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2003 Tournament of the Americas - News

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Canada clinches second place; Mike Green drops final at the Racquetball Tournament of the Americas Mike Green lost the menīs singles final but Canada clinched second place in the team competition of the Tournament of the Americas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Saturday. Green, a native of Burlington, Ont., lost in the final to American Jack Huczek 15-5, 15-13, 11-3 to finish second. "Mike played a good match," said Team Canada head coach Michel Gagnon. "He battled back in the second game to force the tie-breaker...he had a very strong tournament overall." Both Green and Huczek are fixtures on the menīs pro racquetball tour, with Huczek currently ranked seventh and Green 11th. The U.S. clinched the team title, but Canada managed to nose ahead of a strong Mexican side to finish second in the team competition. Besides Greenīs second-place showing, Canada had two bronze-medal winning players in singles with Josee GrandīMaitre and Vincent Gagnon finishing third in womenīs and menīs singles respectively. Canada's women's doubles team also won a bronze medal. Gagnon, a native of Longueuil, Que, won a medal in his first major international competition. Earlier in the tournament he dispatched Bolivian Santiago Canedo 15-5, 15-8 in the round-of-16, and then beat Simone Perdoma 15-7, 7-15, 11-10 of the Dominican Republic in a thrilling quarter-final match to set up his semi-final clash. He then lost to Huczek in the semi-finals on Friday. Gagnonīs feat was matched by fellow Longueuil resident Josee GrandīMaitre in womenīs singles on Friday. GrandīMaitre defeated Yaque Parada of Bolivia 15-8, 15-14 in the quarter-finals, before falling to Laura Fenton of the U.S in a tough semi-final match, 2-15, 15-9, 11-8. The veteran national team member was up 8-6 in the tiebreaker but couldnīt close for the win. Canadaīs womenīs doubles team of Amada Dunn of Saskatoon and Calgaryīs Lori-Jane Powell defeated Bolivia in the quarters, then fell to the U.S. to claim the bronze. Canadaīs other womenīs singles player, Winnipegīs Jen Saunders, and both the menīs and womenīs doubles teams ended up tied for fifth by losing in the quarters. Penetanguishene, Ontīs, Corey Osborne and Burlingtonīs Tom OīBrien were eliminated from the menīs doubles competition when they lost to Bolivia on Thursday. "We always come here with the goal to finish either first or second and weīve done that," said Gagnon. "To finish second and beat Mexico playing with two doubles teams that were together for the first time and Vincent in his first major tournament, is a very good result for our team." The next major competition is the National Championships slated for May 19-25 in Vancouer. That tournament will be the primary selection event for the Pan Am Games later in the summer. The Tournament of the Americas is an annual competition between racquetball-playing nations in North, Central and South America. The tournament is also serving as a test event for the Pan Am Games racquetball tournament. For more information, please visit www.Racquetball.ca or e-mail racquetballcanada@hotmail.com for information contacting any of the coaches or players involved. Contact: Peter Robinson 647.227.5540 Green set to play for menīs singles title at Racquetball Tournament of the Americas Mike Green defeated American Jason Thoerner 15-4, 15-3 on Friday, to clinch a spot in the menīs singles final Saturday at the Tournament of the Americas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Green, a native of Burlington, Ont., will play American Jack Huczek in the final. Huczek defeated Canadian Vincent Gagnon in the other menīs semi, 15-7, 15-7. Gagnon, a native of Longueuil, Que, managed an impressive third-place showing in his first major international competition. Earlier in the tournament he dispatched Bolivian Santiago Canedo 15-5, 15-8 in the round-of-16, and then beat Simone Perdoma 15-7, 7-15, 11-10 in a thrilling quarter-final match to set up his semi-final clash. "Mike played very well, his serves were outstanding," said Canadian coach Loren Prentice. "Vincent had a great tournament, third-place is very impressive for him." Gagnonīs feat was matched by fellow Longueuil resident Josee GrandīMaitre in womenīs singles on Friday. GrandīMaitre defeated Yaque Parada of Bolivia 15-8, 15-14 in the quarter-finals, before falling to Laura Fenton of the U.S in a tough semi-final match, 2-15, 15-9, 11-8. The veteran national team member was up 8-6 in the tiebreaker but couldnīt close for the win. Canada's women's doubles team of of Lori-Jane Powell of Calgary and Amanda Dunn of Saskatoon defeated Bolivia in the quarters, then fell to the U.S. in the semi-finals to claim the bronze. Canadaīs other womenīs singles player, Jen Saunders of Winnipeg, lost 15-7, 15-11 to Angelo Grisar of Chile and was eliminated. "I thought Josee had a very good tournament," said Prentice. "It was too bad she couldnīt close the tiebreaker...Jen didn't have her best day, but the player she lost to played very well." "L.J. and Amanda were beaten by a team that also played very well." Saunders, and both the menīs and womenīs doubles teams ended up tied for fifth by losing in the quarters. Earlier, Penetanguishene, Ontīs, Cory Osborne and Burlingtonīs Tom OīBrien were eliminated from the menīs doubles competition when they lost to Bolivia. The menīs final will be a showdown between two fixtures on the menīs pro racquetball tour. Huczek is the seventh-ranked player on the tour, while Green is 11th. Action continues through Saturday at the Santo Domingo Country Club. The tournament is an annual competition between racquetball-playing nations in North, Central and South America. The tournament is also serving as a test event for the Pan Am Games racquetball tournament later this summer in the Dominican Republic. Canadians make it through to semi-finals at Racquetball Tournament of the Americas Mike Green and Vincent Gagnon both won their matches Thursday at the Tournament of the Americas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to earn spots in the semi-finals. Gagnon, a native of Longuiel, Que., dispatched Bolivian Santiago Canedo 15-5, 15-8 in the round-of-16 to start the day. He then beat Simone Perdoma 15-7, 7-15, 11-10 in a thrilling quarter-final match to set up a semi-final clash with Jack Huzcek of the U.S. Green, a native of Burlington, Ont., defeated Bolivian Ricardo Monroy 15-9, 15-7 in the quarter-finals to set up his semi-final clash with Jason Thoerner of the U.S. on Friday. Green recieved a bye in the round-of-16. Both Canadian women won their round-of-16 matches to earn spots in the quarter-finals Friday. Josee GrandīMaitre, a native of Longueil defeated Rosario Dominquez of Cuba 15-6, 15-7, while Jennifer Saunders of Winnipeg beat Claudine Garcia of the Dominican Republic 15-14, 15-14. "Today was a good day, there was some really good matches," said Canadian coach Loren Prentice. "So far, so good. Friday will be very interesting." Penetanguishene, Ontīs, Corey Osborne and Burlingtonīs Tom OīBrien were eliminated from the menīs doubles competition in the quarter-finals after losing to Bolivia 15-6, 15-7. "That was a tough loss," said Prentice. "The Bolivians played a really strong match." Action continues through Saturday at the Santo Domingo Country Club. The tournament is an annual competition between racquetball-playing nations in North, Central and South America. Canadians clinch top spot in pool play at racquetball Tournament of the Americas Buoyed by an impressive unbeaten run in singles play, Canada remains on course as the round robin phase draws to a close at the Tournament of the Americas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Burlington, Ont., native Mike Green led the way Tuesday, clinching first place in his pool by defeating Pablo Fajre 15-10, 15-1. Canada's other men's singles player, Vincent Gagnon of Longueuil, Que., also clinched top spot in his pool with a 15-3, 15-7 win over Puerto Rican Nestor Marchand. Winnipeg's Jennifer Saunders breezed through her match, dropping Karen De Paiz of Guatemala 15-0, 15-5. The win virtually assures Saunders top spot in her pool with one match remaining on Wednesday against Carmen Pizzaro of Chile. Longueuil, Que.'s Josee Grand'Maitre won her pool on Monday and doesn't play again until Thursday. In doubles, the men's team of Cory Osborne of Penetanguishene, Ont., and Tom O'Brien of Burlington remained undefeated and also clinched first place in their pool with a clutch tie-breaker victory over Venezuela. On the women's side, Lori-Jane Powell of Calgary and Amanda Dunn of Saskatoon dropped a three-set match to a tough Mexican side. "Overall it was a good day," said Team Canada coach Loren Prentice. "Cory and Tom did real well to win their tie-breaker, but Lori-Jane and Amanda lost theirs they will be second seeds now, which will make it a little tougher, but that is what happened last year when they won (in Bolivia)." Prentice was referring to the win by Powell and partner Karina Odegard of Saskatoon at last year's Tournament of the Americas. Action at the Santo Domingo Country Club continues Wednesday with pool play, but only Saunders is action for Canada. The elimination matches get underway on Thursday. The Tournament of the Americas is an annual event between racquetball-playing nations in North, Central and South America. Thirteen countries have sent teams to Santo Domingo, which is serving as a "test" venue for the upcoming Pan Am Games this summer. For more information, contact Peter Robinson (647) 227.5540 or Michel Gagnon (809) 221.1511 Perfect! Canada continues its unbeaten run at Racquetball Tournament of the Americas Powered by Josee Grand'Maitre's pool-clinching win in women's singles, Canada continued its undefeated run at the Tournament of the Americas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Monday. "It was a very good day today," said Team Canada coach Michel Gagnon. "Tomorrow and Wednesday are big days because all the top seeds play the No. 2 seeds in their pool." Longueuil, Que., native Grand'Maitre dispatched Carola Loma of Bolivia 15-14, 15-4 to clinch her pool and earn a spot in the round-of-16 that is slated to begin Thursday. Canada's other women's singles player, Jennifer Saunders of Winnipeg, defeated Puerto Rico's Anita Maldonado 15-2, 15-9 to keep her flawless record intact. Saunders, a world silver medallist in 2002, had earlier defeated Yaima Hernandez of Cuba to start the tournament. On the men's side, Mike Green of Burlington, Ont., won his second straight match, downing Bolivian Santiago Canedo 15-7,15-5. Vincent Gagnon, a native of Longueuil, Que., was off Monday but returns to action on Tuesday where he too will attempt to keep his undefeated record intact. Earlier, he dispatched a player from Venezuela and another from Ecuador. He will play the pool's No. 2 seed Nestor Marchand on Tuesday. In doubles, the Canadian pairing of Lori-Jane Powell of Calgary and Amanda Dunn of Saskatoon defeated Puerto Rico 15-13, 15-3. Powell is the defending doubles champion in the event, having paired with another Saskatoon native, Karina Odegard, last year in Bolivia to take the title. The men's team of Cory Osborne of Penetanguishene, Ont., and Tom O'Brien of Burlington remained undefeated with a 14-15, 15-8, 15-6 win over Chile. Action at the Santo Domingo Country Club continues Tuesday and Wednesday with pool play, before the elimination matches get underway on Thursday. The Tournament of the Americas is an annual event between racquetball-playing nations in North, Central and South America. Thirteen countries have sent teams to Santo Domingo, which is serving as a "test" venue for the upcoming Pan Am Games this summer. For more information, contact Peter Robinson (647) 227.5540 or Michel Gagnon (809) 221.1511 Canada opens the Tournament of the Americas in winning fashion Team Canada posted victories in all three of its matches during the opening day at the Tournament of the Americas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Saturday. Mike Green of Burlington, Ont., defeated Fabian Cuesta Pozo of Ecuador 15-9,15-11 in men's singles action, while Vincent Gagnon Longueuil, Que., knocked off another Ecuadoran, Jose Luis Cueva, 15-1, 15-6. In women's singles, Josee Grand'Maitre of Longueuil, Que., won her opening match, defeating Mary Cruz of Puerto Rico 15-7, 15-0. Winnipeg's Jennifer Saunders, Canada's other singles player, had the day off but is scheduled to play Sunday morning. Canada women's doubles team - Lori-Jane Powell of Calgary and Amanda Dunn of Saskatoon - defeated a team from Cuba 15-9, 15-11 in their opening match. The Canadian men's team of Tom O'Brien and Cory Osborne will play Pozo and Cueva, who are doing double duty in doubles for Ecuador on Sunday. "It was a good day with everyone winning," said Canadian head coach Loren Prentice. "I don't think the matches have been too tough yet." Matches continue through Saturday April 19 at the Santo Domingo Country Club. Check www.Racquetball.ca for more updates.

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