“Rocky Carson makes the semis in MN & finals in TX & GA”
“Paola Longoria is 2 for 2 …wins US Open Championships in MN & MX”
“Jordan Cooperrider makes the semis in MN & finals of Women’s Open at IRT in GA”
“Wayne Antone wins the Men’s Open Singles/Doubles in OR”
“Mitchell Turner makes 2 semis in MN & OR”
Rocky Carson at 2015 US Open Championships
My “Adult Championship Racquetball Team” led by Rocky Carson and Paola Longoria, both had a busy October on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) & the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT).
Rocky Carson made it to the semi-finals of the 2015 United Healthcare US Open held in Minneapolis, MN October 7-11. Unfortunately Rocky fell short to his rival, Daniel De La Rosa, in a 5th game tiebreaker, 10-12. Rocky fought hard and played well, but unfortunately Daniel came back at the end to squeak out the 5th game victory.
Two weeks later, October 22-25, Rocky headed to the Bob Cat Open IRT Pro Stop in San Marcos, TX. He bounced back from the loss at the US Open to make the finals by beating 2 newcomers to the quarterfinals and semifinals, Edson Martinez and Sebastian Franco. Rocky then met Kane Waselenchuk in the finals and lost in 3 games.
In back-to-back weekends Rocky was on the road, this time to Atlanta, GA, for the Galaxy Printing IRT pro-stop October 29-November 1. He again made it to the finals after beating Jose Rojas in the semifinals in 3 games. This time he had a 4 game battle with Alvaro Beltran, but fell short to the #3 ranked pro player in the world and his pro doubles partner.
Paola Longoria defended her title from 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and is now the 6th time 2015
Paola Longoria with Coach Fran Davis celebrate winning her 6th US Open Title.
United Healthcare US Open Champion. She won the event held in Minneapolis, MN October 7-11, in fashion against her rival Rhonda Rajsich in 4 games. She dropped one game to, Veronica Sotomeyer in the semi-finals, and one game to Rhonda Rajsich in the finals, on the way to being crowned the 2015 US Open Champion.
Paola also won the 2015 United Healthcare US Open Women’s Pro Doubles title with her regular doubles partner, Samantha Salas Solis. They are the reigning World Doubles Champions and Pan American Doubles Champions.
At the end of the month, October 29-November 1, Paola traveled to her hometown of San Luis Potosi, MX where she grew up. In front of her hometown fans, Paola won her third Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) event of the year. Heralded as one of Mexico’s top female athletes, the annual Paola Longoria Experience tournament is held in honor of Longoria’s dominance in racquetball over the last half decade. Jesús Marcelo de los Santos, the governor of San Luis Potosi, was at the tournament to watch Paola win both the Professional Singles and Professional Doubles events over the weekend. In singles play, Paola didn’t drop a single game through the entire draw. Not only did Longoria score 132 points, she only allowed 19 in demolishing the competition.
The doubles bracket was more of a battle as more than two-thirds of all matches played in the draw went to a tiebreaker. Paola and her partner prevailed though winning the final in straight games.
*Rocky and Paola both have 2 more pro events left in 2015.
Wayne Antone winning Men’s Open tournament in Corvallis, OR October 16-18, 2015.
My “Junior Championship Racquetball Team” led by Jordan Cooperrider, Wayne Antone and Mitchell Turner also had a busy Fall with their tournaments getting ready for the Junior World Championships November 8-14.
Jordan Cooperrider attended the 2015 United HealthCare US Open Championships and lost a tough match in the Women’s Pro Qualifier. She then bounced back in the Women’s Open Division to defeat the girl she lost to at the Junior World Championships last year in Cali, Columbia and played Susy Acosta, the LPRT Veteran ranked #10 in a very close semi-finals match.
Jordan continues to dominate the Women’s Open divisions in the Southeast. At the Galaxy Printing
Jordan Cooperrider w Coach Fran Davis at 2015 US Open Championships…wins Bronze Medal.
IRT pro stop she advanced to the finals in the Women’s Open singles division, but lost to Sharon Jackson, #28 ranked on the LPRT.
Wayne Antone has been training really hard with me and it truly showed when he won his first-ever Men’s Open tournament in Corvallis, OR, October 16-18. He won both the singles and doubles divisions by beating top open players like Dan Cramer, Jeff Stark, Sam Breckenbeck and Paul Jubles, for the first time ever in one tournament.
Mitchell Turner w Coach Fran Davis at 2015 US Open Championships…wins Bronze Medal.
Mitchell Turner, at the age of 15, attended the 2015 United HealthCare US Open Championships and marched through the Men’s B Division like he owned it. Won a few tiebreakers and 2 very close matches, but in the end he fell a little short in the semi-finals.
He has been training really hard with me in Salem and Eugene, OR and Seattle, WA as well has been sparring with Charlie Pratt in Portland, OR. . It truly showed when he finished in the semifinals of the Men’s A division in Corvallis, OR, October 16-18.
*Jordan, Wayne and Mitchell are all at the 2015 Junior World Championships, November 8-14.
**All IRT Tier 1 and Grand Slam events are streamed live on the IRT Network.
***All LPRT Tier 1 and Grand Slams are streamed on Livestream.com.
****All IRF International Events are streamed on Livestream.com…the USAR Channel.
Enjoy your journey to your “championship game,” like my “championship team.”
