2025 USA Racquetball Junior National Championships

The Junior National Championships were hosted at the University of Minnesota Recreation Center, June 25-29, 2025. We can’t say enough about this beautiful facility and the nice people who staff it. Thank you!

The ATHLETES!

First up, let’s start with stats.

Players numbering 170 competed, and this was the most number of participants at Junior Nationals since 2017 and more than 11 of the last 18! 

Forty-seven athletes competed in two divisions and 107 played in three!

In the 71 divisions (both singles and doubles), 117 boys and 53 girls aged 6 to 22 hit the ball against the wall Wednesday through Sunday with the winners going home with medals in Olympic format divisions (Gold, Blue, Red, and White) as well as round robin divisions.

https://www.r2sports.com/tourney/viewResults.asp?TID=46099

States numbering 17 were in attendance. Missouri brought 58, up from 32 last year! California contributed 33 players and Texas brought 29!

The SPONSORS! 

Without you, where would we be? Our sincerest gratitude goes to:

Gearbox, WIS Inventory Solutions, Splathead, AGE Solutions, and KWM Gutterman.

Joe Hall of Splathead deserves very special recognition in service to the U.S. Junior Team. For the third year, Splathead is providing full uniform packages at no cost to all U.S. Junior Team athletes who travel to compete in the IRF World Junior Racquetball Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, December 5-13, 2025. Thank you, Joe!

Our Gold Sponsors for this event were Sandy Long, Mike Lippitt, and Slemo Warigon. Please view the Sponsor recognition poster accompanying this article for a full listing of our much-appreciated benefactors!

ALL-STAR CAST OF COACHES!

Current and former U.S. Adult Team members traveled to Minneapolis as coaches, contributors, and in Naomi’s case, a competitor in Girls 21 & Under!

It was great to see Sam Bredenbeck, Thomas Carter, Robbie Collins (who is also the current U.S. Junior Team Head Coach), Bobby Horn, Adam Manilla, Naomi Ros, Annie Sanchez, and Lexi York (who is also our photographer). Several participated in a well-attended “Meet and Play the Pro” session on Wednesday evening.

Former U.S. Junior Team Head Coach Charlie Pratt was there, as was current Adult Team Head Coach Pablo Fajre. And it was great to have Kane Waselenchuk, #1 on the IRT, in the house as well!

The STAFF & VOLUNTEERS!

Much gratitude goes to this hard-working group who teamed up OFF the courts to provide their special brands of expertise. Let’s call them “Aces in their Places.” Their mantra for the weekend was: “Yes! Now, what’s the question?”

USA Racquetball Staff Members: National Events Director Jonathan Greenberg, Executive Directors Karen Grisz and Cheryl Kirk

Photographer/Videographer: Lexi York

Social Media Management and Execution: Aimee Roehler  

LiveStreamTeam: JT Rball (Jeffrey Thompson) and his many volunteer announcers who provided insights and fun in equal measure for the enjoyment of those watching online.

U.S. Junior Team Head Coach Robbie Collins (Parents’ Meeting, Awards)

U.S. Esprit Team Coach Jen Meyer (Parents’ Meeting, Awards, Hospitality, Check-in)

Karen Grisz (Awards, Tournament Desk)

Sandy Rios (Tournament Desk)

Cindy Tilbury (Check-in, Medals, Tournament Desk, Hospitality)

Cheryl Kirk (U.S. Junior Team Admin, Parents’ Meeting, Awards, Hospitality)

Please have a look at the Volunteer Recognition poster accompanying this article for a full listing of our Dream Team volunteers. They stepped up in so many ways over the five days of this event. We appreciate them SO much! 

A special note of gratitude goes to the athletes and spectators who stepped up to referee matches. The tournament desk staff did a happy dance when someone said, “Sure, I’ll ref!” ❤️ And that went double when someone walked up and said, “Hey, do you need a ref?” ❤️❤️

Cheryl Kirk

The PARTY!

At the Annual Awards and Program on Saturday evening, Karen Grisz served as emcee, recognizing everyone who contributed their time, efforts, expertise, and financial support for this Junior Nationals event.

The USAR Junior Committee had a great pre-tournament idea -- they sponsored an essay contest that took place in the weeks before Junior Nationals. Essays submitted were heartfelt in describing the writers’ passion for the game. The five winners of the Essay Awards were recognized: Renata Ausucua, Nyasa Gupta, Luke Vanderbeek, Grant Williams, and Jeremiah Witt. Congratulations!

Team USA Junior Head Coach Robbie Collins and Esprit Coach Jen Meyer presented the U.S. Junior National Team 2025 World Cup, Esprit Cup, and Sportsmanship Awards:

• World Cup Male and Female Athletes of the Year – Cole Sendrey and Naomi Ros
• Esprit Cup Male and Female Athletes of the Year – Vaishant Mangalampalli and Yana Alegria-Gonzalez
• Sportsmanship Award – Addie Strobach

All-American certificates were presented to the 60 athletes who placed 1st-4th in team qualifying singles divisions and/or 1st and 2nd place in team qualifying doubles divisions.

USA Racquetball

The MEDALS!

Matches concluded on Saturday and Sunday, followed by medals and photo ops galore.

Gold medalists in the U.S. Team Qualifying Gold divisions received a certificate for a free Junior division entry at the US OPEN, to be held in Springfield, Missouri, in June 2026. Thanks to US OPEN Directors Jeff Collins and Cliff Swain for this nice touch of recognition.

To the parents, guardians, family members, and coaches who accompanied their athletes to Minneapolis, thank you for the time and resources you provided to make this memorable event possible for your young athletes. Virtual medals and tons of gratitude go to each and every one of you!

Athletes, their families, and their coaches then headed back home to continue their summer activities. Thanks to everyone who came to Junior Nationals. See you next year for the 2026 USA Racquetball National Junior Racquetball Championships at a location to be announced very soon!

USA Racquetball

Cheryl Kirk

Cheryl Kirk