Junior Team USA at World Junior Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala

RESULTS -- USA Racquetball 2024 IRF World Juniors -- U.S. Team Medalists 

Team USA medaled in 29 divisions where, during the Awards Ceremony, they had the opportunity to take their places on the medals stand. Photo ops were plentiful, and each received not only their medal but a mascot doll as well, a practice often seen in Olympic Chain events. Congratulations to our medalists!

GOLD (1)

Boys Singles 14 Blue - Vaishant Mangalampalli (CA)

SILVER (7)

Girls Singles 12 White - Aaradhya Raja (CA)

Boys Singles 14 Red - Grant Williams (MO)

Girls Singles 14 White - Sarah Bawa (CA)

Boys Doubles 14 - Vaishant Mangalampalli (CA) / Grant Williams (MO)

Girls Doubles 16 - Montserrat Torres (IL) / Victoria Rodriguez (CA)

Boys Doubles 18 - DJ Mendoza (TX) / Cole Sendrey (TX)

Mixed Doubles 18 - Naomi Ros (TX) / Cole Sendrey (TX)

BRONZE (21)

Boys Singles 10 Red - Reyansh Chandel (CA)

Boys Singles 10 Blue - Ryan Joeckel (MO)

Girls Singles 10 - Yana Alegria (TX)

Girls Doubles 10 - Sameera Rai (CA) / Sloka Marivada (CA)

Boys Singles 12 White - Ryan Joeckel (MO)

Boys Singles 12 White - Noah Jackola (TX)

Girls Singles 12 White - Addie Strobach (MO)

Boys Singles 14 White - Nicolas Suarez (MO)

Girls Singles 14 White – Nyasa Gupta (CA)

Girls Singles 14 Red - Alexis Boyko (MO)

Girls Singles 14 Blue - Aarya Shetty (CA)

Boys Doubles 16 - Eshan Ali (CA) / Nathan Rykhus (CA)

Mixed Doubles 16 - Eshan Ali (CA) / Victoria Rodriguez (CA)

Girls Singles 18 - Naomi Ros (TX)

Girls Doubles 18 - Ava Kaiser (MN) / Naomi Ros (TX)

Girls Singles 21 - Annie Sanchez (OR)

Girls Doubles 21 - Ella Boaz (MO) / Annika Fiedler (OR)

Mixed Doubles 21 - Annie Sanchez (OR) / Iain Dunn (CA)

Women’s A Challenger - Cindy Tilbury (CA)  

Women’s A Challenger - Ella Boaz (MO)

Men’s A Doubles Challenger - Jairo Torres (IL) / Bryon Haacke (NY)

IRF 2024 IRF World Juniors Team Competition

In addition to individual results, points are calculated by each country’s results starting in the beginning round robin stages as well as the main draws. Points graduate upwards for quarterfinal, semifinal, and final rounds. Bolivia and Mexico continued strong with consistent performance in both the Esprit and World Cup categories. The USA placed very respectably, and we congratulate Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Guatemala for their success as well in the Team Competition. (Note: Overall Team combined results are not calculated at the World Juniors competition.)

 Esprit Cup (14/12/10)

Boys

1.     Bolivia

2.     Mexico

3.     Costa Rica

4.     USA

Girls

1.     Bolivia

2.     Mexico

3.     USA

4.     Ecuador

 Combined

1.     Bolivia

2.     Mexico

3.     USA

4.     Ecuador

 World Cup (21/18/16)

Boys

1.     Mexico

2.     Bolivia

3.     USA

4.     Costa Rica

Girls

1.     Mexico

2.     Bolivia

3.     USA

4.     Guatemala

 Combined

1.     Mexico 

2.     Bolivia

3.     USA

4.     Guatemala

Medals or no, we are extremely proud of each of our 37 Team USA athletes. Congratulations to every one for representing the United States of America honorably and with 100% effort and heart.

Friends & Family of USA Racquetball

Thank You’s – So Much to Say!

The U.S. Junior Team Delegation and USA Racquetball wish to deliver our gratitude to those who made this event so truly memorable:

The Host Country of Guatemala (Dr. Estuardo Wer, President) and the Local Organizing Committee*, for hosting this very successful event. The work behind the scenes was extensive. Congratulations on a job very well done! Your service to the 14 countries who came to compete was efficient, friendly, and never to be forgotten. 

*Erny Escobar, Emerson Beltetón , Zoila Ozaeta, Cindy Guerra, Heidi Sarceño, Hilda López, Angely de León, Marcela Escobar, and Madeline Guerra. 

The management and staff of Domo Complejo for providing a first-class facility for this World Juniors competition. Also, we appreciate the club employees and volunteers who kept the entire racquetball area and the courts themselves clean throughout the event.

The medical staff at Domo Complejo as well as the security officers and transportation coordinators on site are so appreciated for their presence and for their service to the delegations and athletes. 

We still can’t get over the police escorts that smoothed the way for every bus, every day. Amazing!

Additional Local Support

The staff of the Clarion Suites was friendly, efficient, and responsive to all requests. Particular thanks go to José and Jefferson for their care and friendship. 

Las Americas Exclusive Service, our ground transportation company (airport/hotel arrivals and departures), for their responsiveness and safe transport of our delegation. Marta Garcia, Javier Lopez, and their staff are always a pleasure to work with. 

IRF Staff and Referees

Twenty-one referees from 10 countries were on hand to provide a quality experience for the players (see Daily Blog #4, Sunday 12/8, on www.usaracquetball.com for their names and nationalities).

Pablo Fajre, Gary Mazaroff, and Gustavo Farell (all from the USA) and José Cruz (GUA) provided live streaming and excellent commentary for racquetball fans near and far. Nicolas Florio (Argentina) did a great job on the social media aspects and photography at this event. 

The referees and all attendees are in turn supported by a seasoned staff led by IRF President Osvaldo Maggi (ARG). They are: IRF Secretary General Mauro Grandio, Pablo Berriel, and Adrian Macrino (all from ARG) as well as Dean Schear (USA), Alberto Sánchez (VEN), and Miguel Santiago (PUR/USA).

We thank USA Racquetball’s Aimee Roehler, who stopped whatever else she might have been doing as soon as a blog and photos were ready for posting and who did a stellar job, as always, with daily coordination of social media efforts.

The parents and cheerleaders were present for every match, living every point as if they themselves were out there competing. It’s challenging to be a spectator! Much gratitude to this amazing delegation in Guatemala for taking care of our athletes AND the coaches and staff throughout the day! We never wanted for anything, and we hope you know you are so very appreciated!

It takes a village to execute a smooth trip for 96 people, and that village was mobilized at World Juniors. There was a group who personified the concept of “Yes! Now, what’s the question?” I’d like to specifically mention Jen Meyer (always there offering to assist), Cindy Tilbury (R2 schedules/results and QOTDs), Ruchika Mohan and Nyasa Gupta (special projects), Colleen Williams (general details and timely reminders), Megan Williams (photos), Claudia Torres (photos), Rhonda Kimler (tons of travel tips), Marie Gomar (grocery store runs and help with player bags), Dr. Meghan Rohde (TLC), and Tom Travers (treatment table). Remote team members Alisa Burris and Jonathan Greenberg contributed as well in many ways behind the scenes. I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone, which would be easy to do because so many were unfailingly kind and supportive. Thank you, everyone!

Sponsors

Gearbox (Joel Arredondo and Anthony Herrera) and Pro Kennex (Michael Martinez) were there with us. Both organizations contribute significantly to the IRF as well as to USA Racquetball.

Splathead’s Joe Hall was on site the entire time. His sponsorship for a second year of the U.S. Junior Team included uniform packages, bag tags, pins...all at no charge for the athletes and staff members. We can’t say enough about Joe’s partnership and generosity.  

WIS International, a leading inventory verification and supply chain management company, for significant sponsorship support. COO Waseem Bawa gifted WIS/USA Racquetball shirts to all of the athletes and staff members, a big hit! Learn more at http://www.wisintl.com. 

Susan Hendricks was so kind to send a significant donation in support of the U.S. Junior Team in memory of her husband Barry who passed away in August. Barry would have loved this! We hope Susan can join us on a future trip to see the action firsthand.

Thanks so much to Lynn Yeazell of Response Graphics & Embroidery in Plainfield, Illinois, for her continual contributions behind the scenes in support of the U.S. Team and the U.S. Junior Team throughout this year. https://responsegraphics-us.com  

Special Contributions

Jen Gallagher and Antonio Olivieri (USOPC) and Angela Brenner (U.S. Embassy) helped tremendously in navigating a challenging passport glitch. 

IRF President Osvaldo Maggi and IRF Vice President Dr. Estuardo Wer have contributed their leadership and dedication to Racquetball and its development around the world. Also, thank you to Luke St. Onge and Keith Calkins whose earlier work set a solid foundation for the future. 

Summary

"When you fight with all you have and commit to exceeding expectations, you don't need a trophy to be a champion." -- Unknown

The mark of champions is how they handle themselves, win or lose, as they pursue their dreams. Congratulations to all 37 champions on the U.S. Junior Team! USA Racquetball and the U.S. Team staff couldn't be prouder of this team and this delegation. A group of 96 people arrived together, got to know each other, lamented losses, celebrated wins, and left for home as family. 

Congratulations to each and every athlete and country delegation who placed in the standings as well as those who did not. Everyone represented their countries with honor and pride, and Team USA is proud to be a member of the worldwide Racquetball family. 

Every one of you who loves this sport would have reveled in the atmosphere of passion and excitement. For closer looks at the draws and the Daily Blogs, visit:

DRAWS: www.internationalracquetball.com or on R2 Sports: https://www.r2sports.com/website/division-list.asp?TID=46434&sortBy=defaultOrder

DAILY BLOGS: Schedules, results, coaches’ comments, Questions of the Day, anecdotes, recognition, thank you’s. https://www.usaracquetball.com/news/2024/december/06/daily-blog-from-the-xxxv-irf-world-junior-racquetball-championships

USA Racquetball