) - BYE

Girl's U16 Doubles - Double Round Robin*

Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA) v. Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - Thursday
Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE

Standings

Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - 2-0
Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA) - 1-1
Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - 0-2

Boy's U16 Doubles - Round of 16

1) Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez (Mexico) - BYE
8) Sergio Ortega & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) d. 9) Josue Bermeo & Esteban de Janon (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-2

5) Ricardo Diaz & Dane Elkins (USA) - BYE
4) Sergio Acuña & Pablo Freer (Costa Rica) - BYE

3) Johan Adasme & Ari Weissbrot (Chile)
6) Geovani Mendoza & Javier Nathan (Guatemala) - BYE

7) Spencer Bell & Kaleb Osborne (Canada) - BYE
2) Fernando Ruiz & Bernardo Valencia (Bolivia) - BYE

Boy's U16 Doubles - Quarterfinals Thursday

1) Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez (Mexico) v. 8) Sergio Ortega & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras)
4) Sergio Acuña & Pablo Freer (Costa Rica) v. 5) Ricardo Diaz & Dane Elkins (USA)

3) Johan Adasme & Ari Weissbrot (Chile) v. 6) Geovani Mendoza & Javier Nathan (Guatemala)
2) Fernando Ruiz & Bernardo Valencia (Bolivia) v. 7) Spencer Bell & Kaleb Osborne (Canada)

Girl's U14 Doubles - Quarterfinals Thursday

1) Guadalupe Griffin & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico) - BYE
4) Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. 5) Juliette Parent & Cassie Prentice (Canada)

3) Valeria Centellas & Romina Rivero (Bolivia) v. 6) Nikita Chauhan & Elena Dent (USA)
2) Nathalia Pinero & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. Yun Chaeen & Cho Seungmin (Korea)

Boy's U14 Doubles - Round of 16

1) Martin Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) - BYE
8) Jose Cardona & Luis Perez (Guatemala) d. 9) Mingi Lee & Namwoo Lee (Korea), 15-5, 15-4

5) Ian Frattinger & Sean Sauvé (Canada) - BYE
4) Antonio Rojas & Sahil Thakur (USA) - BYE

3) Roberto Arellano & Diego Garcia (Bolivia) - BYE
6) Esteban Rodriguez & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) - BYE

7) Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) d. 10) Manuel Oyhanart & Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina), 15-4, 15-4
2) Juan Flores & Esteban Jano (Ecuador) - BYE

Boy's U14 Doubles - Quarterfinals

1) Martin Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) v. 8) Jose Cardona & Luis Perez (Guatemala)
4) Antonio Rojas & Sahil Thakur (USA) v. 5) Ian Frattinger & Sean Sauvé (Canada)

3) Roberto Arellano & Diego Garcia (Bolivia) v. 6) Esteban Rodriguez & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica)
2) Juan Flores & Esteban Jano (Ecuador) v. 7) Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile)

Note: A double round robin format has each team playing the other teams twice, rather than only once in a regular round robin format.

Follow the bouncing ball....

2016 World Junior Championships - Singles Round of 16

They are now at the quarterfinal stage at the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, as Wednesday saw the Round of 16 in the singles divisions.

There were a few upsets, but in general, the top four seeds made it through to the quarters. One exception came in Boy’s U18, as Noe Rivera of Bolivia knocked off the 2nd seed Christian Chavez of Ecuador, 15-9, 15-13. Noe will play Set Cubillos of Colombia, who was also an upset winner Wednesday, as Cubillos beat 7th seed Juan Cueva of Ecuador, 15-7, 15-10.

The other exception was in Boy’s U14, as Colombian Felipe Cardona defeated the 3rd seeded Canadian Ian Frattinger, 12-15, 15-8, 11-5. Cardona will play another Cardona in the quarterfinals, but the other is from Guatemala and also an upset winner, as Jose Cardona beat 6th seed Esteban Rodriguez of Costa Rica, 15-10, 15-14.

You can watch some of the matches live from San Luis Potosi via the IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Singles - Quarterfinals (Thursday)

1) Erika Manilla (USA) v. 8) Andrea Martinez (Guatemala)
4) Jordan Cooperrider (USA) v. 5) Denisse Maldonado (Mexico)

3) Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) v. 6) Melania Sauma (Costa Rica)
2) Erin Rivera (Mexico) v. 7) Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador)

Boy's U18 Singles - Round of 16

1) Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. 16) Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-11, 15-6
8) Alexander Pirie (Costa Rica) d. 9) Devin Halko (Canada), 15-11, 15-6

5) Kevin Vazquez (USA) d. 12) Gun Hee Lee (Korea), 15-5, 15-14
4) Wayne Antone (USA) d. 13) Victor Camacho (Mexico), 15-5, 12-15, 11-7

3) Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) d. 14) Julian Cruz (Guatemala), 15-1, 15-2
11) Trevor Webb (Canada) d. 6) Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 15-0, 15-2

10) Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. 7) Juan Cueva (Ecuador), 15-7, 15-10
15) Noe Rivera (Bolivia) d. 2) Christian Chavez (Ecuador), 15-9, 15-13

Boy's U18 Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Cristian Longoria (Mexico) v. 8) Alexander Pirie (Costa Rica)
4) Wayne Antone (USA) v. 5) Kevin Vazquez (USA)

3) Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) v. 11) Trevor Webb (Canada)
10) Set Cubillos (Colombia) v. 15) Noe Rivera (Bolivia)

Girl's U16 Singles - Round of 16

1) Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) - BYE
8) Briana Jacquet (USA) d. 9) Daniela Herrera (Colombia), 15-4, 15-1

12) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) d. 5) Abril Prado (Bolivia), 15-13, 9-15, 11-3
4) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. 13) Josefa Parada (Chile), 15-2, 15-2

3) Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) - BYE
6) Ingrid Robledo (USA) d. 11) Marjolaine Parent (Canada), 15-7, 15-4

7) Brenda Laime (Bolivia) d. 10) Frances Vazquez (Puerto Rico), 15-5, 15-9
2) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

Girl's U16 Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) v. 8) Briana Jacquet (USA)
4) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. 12) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador)

3) Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) v. 6) Ingrid Robledo (USA)
2) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) v. 7) Brenda Laime (Bolivia)

Boy's U16 Singles - Round of 16

1) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. 17) Johan Adasme (Chile), 15-0, 15-0
9) Sergio Acuña (Costa Rica) d. 8) Kaleb Osborne (Canada), 15-12, 12-15, 11-3

5) Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) d. 12) Rafael Gatica (Chile), 15-5, 15-3
4) Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia) d. 13) Mitchell Turner (USA), 15-6, 15-12

3) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) d. 14) Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala), 15-9, 15-9
6) Andres Montero (Costa Rica) d. 11) Pablo Gallegos (Ecuador), 15-7, 15-3

10) Dane Elkins (USA) d. 7) Javier Nathan (Guatemala), 8-15, 15-10, 11-10
2) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) d. 15) Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-1, 15-8

Boy's U16 Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. 9) Sergio Acuña (Costa Rica)
4) Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia) v. 5) Marco Sarmiento (Honduras)

3) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) v. 6) Andres Montero (Costa Rica)
2) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) v. 10) Dane Elkins (USA)

Girl's U14 Singles - Round of 16

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. 16) Josefino Tora (Chile), 15-1, 15-1
8) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. 9) Nathalia Pinero (Ecuador), 15-1, 15-5

12) Elena Dent (USA) d. 5) Juliette Parent (Canada), 15-6, 15-10
4) Delia Aguilar (Mexico) d. 13) Cassie Prentice (Canada), 15-6, 15-1

3) Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. 14) Daniela Herrera (Colombia), 15-0, 15-1
11) Sofia Freer (Costa Rica) d. 6) Nikita Chauhan (USA), 15-6, 12-15, 11-0

7) Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. 10) Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala), 15-0, 15-0
2) Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) d. 15) Yun Chaeen (Korea), 15-1, 15-1

Girl's U14 Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. 8) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica)
4) Delia Aguilar (Mexico) v. 12) Elena Dent (USA)

3) Romina Rivero (Bolivia) v. 11) Sofia Freer (Costa Rica)
2) Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) v. 7) Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador)

Boy's U14 Singles - Round of 16

1) Diego Garcia (Bolivia) d. 16) Luis Perez (Guatemala), 15-0, 15-5
9) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) d. 8) Ari Weissbrot (Chile), 15-12, 15-8

5) Antonio Rojas (USA) d. 12) Charly Chavez (Bolivia), 15-5, 15-1
4) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) d. 13) Josue Bermeo (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-4

14) Felipe Cardona (Colombia) d. 3) Ian Frattinger (Canada), 12-15, 15-8, 11-5
11) Jose Cardona (Guatemala) d. 6) Esteban Rodriguez (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-14

7) Sahil Thakur (USA) d. 10) Juan Flores (Ecuador), 15-8, 15-14
2) Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. 18) Sean Sauvé (Canada), 15-6, 15-2

Boy's U14 Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Diego Garcia (Bolivia) v. 9) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica)
4) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) v. 5) Antonio Rojas (USA)

11) Jose Cardona (Guatemala) v. 14) Felipe Cardona (Colombia)
2) Jose Ramos (Mexico) v. 7) Sahil Thakur (USA)

Follow the bouncing ball....

2016 IRF World Junior Championshps - Early singles match results

There were a few early round matches in the playoff draws Wednesday at the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, but no surprises. The main draws will begin Wednesday afternoon.

You can watch some of the matches live from San Luis Potosi via the IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Singles - Quarterfinals

1) Erika Manilla (USA) v. 8) Andrea Martinez (Guatemala)
4) Jordan Cooperrider (USA) v. 5) Denisse Maldonado (Mexico)

3) Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) v. 6) Melania Sauma (Costa Rica)
2) Erin Rivera (Mexico) v. 7) Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador)

Boy's U18 Singles - Round of 16

1) Cristian Longoria (Mexico) v. 16) Carlos Medrano (Honduras)
8) Alexander Pirie (Costa Rica) v. 9) Devin Halko (Canada)

5) Kevin Vazquez (USA) v. 12) Gun Hee Lee (Korea)
4) Wayne Antone (USA) v. 13) Victor Camacho (Mexico)

3) Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) v. 14) Julian Cruz (Guatemala)
6) Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica) v. 11) Trevor Webb (Canada)

7) Juan Cueva (Ecuador) v. 10) Set Cubillos (Colombia)
2) Christian Chavez (Ecuador) v. 15) Noe Rivera (Bolivia)

Girl's U16 Singles - Round of 16

1) Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) - BYE
8) Briana Jacquet (USA) v. 9) Daniela Herrera (Colombia)

5) Abril Prado (Bolivia) v. 12) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador)
4) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. 13) Josefa Parada (Chile)

3) Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) - BYE
6) Ingrid Robledo (USA) v. 11) Marjolaine Parent (Canada)

7) Brenda Laime (Bolivia) v. 10) Frances Vazquez (Puerto Rico)
2) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

Boy's U16 Singles - Round of 32

1) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) - BYE
17) Johan Adasme (Chile) d. 16) Spencer Bell (Canada), 15-1, 15-0

9) Sergio Acuña (Costa Rica)
8) Kaleb Osborne (Canada) - BYE

5) Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) - BYE
12) Rafael Gatica (Chile) - BYE

13) Mitchell Turner (USA) - BYE
4) Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia) - BYE

3) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) - BYE
14) Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala) - BYE

11) Pablo Gallegos (Ecuador) - BYE
6) Andres Montero (Costa Rica) - BYE

7) Javier Nathan (Guatemala) - BYE
10) Dane Elkins (USA) - BYE

15) Sergio Ortega (Honduras) d. 18) Felipe Cardona (Colombia), 15-2, 15-5
2) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) - BYE

Boy's U16 Singles - Round of 16

1) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) v. 17) Johan Adasme (Chile)
8) Kaleb Osborne (Canada) v. 9) Sergio Acuña (Costa Rica)

5) Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) v. 12) Rafael Gatica (Chile)
4) Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia) v. 13) Mitchell Turner (USA)

3) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) v. 14) Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala)
6) Andres Montero (Costa Rica) v. 11) Pablo Gallegos (Ecuador)

7) Javier Nathan (Guatemala) v. 10) Dane Elkins (USA)
2) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) v. 15) Sergio Ortega (Honduras)

Girl's U14 Singles - Round of 16

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. 16) Josefino Tora (Chile)
8) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. 9) Nathalia Pinero (Ecuador)

5) Juliette Parent (Canada) v. 12) Elena Dent (USA)
4) Delia Aguilar (Mexico) v. 13) Cassie Prentice (Canada)

3) Romina Rivero (Bolivia) v. 14) Daniela Herrera (Colombia)
6) Nikita Chauhan (USA) v. 11) Sofia Freer (Costa Rica)

7) Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. 10) Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala)
2) Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) v. 15) Yun Chaeen (Korea)

Boy's U14 Singles - Round of 32

1) Diego Garcia (Bolivia) - BYE
16) Luis Perez (Guatemala) d. 17) Guillermo Gutierrez (Colombia), 15-0, 15-2

9) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) - BYE
8) Ari Weissbrot (Chile) - BYE

5) Antonio Rojas (USA) - BYE
12) Charly Chavez (Bolivia) - BYE

13) Josue Bermeo (Ecuador) d. 20) Rafael Gatica (Chile), 15-3, 15-6
4) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) - BYE

3) Ian Frattinger (Canada) - BYE
14) Felipe Cardona (Colombia) d. 19) Mingi Lee (Korea), 15-0, 15-3

11) Jose Cardona (Guatemala) - BYE
6) Esteban Rodriguez (Costa Rica) - BYE

7) Sahil Thakur (USA) - BYE
10) Juan Flores (Ecuador) - BYE

18) Sean Sauvé (Canada) d. 15) Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina), 15-2, 15-4
2) Jose Ramos (Mexico) - BYE

Boy's U14 Singles - Round of 16

1) Diego Garcia (Bolivia) v. 16) Luis Perez (Guatemala)
8) Ari Weissbrot (Chile) v. 9) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica)

5) Antonio Rojas (USA) v. 12) Charly Chavez (Bolivia)
4) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) v. 13) Josue Bermeo (Ecuador)

3) Ian Frattinger (Canada) v. 14) Felipe Cardona (Colombia)
6) Esteban Rodriguez (Costa Rica) v. 11) Jose Cardona (Guatemala)

7) Sahil Thakur (USA) v. 10) Juan Flores (Ecuador)
2) Jose Ramos (Mexico) v. 18) Sean Sauvé (Canada)

Follow the bouncing ball....

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Doubles draws for 2016 World Junior Championships

Mexican teams are the top seeds in all of the doubles divisions at the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, but in the Girl’s U18 division they are behind, as the USA team of Erika Manilla and Jordan Cooperrider have won both of their matches so far, while Mexicans Mariel Morales and Erin Rivera are one and one after losing to the Guatemala team of Gabriela Martinez and Andrea Martinez, 15-10, 15-9, on Tuesday.

In Boy’s U18 doubles, Gerardo Franco and Cristian Longoria of Mexico are the odds on favorites to win gold, although we’ll be interested to see them play 2nd seeds Jake Birnel and Mauro Rojas of the USA in the final, assuming the two teams make it that far.

Look for live streaming of matches from San Luis Potosi via the IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Doubles - Double Round Robin*

Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) d. Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia), 15-7, 15-12
Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) d. Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico), 15-10, 15-9

Standings

1) Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) - 2-0
2) Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) - 1-1
2) Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico) - 1-1
4) Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) - 0-2

Boy's U18 Doubles

1) Gerardo Franco & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) - BYE
4) Prado Mendoza & Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) v. 5) Devin Halko & Trevor Webb (Canada)

3) Christian Chavez & Jorge Ochoa (Ecuador) v. 6) Alexander Pirie & Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica)
2) Jake Birnel & Mauro Rojas (USA) - BYE

Girl's U16 Doubles - Double Round Robin*

Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA), 15-3, 15-3
Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - BYE

Standings

Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - 2-0
Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA) - 1-1
Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - 0-2

Boy's U16 Doubles

1) Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez (Mexico) - BYE
8) Sergio Ortega & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) v. 9) Josue Bermeo & Esteban de Janon (Ecuador)

5) Ricardo Diaz & Dane Elkins (USA) - BYE
4) Sergio Acuña & Pablo Freer (Costa Rica) - BYE

3) Johan Adasme & Ari Weissbrot (Chile)
6) Geovani Mendoza & Javier Nathan (Guatemala) - BYE

7) Spencer Bell & Kaleb Osborne (Canada) - BYE
2) Fernando Ruiz & Bernardo Valencia (Bolivia) - BYE

Girl's U14 Doubles

1) Guadalupe Griffin & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico) - BYE
4) Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. 5) Juliette Parent & Cassie Prentice (Canada)

3) Valeria Centellas & Romina Rivero (Bolivia) v. 6) Nikita Chauhan & Elena Dent (USA)
2) Nathalia Pinero & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. Yun Chaeen & Cho Seungmin (Korea)

Boy's U14 Doubles

1) Martin Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) - BYE
8) Jose Cardona & Luis Perez (Guatemala) v. 9) Mingi Lee & Namwoo Lee (Korea)

5) Ian Frattinger & Sean Sauvé (Canada) - BYE
4) Antonio Rojas & Sahil Thakur (USA) - BYE

3) Roberto Arellano & Diego Garcia (Bolivia) - BYE
6) Esteban Rodriguez & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) - BYE

7) Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) v. 10) Manuel Oyhanart & Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina)
2) Juan Flores & Esteban Jano (Ecuador) - BYE

Note: A double round robin format has each team playing the other teams twice, rather than only once in a regular round robin format.

Follow the bouncing ball....

Singles draws for 2016 IRF World Junior Championships

The playoff draws are available now for the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and there are some interesting possibilities as they play for the podium positions come Saturday.

In Girl’s U18, there is only one possibility for a team-mate final, as only the two Mexicans are on opposite sides of the draw. In fact, only Mexico and the USA have two players in the draw. The other four are each from a different country: Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Guatemala.

Erika Manilla of the USA is the top seed, as she was undefeated in Group A of qualifying. But fellow American Jordan Cooperrider is the 4th seed, so the two USA players could meet in the semi-finals, rather than the finals.

Mexican Erin Rivera is the 2nd seed, and her team-mate Denisse Maldonado is seeded 5th, so the two Mexicans could meet in the final, although Maldonado would need to beat Cooperrider and then probably Manilla to get to the final.

Cristian Longoria of Mexico is the #1 seed in Boy’s U18, but his team-mate Victor Camacho is also on the top side of the draw as he is seeded 13th. Similiarly, the Americans Wayne Antone and Kevin Vazquez are the 4th and 5th seeds, respectively, so they could meet in the quarterfinals. Also, the two Ecuador players and two Bolivian players are on the bottom of the draw.

If team-mates are going to play each other in the Boy’s U18 final this year, it will have to be either Canadians of Costa Ricans, as the other countries with players two players in the draw have them on the same side of the draw. Given this it is perhaps appropriate that a Canadian and a Costa Rican faceoff in the the Round of 16.

Note, for those thinking that Cooperrider would be 3rd seed in the Girl’s U18 playoffs rather than the 4th seed, you need to understand that there are two possibilities for the playoffs. Only the players with the 1st or 2nd seed will be in those positions regardless of the possibility chosen for the playoffs. The choice is determined by a random process after all group stage matches for that division are complete. This seeding process is used to reduce the likelihood of gamemanship by players who may chose to lose a match if they believe that will get them a more favorable seeding for the playoff round.

Look for live streaming of matches from San Luis Potosi via the IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Singles

1) Erika Manilla (USA) v. 8) Andrea Martinez (Guatemala)
4) Jordan Cooperrider (USA) v. 5) Denisse Maldonado (Mexico)

3) Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) v. 6) Melania Sauma (Costa Rica)
2) Erin Rivera (Mexico) v. 7) Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador)

Boy's U18 Singles

1) Cristian Longoria (Mexico) v. 16) Carlos Medrano (Honduras)
8) Alexander Pirie (Costa Rica) v. 9) Devin Halko (Canada)

5) Kevin Vazquez (USA) v. 12) Gun Hee Lee (Korea)
4) Wayne Antone (USA) v. 13) Victor Camacho (Mexico)

3) Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) v. 14) Julian Cruz (Guatemala)
6) Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica) v. 11) Trevor Webb (Canada)

7) Juan Cueva (Ecuador) v. 10) Set Cubillos (Colombia)
2) Christian Chavez (Ecuador) v. 15) Noe Rivera (Bolivia)

Girl's U16 Singles

1) Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) - BYE
8) Briana Jacquet (USA) v. 9) Daniela Herrera (Colombia)

5) Abril Prado (Bolivia) v. 12) Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador)
4) Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) v. 13) Josefa Parada (Chile)

3) Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) - BYE
6) Ingrid Robledo (USA) v. 11) Marjolaine Parent (Canada)

7) Brenda Laime (Bolivia) v. 10) Frances Vazquez (Puerto Rico)
2) Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

Boy's U16 Singles

1) Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) - BYE
16) Spencer Bell (Canada) v. 17) Johan Adasme (Chile)

9) Sergio Acuña (Costa Rica)
8) Kaleb Osborne (Canada) - BYE

5) Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) - BYE
12) Rafael Gatica (Chile) - BYE

13) Mitchell Turner (USA) - BYE
4) Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia) - BYE

3) Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) - BYE
14) Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala) - BYE

11) Pablo Gallegos (Ecuador) - BYE
6) Andres Montero (Costa Rica) - BYE

7) Javier Nathan (Guatemala) - BYE
10) Dane Elkins (USA) - BYE

15) Sergio Ortega (Honduras) v. 18) Felipe Cardona (Colombia)
2) Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) - BYE

Girl's U14 Singles

1) Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) v. 16) Josefino Tora (Chile)
8) Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) v. 9) Nathalia Pinero (Ecuador)

5) Juliette Parent (Canada) v. 12) Elena Dent (USA)
4) Delia Aguilar (Mexico) v. 13) Cassie Prentice (Canada)

3) Romina Rivero (Bolivia) v. 14) Daniela Herrera (Colombia)
6) Nikita Chauhan (USA) v. 11) Sofia Freer (Costa Rica)

7) Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) v. 10) Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala)
2) Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) v. 15) Yun Chaeen (Korea)

Boy's U14 Singles

1) Diego Garcia (Bolivia) - BYE
16) Luis Perez (Guatemala) v. 17) Guillermo Gutierrez (Colombia)

9) Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) - BYE
8) Ari Weissbrot (Chile) - BYE

5) Antonio Rojas (USA) - BYE
12) Charly Chavez (Bolivia) - BYE

13) Josue Bermeo (Ecuador) v. 20) Rafael Gatica (Chile)
4) Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) - BYE

3) Ian Frattinger (Canada) - BYE
14) Felipe Cardona (Colombia) v. 19) Mingi Lee (Korea)

11) Jose Cardona (Guatemala) - BYE
6) Esteban Rodriguez (Costa Rica) - BYE

7) Sahil Thakur (USA) - BYE
10) Juan Flores (Ecuador) - BYE

15) Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina) v. 18) Sean Sauvé (Canada)
2) Jose Ramos (Mexico) - BYE

Follow the bouncing ball....

2016 IRF World Junior Championships - Day 3 results

Erika Manilla of the USA completed an undefeated group stage of play Tuesday at the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, as she defeated Flavia Meneses of Bolivia, 15-4, 15-5. Meneses was the #1 seed in Girl’s U18, and Manilla will claim that spot with the win, putting her on top of the draw for the elimination round that will begin on Wednesday.

In the other Girl’s U18 group, Mexican Erin Rivera beat Melania Sauma of Costa Rica, 15-7, 15-8, to claim the 2nd seed spot for the elimination round, and Jordan Cooperrider of the USA needed a tie-breaker to defeat Andrea Martinez of Guatemala, 15-5, 13-15, 11-2.

In Boy’s U18, Cristian Longoria of Mexico claimed the #1 seed, as he got an injury win against Costa Rican Jose Ubilla Tuesday. Longoria was ahead 12-1 in game one when Ubilla had to default due to injury. In a surprise result, Korean Gun Hee Lee beat Bolivian Noe Rivera, 15-9, 15-13, in the other Group A match.

We thought there might be tie-breakers needed in the other Boy’s U18 groups to determine the group winners, but that turned out not to be necessary. Christian Chavez of Ecuador defeated Trevor Webb of Canada, 15-9, 15-9, to win Group B. Bolivian Cristhian Miña beat Colombian Set Cubillos (Colombia), 15-12, 15-5, to take Group C, and American Wayne Antone won Group D with a win over Julian Cruz of Guatemala, 15-3, 15-0.

Look for live streaming of matches from San Luis Potosi via the IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Singles

Group A

Erika Manilla (USA) d. Flavia Meneses (Bolivia), 15-4, 15-5
Denisse Maldonado (Mexico) d. Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador), 15-7, 15-14

Group B

Erin Rivera (Mexico) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-7, 15-8
Jordan Cooperrider (USA) d. Andrea Martinez (Guatemala), 15-5, 13-15, 11-2

Boy's U18 Singles

Group A

Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 12-1, injury forfeit
Gun Hee Lee (Korea) d. Noe Rivera (Bolivia), 15-9, 15-13

Group B

Christian Chavez (Ecuador) d. Trevor Webb (Canada), 15-9, 15-9
Kevin Vazquez (USA) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-8, 15-4

Group C

Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) d. Set Cubillos (Colombia), 15-12, 15-5
Alexander Pirie (Costa Rica) d. Victor Camacho (Mexico), 8-15, 15-12, 11-9

Group D

Wayne Antone (USA) d. Julian Cruz (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-0
Juan Cueva (Ecuador) d. Devin Halko (Canada), 15-3, 15-4

Girl's U16 Singles

Group A

Ingrid Robledo (USA) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 9-15, 15-8, 11-6
Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) - BYE

Group B

Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Marjolaine Parent (Canada), 15-0, 15-1
Abril Prado (Bolivia) - BYE

Group C

Briana Jacquet (USA) d. Frances Vazquez (Puerto Rico), 15-5, 15-6
Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) - BYE

Group D

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Daniela Herrera (Colombia), 15-0, 15-0 - forfeit
Brenda Laime (Bolivia) d. Josefa Parada (Chile), 15-0, 15-0

Boy's U16 Singles

Group A

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Pablo Gallegos (Ecuador), 15-1, 15-3
Dane Elkins (USA) - BYE

Group B

Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) d. Mitchell Turner (USA), 15-2, 15-7
Sergio Acuña (Costa Rica) - BYE

Group C

Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) d. Javier Nathan (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-10
Rafael Gatica (Chile) d. Spencer Bell (Canada), 15-6, 15-6

Group D

Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 6-15, 15-5, 11-5
Andres Montero (Costa Rica) d. Johan Adasme (Chile), 15-11, 15-12

Group E

Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) d. Kaleb Osborne (Canada), 15-0, 15-0 - forfeit
Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala) d. Felipe Cardona (Colombia), 14-15, 15-11, 11-3

Girl's U14 Singles

Group A

Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. Cassie Prentice (Canada), 15-3, 15-2
Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Sofia Freer (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-13

Group B

Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) d. Daniela Herrera (Colombia), 15-0, 15-0 - forfeit
Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Elena Dent (USA), 15-3, 15-9

Group C

Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. Juliette Parent (Canada), 15-14, 15-3
Nathalia Pinero (Ecuador) d. Yun Chaeen (Korea), 15-5, 15-3

Group D

Delia Aguilar (Mexico) d. Josefino Tora (Chile), 15-2, 15-1
Nikita Chauhan (USA) d. Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-7

Boy's U14 Singles

Group A

Diego Garcia (Bolivia) d. Rafael Gatica (Chile), 15-1, 15-1
Juan Flores (Ecuador) d. Jose Cardona (Guatemala), 15-11, 15-6

Group B

Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. Josue Bermeo (Ecuador), 15-5, 15-3
Ari Weissbrot (Chile) d. Mingi Lee (Korea), 15-0, 15-0

Group C

Ian Frattinger (Canada) d. Charly Chavez (Bolivia), 15-8, 15-14
Sahil Thakur (USA) d. Luis Perez (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-2

Group D

Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) d. Guillermo Gutierrez (Colombia), 15-1, 15-0
Esteban Rodriguez (Costa Rica) d. Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina), 15-4, 15-2

Group E

Antonio Rojas (USA) d. Felipe Cardona (Colombia), 15-9, 15-10
Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) d. Sean Sauvé (Canada), 15-3, 15-11

Girl's U18 Doubles - Round Robin

Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) d. Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia), 15-7, 15-12
Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) d. Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico), 15-10, 15-9

Boy's U18 Doubles

Group A

Gerardo Franco & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. Christian Chavez & Jorge Ochoa (Ecuador), 15-11, 15-5
Devin Halko & Trevor Webb (Canada) - BYE

Group B

Jake Birnel & Mauro Rojas (USA) d. Prado Mendoza & Cristhian Miña (Bolivia), 15-7, 15-10
Alexander Pirie & Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica) - BYE

Girl's U16 Doubles - Round Robin

Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA), 15-3, 15-3
Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - BYE

Boy's U16 Doubles

Group A

Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez (Mexico) d. Geovani Mendoza & Javier Nathan (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-4
Spencer Bell & Kaleb Osborne (Canada) - BYE

Group B

Ricardo Diaz & Dane Elkins (USA) d. Sergio Ortega & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 15-3, 15-13
Fernando Ruiz & Bernardo Valencia (Bolivia) - BYE

Group C

Johan Adasme & Ari Weissbrot (Chile) d. Josue Bermeo & Esteban de Janon (Ecuador), 7-15, 15-4, 11-4
Sergio Acuña & Pablo Freer (Costa Rica) - BYE

Girl's U14 Doubles

Group A

Guadalupe Griffin & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico) d. Valeria Centellas & Romina Rivero (Bolivia), 15-9, 3-15, 11-5
Juliette Parent & Cassie Prentice (Canada) - BYE

Group B

Nathalia Pinero & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-12, 12-15, 11-8
Nikita Chauhan & Elena Dent (USA) d. Yun Chaeen & Cho Seungmin (Korea), 15-0, 15-5

Boy's U14 Doubles

Group A

Martin Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. Ian Frattinger & Sean Sauvé (Canada), 15-6, 12-15, 11-9
Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile) - BYE

Group B

Juan Flores & Esteban Jano (Ecuador) d. Jose Cardona & Luis Perez (Guatemala), 15-2, 15-5
Esteban Rodriguez & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) - BYE

Group C

Roberto Arellano & Diego Garcia (Bolivia) d. Mingi Lee & Namwoo Lee (Korea), 15-0, 15-0
Antonio Rojas & Sahil Thakur (USA) d. Manuel Oyhanart & Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina), 15-0, 15-0

Follow the bouncing ball....

Monday, November 14, 2016

2016 IRF World Junior Championships - Day 2 results

Monday was the second day of group stage play at the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and the group stage will conclude on Tuesday with the group stage results used to seed players for an elimination round that begins on Wednesday.

The top seed spot will be up for grabs in Girl’s U18 singles Tuesday when Flavia Meneses of Bolivia and Erika Manilla of the USA faceoff as both have won their first two group stage matches. Monday, Meneses defeated Maria Jose Munoz of Ecuador, 15-2, 15-12, while Manilla beat Denisse Maldonado of Mexico, 15-2, 15-9. In Group B, American Jordan Cooperrider looks likely to be the 3rd seed, as she defeated Melania Sauma of Costa Rica, 15-10, 15-5, Monday, so she and Manilla would be on opposite sides of the draw if Manilla wins Tuesday.

There’s a bit of craziness in Boy’s U18 following Monday’s matches. However, top seed Cristian Longoria of Mexico looks likely to maintain that seeding for the elimination round as he won Monday, defeating Lee Gun Hee of Korea, 15-5, 15-6.

But in Group B, it’s Christian Chavez of Ecuador who has the inside track to get the 2nd seed, as Chavez beat American Kevin Vazquez, 15-10, 15-5. However, Chavez plays Canadian Trevor Webb Tuesday, and Webb defeated Carlos Medrano of Honduras, 15-2, 15-14, on Monday, although Vazquez beat Webb on Sunday. Thus, depending on Tuesday’s results, a tie-breaker rule could come into effect to determine the 2nd seed for the elimination round.

A tie-breaker situation could happen in Group C also, where the 3rd seed is up for grabs. Bolivian Cristhian Miña is in the driver’s seat after beating Alexander Pirie of Costa Rica, 15-14, 15-6, on Monday, but he’ll face Colombian Set Cubillos Tuesday, and Cubillos was winner over Mexican Victor Camacho, 2-15, 15-12, 11-5.

Wayne Antone of the USA will likely be the 4th seed, as he’s won both his games in Group D, but on Monday he just squeaked out a victory over Juan Cueva of Ecuador, winning 15-9, 13-15, 11-10.

Look for live streaming of matches from San Luis Potosi via the IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Singles

Group A

Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) d. Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-12
Erika Manilla (USA) d. Denisse Maldonado (Mexico), 15-2, 15-9

Group B

Erin Rivera (Mexico) d. Andrea Martinez (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-4
Jordan Cooperrider (USA) d. Melania Sauma (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-5

Boy's U18 Singles

Group A

Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. Gun Hee Lee (Korea), 15-5, 15-6
Noe Rivera (Bolivia) d. Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 7-15, 15-14, 11-5

Group B

Trevor Webb (Canada) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-2, 15-14
Christian Chavez (Ecuador) d. Kevin Vazquez (USA), 15-10, 15-5

Group C

Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) d. Alexander Pirie (Costa Rica), 15-14, 15-6
Set Cubillos (Colombia) d. Victor Camacho (Mexico), 2-15, 15-12, 11-5

Group D

Wayne Antone (USA) d. Juan Cueva (Ecuador), 15-9, 13-15, 11-10
Devin Halko (Canada) d. Julian Cruz (Guatemala), 15-8, 15-8

Girl's U16 Singles

Group A

Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) d. Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador), 15-5, 14-15, 11-5
Ingrid Robledo (USA) - BYE

Group B

Abril Prado (Bolivia) d. Marjolaine Parent (Canada), 15-1, 15-7
Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) - BYE

Group C

Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) d. Frances Vazquez (Puerto Rico), 15-11, 15-2
Briana Jacquet (USA) - BYE

Group D

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Josefa Parada (Chile), 15-1, 15-1
Brenda Laime (Bolivia) d. Daniela Herrera (Colombia), 15-1, 15-2

Boy's U16 Singles

Group A

Dane Elkins (USA) d. Pablo Gallegos (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-1
Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Sergio Acuña (Costa Rica) d. Mitchell Turner (USA), 15-14, 15-7
Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) - BYE

Group C

Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) d. Rafael Gatica (Chile), 15-0, 15-0
Javier Nathan (Guatemala) d. Spencer Bell (Canada), 15-5, 15-6

Group D

Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia) d. Johan Adasme (Chile), 15-12, 15-11
Andres Montero (Costa Rica) d. Sergio Ortega (Honduras), 15-13, 15-10

Group E

Kaleb Osborne (Canada) d. Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala), 15-9, 14-15, 11-3
Felipe Cardona (Colombia) d. Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 6-15, 15-11, 11-6

Girl's U14 Singles

Group A

Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. Sofia Freer (Costa Rica), 15-7, 15-5
Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Cassie Prentice (Canada), 15-9, 15-7

Group B

Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) d. Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica), 15-2, 13-15, 11-9
Elena Dent (USA) d. Daniela Herrera (Colombia), 15-2, 15-0

Group C

Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. Yun Chaeen (Korea), 15-3, 15-0
Juliette Parent (Canada) d. Nathalia Pinero (Ecuador), 15-12, 15-9

Group D

Delia Aguilar (Mexico) d. Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala), 15-3, 15-1
Nikita Chauhan (USA) d. Josefino Tora (Chile), 15-1, 15-3

Boy's U14 Singles

Group A

Diego Garcia (Bolivia) d. Jose Cardona (Guatemala), 15-1, 15-3
Juan Flores (Ecuador) d. Rafael Gatica (Chile), 15-11, 15-4

Group B

Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. Mingi Lee (Korea), 15-3, 15-0
Ari Weissbrot (Chile) d. Josue Bermeo (Ecuador), 15-10, 15-6

Group C

Charly Chavez (Bolivia) d. Luis Perez (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-2
Sahil Thakur (USA) d. Ian Frattinger (Canada), 7-15, 15-11, 11-6

Group D

Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) d. Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina), 15-1, 15-3
Esteban Rodriguez (Costa Rica) d. Guillermo Gutierrez (Colombia), 15-0, 15-0

Group E

Antonio Rojas (USA) d. Sean Sauvé (Canada), 15-3, 15-8
Felipe Cardona (Colombia) d. Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica), 8-15, 15-9, 11-8

Girl's U18 Doubles - Round Robin

Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) d. Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala), 15-13, 15-5
Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico) d. Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia), 15-9, 15-9

Boy's U18 Doubles

Group A

Christian Chavez & Jorge Ochoa (Ecuador) d. Devin Halko & Trevor Webb (Canada), 15-7, 15-10
Gerardo Franco & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Prado Mendoza & Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) d. Alexander Pirie & Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 15-10, 15-12
Jake Birnel & Mauro Rojas (USA) - BYE

Girl's U16 Doubles - Round Robin

Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada), 15-3, 15-1
Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA) - BYE

Boy's U16 Doubles

Group A

Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez (Mexico) - BYE
Geovani Mendoza & Javier Nathan (Guatemala) d. Spencer Bell & Kaleb Osborne (Canada), 15-2, 15-6

Group B

Fernando Ruiz & Bernardo Valencia (Bolivia) d. Sergio Ortega & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras), 3-15, 15-6, 11-4
Ricardo Diaz & Dane Elkins (USA) - BYE

Group C

Johan Adasme & Ari Weissbrot (Chile) d. Sergio Acuña & Pablo Freer (Costa Rica), 3-15, 15-12, 11-4
Josue Bermeo & Esteban de Janon (Ecuador) - BYE

Girl's U14 Doubles

Group A

Valeria Centellas & Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. Juliette Parent & Cassie Prentice (Canada), 15-0, 15-3
Guadalupe Griffin & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico) - BYE

Group B

Nathalia Pinero & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Yun Chaeen & Cho Seungmin (Korea), 15-1, 15-3
Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Nikita Chauhan & Elena Dent (USA), 15-8, 15-5

Boy's U14 Doubles

Group A

Martin Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) - BYE
Ian Frattinger & Sean Sauvé (Canada) d. Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile), 15-2, 15-9

Group B

Esteban Rodriguez & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica) d. Jose Cardona & Luis Perez (Guatemala), 15-7, 15-3
Juan Flores & Esteban Jano (Ecuador) - BYE

Group C

Roberto Arellano & Diego Garcia (Bolivia) d. Manuel Oyhanart & Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina), 15-1, 15-0
Antonio Rojas & Sahil Thakur (USA) d. Mingi Lee & Namwoo Lee (Korea), 15-1, 15-5

Follow the bouncing ball....

Sunday, November 13, 2016

2016 IRF World Junior Championships - Day 1 results

Play has begun at the 28th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and there are a few results of note on Day 1 of the group play, which pitted the closest seeds against each other. The results of group play will be used to seed players for an elimination round.

Three of the four matches in Girl’s U18 singles went tie-breaker, although all were won by the higher seeded player. In Group A, top seed Flavia Meneses of Bolivia defeated 4th seed Denisse Maldonado of Mexico, 1-15, 15-3, 11-2, and 5th seed Erika Manilla of the USA beat 8th seed Maria Jose Munoz of Ecuador, 15-6, 15-9, in the only match that didn’t go breaker.

In Group B of Girl’s U18, 2nd seed Erin Rivera of Mexico defeated 3rd seeded American Jordan Cooperrider, 14-15, 15-9, 11-4, while 6th seed Melania Sauma of Costa Rica beat 7th seed Andrea Martinez of Guatemala, 9-15, 15-9, 11-9.

In contrast, three of the four top seeds in Boy’s U18 were defeated on Sunday. Remember, the seedings for the group stage are based on each respective country’s performance in that division at last year’s World Junior Championship, rather than any assessment of the individual players.

Mexican Cristian Longoria is the top seed in Boy’s U18, and he won his match against Noe Rivera of Bolivia, 15-4, 15-13. However, Longoria’s team-mate, 3rd seed Victor Camacho lost to the other Bolivian Cristhian Miña, 15-7, 15-4. Thus, Miña could claim the 3rd seed if he wins his other group stage matches, which would advantageous for the elimination round.

Canadian players Trevor Webb and Devin Halko were the 2nd and 4th seeds, respectively, and their respective opponents were Americans Kevin Vazquez and Wayne Antone. Happily for the USA, both Vazquez and Antone won. Vazquez defeated Webb in a tie-breaker, 15-6, 9-15, 11-5, while Antone beat Halko, 15-1, 15-8. Thus, the Americans have the early advantage to claim the 2nd and 4th seeds for the elimination round.

Look for live streaming of matches from San Luis Potosi via the IRF YouTube channel.

28th IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships
San Luis Potosi, Mexico


Girl's U18 Singles

Group A

Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) d. Denisse Maldonado (Mexico), 1-15, 15-3, 11-2
Erika Manilla (USA) d. Maria Jose Munoz (Ecuador), 15-6, 15-9

Group B

Erin Rivera (Mexico) d. Jordan Cooperrider (USA), 14-15, 15-9, 11-4
Melania Sauma (Costa Rica) d. Andrea Martinez (Guatemala), 9-15, 15-9, 11-9

Boy's U18 Singles

Group A

Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. Noe Rivera (Bolivia), 15-4, 15-13
Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica) d. Gun Hee Lee (Korea), 15-13, 15-12

Group B

Kevin Vazquez (USA) d. Trevor Webb (Canada), 15-6, 9-15, 11-5
Christian Chavez (Ecuador) d. Carlos Medrano (Honduras), 15-10, 15-10

Group C

Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) d. Victor Camacho (Mexico), 15-7, 15-4
Alexander Pirie (Costa Rica) d. Set Cubillos (Colombia), 15-13, 15-6

Group D

Wayne Antone (USA) d. Devin Halko (Canada), 15-1, 15-8
Juan Cueva (Ecuador) d. Julian Cruz (Guatemala), 15-5, 15-3

Girl's U16 Singles

Group A

Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) d. Ingrid Robledo (USA), 15-3, 15-7
Maria Jose Muñoz (Ecuador) - BYE

Group B

Ana Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala) d. Abril Prado (Bolivia), 15-2, 15-3
Marjolaine Parent (Canada) - BYE

Group C

Andrea Ramirez (Mexico) d. Briana Jacquet (USA), 15-2, 15-3
Frances Vazquez (Puerto Rico) - BYE

Group D

Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) d. Brenda Laime (Bolivia), 15-0, 15-0
Daniela Herrera (Colombia) d. Josefa Parada (Chile), 11-15, 15-12, 11-4

Boy's U16 Singles

Group A

Eduardo Portillo (Mexico) d. Dane Elkins (USA), 15-5, 15-12
Pablo Gallegos (Ecuador) - BYE

Group B

Gerson Miranda (Bolivia) d. Sergio Acuña (Costa Rica), 15-8, 15-2
Mitchell Turner (USA) - BYE

Group C

Sebastian Fernandez (Mexico) d. Spencer Bell (Canada), 15-1, 15-4
Javier Nathan (Guatemala) d. Rafael Gatica (Chile), 15-12, 15-5

Group D

Fernando Ruiz (Bolivia) d. Andres Montero (Costa Rica), 15-5, 14-15, 11-4
Sergio Ortega (Honduras) d. Johan Adasme (Chile), 15-13, 15-11

Group E

Kaleb Osborne (Canada) d. Felipe Cardona (Colombia), 15-4, 8-15, 11-5
Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) d. Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala), 15-12, 15-11

Girl's U14 Singles

Group A

Valeria Centellas (Bolivia) d. Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador), 15-1, 15-4
Sofia Freer (Costa Rica) d. Cassie Prentice (Canada), 11-15, 15-12, 11-1

Group B

Guadalupe Griffin (Mexico) d. Elena Dent (USA), 15-8, 15-8
Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Daniela Herrera (Colombia), 15-0, 15-0

Group C

Romina Rivero (Bolivia) d. Nathalia Pinero (Ecuador), 15-1, 15-2
Juliette Parent (Canada) d. Yun Chaeen (Korea), 15-2, 15-1

Group D

Delia Aguiar (Mexico) d. Nikita Chauhan (USA), 15-3, 15-3
Jazmin Aguilar (Guatemala) d. Josefino Tora (Chile), 15-3, 1-15, 11-7

Boy's U14 Singles

Group A

Diego Garcia (Bolivia) d. Juan Flores (Ecuador), 15-2, 15-5
Jose Cardona (Guatemala) d. Rafael Gatica (Chile), 15-10, 15-11

Group B

Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. Ari Weissbrot (Chile), 15-5, 15-10
Josue Bermeo (Ecuador) d. Mingi Lee (Korea), 15-1, 15-2

Group C

Charly Chavez (Bolivia) d. Sahil Thakur (USA), 15-13, 13-15, 11-5
Ian Frattinger (Canada) d. Luis Perez (Guatemala), 15-6, 15-7

Group D

Sebastian Longoria (Mexico) d. Esteban Rodriguez (Costa Rica), 15-6, 15-6
Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina) d. Guillermo Gutierrez (Colombia), 15-8, 15-5

Group E

Antonio Rojas (USA) d. Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica), 15-9, 9-15, 11-6
Sean Sauvé (Canada) d. Felipe Cardona (Colombia), 5-15, 15-10, 11-8

Girl's U18 Doubles - Round Robin

Gabriela Martinez & Andrea Martinez (Guatemala) v. Jordan Cooperrider & Erika Manilla (USA) - Monday
Brenda Laime & Flavia Meneses (Bolivia) v. Mariel Morales & Erin Rivera (Mexico) - Monday

Boy's U18 Doubles

Group A

Gerardo Franco & Cristian Longoria (Mexico) d. Devin Halko & Trevor Webb (Canada), 15-8, 15-4
Christian Chavez & Jorge Ochoa (Ecuador) - BYE

Group B

Jake Birnel & Mauro Rojas (USA) d. Alexander Pirie & Jose Ubilla (Costa Rica), 15-5, 15-9
Prado Mendoza & Cristhian Miña (Bolivia) - BYE

Girl's U16 Doubles - Round Robin

Briana Jacquet & Ingrid Robledo (USA) d. Alexis Iwaasa (Canada) & Marjolaine Parent (Canada), 15-4, 13-15, 11-9
Ana Laura Flores & Monserrat Mejia (Mexico) - BYE

Boy's U16 Doubles

Group A

Eduardo Portillo & Rodrigo Rodriguez (Mexico) d. Spencer Bell & Kaleb Osborne (Canada), 15-0, 15-5
Geovani Mendoza & Javier Nathan (Guatemala) - BYE

Group B

Fernando Ruiz & Bernardo Valencia (Bolivia) d. Ricardo Diaz & Dane Elkins (USA), 15-10, 8-15, 11-7
Sergio Ortega & Marco Sarmiento (Honduras) - BYE

Group C

Sergio Acuña & Pablo Freer (Costa Rica) d. Josue Bermeo & Esteban de Janon (Ecuador), 15-8, 15-11
Johan Adasme & Ari Weissbrot (Chile) - BYE

Girl's U14 Doubles

Group A

Guadalupe Griffin & Valeria Hernandez (Mexico) d. Juliette Parent & Cassie Prentice (Canada), 15-5, 15-3
Valeria Centellas & Romina Rivero (Bolivia) - BYE

Group B

Nathalia Pinero & Ana Lucia Sarmiento (Ecuador) d. Nikita Chauhan & Elena Dent (USA), 15-6, 15-13
Sofia Freer & Maricruz Ortiz (Costa Rica) d. Yun Chaeen & Cho Seungmin (Korea), 15-3, 15-2

Boy's U14 Doubles

Group A

Martin Martinez & Jose Ramos (Mexico) d. Diego Gatica & Jaime Mansilla (Chile), 15-3, 15-5
Ian Frattinger & Sean Sauvé (Canada) - BYE

Group B

Juan Flores & Esteban Jano (Ecuador) d. Esteban Rodriguez & Tomas Sanchez (Costa Rica), 15-5, 9-15, 11-6
Jose Cardona & Luis Perez (Guatemala) - BYE

Group C

Roberto Arellano & Diego Garcia (Bolivia) d. Antonio Rojas & Sahil Thakur (USA), 15-14, 15-5
Mingi Lee & Namwoo Lee (Korea) d. Manuel Oyhanart & Tomas Oyhanart (Argentina), 15-6, 15-10

Follow the bouncing ball....