Congratulations TEAM USA!
18 Countries
188 Competitors
USA – World Cup 3rd Place – Team Bronze
My three athletes, Connor Laffey, Jordan Cooperrider and Wayne Antone arrived at the 2014 IRF XXVI World Junior Racquetball Championships, October 19-25, 2014 in Cali, Colombia and helped Team USA capture 3rd place overall in the team competition…a BRONZE MEDAL.
Junior National Champions Connor Laffey, Jordan Cooperrider and Wayne Antone with Coach Fran Davis.
The IRF World Junior Championship event is held every year. The event featured countries from around the world such as USA, Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Columbia, etc. They played in a preliminary round robin format tournament for 3 days to determine the seeding’s for the main draw, which was held on the last 4 days of the week-long event. At the end of the week an individual World Junior Champion was crowned in women’s and men’s singles and doubles. What makes it even more exciting is that there is a team competition so a World Junior Championship country is determined as well.
Connor took 9th place over all in the individual competition in Boy’s 18.
Jordan took 3rd place over all in the individual singles/doubles in Girl’s 16.
Wayne took 5th place over all in the individual singles Boy’s 16.
I am so PROUD of ALL of them as they accomplished what they set out to accomplish which was they all made the 2014 USA National Racquetball Team and represented their country at the 2014 World Junior Championships. As a bonus, Connor and Wayne won a Bronze Medal and Jordan won 3 Bronze Medals. NO DOUBT they will all be back next year to bring home the GOLD!
Connor, Jordan, and Wayne are all home safe and sound and back in school catching up on schoolwork. They will start to train hard again in the coming weeks.
