5 “Championship Racquetball Team Members” ….5 WINS!!!!!!
What can I say? This has been a VERY busy month for me coaching as ALL of my athletes on my “Championship Racquetball Team” shined:
Rocky Carson won the Mile High Pro-Am 2 weekS ago in Denver, Colorado.
Paola Longoria won the Pan American Championships in Singles this past weekend in Cali, Columbia.
Taylor Knoth won the 2013 National Intercollegiate Championship in Singles, Doubles and the Team 2 weeks ago in Tempe, AZ.
Sharon Jackson won the Pan American Championships in Doubles this past weekend in Cali, Columbia.
Lexi York won the 2013 National HS Championships for the 2nd consecutive year at the end of February in St. Louis, MO.
Rocky has become even closer to regaining the No. 1 spot on the International Racquetball Tour’s (IRT) World Rankings by winning the Mile High Pro-Am 2 weeks ago in Colorado. Rocky defeated the current World No. 1 in the event’s finals. The win is Rocky’s third Tier 1 tournament victory for the 2012-2013 IRT Season. Already holding the top spot in the “Season-to-Date” rankings. Rocky will now inch closer to the No. 1 spot in the 12-month rolling “Overall” rankings. The hard work is paying off, 2 years and counting, but I told him the next 3 tournaments would be the toughest.
Paola traveled to Cali, Columbia to represent her country, Mexico, in the 2013 Pan American Championships and defeated Rhonda Rajsich, representing USA. This tournament continues her International winning streak. Paola won the Women’s Singles Title at the 2011 Pan American Games, the 2012 Pan American Championships and the 2012 International Racquetball Federation’s (IRF) World Championships. Her overall consecutive match win streak for international play and on the women’s professional tour now sits at 88. I told Paola the same thing as I told Rocky, that the hard work is paying, 3 ½ years and counting, but her next 3 tournaments will be the toughest.
Taylor made it to the finals for the 4th straight year at the 2013 National Intercollegiate Championships and took home 3 firsts and 3 Gold Medals. After being off from the tournament scene since July 2012 because of a cyst on the bottom of his foot, he came back just a couple of months ago and played some local events to get ready for this prestigious event. As a senior and his last year of eligibility he wanted to play well and finish his college career strong…and that he did. Taylor has one more year of college left, but he has informed me he wants to start playing the pro tour this up and coming season. Well, we will have our work cut out for us, but with a heavy schedule of training, drilling and playing starting in May-I know he will be up for the task.
Sharon competed in her first ever International Tournament representing the USA Team at the Pan American Championships in Cali, Columbia. She teamed up with Rhonda in Women’s Doubles and they brought home the Gold. Her hard work ethic on and off the court propelled her to her first ever International victory and medal.
Lexi, last year in her hometown of Portland, became the first freshman in 12 years to win the Girls’ Singles National High School Racquetball Championship. This year in St. Louis she repeated the accomplishment to remain on track in the hope of sweeping the High School National Championship in four consecutive years. The last player to win the National Championship during all four years of their high school career was current HEAD Penn professional touring player Adrienne Fisher Haynes (2000-2003). She is now getting ready for the Regionals coming up in 2 weeks in Gresham, OR.
