US Team Competes in XXXVI Pan American Racquetball Championships

USA Racquetball & PARC

Five athletes and three staff members traveled to Guatemala City, April 10-20, 2025, to represent the United States of America in the XXXVI Pan American Racquetball Championships (PARC, for short). Here’s a rundown of their trip, and for a more detailed day-by-day account *, visit USA Racquetball’s website for the Daily Blogs (LINK) and accompanying photos.

* Each day the Daily Blogs delivered Coach comments, results of the previous day, schedule for the next day, streaming and social media information, donation recognition, Athlete and Staff Members of the Day, miscellaneous stories, “mail from home,” formats/scoring, how team competitions work, PARC staff/referee recognition, PARC General Assembly recap, final results in individual and team competitions, awards, and thank you’s.

The U.S. Delegation consisted of:

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

Supporting the athletes were Pablo Fajre (Head Coach, California), Dr. Sarah Leong-Lopes (Physical Therapist, California), and Santiago Villamil (Physical Therapist, Florida).

Countries there competing were Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and the USA.

Once again this year, the athletes stepped up with fundraising on their own to cover their trip to represent as Team USA. They are simply amazing, so dedicated to our sport and to their fans across the United States. Although the USA Racquetball budget couldn’t bear the entire cost of the trip due to a number of other grow-the-sport initiatives in progress, we were proud that a grassroots "friends and family" fundraising appeal conducted in March/early April 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 Team USA’s success at PARC.

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.

Our athletes did us proud over the eight consecutive days of competition that began with an Individual format for the first five days and continued with three more days of team competition.

Congratulations to all of the countries for their efforts and results at the Pan American Racquetball

Championships! The results unfolded as follows:

PARC Overall Results – Individual Awards

Women’s Singles Individual

1. Montserrat Mejia (MEX)

2. Natalia Mendez (ARG)

3. Lexi York (USA) and Alexandra Herrera (MEX)

Women’s Doubles Individual

1. Natalia Mendez/Valeria Centellas (ARG)

2. Samantha Salas Solis/Alexandra Herrera (MEX)

3. Lexi York/Michelle Key (USA) and Jimena Gomez/Larissa Faeth (CRC)

Men’s Singles Individual

1. Diego Garcia (ARG)

2. Javier Mar (MEX)

3. Samuel Murray (CAN) and Conrrado Moscoso (BOL)

Men’s Doubles Individual

1. Conrrado Moscoso/Kadim Carrasco (BOL)

2. Diego Garcia/Gerson Miranda Martinez (ARG)

3. Sam Bredenbeck/Jake Bredenbeck (USA) and Andres Acuna/Gabriel Garcia (CRC)

Mixed Doubles Individual

1. Alan Natera/Carla Munoz (CHI)

2. Edwin Galicia / Gabriela Martinez (GUA)

3. Samantha Salas Solis/Rodrigo Montoya (MEX) and Natalia Mendez/Gerson Miranda Martinez (ARG)

PARC Team Competition Awards

Women’s Team

1. Mexico

2. Argentina

3. Canada

4. USA

Men’s Team

1. Bolivia

2. USA

3. Costa Rica

4. Mexico

Combined Team

1. Mexico

2. USA

3. Argentina

4. Costa Rica

Coach Pablo Fajre had this to say as PARC was winding down:

“As the Pan American Racquetball Championship in Guatemala comes to a close, we take a moment to proudly reflect on Team USA’s incredible journey. With a second place finish in the Men’s Team Competition, fourth in the Women’s Team Competition, and bronze medals in Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, and Men’s Doubles, our athletes showcased not just talent but resilience, heart, and unity throughout every match. Congratulations to Jake, Sam, Thomas, Michelle, and Lexi!

“Behind every performance is a team effort. A heartfelt thank you to our outstanding physical therapists whose expert care kept our players performing at their best. Sarah and Santi, your constant support, energy, and dedication behind the scenes made all the difference.

“This tournament was about more than just medals. It was about pushing limits, growing together, and representing our country with pride. We leave Guatemala not only proud of what we’ve achieved but inspired for what lies ahead. Team USA is on the rise — and the journey continues!”

Thanks to everyone for your support of Team USA! Speaking of which...

THANK YOU’S 

The U.S. Team Delegation delivers their heartfelt gratitude to those who made this event so truly memorable. We want to warmly thank:

The Local Organizing Committee, headed by Dr. Estuardo Wer, for hosting this very successful event. The work behind the scenes to host a tournament of this magnitude is extensive. Congratulations to Erny Escobar and everyone on the staff for a job very well done! From the hotel to the transportation, the awards, the coordination, this experience was smoothly run as usual.

Marta Garcia and Javier Lopez of Las Americas Exclusive Service for the friendly and reliable ground transportation from airport/hotel/airport.

The staff of the Clarion Suites Hotel for their welcoming hospitality. Their attitude of service and care was commendable. And what a great and unique restaurant – one of a kind (imagine “waterfall in a tropical cave-like setting)!

The Domo Complejo de Racquetball staff members, the many volunteers at the club, and the shuttle drivers who provided excellent service and hospitality. You did your country proud! And we’d like to especially thank the cleaning staff who were continually seeing to the cleanliness of the floors and walls of the courts as well as of the entire facility before, during, and after matches. 

Thanks to the team of leaders, broadcast team, desk staff, and referees:

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

Broadcast/Streaming/Social Media: Jose Cruz (Guatemala), Pablo Fajre (USA), Gustavo Farell (USA), Gary Mazaroff (USA), Alberto Sánchez (Venezuela), and official photographer Fernando Ruiz (GUA)

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

Referees from seven countries were the unsung heroes of each event, officiating many hours a day for eight days in a row. 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), Fabian “Potro” Torres (Colombia), Pacho Gomez (Colombia), Cristina Amaya (Italy), Jehyson Franco (Guatemala), Javier Martinez (Guatemala), Luis Perez (Guatemala), Angel Gonzalez (Guatemala), Geovani Mendoza (Guatemala), Allan Chacon (Costa Rica).

So much gratitude goes to IRF Sponsors Gearbox, Pro Kennex, and Splathead who contribute significantly to international racquetball events.

Uniform Sponsor Nike APS (Athletic Performance Solutions) and Kevin Cowley – thank you for your outstanding assistance, as always!

Speaking of uniforms, special thanks and recognition go to Lynn Yeazell and Response Graphics & Embroidery in Plainfield, Illinois, who put the finishing touches on a last-minute Team USA uniform order and handed them off to...

Thomas Carter, who contributed above and beyond the call of “athlete duty” to bring the bag containing the above mentioned uniform order and an array of snacks (aka comfort food from home) for the U.S. Team Delegation! (Thomas stayed in Guatemala a few more days to hike Fuego – the most active of the country’s 37 volcanoes!)

Dr. Sarah Leong-Lopes for not only serving as our Team USA Physical Therapist but also turning out to be a skilled photographer and videographer throughout the trip!

Tom Travers for the donated use of a massage/treatment table so that our physical therapists could properly treat our athletes. 

Antonio Olivieri, USOPC Director of Security Operations, for his unwavering support of Team USA, not only during this event but over many years. We know you have our backs!

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

Aimee Roehler who posted the Daily Blogs and photos to USA Racquetball’s Facebook page as they were sent over, and Erika Manilla and Jared Harding who managed Instagram posts promoting Team USA at this event.

“Mail From Home” -- Thanks, everyone, for your emails and texts – you made a big difference to Team USA!

From donations large and small, to encouraging words, to positive comments from spectators watching online...all of these and more make Team USA feel so lucky to be a part of the best sport on the planet!