“Paola Longoria wins Pro Singles/Doubles at the LPRT pro stop in TX”
“Rocky Carson wins the IRT pro stop in FL”
“Wayne Antone nursing a wrist injury”
“Jordan Cooperrider wins Women’s Open Singles/Doubles at the SE Regional Championships in FL”
“Mitchell Turner plays the Men’s A/Elite at the NW Regionals Championships in OR”
My “Adult Championship Racquetball Team” led by Paola Longoria and Rocky Carson, won big this April!
Paola Longoria, the No. 1 ranked female racquetball player in the world, remained undefeated on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) for the 2015-2016 season with a straight game victory over Maria Jose Vargas in the women’s singles finals of the Battle at the Alamo event in San Antonio, TA April 22-24. The win is Longoria’s ninth of the season and the 69th of her professional career.
Paola also won the women’s doubles division with Samantha Salas in San Antonio.
Rocky Carson came from two games down in the finals of the 2016 Florida Pro-Am to win his third
Rocky wins Sarasota, FL …second in a row after OH. Jordan matched Rocky by winning Women’s Open.
tournament of the season on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). Currently the No. 2 player in the world on the IRT’s rankings list, Rocky’s win in the Sunshine State was his 24th career title.
Rocky has now won 486 matches in IRT tournaments, placing him just six matches behind reaching the Top Three in the history of men’s professional racquetball. At the Florida event, Rocky beat Markie Rojas in the ¼ finals and Álvaro Beltran in the semi finals to advance to the finals. Rocky found himself in a quick two game hole before battling back to win 5-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-4 & 11-1. A very mentally tough win
With just two events remaining on the 2015-16 IRT season, Rocky has already cemented another Top 5 year-end ranking, which will be his 10th consecutive.
Next up for Paola and Rocky: Paola is going to Stockton, CA and Rocky is heading to Portland, OR in May.
Jordan sweeps 3 medals…2 Gold’s & 1 Silver at SE Regionals.
My “Junior Championship Racquetball Team” also was strong and solid in their adult tournaments this month.
Wayne Antone is unfortunately nursing a wrist injury and is planning on being ready for the Junior National Championships in Minneapolis, MN in June.
Jordan Cooperrider just added another line to her growing list of racquetball accomplishments. Jordan played at the SE Regional Championships in Sarasota, FL April 29-May 1 in the Women’s Open division. Jordan, playing her best racquetball, took out the legendary Cheryl Gudinas in the semi finals in two straight games and faced Christina Amaya the #11 LPRT touring professional in the finals and out shot Christina in the tie-breaker to win 11-6.
Jordan also teamed up with Christina in Women’s Open Doubles and won that, she also took 2nd in the Mixed Open Doubles with Kevin Vasquez after going a tie breaker against Charlie Pratt and his partner.
All in all, Jordan walked away with two 1st place victories and a 2nd place victory on her way to getting
Mitchell makes noise at NW Regionals.
ready for The Junior National Championships in June in Minneapolis, MN.
Jordan is the reigning 16 & Under Girl’s Doubles National Champion and finished as a runner up in the 16 & Under Girl’s Singles division at last year’s Junior Olympics. At the age of 14, Jordan became the youngest adult skill level State Champion in Florida. At the junior level she first won a Regional Championship at the age of five! Jordan holds nine U.S. National Junior Championships and two World Junior Championships.
Mitchell Turner played in the Men’s A/Elite division’s at the NW Regional Championships in Portland, OR gaining lots of experience playing in the adult divisions at the age of 16. Mitchell beat some very experienced and higher level adult players and made it to the semi-finals of Elite and won a medal…a great accomplishment.
Jordan, Wayne and Mitchell are ramping up their training and tournament participation in States, Regionals, IRT and LPRT events in preparation for the Junior National Championships in June.
Fran checking out the IRT Network.
Note: All IRT Tier 1 and Grand Slam events are streamed live on the IRT Network.
Note: All LPRT Tier 1 and Grand Slams are streamed on Livestream.com.
My “Championship Racquetball Camp Series” was last held in Warren, NJ April 29-May 1, 2016. What a great weekend of racquetball with campers hungry to learn how to build their “championship games.” EVERY aspect of the game from stroke mechanics, to shots of the games, to drills, to court position, to shot selection, to serves/return of serves, to game plans/strategies, to mental toughness, to training schedules and more were covered.
Fran Davis RB Camp in Warren , NJ …happy campers.
Enjoy your journey to your “championship game,” like my “championship team.”
