U.S. Racquetball Team at the Pan American Games - Blog
by Jen Meyer
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XIX Pan American GamesU.S. Racquetball TeamMedal Tracker
U.S. Racquetball Team at the Pan American Games
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Blog #9 -- Final
Here we are at the end of an incredible Pan American Games experience! When we arrived in Santiago it seemed like it would be forever before we were able to compete, but two weeks later, it feels like it flew by in an instant! Even though Team USA did not have any matches today, we went and watched the Men’s and Women’s Team Competition finals. It is always a tough pill to swallow when you know you should be playing in the finals and are not, but the fire it builds inside to come back even better the next time is one of the special feelings that makes the heart of a champion! After spending two weeks with these athletes, I can promise you they all play with hearts of champions!
Men’s Team Competition Results
- Bolivia
- Canada
- USA, Mexico
Women’s Team Competition Finals
- Mexico
- Argentina
- USA, EAI/Guatemala
The medal ceremonies started right after the final match. There was a lot of pomp and circumstance around the ceremony itself with guards bringing in the top four countries' flags as they were receiving their medals. Seeing athletes at the end of a long training journey being able to step onto the podium to receive a medal for their accomplishments always gives me chills. I don’t think everyone realizes, understands, or sees behind the scenes what it takes to compete at this level. There are a lot of sacrifices being made in the process, but being able to wear USA on your back and represent your country is something the majority will never have the opportunity to do experience. It is a life moment you get to keep forever!
All of that being said, it takes a village to enable these athletes to succeed and do what they do, day in and day out. Every person has their own village and some of us in the racquetball world share some of that responsibility. The following are a part of the list that keeps us organized and showcasing Racquetball in the best light possible.
Sincere thanks to PARC President Marcelo Gómez (Costa Rica), IRF President Osvaldo Maggi (Argentina) and the entire IRF staff:
Operations Director -- Mauro Grandio Buzaleh (Argentina)
Floor and Desk Staff -- Dean Schear (USA), Adrián Macrino (Argentina), Pablo Berriel (Argentina), Susana Acosta (Mexico), and Sebastián Digón (Argentina)
Media -- Alexis Iwaasa (Canada)
...and the referees (aka officials) numbering 17! (See Blog #5)
Special thanks to Osvaldo Maggi for getting Opening Ceremony tickets for our cheerleaders and to Mauro Grandio for procuring session tickets!
Cheers to the Racquetball venue manager, Mauricio Suarez, his right hand man Alonzo, and their staff. They made the experience fantastic by allowing the athletes to play and the coaches to coach. They had water and Gatorade courtside, always replenished, and their staff cleaned up and took every opportunity to sweep the floor before, during, and after the matches. Each and every one of them made our time there pleasant and without worry.
We appreciate so much the USOPC staff’s professionalism and support prior to and during these Games. They deserve so much respect for the job they do for all of Team USA. Warm thanks go to Dana, Tony, Eric, Hannah, Anthony, Nicole, Daniel, Steve, Jenny, Brian, Kelly, Kelli, Daniel, Sam, Nancy, and Linda. These wonderful individuals (and so many more) representing Games Operations, Security, Travel, Medical, Transportation, and Lodging, took excellent care of the Team USA athletes here in Santiago.
Thanks to our “cheerleaders” -- Stewart, Nancy, Victor, Karen, Darold, Rhys, Lacey, and Hollie -- who were there in the stands, always providing encouragement, i.e., lots of cheering for the delegation!
We were able to have dinner at Happenings, which is owned by Rodrigo Safrana (who happens to be a good friend of Pablo’s). He treated us to an amazing spread, a variety of dishes...and the dessert was to die for! We feel like we were treated to the best Chile has to offer!
Back in the States, Aimee Roehler did a masterful job of managing social media and the website, working countless hours to ensure that, even in the absence of consistent live streaming, Racquetball players and fans were frequently informed about the ‘goings on’ here in Santiago.
Kevin Cowley of Nike APS supported us in the quest to get uniforms timely and with approved sizes of logos and graphics. It was not an easy endeavor, and he always gets the job done for us professionally and efficiently.
Finally, we would like to thank Dax, our security agent assigned to us at the Pan American Games. He worked closely with the USOPC staff as well as the US Embassy to ensure our safety. His job was to make sure we made it from point A to point B safely, watch our surroundings, and let us know how we could be more vigilant in certain situations. We had a bonus in that he has played racquetball before, so on the first day of practice when there was a controversial call between the women's and men’s doubles teams, he immediately stepped up…and took the guys’ side! LOL It amazes me how much we came to rely on him and look for him in the face of a crowd. We knew he was there for us, and it wasn’t necessarily that we felt unsafe but really because we felt safer with him. I learned a lot from Dax, and Dax will always be a part of our Racquetball family. We thank him from the bottom of our hearts!
Pablo and I have talked a lot throughout the Pan American Games about the amazing experience with athletes competing at the highest level. To watch EVERY single member of this team grow by asking other athletes questions about training or nutrition; to celebrate the success of athletes from other sports; and to ask their coaches hard questions about their game -- it all comes down to the training and sacrifices one has made to be here. We have both been thrilled with the opportunity to represent Team USA Racquetball and look forward to witnessing the further achievements of these athletes and assisting those who will emerge in the future!
It's already tomorrow here in Santiago, and our team members will be moving out of the Village first thing in the morning to make room for the next wave of athletes. We’ll grab a meal, maybe do some quick souvenir shopping, and then in the afternoon take the prearranged shuttle to the airport for our late-evening flight back to Atlanta. We’ll say goodbye there as we clear Customs and continue on to our individual flights home.
Actually, Adam and I won’t be saying goodbye for long. Not too many days from now, we’ll meet again in Tarija, Bolivia, as part of the coaching staff for the U.S. Junior Team at the IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships, November 10-18. Thirty young athletes, ages 8 to 22, will be competing in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, and we can’t wait to be a part of it all!
GO TEAM USA!!
-Jen Meyer
U.S. Racquetball Team at the Pan American Games
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Blog #8
It was back to game planning for the start of the Team Competitions today. After taking a moment to celebrate Adam and Erika’s Gold Medal win on Tuesday, we regrouped to focus on the next goal of winning a medal in the team competition. Today was full of incredible racquetball matches from the start! In every match all day, Team USA left their hearts on the court.
Both the Men’s and Women’s teams came out strong with 2-0 records against Ecuador and Bolivia, respectively. This put everyone on Team USA into the semifinals. The men were up against Bolivia and the women against Mexico. Everyone played so well, but it was especially phenomenal to watch Alex and Daniel fight for every point in their doubles win in 5 games against Bolivia and then see Daniel turn right around and play another 5 games in singles. Incredible!
Another highlight of today was watching the redemption match for Michelle against Angelica Barrios. After losing in 3 games last Sunday to Barrios in the individual competition straight draw, Michelle was focused and constantly moved Angie around the court today. Pure determination and focus pushed Michelle to victory. Her win was significant in moving us into the semifinals against Mexico.
Men’s Team Competition Quarterfinal matches
Adam Manilla won in 4 games over Jose Daniel Ugalde (Ecuador)
Daniel De La Rosa won in 3 games over Juan Francisco Cueva (Ecuador)
The USA Men’s Team advanced to the Semifinals vs. Bolivia.
Men’s Team Competition Semifinal matches
Adam Manilla lost in 3 games to Carlos Keller Vargas (Bolivia)
Alex Landa/Daniel De La Rosa won in 5 games over Kadim Carrasco/Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
Daniel De La Rosa lost in 5 games to Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
The USA Men’s Team captured Bronze in the Men’s Team Competition!
Women’s Team Competition Quarterfinal matches
Michelle Key won in 5 games over Angelica Barrios (Bolivia)
Erika Manilla won in 3 games over Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia)
The USA Women’s Team advanced to the Semifinals vs. Mexico.
Women’s Team Competition Semifinal matches
Michelle Key lost in 3 games to Montserrat Mejia (Mexico)
Erika Manilla/Michelle Key lost in 4 games to Alexandra Herrera/Montserrat Mejia (Mexico)
The USA Women’s Team captured Bronze in the Women’s Team Competition!
Picture this: So the teams played the quarterfinals in the morning and the semifinals in the afternoon. The venue has a warm-up area as well as an athletes’ lounge, and the downtime between the brackets was the quietest I have heard the entire venue since we got here. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, was sleeping, relaxing on bean bags, chilling, or just stretched out on the floor staring off into space. It was a true and honest testament to what these athletes are leaving on the court each and every day. They are giving their all!
Bronze medalist Michelle says thank you:
Michelle Key
Gilbert, AZ
Age: 35
2023 National Championships: Women’s Doubles
“This has been such an incredible experience. I’m truly honored to be able to represent Team USA. I’m beyond grateful to have everyone’s support during this tournament. Thank you to my friends, teammates, coaches, and family…I wouldn’t be here without you! Go Team USA!!!”
USA Racquetball Executive Director Mike Grisz Weighs In
“On behalf of USA Racquetball, its staff and volunteers, I want to thank everyone for so avidly tuning in to social media and the USA Racquetball website. I know the team appreciates your support so much.
“While there were some down moments during the individual phase of competition, I’m so happy to congratulate Adam and Erika for their Mixed Doubles gold medal as well as the entire Men’s and Women’s Teams for their success today. The entire US Team will be on the medals stands tomorrow afternoon, and I couldn’t be prouder of each and every one of our team members.
“Thanks to Pablo, Jen, and Rodger for their hard work on behalf of USA Racquetball and the US Team, and much gratitude goes to the athletes -- Adam, Alex, Daniel, Erika, and Michelle -- for their representation of their country, USA Racquetball, and all the fans and players across the USA.
“In closing, I’d like to clarify something regarding social media opinions on live streaming. Things work differently at events like these Pan Am Games. Sponsors and rights-holders have complete control over what gets streamed, by whom, and when. Anyone who puts their opinion out there that the IRF has any control over streaming and are therefore not doing their job is frankly misinformed.
“Take care, everyone, and safe travels home to our athletes, staff, and cheerleaders.”
Thursday at the Racquetball Venue
Can the last day be here already??
Team USA sends our congratulations to Canada, Bolivia, Mexico, and Argentina for making the Team Competition finals. We’ll see you on the medals stands tomorrow afternoon!
For a full look at the results for Team USA and all of the other countries as well, visit https://www.r2sports.com/website/division-list.asp?TID=41548&sortBy=defaultOrder.
- Jen Meyer
U.S. Racquetball Team at the Pan American Games
Tuesday, October 24 2023
Blog #7
Team USA only had one match today, but it was an important one: the finals of the Mixed Doubles! Erika and Adam were up against the strong Argentinian team of Diego Garcia and Maria Jose Vargas. They knew they had to come out swinging and stay focused throughout the match to win. I can only hope most of you got to see the match being streamed because it was incredible racquetball from start to finish. Watching Erika and Adam work together, move fluidly, and hit shot after shot on the court was astonishing! They were playing with such determination knowing their hard work was finally paying off, and that determination never wavered during the match. Having worked with Adam and Erika since they were Juniors, I can tell you what an amazing feeling it was to see them standing on the medal stand, receiving their gold medals and hearing our national anthem. They just made history! This is the first time Mixed Doubles has been a part of the Pan American Games and the first time a brother/sister duo won gold! A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the Gold Medal winners!
The environment around the Pan American Games is like no other. There are no words to describe the feeling of being around Olympic-bound athletes at this level of competition. Athletes are a rare breed in what drives them to be the best they can be on their way to greatness, but to see them supporting each other throughout the week has been exceptional! Today at Erika and Adam’s Mixed Doubles finals, the Women’s 3v3 Basketball Gold Medal team, the Men’s 3v3 Basketball Gold Medal team, two speed climbers who just qualified for the Olympics yesterday, the staff for diving, and extra diplomatic security all attended their match! Think of the number of athletes in the crowd that had just accomplished their own success and then turning around and taking the time to cheer and celebrate another sport’s athletes at a Gold Medal match! The amount of support has been incredible, and I think we might have a few new racquetball fans...and players!
Tuesday, 10/24/23, RESULTS
3:00 pm – MXOD Final – #3 Erika Manilla/Adam Manilla def. #4 Maria Jose Vargas/Diego Garcia (Argentina) GOLD!
The Individual phase ended today with the following finals results and Award Ceremonies:
Men’s Singles – Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia)
Women’s Singles – Paola Longoria (Mexico)
Men’s Doubles – Javier Mar/Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico)
Women’s Doubles – Gabriela Martinez/Maria Renee Rodriguez (EAI/Guatemala)
Mixed Doubles – Adam Manilla/Erika Manilla (USA) 🇺🇸
Team USA Member Alex Landa reflects on his time here in Santiago:
Alejandro (Alex) Landa
El Paso, Texas
Age: 35
2023 National Championship: Men’s Doubles
“It’s been an unforgettable experience at the 2023 Pan American Games, starting with the Opening Ceremony to this point where we begin team competition. I really enjoyed the time with my doubles partner, Daniel De La Rosa; the conversations with my coaches Pablo and Jen; and the jokes with the one and only Rodger Fleming. Two more days of competition. Let’s get this done and get that prestigious medal for the USA! I miss my family and friends back home and will be ready to go home later this week.”
Wednesday, 10/25/23, MATCH SCHEDULE
The Men’s and Women’s Team Competition quarterfinals will be competed on Wednesday morning beginning at 10:00 am with semifinals for both in the afternoon. The finals will begin Thursday late morning and go through mid-afternoon (as necessary). Awards Ceremonies will follow.
Here’s how the Team Competitions are set up:
- Each “country vs. country” matchup in team competition are best two matches out of three, single elimination.
- Two singles and one doubles match are scheduled, with the order varying as the draw progresses.
- If a country wins its first two matches vs. the other country, the third match will not take place.
- If the countries split results in the first two matches (one win/one loss), the third match will be played to determine the country winner.
TEAM USA HITS THE COURTS IN THE TEAM COMPETITION
Men’s Team -- #3 USA vs. #6 Ecuador (Quarterfinals)
10:00 am – Adam Manilla vs Jose Daniel Ugalde
11:30 am – Daniel De La Rosa vs. Juan Francisco Cueva
1:00 pm – Alejandro Landa/Daniel De La Rosa vs. Ugalde/Cueva
With a win against Ecuador (best 2 out of 3 matches), the USA Men’s Team will advance to compete against the winner of Argentina and Bolivia in the semifinals at 4:00 pm, 4:45 pm, 5:30 pm.
Women’s Team -- #5 USA vs. #4 Bolivia (Quarterfinals)
10:45 am – Michelle Key vs. Angelica Barrios
12:15 pm – Erika Manilla vs. Yasmine Sabja
1:45 pm – Erika Manilla/Michelle Key vs. Barrios/Jenny Daza Navia
With a win against Bolivia (best 2 out of 3 matches), the USA Women’s Team will advance to compete against the winner of Mexico and Canada in the semifinals at 4:00 pm, 4:45 pm, 5:30 pm.
For a full look at the results for Team USA and all of the other countries as well, visit HERE.
It is our understanding that the panamsportchannel.org will continue live streaming on Court 2 tomorrow and go through Thursday, including broadcasting the Awards Ceremony for the Men’s and Women’s Team Competitions directly after the finals of each.
You can tell a difference in the team wanting to come out strong tomorrow in team competition! Watching Adam and Erika win Gold and feeling like there was more work to be done on the court is exactly what we needed to continue our quest for two more!
There was a very nice dinner tonight, and I’ll tell you all about it in the next blog (since it’s 1:45 am here). That should keep you on the edge of your seat until tomorrow night...
- Jen Meyer
U.S. Racquetball Team at the Pan American Games
Monday, October 23, 2023
Blog #6
We started out today with two really tough losses on the Men’s side, both in five games and going extra points that truly could have gone either way. Daniel and Adam played their hearts out and left everything on the court. Unfortunately, it was just out of reach for us this time. In the third singles match of the morning, Erika got off to a late start against Paola and ended up losing. But...
Everything turned around in the afternoon! After that rough morning in singles against Lalo and Paola, it was good to watch Erika and Adam prevail in Mixed Doubles. This intense five-game performance was a great way to end the day. Everyone is looking forward to cheering on Manilla x 2 in the finals against Argentina tomorrow!
Here's what Team USA’s Athletic Trainer Rodger Fleming has to say about his experience here in Santiago:
Rodger Fleming
Macon, Georgia
Age: Ageless
“Being a part of the 2023 Pan American USA Racquetball delegation has been an honor and a privilege. The Opening Ceremony was a memory of a lifetime! Walking into Estadio Nacional to the chants of ‘USA’ caused goosebumps from head to toe! Reconnecting with old and meeting new coaches and medical personnel in the environment has been very special. So many special moments and memories. Special thanks to my wife, Michelle, and son, Chandler, for taking care of things while I am 4,000 miles away.”
Rodger holds a BA, Interdisciplinary Studies in Athletic Training from the University of Toledo. He owns Body Awareness Performance + Therapy in Macon, Georgia, a fitness recovery and wellness center. Find out more about Rodger and his business at www.bodyawarenessmacon.com. Also, check out his social media presence at Body Awareness Performance and Therapy on Facebook, @bodyawarenesstm on Instagram, and bodyawarenessga on X.
(Back to Jen)
As stated earlier, pins are a hot commodity. Everyone trades pins to put on their credentials. Spectators walking around the venues will just come up and ask for one. As we were coming through security at the Village last night, there were policemen with working dogs. They informed us we could pet them (which turned into them leaning into us for more puppy love), and we found out that they are given commands in English. So obviously we had to make sure our new animal friends in Chile were supporting USA Racquetball. I gave each handler a USA Racquetball pin for the dogs and they immediately put them on their bandanas. We now have canines as well as humans supporting Team USA Racquetball!
Monday, 10/23/23, RESULTS
MO -- #5 Daniel De La Rosa lost to #4 Eduardo Portillo Torres (Mexico)
MO -- #6 Adam Manilla lost to #3 Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico)
WO -- #11 Erika Manilla lost to #3 Paola Longoria (Mexico)
MXOD -- #3 Erika Manilla/Adam Manilla def. #2 Paola Longoria/Eduardo Portillo Torres (Mexico)
Tuesday, 10/24/23, MATCH SCHEDULE
3:00 pm – MXOD Final – #3 Erika Manilla/Adam Manilla vs. #4 Maria Jose Vargas/Diego Garcia (Argentina)
After the finals in all five divisions tomorrow (MO, WO, MOD, WOD, and MXOD – beginning at 10:00 with the last match at 3:00), the Awards Ceremony for the individual division competition (and a trip to the medals stand for Erika and Adam!) will be held at the venue.
Then, the Team competition will commence at 4:00 pm and continue on Wednesday with the finals on Thursday late morning/early afternoon.
It is our understanding that the panamsportchannel.org will begin live streaming at the venue tomorrow and continuing through Wednesday and Thursday until the Awards Ceremony for the Men’s and Women’s Team Competitions on Thursday, directly after those finals.
Lots more to come!
-- Jen Meyer
U.S. Racquetball Team at the Pan American Games
Sunday, October 22, 2023
Blog #5
Day #2 at the Centro Deportivo de las Raquetas (Racquet Sports Center)
Head Coach Pablo Fajre says it best: “Today had its ups and downs with bright spots along the way. We had some heartbreaking losses, but we ended the day on a positive note with Erika and Adam beating EAI*/Guatemala. It was exactly what Team USA needed going into our matches tomorrow.” (See results below.)
* Equipo de atletas independientes/Independent Athletes Team (see Blog #4).
Here’s Daniel with his thoughts on his Pan American Games experience thus far:
Daniel De La Rosa
San Antonio, Texas
Age: 30
National Championships: Men's Singles, Men's Doubles
“It’s been an amazing experience so far. This Pan American Games is the biggest event for us as Racquetball athletes. It’s amazing sharing this experience with Alex; he’s like my brother. My girlfriend is here as well, always supporting us everywhere we go. I just hope to use all these years of experience as a professional racquetball player to give my family and the USA a medal.”
A Huge Behind-the-Scenes Contribution to Racquetball in Santiago
Thanks to IRF Director Mauro Grandio for providing the names/countries of the PARC/IRF staff members and the officials who traveled from nine countries to help ensure a smooth and well-run experience for all.
PARC/IRF Staff and Officials
- PARC President Marcelo Gómez (Costa Rica), IRF President Osvaldo Maggi (Argentina)
- Operations Director: Mauro Grandio Buzaleh (Argentina)
- Floor Manager: Dean Schear (USA)
- Desk Staff: Adrián Macrino (Argentina), Pablo Berriel (Argentina), Susana Acosta (Mexico), Sebastián Digón (Argentina)
- Media: Alexis Iwaasa (Canada)
Officials (Referees)
- Franco Capandegui (Argentina)
- Germán Coppolecchia (Argentina)
- Kurtis Cullen (Canada)
- Alvaro Yañez (Chile)
- Allán Chacón (Costa Rica)
- Cristina Amaya (Colombia)
- Francisco Javier Gómez (Colombia)
- Fabián Torres (Colombia)
- Ramon De León (Dominican Republic)
- María Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)
- Ricardo Gonzalez Barrera (Mexico)
- Diana Aguilar (Mexico)
- Christian Longoria (Mexico)
- Jaime Martell (Mexico)
- Luis Alejandro Morales (Mexico)
- Iván Valdéz (Mexico)
- Alberto Sánchez (Venezuela)
We can’t thank these 26 individuals enough for their contributions here in Santiago and at numerous past international events as well. Bet we’ll see more than a few of them in Tarija, Bolivia, for the IRF World Junior Championships the week after next!
GOING INTO MONDAY HERE IN SANTIAGO...
Congratulations to Erika, Adam, and Daniel for their wins on Sunday!
Sunday, 10/22/23, RESULTS
WO -- #12 Michelle Key lost to #5 Angelica Barrios (Bolivia)
WO -- #11 Erika Manilla def. #6 Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia)
MO – #5 Daniel De La Rosa def. #12 Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina)
MO – #6 Adam Manilla def. #11 Diego Garcia (Argentina)
WOD – #5 Michelle Key/Erika Manilla lost to #4 Natalia Mendez/Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
MOD – #3 Alejandro Landa/Daniel De La Rosa lost to #6 Coby Iwaasa/Samuel Murray (Canada)
MXOD – #3 Erika Manilla/Adam Manilla def. #6 Edwin Galicia/Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala City ZAM)
For a full look at the results for Team USA and all of the other countries as well, visit https://www.r2sports.com/website/division-list.asp?TID=41548&sortBy=defaultOrder.
Monday, 10/23/23, MATCH SCHEDULE
10:00 am – MO -- #5 Daniel De La Rosa vs. #4 Eduardo Portillo Torres (Mexico)
(With a win against Portillo, Daniel will move to the semifinal round at 12:00 noon vs. the winner of the 10:00 am Moscoso/Acuña match)
10:00 am – MO -- #6 Adam Manilla vs. #3 Rodrigo Montoya (Mexico) (With a win against Montoya, Adam will move to the semifinal round at 12:00 noon vs. the winner of the 10:00 am Murray/Keller match)
10:45 am – WO -- #11 Erika Manilla vs. #3 Paola Longoria (Mexico) (With a win against Longoria, Erika will move to the semifinal round at 1:00 pm vs. the winner of the 10:45 am Martinez/Vargas match)
5:00 pm – MXOD -- #3 Erika Manilla/Adam Manilla vs. #2 Paola Longoria/Eduardo Portillo Torres (Mexico)
Streaming Update – We’ve specifically learned that in the U.S., ESPN holds Santiago 2023 Pan American Games streaming rights. It’s their decision as to what sports they choose to cover. Panam Sports will live stream Racquetball on 10/24, 10/25, and 10/26 (with commentary largely in Spanish). The IRF will post the schedule on social media when received, and broadcasts will be found on panamsportschannel.org.
We’re so proud of Team USA’s talent, heart, and spirit! Everyone is looking forward to tomorrow’s competition, and we know all of the players and fans back home are behind us 100%. After Monday and Tuesday’s quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals matches in the individual phase, the team competition will follow where everyone on Team USA will be back in action, competing to strive for Men’s and Women’s Team Gold!
- Jen Meyer
U.S. Racquetball Team at the Pan American Games
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Blog #4
Day #1 at the Centro Deportivo de las Raquetas (Racquet Sports Center)
Each day so far we have been able to practice and come and go at will (with security oversight). However, with today being the first official day of competition, there was a whole new environment, atmosphere, and security protocol at the venue.
There was now a media section set up to talk with athletes after their matches. Operationally, chairs were sitting courtside, referee tablets were on the tables, and microphones were hooked up. Ready to go!
Each athlete was introduced as their matches began and a Santiago 2023 volunteer escorted them to their court. Physically, there is complete separation between the athletes/coaches/IRF staff and the spectators. As racquetball players and coaches, we are used to having the crowd amongst us. It is not that way at all here at the Pan American Games. It can be a tight squeeze, but either way, it was great to see the stands filled with our USA cheerleaders!
The competition schedule, Saturday through Thursday, is divided into sessions, and spectators need tickets to enter by session. There was a lot of stress initially associated with our cheerleaders getting tickets to all of the sessions, but Stewart worked hard to come through with some, and a huge shout-out goes to the IRF’s Mauro Grandio who was able to find and grab hard-to-get tickets for our cheerleaders to be able to attend the rest of the session tickets we were missing. What a relief! Imagine flying all the way to Santiago and then not being able to attend the matches!
Breaking News! Hollie Scott, U.S. Team athlete and LPRT-ranked pro, has arrived in Santiago and has joined the “cheerleader squad” supporting Team USA. Glad you’re here, Hollie!
Hey, let’s hear from our U.S. Team athletes as the blogs progress through Thursday. Erika’s up first!
Erika Manilla
Centennial, CO
Age: 25
2023 National Championships: Women's Singles, Women's Doubles, Mixed Doubles
“Competition began today for Michelle and me, and it was nice to get the first one under our belts. Behind the scenes of these competitions is all the adapting and adjusting. The environment, food, language, sewage system (LOL), crowds of people, etc. It’s all different, meaning we have to adapt and then perform. I was thankful to get here early and am now getting into a routine.
“The Athletes’ Village is simply incredible! You are surrounded by the top athletes from every country in the Americas in one large complex of apartment-type buildings. The accommodations are extremely basic and truly just meet the bare minimum requirements for us to rest and recover, but the experience is priceless. You simply walk into a new world of athletes, coaches, and medical staff.
“The courts? Beautiful! Brand new! The lights are a little brighter than normal, and there is a small space between the floor and walls, but little adjustments were made during practice days.
“The Opening Ceremony was the best experience of my life! Walking into a stadium of sports fans alongside fellow athletes, wearing the Olympic rings and the USA flag…indescribable. Here, all of our sports are equal. We all know, understand, and acknowledge the hard work that each individual has put in to be here. We are not just individual athletes; we’re here as a team. Team USA!
“Thank you for following along! We truly appreciate the support!”
Saturday, 10/21/23, RESULTS
Women’s Open: #11 Erika Manilla def. #22 Kylie Larduet (Cuba)
Women's Open: #12 Michelle Key def. #21 Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba)
Both Erika and Michelle move into the round of 16! Sunday is a BIG day with Team USA competing in all five divisions. Continue to follow the draws HERE.
Sunday, 10/22/23, MATCH SCHEDULE
10:00 am – WO -- #12 Michelle Key vs. #5 Angelica Barrios (Bolivia)
10:45 am – WO -- #11 Erika Manilla vs. #6 Yasmine Sabja (Bolivia)
11:30 am – MO – #5 Daniel De La Rosa vs. #12 Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina)
12:15 pm – MO – #6 Adam Manilla vs. #11 Diego Garcia (Argentina)
3:00 pm – WOD – #5 Michelle Key/Erika Manilla vs. #4 Natalia Mendez/Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
4:00 pm – MOD – #3 Alejandro Landa/Daniel De La Rosa vs. #6 Coby Iwaasa/Samuel Murray (Canada)
5:00 pm – MXOD – #3 Erika Manilla/Adam Manilla vs. #6 Edwin Galicia/Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala City ZAM)
We want to clarify that live streaming lies solely in the hands of Panam Sports and Santiago 2023. As posted on USA Racquetball’s Facebook page, “Just a reminder -- We don't know what matches will be streamed. When they are, we'll share as soon as possible, but you can find streaming for all sports on the https://www.panamsportschannel.org/main. Athletes and spectators are not allowed to stream matches due to sponsor rights.” Our Social Media Manager is doing a great job of managing USA Racquetball’s social media and keeping tabs on developments. As the competition unfolds, she’ll share any additional streaming information that comes available!
- Jen Meyer
P.S. You may have noticed that the designation “Guatemala City ZAM” signifies that Guatemalan athletes who have competed for their country in the past cannot currently compete under their flag and national colors. The below link to an article gives some detail on the situation.
Our Guatemalan friends, as always, have our love and respect for all of their hard work. We hope they are enjoying the competition and the camaraderie of our close-knit international racquetball community.
U.S. Racquetball Team at the Pan American Games
Friday, October 20, 2023
Blog #3
Head Coach Pablo Fajre and I attended the PARC Technical Meeting today, which gathers coaches and representatives from each country to discuss the tournament, hear expectations of coaches and athletes, and of course, receive the draws! After introductions of the head table and thank yous to Osvaldo Maggi and Mauro Grandio for the incredible amount of time they have put into making this tournament run smoothly, we went over logistics. There was a lot of talk about transportation (one of the toughest parts of running an event this size), the venue and the new courts, rules, and finally the draws.
I would like to thank the organization for having a translation earpiece for us to listen to the meeting. It was nice to be able to follow along in real time with the conversations that are most often in Spanish. This means that Pablo didn’t have to do a dual role of being a coach and a translator for me!
It’s a late night after the Opening Ceremony, but here are three main topics of the day you’ll want to hear about!
- Draws and Format
- Cheerleaders: Present and Accounted For!
- Opening Ceremony
Draws, Representing Countries, and Format – Here We Go!
The draws that were published by the Pan American Racquetball Confederation after the Technical Meeting this morning can be found at www.PanAmericanRacquetball.com or at this R2 link: HERE. See below for Team USA’s match schedule on Saturday and Sunday!
Eleven countries are represented here in Santiago, with a total of 42 athletes vying for top honors. They are: Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States. These countries competed and qualified for the 2023 Pan American Games via their results at the Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City this past April.
The Official Ball of the International Racquetball Federation is the Gearbox Sleek Black. The format will be both Individual (Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles; Mixed Doubles) and Team Competition (Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles; no Overall Team Champion designation). Rally scoring will be used, best 3 games of 5, all games win by 2 points. All divisions are single elimination.
Cheerleaders: Present and Accounted For!
On Wednesday, the first of our Cheerleader group arrived. Victor and Nancy Manilla made it to Santiago without any problems. The team was invited to attend USA Basketball 3-on-3 practice that day, and the Manillas joined us and we went to an amazing Italian dinner. Today (Friday), the rest of the crew joined us and everyone was able to attend the Opening Ceremony! We now have Stewart Solomon, Darold and Karen Key, Rhys Andersen, and Lacey Henderson in our corner as well, and everyone is getting ready to cheer for and support Team USA. Adam, Erika, and Michelle are so happy to have family and friends here in person to share this incredible experience with them, and we’re all grateful to have their support along with that of USAR Board President Stewart who has been doing double duty working to smooth the way for the Cheerleaders’ trip.
As a side note, the head coach for Team USA Basketball said, “I didn’t really know much about Racquetball before, but now I know you guys run this place!” This might have been due to the friendliness and positive energy of our players; the laughing on the bus over to the venue; or the fact that Erika was able to “borrow” the USA Flag from the Flag Bearer before the Opening Ceremony for a quick photo op. So, there you officially have it…Racquetball runs the world, or at least the Pan American Games.
Opening Ceremony
Stewart brought a quantity of USA Racquetball/Pan American Games pins to Santiago for our athletes and staff to gift to fans and to trade with other countries’ athletes and staff. It is a tradition to try and get as many different country pins as possible. Well, he was just in time for the Opening Ceremony, and our athletes loved having the USA Racquetball pins to trade!
Once ALL Team USA athletes were gathered and ready to head to the stadium, we walked toward the metro that would drop us off and where we would then wait for 2+ hours, assembled for the Parade of Nations as the ceremony was beginning. It seems like waiting for a few hours would be boring, exhausting, or painful, but it was anything but that. During the wait time, athletes, coaches, and USOPC staff were enjoying meeting athletes from different sports and countries, creating bonds, and following Instagram accounts. Adam and Erika met another sibling duo representing Team USA who both play soccer! Yes, we had to take a photo. (And there was A LOT of pin trading going on as we waited. Thank you, Stewart!)
We finally moved toward the stadium and the cheers inside the stadium were getting louder and louder as we approached. Having never been a part of the Pan American Games, I was not sure what exactly to expect from the Opening Ceremony, but I can tell you firsthand there is nothing that can prepare you for the shivers that go through your body when you walk into a sold-out stadium of fans cheering for their countries and knowing you are representing your country at the highest level of competition. Cheryl Kirk texted some fabulous advice to all of us prior to the Opening Ceremony. She reminded us to put our phones down and take a moment to look around and absorb what was happening, to be in the moment. I thank her for that because it is a created memory that will always stay in my heart. To have experienced it with this group of athletes, coaches, and our trainer was priceless!
Time For Some Racquetball!
Here’s the Team USA match schedule for this weekend. All times are local (U.S. Eastern Time plus one hour). Good luck to Erika and Michelle tomorrow in our inaugural matches!
Saturday, 10/21/23
11:30 am – WO – #11 Erika Manilla vs. #22 Kylie Larduet (Cuba)
12:15 pm – WO – #12 Michelle Key vs. #21 Samira Ferrer Marcilli (Cuba)
Sunday, 10/22/23
11:30 am – MO – #5 Daniel De La Rosa vs. #12 Fernando Kurzbard (Argentina)
12:15 pm – MO – #6 Adam Manilla vs. #11 Diego Garcia (Argentina)
3:00 pm – WOD – #5 Michelle Key/Erika Manilla vs. #4 Natalia Mendez/Maria Jose Vargas (Argentina)
4:00 pm – MOD – #3 Alejandro Landa/Daniel De La Rosa vs. #6 Coby Iwaasa/Samuel Murray (Canada)
5:00 pm – MXOD – #3 Erika Manilla/Adam Manilla vs. #6 Edwin Galicia/Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)
Check out PanAmSportsChannel.org for Racquetball coverage and much more! Just sign in and create a password. The Opening Ceremony was broadcast Friday evening, and it was quality viewing. Much (most) will be in Spanish on this site, FYI. If you’re not bilingual, grab someone who can translate to watch with you. Buy them a drink and a snack, it will be worth it!
Stay tuned, much more to come!
-- Jen Meyer
U.S. Racquetball Team at the Pan American Games
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Blog #2
Team USA has been practicing at a variety of times throughout the last three days to get everyone ready to play at any time during the tournament. Everyone on the team has played singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and drilled during practice. We have talked about what each athlete wants and needs leading up to Saturday and have made a point to meet those needs. It is fun to see the combinations and competitiveness even amongst just our team when they partner up against each other. It is great racquetball to watch!
Head Coach Pablo Fajre comments, “Each day you can see players feeling more comfortable with the courts and their play. Tomorrow is the last day of practice and will be the last day of fine tuning for Saturday. It has been fun to get on the court and see the team becoming more solid. The athletes have settled in and are excited to see the draws, which we will receive tomorrow morning at the Technical Meeting.”
Pan American Village (Villa Panamericana)
Team USA Racquetball (athletes, coaches, trainer) are residing in the Athletes’ Village along with more than 500 other Team USA athletes (plus staff members) representing 39 sports. The USOPC has presence in the Athletes’ Village as well. They are a hard-working staff assigned to the many logistics of providing a safe and smooth experience for Team USA, and we can’t thank them enough for all they are doing.
So What About That Team USA Gear?
One very cool perk to competing at the Pan American Games is the Nike swag bag! It was so much fun to watch the athletes literally race walking/skipping to the apparel pick-up, wondering what would be behind the doors. We were greeted by Team USA staff members from the USOPC who had the athletes autograph a Team USA sign and check in. They were then each handed a duffel bag that included a backpack, hat, socks, t-shirts, dry fit shirts, a long sleeve t-shirt, a pullover, a sweatshirt, two pairs of sunglasses, pins to trade with other countries, shorts, warmups for the Opening and Medal Ceremonies, shoes....the list goes on! Every sport representing Team USA on this international stage received these Nike sponsor items, and it’s so great! #appreciative #spoiled
Opening Ceremony (Ceremonia de Apertura) Tomorrow!
As Pablo mentioned above, on Friday, October 20, at 10:00 am local time, the IRF Technical Meeting will be held where the delegates and coaches of the 11 countries here will receive information about the venue, the competition, logistics, and, of course, the draws!
Then, in the afternoon, the many countries’ athletes and staff currently present in Santiago will be transported to Santiago’s National Stadium (a massive undertaking!) to participate in the Parade of Nations that traditionally begins the Opening Ceremony at the Olympic, Paralympics, Pan American Games, and ParaPan Games.
Sign up for the Panam Sports Channel to view Games coverage. We’re not sure yet what Racquetball match streaming will look like, but (first things first) it appears that the Opening Ceremony will be broadcast on this Panam Sports Channel Friday evening.
=> Excerpt from Internet article (credit: bing.com/news):
“The 2023 Pan American Games opening ceremony will be held at Santiago’s National Stadium on October 20, 2023. The Parade of Nations is the highlight of the event, with athletes proudly carrying their national flags and leading their delegations into the stadium. The organizers made a significant move towards gender equality by allowing teams to choose both a male and female flag bearer at the ceremony, following the precedent set at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
“The parade follows a traditional order, with Argentina leading the procession as the first historical host of the first Pan-American Games. The Chilean delegation enters last, representing the host nation. The remaining countries enter the stadium in Spanish alphabetical order, as per the Pan American Sports Organization protocol.”
Along with their female athlete counterparts, congratulations to Racquetball athletes Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia) and Andres Acuña (Costa Rica) who were chosen as Flag Bearers for their respective countries!
Team USA is so excited to walk in the Opening Ceremony representing our country. Then, Racquetball competition begins on Saturday!
Racquetball Sessions in Santiago at Centro Deportivo de las Raquetas (Racquet Sports Center)
Tickets are sold out for nearly all sessions! Times listed are one hour ahead of U.S. Eastern time.
Source: Santiago2023.org/puntoticket.com
Saturday, 10/21, 10:00 am, Men’s and Women’s Singles
Saturday, 10/21, 3:00 pm, Men’s and Women’s Doubles
Sunday, 10/22, 10:00 am, Men’s and Women’s Singles
Sunday, 10/22, 3:00 pm, Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles
Monday, 10/23, 10:00 am, Men’s and Women’s Singles; Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles
Tuesday, 10/24, 10:00 am, Finals: Men’s and Women’s Singles; Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles
Awards Ceremony for Individual Divisions
Wednesday, 10/25, 10:00 am, Men’s and Women’s Team Competition
Wednesday, 10/25, 4:00 pm, Men’s and Women’s Team Competition
Thursday, 10/26, 11:00 am, Finals: Men’s and Women’s Team Competition
Awards Ceremony for Men’s and Women’s Team Competition
Streaming? Again, we’re just not sure yet how this will unfold. As more information comes available, it will be shared in the PAG Blogs.
Stay tuned, much more to come!
-- Jen Meyer
U.S. Racquetball Team at the Pan American Games
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Blog #1
Five athletes, two coaches, an athletic trainer arrived in Santiago, Chile, early Monday morning October 16, and seven more “cheerleaders” will be arriving in the next day or so to support the team as “official cheerleaders.” This delegation will have an exciting time in Santiago the weeks of October 16 and 23 representing the United States of America at the 2023 Pan American Games!
The five Team USA athletes, all of whom are National Champions in one or more divisions, are:
Daniel De La Rosa (San Antonio, TX), 1st Singles and 1st Men’s Doubles
Adam Manilla (San Jose, CA), 2nd Singles and 1st Mixed Doubles
Alejandro Landa (El Paso, TX), 1st Men’s Doubles
Erka Manilla (Centennial, CO), 1st Singles, 1st Women’s Doubles, 1st Mixed Doubles
Michelle Key (Gilbert, AZ), 1st Women’s Doubles
Staff members supporting the athletes are:
Pablo Fajre (Tracy, CA) – Head Coach
Jennifer Meyer (Fruita, CO) – Assistant Coach and on-site Team Leader
Rodger Fleming (Macon, GA) – Athletic Trainer
In addition to the official delegation, Team USA is thrilled to have seven “cheerleaders” who will be there in the stands at each of the competition sessions.
The Cheerleaders are:
Board President Stewart Solomon, Rhys Andersen, Lacey Henderson, Darold Key, Karen Key, Nancy Manilla, and Victor Manilla for making the trip to be there in support of our deserving athletes!
A shout-out goes to the IRF’s Mauro Grandio who was able to find and grab hard-to-get tickets for our cheerleaders to be able to attend all of the sessions throughout the competition. Racquetball tickets have been sold out for a while now, so Mauro has been elevated to the position of Hero in the U.S. Delegation’s eyes!
Delegation Timeline
Arrive in Santiago -- 10/16
Practice Days -- 10/17-20
Walk in Opening Ceremonies -- 10/20
Competition Days (9 sessions) -- 10/21-26
Finals and Awards -- 10/24 and 10/26
Depart from Santiago -- 10/27
Assistant Coach/Team Leader Jen Meyer will be sending PAG Blogs throughout Games-time with the goal of making every reader feel like they’re there in Santiago with the Team!
Jen’s first installment begins right now. Let’s hear about Day 1...
No alarms were needing to be set, but Alex and Daniel were up in the gym at the Village working out with Pablo before breakfast! Practice wasn’t scheduled until 4:00 p.m., so we had the morning to go into Santiago. We went to an area near the U.S. Embassy that was so beautiful and full of parks, restaurants, and gelato for some who chose to partake. The Starbucks we went to was nicer than any Starbucks I have seen in the U.S., and they have renamed Daniel “Damiel” as you can see by the cup in his photo.
After walking around and meeting a friend of Pablo’s who owns Happenings (a steakhouse) we went back to the Village to get ready for our first practice. After finally getting on the right bus, we headed to the Racquetball venue. Not everything is complete yet, but the surrounding grounds are massive. The size of the bus meant traffic had to be stopped just to pull into the venue.
The racquetball venue is beautiful. There are four courts with walls that have never been scuffed by a racquet or balls yet! There is stadium seating for 179 spectators. They have locker rooms, a warm-up area, and a special players’ lounge for the athletes when they are not on the court. No one is allowed access without a pass right now, so it was empty other than workers and a few players from other countries. Erika, Michelle, and Adam started out drilling and then playing some doubles with Pablo. Alex and Daniel came for the 5:00 courts and drilled as well.
Today was a day of just getting used to the courts, the way the ball bounces, and being able to move around. The floors are a little slippery due to all of the construction and no polyurethane, and the ball seemed a bit slow. All great things to know before heading into the tournament.
Unfortunately, due to practice times we were unable to attend the Welcome Ceremonies in the Village. However, we were able to see jets do a fly-by from the bus as we were heading back to the Village. Very cool! After dinner, therapy with Rodger for a few athletes, and getting together to discuss our day tomorrow, everyone is finally heading to bed.
I am in complete awe of my surroundings, the number of countries, athletes, and sports represented here. Everyone has been extremely nice, welcoming, kind, thoughtful, helpful, and always willing to trade pins. Stewart is bringing USA Racquetball pins on Friday, but Team USA gave us a few in our goody bags today (more on that later).
I am looking forward to what each day will bring for our athletes. More on Thursday!
-- Jen Meyer
GO TEAM USA!!
