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| 2001 Junior World Championship - December 20, 2001 |
| News | Photos | Final Results |
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December 20, 2001 CANADIAN GIRLS CAPTURE GOLD IN DOUBLES Orlando, Florida - On the last day of the World Junior Racquetball Championships, Karina Odegard (Saskatoon) and Brandi Jacobson Prentice (Saskatoon) have captured the gold medal in the Girls 18 & Under Doubles event. They defeated the top-seeded American team of Kersten Walsh and Krystal Csuk in two straight games, 15-11, 15-7. "We really wanted this," said Odegard. "We lost to this same team in the finals last year. We played much better today." Jacobson Prentice, who at 15 was the youngest player in the event, agrees. "The difference was that we served tough today. Walsh had trouble with my lobs, and Karina really mixed up her serves to jam Csuk." The Canadians were one of five teams in the round robin. "Our game against the other American team was tougher, but there was much more pressure in this match," explained Odegard, who at nineteen years old was playing in her last Junior Worlds. This win gave Odegard her fourteenth, and Jacobson Prentice her fourth, career Junior Worlds gold medal. In other play, Alicia Reid (Brandon) won the Blue 12 & Under division with a 15-10,15-6 win over American Brittany Legget. Reid also teamed up with Chelsea Woodmass (Brandon) to capture third place in the Girls 12 & Under doubles division. "We didn't play our best doubles at the beginning of the week", said Reid. Agreed Woodmass, "But we feel much better about our game now." Another good victory was achieved by Eric Langelier (Anjou), who captured the White 18 & Under division with a (10-15),15-5,11-3 win over Jose Rached (Venezuela). After losing the first game, Langelier conferred with coach Michel Gagnon (Longueuil). "I came into the second game and changed my serves to be more aggressive, and better, drive serves. Overall, I played well this year, and I plan to do even better next year." Langelier's second match of the tournament was an 11-9 tiebreaker loss to Puerto Rican Ward Myers. "That was a great match," said Langelier. "We played hard. I also had a great match against Lee Connell (Saskatoon). I lost the first game, and had to come back from 10-3 in the second to win 15-14 and force the tiebreaker. We played hard - there was a lot of pressure." Early in the day, Saskatoon's Tiara Johnson won the 16 & Under White division with a decisive 15-0,15-1 win over Kimberly Walsh (USA). "I served hard serves, and kept the pace of the game fast. I pushed hard and played a very offensive game," said Johnson. "Overall I am very happy with my play. Even my first match, which I lost in the tiebreaker, was good - we both played well." Johnson and doubles partner Alison Schlichemeyer took home the Silver medal in the 16 & Under doubles. "We were nervous the first day, but still managed to win that match. In our other matches we had good communication and as a team we were well coordinated on the court. The team we lost to [Fisher & Fuller, USA] were a strong team." The Junior World Championships are held yearly in order to determine the strongest junior team in the world. Over 230 players from seven countries competed at this year's event. For further information, please contact Cheryl McKeeman at 604-771-4493 or racquetballcanada@hotmail.com |
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