Daily Blog from the XXXVI Pan American Racquetball Championships

Blog #8
Pan American Racquetball Championships (PARC)
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Friday, April 18, 2025

Team USA – Day Day Seven at PARC – Good Friday

Semifinals kicked into action on Friday in the Men’s and Women’s Team Competitions, and Team USA did not disappoint, with both teams first advancing from their quarterfinal matchups vs. Ecuador and Guatemala, respectively, to move into the semifinal rounds. 

Our Women’s Team athletes were stopped from moving into the finals by the tough Argentine team, but we’ll see them on the medals stand tomorrow afternoon. Congratulations to our Women’s Team on their Bronze medal finish! 

After defeating Ecuador, our Men’s Team took on Costa Rica and secured a place in the finals tomorrow morning into the early afternoon. More matches, more excitement, can’t wait! 

FRIDAY WAS BUTTONED UP AS FOLLOWS:

Women’s Team Competition

USA vs. Guatemala

Lexi York def. Jamileth Sipac
Michelle Key lost to Maria Renee Rodriguez
Michelle Key/Lexi York def. Jamileth Sipac/Isabella Wer

With the win against Guatemala (best 2 out of 3 matches), the USA Women’s Team advanced to compete against Argentina in the semifinals. 

USA vs. Argentina - Semifinal

Lexi York lost to Valeria Centellas 
Michelle Key/Lexi York lost to Valeria Centellas/Natalia Mendez 

Men’s Team Competition

USA vs. Ecuador

Thomas Carter def. Martin Carchi
Jake Bredenbeck def. Juan Francisco Cueva

With the win against Ecuador (best 2 out of 3 matches), the USA Men’s Team advanced to compete against Costa Rica in the semifinals. 

USA vs. Costa Rica - Semifinal

Thomas Carter lost to Andres Acuna 
Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck def. Gabriel Garcia/Andres Acuna 
Jake Bredenbeck def. Felipe Camacho

We’ll look for a huge turnout of online spectators for the finals and the awards ceremony on Saturday, the last day in Guatemala!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

STAFF MEMBER OF THE DAY

Pablo Fajre – U.S. Team Head Coach
City/State: Tracy, California 
How old were you when you started playing Racquetball? 25
What does it mean to you to be the Head Coach for the USA at PARC? “It’s an honor to coach these incredible athletes. I am very grateful.”
Whom would you like to recognize/thank? “I want to thank my wife, Angela, she always supports my racquetball adventures.”
Background: Pablo brings year of experience in racquetball and fitness coaching. Born and raised in Santiago, Chile, he was a junior tennis player in his youth, a track and field sprinter in college, and later became a racquetball player competing in the Pan American Games, IRF World Championships, and many international events. Since then, over the past 30 years he has been training athletes in various sports, including racquetball, from junior to professional. 

STREAMING

Live streaming is provided on the IRF YouTube Channel, the IRF Facebook page, and Panam Sports. Visit the home page of PARC (just below*) for streaming links and more information about this event. Also, PARC Instagram each morning for the day’s streaming schedule. 

* https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

Be sure to visit www.panamericanracquetball.com, or R2 Sports** to also keep up with the results and see how your favorite players are doing.  

** https://www.r2sports.com/website/event-website.asp?TID=48572

SATURDAY – Men’s Team USA Match Schedule

Times are (still) the same as U.S. Mountain Time.

As shared above, the Team Competition concludes tomorrow with the Men’s and Women’s Team Finals. Our Men’s Team USA earned their spot in the finals vs. Bolivia!

Although the outcome of the Men’s semifinals matchups weren’t posted quite yet as I was finishing out the blog this evening, we’ll see if I can read a team competition bracket correctly. I believe it stacks up thusly:

10:00 am – Thomas Carter vs. Carlos Keller Vargas
11:30 am – Jake Bredenbeck vs. Conrrado Moscoso
1:00 pm -- Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Conrrado Moscoso/Kadim Carrasco

Live streaming is a definite, so cancel all but your most important plans to be on hand as Gary Mazaroff and Gustavo Farell provide riveting commentary in their own unparalleled style. 

Once the last matches are complete, the Awards Ceremony will take place on Court 6 and will be live streamed as well. Then, after the appropriate amount of photos, the 12 countries’ delegations will be winding down, packing, and preparing to return home. 

But...we still have an exciting day of competition ahead on Saturday! In unison, join us in chanting...

USA...USA...USA!!!  

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Blog #7
Pan American Racquetball Championships (PARC)
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Thursday, April 17, 2025

Team USA – Day Day Six at PARC – Comments from Coach Pablo Fajre

With no finals to play and having received byes in both the Women’s and Men’s Team Competitions, today was a quiet and restful day, Most of the team used the break to recover from muscle soreness, while a few took the time to rest and bounce back from minor knocks or stomach issues. The only one who felt the urge to hit the courts was Thomas, who got in a bit of practice. Meanwhile, the physical therapist staff continued their usual care routines, making sure our players are ready for tomorrow.

In the evening, we enjoyed a team dinner in Cayalá, the White City, where we shared a relaxing and fun time together.

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

STAFF MEMBERS OF THE DAY

Warm thanks to physical therapists Sarah and Santi who bring their greetings to the Racquetball family.

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

SARAH LEONG-LOPES

Hi, I’m Dr. Sarah Leong-Lopes, a licensed physical therapist, ANF Therapist, and movement optimization specialist based in Arroyo Grande, California. I’m thrilled to serve Team USA Racquetball at the Pan American Racquetball Championships, supporting the athletes with cutting-edge tools like ANF Therapy and integrative manual techniques focused on the nervous system and visceral health. Whether working with elite athletes or those navigating chronic pain, my mission is to help individuals harness their body’s natural intelligence and move with confidence and freedom

I’m the founder of PHASE Physical Therapy and Wellness, a mobile clinic that meets clients where they are—literally and figuratively—to help them understand their body’s signals, advocate for their wellness, and pursue their goals with clarity and personalized guidance. I’m also passionate about mentoring fellow clinicians who want to embrace a holistic, whole-body approach to care. Teaming up with my PhysioSensei partner and ANF mentor, Santi, I’m honored to bring the synergy of ANF Sport and championship racquetball to the world stage.

Follow me on Instagram @sarahthephysiosensei or on Facebook as Sarah Leong-Lopes.

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

SANTI VILLAMIL

Hi, I’m Santi Villamil, a physical therapist, strength and conditioning coach, ANF practitioner and instructor, and movement optimization specialist with over two decades of experience. I’m honored to be supporting Team USA at the Pan American Racquetball Championships, helping the elite athletes perform at their best using innovative tools like ANF Therapy. Whether working with Division One athletes, dancers, military personnel, or weekend warriors, my passion lies in treating the nervous system and tailoring holistic strategies that enhance performance and restore health.

Based in Gainesville, Florida—home of the University of Florida—I own Wellness Hub, a clinic that empowers individuals to unlock their full potential through mind-body-spirit care utilizing multidisciplinary providers. Beyond clinical work, I’m deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals, encouraging a holistic approach that goes beyond symptom management and inspires true wellness.

Follow my journey on Instagram @santithephysiosensei or on Facebook as Santi Villamil.

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Sarah and Santi, on behalf of Team USA, thank you for being here with our athletes at this event. We appreciate your passion and dedication!

PARC GENERAL ASSEMBLY, PART II

As mentioned in Blog #6, the PARC General Assembly was held Wednesday evening, attended by PARC Executive Committee members and delegates from the countries. An important part of the agenda was a detailed description of coming events in the Areas of the World:

Asia: The World Games, Chengdu, China, 2025; Asia Racquetball Championships
Europe: European Racquetball Championships
North America: IRF World Senior Racquetball Championships, Las Vegas, NM, 2025
Central America/Caribbean: Central American Games, Guatemala 2025; IRF World Junior Championships, Santo Domingo, December 2025; Central American and Caribbean Games, Santo Domingo 2026
South America: Bolivarian Games, Lima 2025; South American Games 2026; Pan American Games, Lima 2027

Details are being finalized for the locations of the Pan American Racquetball Championships 2026 and the IRF World Championships 2026. More news soon!

Make no mistake...there’s A LOT going on in Racquetball on the world stage. We’re rolling! 

MAIL FROM HOME

Thanks for the continuing correspondence from these folks (and more on Facebook and Instagram) who make sure Team USA athletes and staff members are feeling the love from Back in the USA: Susan Hendricks, Claudell White, Gail Cowley, Maureen Mulvenna Keough, Karen Bredenbeck, Sharron Puckett Bradford, Jen Meyer, Kit Lawson, Stewart Solomon, and Keith Calkins. You guys rock!

STREAMING

Live streaming is provided on the IRF YouTube Channel, the IRF Facebook page, and Panam Sports. Visit the home page of PARC (just below*) for streaming links and more information about this event. Also, PARC Instagram each morning for the day’s streaming schedule. 

* https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

Be sure to visit www.panamericanracquetball.com, or R2 Sports** to also keep up with the results and see how your favorite players are doing.  

** https://www.r2sports.com/website/event-website.asp?TID=48572

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

All of a sudden, it’s Friday! The tournament will wrap up over the next two days, culminating in the Men’s and Women’s Team Competitions. Here’s how Friday shapes up...

All times are (still) the same as U.S. Mountain time.  

TEAM USA HITS THE COURTS IN THE TEAM COMPETITIONS

Men’s Team Competition – USA vs. Ecuador

10:45 am – Thomas Carter vs. Martin Carchi
12:15 pm – Jake Bredenbeck vs. Juan Francisco Cueva
1:45 pm – Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Jose Daniel Ugalde / Juan Francisco 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 Guatemala vs. Costa Rica in the semifinals at 3:15 pm, 4:45 pm, and 6:15 pm.

Women’s Team Competition – USA vs. Guatemala

10:00 am – Lexi York vs. Jamileth Sipac
11:30 am – Michelle Key vs. Maria Renee Rodriguez
1:00 pm – Michelle Key/Lexi York vs. Jamileth Sipac/Isabella Wer 

With a win against Guatemala (best 2 out of 3 matches), the USA Women’s Team will advance to compete against the winner of Argentina vs. Chile in the semifinals at 2:30 pm, 4:00 pm, and 5:30 pm.

¡Vamos al equipo de EE. UU.!

GO TEAM USA!!

Blog #6
Pan American Racquetball Championships (PARC)
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Team USA – Day Five at PARC

Cheryl Weighs In...

Today was another day you really don’t wish for, but there’s often an upside. Each of the three semifinal matches ended in losses, as you’ll read below. Our Team USA athletes give it their all 100% of the time, and today was no exception. For sure it’s disappointing. They would each tell you it’s not what they came here for. But with a full-to-overflowing schedule throughout this entire tournament, we’ll value the gift of rest going into the team competition tomorrow (?), Friday, and hopefully Saturday as well. Speaking for Pablo, Sarah, and Santi, to say we’re proud to be able to serve these outstanding athletes would be an understatement. They give everything for our sport and all of us who love it. 

You won’t find a Thursday schedule for the team competition at the end of this Blog #6 because the individual phase must be complete in order to calculate the seeding for the team competition that begins in the afternoon. The individual phase finals will be competed tomorrow morning. You will find, however, a few key points of interest regarding the team competition.

What we do know is that barring a surprise adjustment, the Women’s Teams will not begin their Team Competition until Friday. We’re not sure yet if the Team USA men will compete tomorrow. Be sure to visit http://www.panamericanracquetball.com or R2 Sports and look for brackets for the Men’s Team (MTO) and Women’s Team (WTO) Competitions. 
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

Women’s Singles
Lexi York lost to Montserrat Mejia (MEX), 4-11, 7-11, 11-9, 6-11

Women’s Doubles
Lexi York/Michelle Key lost to Natalia Mendez/Valeria Centellas (ARG), 12-14, 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 4-11

Men’s Doubles
Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck lost to Conrrado Moscoso/Kadim Carrasco (BOL), 8-11, 8-11, 5-11

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

ATHLETE OF THE DAY: Sam Bredenbeck
Age: 29
City/State: Marine, MN
Rank on Tour: 16
Age when started playing racquetball: Probably around 3 or 4 (picked up a racquet); competing around 7
Sponsors: ODISI Apparel, Forza Performance, Gearbox 
What does it mean to you to compete for the USA at PARC? “Representing the USA in any capacity is the highest honor that, I believe, we have as athletes. I have been fortunate enough to compete at various international competitions for Team USA and every single time is a privilege.”
Who would you like to recognize/thank?  “I would like to thank my parents, my brother, and Lexi for their unwavering support in all things life. Sam and Joe Kelley for incredible coaching and friendship. My friends and family, who are always in my/our corner, cheering me/us on. I would like to thank the Minnesota Racquetball community for coming together to help us make this trip a possibility. Also, I would like to thank each person who donated to our GoFundMe and USA Racquetball to make this trip possible. Thank you to the individuals involved behind the scenes who make these trips just a little bit easier for us athletes (you know who you are). Thank you to Pablo for being a great coach and mentor. Thank you to my teammates - I appreciate you guys and it is an honor to compete alongside you all! And thank you to those who continue to support Team USA (Athletes and Staff).”

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

PARC GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 8 pm MT

The PARC General Assembly was held Wednesday evening at the host hotel, attended by PARC Executive Committee members and delegates from the countries. The agenda included approval of minutes and financial reports, an anti-doping update, and an IRF/PARC future events report. USA Racquetball Board President Stewart Solomon, participating via Zoom, delivered a short announcement about the return of the US OPEN in June 2026 – information that was well received.

MAIL FROM HOME

Team USA continues to receive messages from blog readers, and this warms our hearts! Thank you to Gail Cowley, Keith Calkins, Maureen Mulvenna Keough, David Stob, John O’Donnell, Jr., Sharron Puckett Bradford, Pat Ellis, Kristin Wattz, Karen Grisz, Jonathan Greenberg, Larry Haemmerle, and Stewart Solomon. 

STREAMING

Live streaming is provided on the IRF YouTube Channel, the IRF Facebook page, and Panam Sports. Visit the home page of PARC (just below*) for streaming links and more information about this event. Also, PARC Instagram each morning for the day’s streaming schedule. 

* https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

Be sure to visit www.panamericanracquetball.com, or R2 Sports** to also keep up with the results and see how your favorite players are doing.  

** https://www.r2sports.com/website/event-website.asp?TID=48572

Thursday – Team Competition Begins

The second phase – the Men’s and Women’s Team Competitions – begin Thursday afternoon or Friday morning, after the Individual phase concludes. In the intro to this Blog #6, it has already been determined that the Women’s Competition almost certainly won’t begin until Friday. The Awards Ceremony for both phases of competition will take place Saturday late afternoon and will be live streamed.

Here’s how the Team Competitions are set up:

Each “country vs. country” matchup in team competition is best two matches out of three, single elimination.

Two singles matches and one doubles match are scheduled, with the order varying as the draw progresses. (Mixed doubles teams do not compete in the Team Competitions.) 

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.

So there you have it, more to come, and please know you’re a very important part of Team USA’s experience here in Guatemala City. Thank you for reading the blogs, following social media posts, and tuning into the livestreams!

GO TEAM USA!!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Blog #5
Pan American Racquetball Championships (PARC)
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Team USA Coach Pablo Fajre comments on Tuesday (Day Four) at PARC:

Today was a tough one. We took some hard losses, dealt with injuries, and watched our athletes pushed to their limits. It was the kind of day that tests not just skill, but character.

But we’re far from finished. We’re still in the fight with both women’s and men’s doubles and women singles pushing forward, I hope, to the finals. Then we’ll need to regroup, refocus, and get ready for the team competition ahead.

Here’s how Tuesday shaped up here in Guatemala City:

TEAM USA – TUESDAY’S RESULTS

Men’s Singles
Jake Bredenbeck def. Ramon De Leon (DOM), 11-5, 11-5, 11-4
Jake Bredenbeck lost to Diego Garcia (ARG), 6-11, 11-7, 2-11, 7-11
Thomas Carter lost to Andres Acuna (CRC), 8-11, 7-11, 8-11

Women’s Singles
Michelle Key def. Valeria Centellas (ARG), 11-6, 11-8, 11-8
Lexi York def. Michelle Key, 7-11, 11-6, 12-14, 11-6, 16-14

Men’s Doubles
Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck def. Jose Daniel Ugalde/Juan Francisco Cueva (ECU), 11-3, 11-6, 11-6

Women’s Doubles
Lexi York/Michelle Key def. Chloe Jauvin/Ofelia Wilscam (CAN), 11-7, 11-6, 11-2

Mixed Doubles
Michelle Key/Sam Bredenbeck lost to Natalia Mendez/Gerson Miranda Martinez (ARG), 10-12, 11-5, 5-11, 4-11

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

ATHLETE OF THE DAY: Lexi York
Age: 27
City/State: Born in Portland Oregon, currently living in Marine, Minnesota
Rank on Tour: 13
Age when started playing racquetball? 10 years old
Sponsors: Odisi Apparel and Gearbox    
What does it mean to you to compete for the USA at PARC? “I am extremely excited to represent the United States. I hope to represent our country well and make people proud of our team.”
Whom would you like to recognize/thank? “I would like to thank my family, boyfriend, and friends who have supported my dream in playing racquetball. My coaches the Kelley twins for all of their continued support and time they've invested in me as a player. Everyone in Minnesota who helped us get to Guatemala!”

MAIL FROM HOME

Uplifting messages came flying in from every U.S. time zone today! To John Thorson, Sharron Puckett-Bradford, Keith Calkins, Luke St. Onge, David Stob, Julianne Valentino, Stewart Solomon, Kendra Tutsch and the Women’s Senior Masters Racquetball Association...it was nice to hear from you all!

STREAMING / INFO

·      The Daily Blogs, accompanied by plenty of photos, are posted on the USA Racquetball website, www.usaracquetball.com

·      Posts from USA Racquetball as well as the athletes themselves are on social media.

·      Live streaming is provided on the IRF YouTube Channel, the IRF Facebook page, and Panam Sports. Visit the home page of PARC (just below*) for streaming links and more information about this event. Also, visit IRF or PARC Instagram each morning for the day’s streaming schedule. 

* https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

Be sure to visit www.panamericanracquetball.com, or R2 Sports** to also keep up with the results and see how your favorite players are doing.  

** https://www.r2sports.com/website/event-website.asp?TID=48572

TEAM USA: WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE

It’s incredible that we're halfway through this championship event, four days down, four to go! Wednesday takes the tournament into the semifinal rounds of the individual phase of competition. The finals will be first thing Thursday followed by the beginning of the team competition that will go through Saturday.

(All times are the same as U.S. Mountain time.)

Women’s Singles
10:45 am, Lexi York vs. Montserrat Mejia (MEX)

Women’s Doubles
1:00 pm, Lexi York/Michelle Key vs. Natalia Mendez/Valeria Centellas (ARG)

Men’s Doubles
1:45 pm, Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Conrrado Moscoso/Kadim Carrasco (BOL)

The streaming schedule should be out first thing in the morning on Instagram: panamericanracquetball. 

Resting up for tomorrow, see you then! 

GO TEAM USA!!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Blog #4
Pan American Racquetball Championships (PARC)
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Monday, April 14, 2025

Team USA – Day three at PARC

Coach Pablo Fajre had this to say about Monday’s matches: “I’m very happy with the effort the athletes put forth today. We had tough matches and everyone gave their very best. Tomorrow we hope to sustain these good results and keep moving forward to the medal rounds.”

Below are today’s results, and check out Tuesday’s schedule at the end of this blog. 

TEAM USA – MONDAY’S RESULTS

Men’s Singles
Thomas Carter lost to Andres Acuna (CRC), 10-12, 6-11, 10-12
Jake Bredenbeck def. Felipe Camacho (CRC), 8-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6

Women’s Singles
Michelle Key lost to Natalia Mendez (ARG), 8-11, 3-11, 11-8, 7-11

Men’s Doubles
Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck def. Erick Trujillo/Sebastian Hernandez (MEX), 11-8, 3-11, 12-10, 11-8

Women’s Doubles
Lexi York/Michelle Key lost to Alexandra Herrera/Samantha Salas Solis (MEX), 10-12, 6-11, 5-11

Mixed Doubles
Michelle Key/Sam Bredenbeck def. Edwin Galicia/Gabriela Martinez (GUA), 11-9, 12-10, 5-11, 11-8

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Athlete of the Day: Thomas Carter

Age: 28

City/State: Wheaton, IL

Rank on Tour: 14

Affiliation: Racquetball NOW (a non-profit dedicated to building junior programs and growing the game)

How old were you when you started playing Racquetball? “I was about 8 or 9 years old.”

What does it mean to you to compete for the USA at PARC? "Getting to represent USA at PARC means a ton to me. These tournaments are special. They’ve given me some of my favorite racquetball memories. I feel very lucky and grateful to have the opportunity to compete alongside my teammates for Team USA." 

Whom would you like to recognize/thank?

 "So many people haha! It starts with the support from my mom, dad, brother, and sister. I’d also like to thank my coach, Jim Winterton, and also my Chicago and Pittsburgh racquetball families. I couldn’t do it without all the support from everyone! They always have my back and keep pushing me in the right direction!! I’d like to add a special 

shoutout to the Racquetball NOW and Junior Team Illinois (JTI) kids!"

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Mail From Home

It was great to hear from these blog readers today! Saying hello and sending encouragement to Team USA were Susan Hendricks, Linda Price, Keith Calkins, Jonathan Greenberg, Lynn Yeazell, Todd Burris, Alisa Burris, and Tom Zielecki.

Streaming Info

·      The Daily Blog, accompanied by plenty of photos, are posted on the USA Racquetball website, www.usaracquetball.com

·      Posts from USA Racquetball as well as the athletes themselves are on social media

·      Live streaming is provided on the IRF YouTube Channel, the IRF Facebook page, and Panam Sports. Visit the home page of PARC (just below*) for streaming links and more information about this event. Also, visit IRF or PARC Instagram each morning for the day’s streaming schedule. 

* https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

Be sure to visit www.panamericanracquetball.com, or R2 Sports** to also keep up with the results and see how your favorite players are doing.  

** https://www.r2sports.com/website/event-website.asp?TID=48572

TEAM USA: TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE

Now we’re in the main draws with seeding earned based on performance in the preliminary round robin/pool play divisions over the past three days. These draws will look different from the ones you may have been viewing over the past several days. No longer a round robin/pool play competition, the draws have become single elimination now through the Thursday morning individual phase finals.

Men’s Singles

9:15 am – Jake Bredenbeck vs. Ramon De Leon (DOM)

            If Jake wins: 11:30 am – Jake Bredenbeck vs. Diego Garcia (ARG)

9:30 am -- Thomas Carter vs. Andres Acuna (CRC)

            If Thomas wins: 11:30 am – Thomas Carter vs. Samuel Murray (CAN)

Women’s Singles

9:15 am – Michelle Key vs. Valeria Centellas (ARG)

            If Michelle wins: 1:00 pm – Michelle Key vs. Lexi York

1:00 pm – Lexi York vs. winner of Key/Centellas

Men’s Doubles
4:00 pm – Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. winner of DOM vs. ECU match at 1:45 pm

Women’s Doubles

3:15 pm – Lexi York/Michelle Key vs. Chloe Jauvin/Ofelia Wilscam (CAN)

Mixed Doubles

6:15 pm – Michelle Key/Sam Bredenbeck vs. winner of ARG vs. DOM match at 4:45 pm

As you can see, wins in three singles “feeder” matches will advance three of our singles athletes into the quarterfinal rounds. Therefore, Tuesday at PARC = a TON of matches for Team USA! 

Good luck to all!

GO TEAM USA!!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Blog #3
Pan American Racquetball Championships (PARC)
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Sunday, April 13, 2025

Team USA – Day Two at PARC

Team USA logged another successful day! The day was abbreviated a bit with the Women’s Singles Bye, but there were six wins to add to Saturday’s first-day results. Going into Monday with the determination to produce more of the same, Team USA should be well-positioned in the main draw seedings that will form Tuesday-Thursday competition. 

Lexi’s and Jake’s singles matches were livestreamed on the streaming court, and there will presumably be several more on Monday, with those matches appearing on the published schedule first thing Monday morning. Racquetball Family, tune in as your Monday will allow...hope you can make it!

TEAM USA – SUNDAY’S RESULTS

Men’s Singles
Jake Bredenbeck def. Jose Daniel Ugalde (ECU), 11-7, 11-8, 11-5
Thomas Carter def. Juan Francisco Cueva (ECU), 11-3, 11-6, 12-10

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Women’s Singles
Lexi York def. Frederique Lambert (CAN), 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4

Men’s Doubles
Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck def. Christhian Menendez/Raul Martinez Gutierrez (CUB), 11-5, 11-7, 11-4

Women’s Doubles
Lexi York/Michelle Key def. Chloe Jauvin/Ofelia Wilscam (CAN) 11-6, 11-3, 11-7

Mixed Doubles
Michelle Key/Sam Bredenbeck def. Merynanyelly Delgado/Ramon De Leon (DOM), 11-8, 11-6, 11-2 

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Athlete of the Day: Michelle Key

Age: 36
City/State: Gilbert, AZ
Sponsors: Key Racquetball, 3WB, OVRWatch, and Gearbox
How old were you when you started playing Racquetball? Born into it
What does it mean to you to compete for the USA at PARC? “Representing Team USA has always been a lifetime honor. It's the thing I value most in my racquetball career. Being here at PARC is such an incredible experience and I'm grateful for the opportunity. Go Team USA!”
Whom would you like to recognize/thank? “I would really like to thank my family and friends, they are invaluable to me. Also thank you so much for everyone who donated, you made this trip possible, without you I wouldn’t be here. Thank you with all my heart.”
Note to Raelynn: From your mom and the entire U.S. Delegation -- Happy Birthday on April 14th!!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

PARC Staff 

Dedicated staff members are here in support of the event and its athletes. The operations staff, including those who are providing live streaming, are a dedicated and talented team who do a magnificent job and continue to raise the bar at each and every IRF and PARC event. 

Operations/Leadership: Osvaldo Maggi (Argentina), Mauro Grandio Buzeleh (Argentina), Dean Schear (USA)

Desk Staff: Sebastian Digon (Argentina), Adrián Macrino (Argentina), Alberto Sanchez (Venezuela)

Broadcast/Streaming/Social Media: Jose Cruz (Guatemala), Pablo Fajre (USA), Gustavo Farell (USA), Gary Mazaroff (USA), Alberto Sánchez (Venezuela)

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

PARC Referees

Referees (in Spanish, arbitros) from 7 countries met after the Coaches meeting last Friday and swung into action on Saturday. They are the unsung heroes of each event, officiating many hours a day for 8 days in a row. Can you spell R-E-S-P-E-C-T? Thanks to these individuals who make such a difference when they travel to international competitions:

María Paz Muñoz (Ecuador), Diana Lilo Aguilar  (Mexico), Ivan Valdez  (Mexico), Jaime Martell  (Mexico), Koko Keller (Bolivia), Potro Torres (Colombia), Pacho Gomez (Colombia), Cristina Amaya (Italy), Jehyson Miranda (Guatemala), Javier Martinez (Guatemala), Luis Perez (Guatemala), Angel Gonzalez (Guatemala), Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala), Allan Chacon (Costa Rica). 

Gracias, arbitros!

Mail From Home

It was nice today to hear from Karen Bredenbeck, Luke St. Onge, Keith Calkins, Alok Mehta, Susan Hendricks, George Bustos, and Stewart Solomon. Thanks, Racquetball Family!

STREAMING INFO (You’ll be seeing this every day, to help out blog newcomers...)

·      The Daily Blog, accompanied by plenty of photos, are posted on the USA Racquetball website, www.usaracquetball.com

·      Posts from USA Racquetball as well as the athletes themselves are on social media

·      Live streaming is provided on the IRF YouTube Channel, the IRF Facebook page, and Panam Sports. Visit the home page of PARC (just below*) for streaming links and more information about this event. Also, visit IRF or PARC Instagram each morning for the day’s streaming schedule. 

* https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

Be sure to visit www.panamericanracquetball.com, or R2 Sports** to also keep up with the results and see how your favorite players are doing.  

** https://www.r2sports.com/website/event-website.asp?TID=48572

TEAM USA: MONDAY’S SCHEDULE

These matches will be exciting and challenging with the chances being good that more than one will be livestreamed from Court 6. Stay tuned tomorrow, take the day off. I’ll be happy to send a note to your employer. TEAM USA NEEDS YOU!!

Here we go...all times are the same as U.S. Mountain Time:

Men’s Singles
10:00 am – Thomas Carter vs. Andres Acuna (CRC)
10:45 am – Jake Bredenbeck vs. Felipe Camacho (CRC)

Women’s Singles
11:30 am – Michelle Key vs. Natalia Mendez (ARG)
Lexi York (BYE)

Men’s Doubles
2:30 pm – Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Erick Trujillo/Sebastian Hernandez (MEX) 

Women’s Doubles
3:15 pm – Lexi York/Michelle Key vs. Alexandra Herrera/Samantha Salas Solis (MEX) 

Mixed Doubles
5:30 pm – Michelle Key/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Edwin Galicia/Gabriela Martinez (GUA)

So ends Blog #3...but if you want to know a little more about Guatemala’s volcanoes, read on, below.

GO TEAM USA!!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Team USA – Day One at PARC

U.S. Team Head Coach Pablo Fajre comments on the first day of competition in Guatemala City: 

“It was a good day! The first day is always challenging with the team getting used to the courts in real-time competition, becoming accustomed to how the ball behaves at this altitude, etc. There are a lot of different variables. We were able to begin to settle in and logged victories in all six matches. We are fortunate to have our excellent physical therapists with us to help keep our athletes healthy and feeling strong and ready to compete at their best for the entire event.

“This team is comprised of five experienced athletes. What’s especially great is the way each member of the delegation (athletes and staff) supported the rest courtside all day. Take a look at match results on this first day of competition.”

TEAM USA -- SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Men’s Singles
Jake Bredenbeck def. Ramon De Leon (DOM), 11-8, 11-6, 11-6
Thomas Carter def. Diego Pimentel (DOM), 11-3, 11-4, 11-4

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Women’s Singles
Michelle Key def. Jamileth Sipac (GUA), 11-3, 11-7, 11-5
Lexi York def. Maria Renee Rodriguez (GUA), 11-6, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Men’s Doubles
Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck def. Ramon De Leon/Ricardo Monroy (DOM), 11-5, 7-11, 7-11, 11-3, 12-10

Women’s Doubles
Michelle Key/Lexi York def. Merynanyelly Delgado/Maria Cespedes (DOM), 9-11, 11-7, 11-0, 11-0. WBF - Injury

PARC 2025 Format/Scoring

Let’s stop here for a moment and review some key points about this event:

As mentioned in Blog #1, the first part of the tournament is pool play/round robin, and it’s seeded by countries’ past results. The outcome of this first phase will determine the seeding for the main individual draws (aka playoffs) that will be competed Tuesday-Thursday. Then, Thursday-Saturday, the Team Competition phase will take place where single elimination draws by country will be formed using the results from the first (individual) phase of competition. This may already be “way TMI” so I’ll explain more about the Team Competition when the time comes.

The ball is Gearbox Sleek Black. The format throughout is Best 3 Games of 5, all to 11 points, all win by 2 points. In other words, the first player/doubles team to win three games is the match winner. If one player/team wins the first three games in a row, the match is over. If they split with their opponent(s), two games each, they go to a tiebreaker fifth game. 

Rally scoring is standard for the IRF, which means that a point is scored on every rally whether the rally winner was the server or the receiver. 

Results achieved by teams here at PARC 2025 will elevate PARC competition seeding positions in the years leading up to the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru (where we hope to see Racquetball included!).  

Travelogue

Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala (Spanish: República de Guatemala), is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, Belize and the Caribbean to the northeast, Honduras to the east, El Salvador to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. With an estimated population of around 18.6 million,  it is the most populous country in Central America and is the 11th most populous country in the Americas. Guatemala is a representative democracy; its capital and largest city is Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción, also known as Guatemala City, the largest city in Central America.  

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guatemala 

Currency: Quetzal(es) - same as the National Bird (about Q7.81 to $1 USD)
Population (Guatemala): 18.6 million
Population (Guatemala City): 995,000
President:  Bernardo Arévalo
Official language: Spanish
Altitude: 4,920 ft. above sea level

ATHLETE OF THE DAY

Hey, it’s time for this popular Daily Blog feature to begin, with one athlete in the spotlight each day for the next five days, Then on Thursday and Friday, you’ll learn more about the staff members here in support of Team USA.

Athlete of the Day: Jake Bredenbeck

Age: 33
City/State: Marine, Minnesota
Rank on Tour: 4
Age when started playing Racquetball: 4-1/2 years old
Sponsors: ODISI Apparel, Gearbox, KWM Gutterman

What does it mean to you to compete for the USA at PARC? “Competing with USA on my back means everything. It is one of the best things we as athletes get to do. I am very fortunate to have this opportunity.”

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Whom would you like to recognize/thank? “A huge thank you goes to my parents for supporting me in all I do. They are the reason I started to play racquetball, and they continue to support me to this day. I wouldn't be who I am or where I am in life without them. I would like to thank everyone who donated to support us in doing what we love, representing the best country on earth.”

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Mail from Home   

Over 100 people (racquetball family members as well as family and friends of the delegation) are on a “Sneak Peek” list, receiving the Daily Blog hot off the press before publication the next day. We’re always happy to hear from them and indeed from any other fans who wish to offer encouragement to Team USA. 

We were glad to receive Blog #1 communication from Linda Price, Gail Cowley, Brett Elkins, Sharron Puckett Bradford, Maureen Mulvenna Keough, George Bustos, and Stewart Solomon. Here’s a special message from USA Racquetball Past President Keith Calkins: “Wishing our team success on and off the court. Always said you have to ‘beat them when you meet them.’ Athletes, listen to your coaches and be smart on the court. I will be watching and enjoying every moment of the tournament.” 

TEAM USA Info

It’s so important to the U.S. Team Delegation to share their experiences at PARC! To help everyone back in the States feel like they’re right here with the athletes and staff in Guatemala City, the following will be in place: 

1.     The Daily Blog, accompanied by plenty of photos posted on the USA Racquetball website, www.usaracquetball.com

2.     Social media posts from USA Racquetball as well as the athletes themselves

3.     Live streaming is provided on the IRF YouTube Channel, the IRF Facebook page, and Panam Sports. Visit the home page of PARC (just below*) for streaming links and more information about this event. Also, visit IRF or PARC Instagram each morning for the day’s streaming schedule. 

* https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

Be sure to visit www.panamericanracquetball.com, or R2 Sports** to also keep up with the results and see how your favorite players are doing.  

** https://www.r2sports.com/website/event-website.asp?TID=48572

TEAM USA: SUNDAY'S SCHEDULE

What’s in store for Team USA on Sunday? See below, and wish them luck and tons of rollouts!

All times are the same as U.S. Mountain Time.  

Men’s Singles
11:30 am – Jake Bredenbeck vs. Jose Daniel Ugalde (ECU)
12:15 pm – Thomas Carter vs. Juan Francisco Cueva (ECU) 

Women’s Singles
10:00 am – Lexi York vs. Frederique Lambert (CAN)
Michelle Key (BYE)

Men’s Doubles
3:15 pm – Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Christhian Menendez/Raul Martinez Gutierrez (CUB)

Women’s Doubles
2:30 pm – Lexi York/Michelle Key vs. Chloe Jauvin/Ofelia Wilscam (CAN)

Mixed Doubles
4:45 pm – Michelle Key/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Merynanyelly Delgado/Ramon De Leon (DOM)

Sunday, here we come!

GO TEAM USA!!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Greetings from Guatemala City, where (most of) the U.S. Team Delegation had arrived as of Thursday evening. Our physical therapists arrived today, ready for action when competition begins on Saturday morning!

U.S. Team athletes will compete here in Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles over the next week vs. 11 other countries. 

Introducing the U.S. Team Delegation

Let’s meet the delegation for this event, with competition taking place every day, April 12-19:

Jake Bredenbeck (Minnesota): Men’s Singles
Thomas Carter (Illinois): Men’s Singles
Jake Bredenbeck and Sam Bredenbeck (Minnesota): Men’s Doubles

Michelle Key (Arizona): Women’s Singles
Lexi York (Minnesota): Women’s Singles
Michelle Key and Lexi York: Women’s Doubles  

Michelle Key and Sam Bredenbeck: Mixed Doubles

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Supporting our U.S. Team Athletes:

Pablo Fajre (California): Head Coach
Dr. Sarah Leong-Lopes (California): Physical Therapist
Santiago Villamil (Florida): Physical Therapist

First Things First

1: Arrive. 
2: Get supplies!

Thursday 

The traditional trip to the grocery store for (a lot of) water, fruit, bread, ham, peanut butter, jelly, pickles, ham, maybe a cookie or two, possibly chocolate, indeed took place on Thursday. 

A little later, Pablo and the athletes endured some heavy traffic (not unexpected in Guatemala City) to get to practice at the Domo Complejo de Racquetball, Guatemala’s beautiful 10-court facility, still new. The club’s inaugural event was the IRF Adult & Junior Worlds in December 2021 and was then followed a year later by IRF World Juniors. The Pan American Racquetball Championships were held here in 2023 and 2024, and we’re happy to be back again this year.

A Busy Friday

Friday’s schedule was brisk! While our Team USA athletes practiced at the club again before competition begins on Saturday, meetings of an administrative nature occurred as well. For example...

The Coaches and Delegates Meeting commenced at 12:00 pm at the host hotel where a great deal of information about the event was provided to the 12 countries* in attendance, especially the draws/match schedules for the first phase of competition. Head Coach Pablo Fajre represented the USA at this meeting and paid the entry fees for the U.S. Team.  

* Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, USA

From the USA, three more Americans also have traveled to Guatemala in support of the Pan American Racquetball Confederation/International Racquetball Federation. Gary Mazaroff (New Mexico) and Gustavo Farell (Texas), who are PARC/IRF veterans, will be providing live streaming commentary throughout the event. Dean Schear (Texas), an officer of both organizations, will be King of the Floor (aka operations director) each day.

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Much Gratitude to the GIVEDIRECT Contributors!

Once again this year, the athletes have stepped up with fundraising on their own to cover their trip to represent us all as Team USA. They are simply amazing, so dedicated to our sport and to their fans across the United States. USA Racquetball, although the budget couldn’t bear the entire cost of the trip along with a number of other grow-the-sport initiatives in progress, was proud to start a grassroots "friends and family" fundraising appeal in March/early April that resulted in a number of benefactors stepping forward to financially support this competition. We can’t thank them enough for becoming an important part of this PARC event!

Our warmest regards go to James Greenspan, Stephen Czarnecki, Joe Repice, Christen Rexing, Kristen Costello, Chris Heye, Sharlene Lugo, Lavinia Lowe, Dennis Quintal, Mike Wedel, Orlando Cabana, William Gross, Rick Thorn, Frank Resnick, Donald Barrows, Edith Block, Tito Padilla, Gilad Shoshani, Melanie Paradis, Corey Litchfield, David Reilly, David Gopfert, Jolene Sullivan, Aaron Dardani, Raul Nieves, Kevin Harrington, Vincent Santilli, Karen Grisz, Cheryl Kirk, Glen Gitterman, Kimberly Luke, John Acampora, Jason Young, Theodore Keller, Kelly Shea, Kristin Wattz, Sandra Rios, and Stewart Solomon.

So here we go...Day One looms just a few hours from this writing!

Saturday’s Schedule 

All of a sudden, it’s April 12th and time for the pool play/round robin phase of competition to begin. Visit panamericanracquetball.com or R2 Sports to view all draws and divisions:

https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

https://www.r2sports.com/website/event-website.asp?TID=48572

Yes, there will be live streaming beginning Saturday on the IRF YouTube Channel and IRF Facebook page. Visit the home page of PARC (just above) for streaming links and more information about this event. Streaming will begin on the Panam Sports Channel on Sunday. 

We can’t wait to see Team USA in action! Here’s the first-day lineup (all times are the same as U.S. Mountain Time):

Men’s Singles
10:00 am – Jake Bredenbeck vs. Ramon De Leon (DOM)
10:45 am – Thomas Carter vs. Diego Pimentel (DOM)

Women’s Singles
11:30 am – Michelle Key vs. Jamileth Sipac (GUA)
11:30 am – Lexi York vs. Maria Renee Rodriguez (GUA) 

Men’s Doubles
2:30 pm – Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Ramon De Leon/Ricardo Monroy (DOM)

Women’s Doubles
3:15 pm – Michelle Key/Lexi York vs. Merynanyelly Delgado/Maria Cespedes (DOM)

Mixed Doubles
Michelle Key/Sam Bredenbeck (BYE – 1st round Sunday)

Okay, everyone is settled in and ready to go to work. Tomorrow night’s blog will include match results and continuing stories from Guatemala. Stick with us, there’s so much to come!

GO TEAM USA!!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family