Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic– August 8, 2012 – HEAD/Penn’s Paola Longoria and Rocky Carson both have earned the title “World Champion” by winning the Women’s & Men’s Singles Titles, respectively at the International Racquetball Federation’s 2012 World Championships. In addition, Longoria teamed with HEAD Pro Staff Member Samantha Salas Solis to win the women’s doubles “World Title” for her second Gold medal at the event.
For Longoria, the world’s No. 1 ranked female racquetball player, the IRF World Championship completes the “Perfect Season” after going undefeated during the 2011-2012 Women’s Professional Racquetball Organization’s (WPRO) tour. Carson’s World Championship comes after finishing the International Racquetball Tour 2011-2012 season as the No. 2 ranked player in the World.
Longoria, a 22-year-old San Luis Potosí, Mexico native, signed a long term contract with HEAD/Penn in April. The 2012 Women’s Singles World Championship sits next to her other international completion achievements for Mexico: the 2012 & 2011 World Women’s Doubles Champion and the 2011 Pan American Games Women’s Singles Champion. With her win in the final event of the WPRO season, Longoria captured her third career Season End Title as a professional. She finished the 2011-12 WPRO season with nine tournament victories and an overall match record of 36 wins and 0 losses.
Carson, a 33-year-old Orange County, Calif. resident, has been a member of the United States National Team on 12 occasions. The win this week in the Dominican Republic makes Rocky a “Three Peat” Champion, as he won the World Championship in single in 2008 and 2010. A silver medal in 2000 and bronze medals in 2008 and 1998 in addition to five other international competition medals make Rocky Carson the most decorated male American racquetball player on the international stage.
Both Longoria and Carson are coached by HEAD/Penn senior staff member and Hall of Fame Member Fran Davis.
Also playing for Team USA and Team HEAD/Penn in Santo Domingo was Colorado’s Tony Carson (no relation to Rocky). Tony teamed up with his fellow American partner to capture the silver medal in the Men’s Doubles competition.
To follow Paola, Rocky, Tony, and Samantha and the rest of the HEAD/Penn Professional Team, check out www.facebook.com/headpennracquetball.
