Rocky Carson & Paola Longoria had a great start to the 2013/2014 Season…3 first places and 1 second place.
Paola Longoria is featured in Forbes Magazine as one of the top 50 most powerful women in Mexico.
My “Adult Championship Racquetball Team” led by Rocky Carson, #2 Pro in the World, and Paola Longoria, #1 Pro in the World, each played in two tournaments in September…a busy month already and the season just got under way.
Rocky Carson had a tremendous showing at both the first International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Pro Stop of the season in Kansas City and the 3 Wall Ball Outdoor National Championships in Las Vegas.
In Kansas City, at the first pro stop, Rocky beat Markie Rojas in 3 games in the quarterfinals after going 4 with Markie last season and then went onto face Alvaro Beltran in the semifinals and beat Alvaro in 3 straight games as well. Rocky faced off with a red hot Jose Rojas in the finals and fought hard after going the distance in the 5th game, but came up short losing to Jose 11-13.
In Las Vegas, on The Strip by the Stratosphere at the 3 Wall Ball World Championships, Rocky captured the title in the Men’s Professional Doubles Division and was a finalist in the Men’s Professional Singles Division. The championship match of the Singles Division was not played due to windy weather conditions that hit Las Vegas on Sunday. Carson won the Singles Title at the 3 Wall Ball World Championships in 2010, 2011, & 2012. He is also a nine-time World Outdoor Racquetball Champion, making him the most decorated player in the outdoor game. On the indoor courts, Rocky is currently ranked No. 2 on the International Racquetball Tour.
Paola Longoria continued her dominance she exhibited last season, by winning both the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) September season openers.
In Stockton, CA, at the first pro stop, Paola did not drop a game on her way to the winning the event by first beating Frederique’Lambert in the first round, Dominique Davis in the quarterfinals, then Sofia’Rascon in the semifinals and finally Veronica Sotomayer in the finals.
Paola continued her winning streak in front of her home country fans at the “Albierto Mexicano de Racquetas” event in South Central Mexico, September 20-22. Once again Paola did not drop a game on her quest to the finals against Christina Amaya and beat her 11-1, 11-3, 11-7.
The event was the first of two back-to-back Grand Slam events on the LPRT with the second being the upcoming US OPEN Racquetball Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota the first week in October.
The two tournament victories brought Paola’s 22nd consecutive win on the LPRT and her consecutive match-winning streak is now at 88. Both the tournament and match winning streaks are LPRT records.
In her home country Mexico, Paola is featured in Forbes Magazine as one of the top 50 most powerful women in Mexico.
Rocky Carson and Paola Longoria head to the US Open Racquetball Championships…Rocky going after his 2nd US Open Championship title and Paola defending her 2011 & 2012 US Open Championship titles.
My “Junior Championship Racquetball Team” is continuing to prepare for the Jr. World Championships in Bolivia in October 20-26, 2013.
Connor Laffey got to train and spar with Paola for a few days while she was up here in Seattle training with me in the beginning of September. He truly learned what it takes to be a champion. He has revamped his whole training schedule and has taken his training to a whole new level….”Paola is truly a racquetball machine as her consistency level is beyond words, it’s sick she’s so good”.
Connor received the Kerwood Scholarship. It is a scholarship given to a high school graduate by the Oregon High School Racquetball League (OHSRL). This is the 2nd prestigious honor he received this summer as he received the “John Wooden Award” at the US Junior Racquetball Team Training Camp held at the United States Olympic Training Center (USOTC)”.
Jordan Cooperrider has taken home all the valuable information she received in Colorado Springs as well as at all her matches at the Jr. National Championships and we are working very closely with her father to get her ready for the Jr. World Championships. She won the Girl’s 12 & U Jr. World Championships 2 years ago so she is priming herself for a repeat.
Both Connor and Jordan have been training hard the entire month of August as their season begins in September, 2013 as well as the Jr. World Championships are in October, 2013. Their event will be streamed live on the International Federation Racquetball website.
Good Luck and stay focused!
