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| 2001 Tournament of the Americas - Final Results |
| News | Draw Sheets | Photos | Final Results |
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FINAL RESULTS Men’s Singles: Kane Waselenchuk (Alberta) lost 15-9, 15-13 to American Rocky Carson Women’s Singles: Josee Grand’Maitre (Quebec) lost 15-4, 15-6 to American Cheryl Gudinas Women’s Doubles: Amanda MacDonald (Sask.) and Karina Odegard (Sask.) lost to Americans Laura Fenton and Jackie Paraiso 15-9, 15-5 Men’s Doubles: Vincent Gagnon (PQ) and Francis Guillemette (PQ) lost 15-11, 15-14 in the semi finals to the Mexican team NEXT EVENT: Canadian National Championships, May 22-26, Vancouver BACKGROUND and STORIES: San Pedro Sula, Honduras -- The 14th annual Racquetball Tournament of the Americas wound up this weekend with Canada winning silver medals in the women’s singles, men’s singles, and women’s doubles events. Established in 1986 to determine the strongest racquetball team from among countries in the north, south and central Americas, this year’s competition was dominated by the USA as the Americans took home the gold in each of the four major divisions. In the men’s singles, defending champion Michael Green of Hannon, Ontario, lost in the quarter finals to teammate Kane Waselenchuk of Spruce Grove, Alberta. Waselenchuk went on to defeat the #2 American player Mike Guidry in the semi finals, before losing to #1 seed Rocky Carson (USA) 15-9, 15-13. Waselenchuk, the Canadian champion since 1999, is ranked #12 on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT)circuit, while Carson is #6. Carson had a scare in the semi finals when he lost a game to current World Champion Alvaro Beltran of Mexico, but Waselenchuk had not lost a game through the preliminary rounds of this event. In the women’s singles, Calgary’s Lori Jane Powell gave a scare to top seeded Cheryl Gudinas (USA) in the semi finals, but Gudinas held on to win that round and face Canadian Josee Grand’Maitre in the finals. Grand’Maitre, a veteran of the Canadian national team, had squeaked by American Kersten Hallander in the semi finals with a 11-15, 15-14, 11-4 win. "I played Kersten at the Chicago pro-stop last March," said Grand’Maitre. "The scoring system is different here than in the women’s pro circuit -- the scoring here is more forgiving should you miss a first serve." That semi-final match lasted almost two hours in 40+ degree heat. But the finals were all Gudinas, who took home the gold medal with a 15-4, 15-6 win over Grand’Maitre. In women’s doubles, Canada’s national doubles team, Amanda MacDonald and Karina Odegard (both of Saskatchewan), made it to the finals with a 15-7, 15-4 win over a strong Chilean team, but were unable to hold on against Americans Laura Fenton and Jackie Paraiso. And in the men’s doubles, first-time international event players Vincent Gagnon and Francis Guillemette (both of Quebec) played well in the preliminary rounds and made it to the semi finals where they were defeated by a tough Mexican team. All these players earned the right to represent Canada by competing at the Canadian national singles and doubles monitoring events, held earlier this year in Winnipeg and Saskatoon, respectively. These players, as well as the rest of the national team members, will be in Vancouver May 22-26 for the 2001 Racquetball Championships. For further information, visit the Racquetball Canada web site at www.racquetball.ca or contact Cheryl McKeeman at (604)323-5429 |
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