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Quad City Players Successful at Rumble in the Box

On January 15th, the Quad Cities represented with five players at Cedar Rapids' "Rumble in the Box" racquetball tournament.  The event concluded with each QC player taking home either cash or hardware.

The record draw tournament brought 45 players to the Helen G. Nassif YMCA in downtown Cedar Rapids.  Featured were some of the area's top players battling in the Men's Open, including Bryan Crosser, Brad Hansen, Travis Mettenbrink, Sampson Schnurman, and others.  The tournament also had divisions for Men's A, Open Doubles, A/B Doubles, and Mixed Doubles.  Some players arrived at the facility before sunrise, as five matches were scheduled as early as 7:30.  The tournament ran until after 8pm, making for a long yet very enjoyable day.  "Our largest tournament ever!  We can't wait to break the record again next year," said Assistant Tournament Director Lori Reimers, "It was a lot of work, but it was all worth it."

The Men's Open division featured fast flying racquets slamming pinch splatting balls.  Iowa's Brad Hansen matched up with Nebraska's Travis Mettenbrink in the best-of-five championship.  Hansen was too spry, as he proved once again he is the best player in the area swinging a racquetball racquet.  He took the championship (and, of course, the prize money that went with it) in four games.

Quad City Racquetball was able to get five competitive players to make the 75-minute drive to Cedar Rapids.  Those players included: Victor Allen (A singles), Scott Kruse (A 45+ singles, A/B doubles), Josh Paul (A singles, A/B doubles), Ben Schlichting (A singles, A/B doubles), and Bob Schlichting (A/B doubles).

Allen was cruising through his first round match 14-2 in game one when he suffered a wicked calf cramp.  After playing through the pain and taking several time outs (each player is allotted three per game), Allen retired up 14-6.  Injury aside, he would return a few hours later to participate in the consolation bracket.  Allen was able to subdue the cramp, enroute to dominating the bracket for a medal in the "A" consolation championship.

Bob and Ben Schlichting teamed up for the first time as a father-son doubles team.  The crafty veteran Bob, coupled with the fleet footed Ben, easily cruised through their first round match in two games.  They then met Scott Kruse and Josh Paul in the semi-finals.  Kruse and Paul sprinted to an 8-0 lead in game one and were able to hang on for the victory.  The Schlictings, however, played tough and easily took game 2.  The deciding game 3 also went to the Schlictings, as Bob cracked out a serve for the 11th and last point.  The Schlictings went on to the finals, where they captured first place medals after a 2-0 victory.

Josh Paul and Scott Kruse lost both their doubles games, with each match going to a decisive third game.  Kruse started hot in the 45+ A division, heading easily to the finals.  He took on an equally impressive Tom Mettenbrink.  Kruse went on to capture second place in the Men's 45+ A, taking home a cash prize.  Paul narrowly edged his first two opponents in three games, then squared off with fellow QC player Ben Schlicting in the semis.  Paul took the first game 15-8, then Schlicting took the second 15-8.  In a sweaty, bloody third game, Paul took the contest with an 11-9 victory.  In the championship, Paul took down a Cedar Rapids local in two games 15-6, 15-7.  After 17 games and a 12-hour day, Paul claimed the "A" championship.

Players have discussed making a trip to the area's next large tournament, scheduled at Des Moines' Oakmoor, March 2-4.

QC Racquetball Looks to Bring Back Tournament

Story by Josh Paul

Eldridge Rec & Fitness and Quad City Racquetball are working on a partnership to resuscitate a defunct racquetball tournament in the QC area.  When exactly, has yet to be determined, however, members are hoping for either a Spring or Fall 2012 organized tournament to take place. 

 

The Quad City area has not hosted a large racquetball event since the 2007 Quad City ProAM, also held at Eldridge's premier racquetball facility.  Over a hundred players participated in the event, which had cash prizes for winners of the open events.  An attempt was unsuccessfully made a couple years ago to rejuvenate the event.  Local players are hoping for more success this time around.  "We want to do it big," said local avid tournament player Tim Shoemaker, "And if it's going to be big, it will have to be a group of us willing to do a little leg work and run the tournament."

 

Organizers are hoping to bring back the event that used to be an annual success.  Nearly midway between premier racquetball venues at Oakmoor (Des Moines) and Landmark (Peoria), players believe that an organized tournament would be a guaranteed success.  Two Rivers YMCA Racquetball Coordinator Brad Flack and Shoemaker believe that sponsorship will mark the difference between having a great event or a flop, as prize money will yield the top players within driving distance.  As most racquetball tournaments have proven, if an "Open" division is full of participants, so will players in other divisions.

QCRacquetball.com is looking for sponsors, both from area businesses and individual donors.  Please help spread the word to make this event a success.  The QC has a number of racquetball courts, with well over 100 active participants in the sport.  If you would like to help by donating money or volunteering, please email Josh Paul at joshpaul1982@gmail.com.  Any amount is appreciated and will go toward a great weekend of fun, exercise, food/drink, and lasting memories.

 

More info to be posted as it becomes available.

 

Waselenchuk, Longoria take US Open Championships

 

Story by Josh Paul

 

The United States’ largest racquetball tournament took place October 5-9 in Minneapolis, with just under 700 players participating.  The tourney featured the top racquetball players in the world and was nothing short of exciting.

 

 Kane Waselenchuk’s career numbers are more like video game statistics than real life accomplishments.  He entered the 2011 US Open  Racquetball Championships with an amazing International Racquetball Tour (IRT) 113 match win streak.  <click here to read the rest of this story>

 

            Paola Longoria's Powerful Forehand                            Young Phenom Pro Jose Rojas Winds Up a Serve             Kane Waselenchuk and Paola Longoria Celebrate US Open Championship            WPROs Jessica Parrilla (back) v. Keely Franks