2026 USA Racquetball Junior National Championships

The Junior National Championships were hosted in Des Moines, Iowa, at the Wellmark YMCA, June 24-28, 2026. Much gratitude goes to YMCA of Great Des Moines Senior Executive Director Julie Trausch and her excellent staff for welcoming USA Racquetball and the many athletes, family members, staff, and volunteers to this outstanding location.

First up, let’s start with stats.

The ATHLETES!

Players numbering 186 competed, and this was the most number of participants at Junior Nationals since 2017 and more than 12 of the last 19! 

Fifty-two athletes competed in two divisions and 120 played in three! In the 37 main divisions (Gold, both singles and doubles), 129 boys and 57 girls aged 6 to 22 hit the ball against the wall Wednesday through Sunday with finalists (1st through 4th) going home with medals in Olympic Format divisions (Gold plus Blue, Red, and White dropdowns) plus round robin and consolation divisions as well.

Results: https://www.r2sports.com/tourney/viewResults.asp?TID=50993

Seventeen states were in attendance. Missouri brought 72 athletes, Texas contributed 35, and California brought 26!   

Cheryl Kirk

The SPONSORS! 

Without you, where would we be? Our sincerest gratitude goes to these USA Racquetball Sponsors/Partners: Gearbox, Gomer Group, KWM Gutterman, Frank Hotels, Nike APS, and Union Athletics.

Gold Sponsors for this event were Sandy Long, 360 Consulting/360 Academy, Catch Des Moines, Gregg Peck Memorial Fund, and National Racquetball Club. Please view the Sponsor Recognition poster accompanying this article for a full listing of our much-appreciated benefactors!

Karen Grisz, Chair of the USA Racquetball Junior Committee, led the charge to raise significant funds covering daily meals and the Annual Awards and Ice Cream Party on Saturday evening. Karen and Co., you did a fabulous job for the athletes and their families! Once the funds were raised, Catch Des Moines, the official Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) for Greater Des Moines not only served as a major event sponsor but also sent 12 wonderful ladies (who volunteer in the area for various events) to serve the meals. A special note to Avon, Delanie, Terri, Cindy, Robin, Robbin, Kathy, Susan, Amy, Linda, Keely, and Carol – you were so gracious to give of your time in delivering your special brand of kindness and hospitality. You represented your city beautifully!

The ALL-STAR CAST OF COACHES!

Current and former U.S. Adult Team members traveled to Des Moines as coaches. It was great to see Thomas Carter, Robbie Collins, Bobby Horn, Adam Manilla, Erika Manilla, Charlie Pratt, and Annie Sanchez supporting our next generation of racquetball athletes.

USA Racquetball’s Adult Team Head Coach Pablo Fajre and US Junior Team Coach Director Jen Meyer were there not only to support our athletes but to contribute in numerous ways to the smooth running of the event.

Kane Waselenchuk, #1 on the IRT, legendary Coach Jim Winterton, and IRT Commissioner Dave Negrete were in the house as well, along with dedicated coaches too numerous to list here from across the country. Thanks to all!

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 collective mantra for the weekend was: “Yes! Now, what’s the question?”

USA Racquetball Staff Members: President Kristin Wattz, National Events Director Jonathan Greenberg, Acting Executive Director Cheryl Kirk, Board of Directors members Sandy Rios, Cindy Tilbury, Jerry Lis, and Charlie Pratt; High Performance Director and Adult Team Head Coach Pablo Fajre; U.S. Junior Team Coach Director Jen Meyer.

Plus...

Photographer/Videographer: Ellen Williams

Stringing: Larry Schlepphorst

Social Media Management and Execution: Aimee Roehler (ABR Communications)

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. (Check out some of the matches on USA Racquetball’s Facebook page!)

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

Cheryl Kirk

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 STORIES!

The Mystery of the Missing Racquetball  

Laura Rai reported in that when her daughter Sasha was playing in 8U double bounce, Sasha’s opponent hit the ball but then all of a sudden nobody could find it. Where did it go?? Turns out it landed in one of Sasha’s pigtails. The parents pointed out that the ball had landed in her hair, and everyone had a good laugh when Sasha realized where it was!  

Cheryl Kirk

Ella Vs. The Ella-vator   

How many of us can tell the story of when we got stuck in an elevator and were late to a match? What an excuse. You were stuck in an elevator? Yeah, right.

Says Ella Boaz, “As soon as I felt the elevator stop and no buttons were working, I immediately thought, ‘this is ridiculous timing.’” She was due at the Y to check in for a 10:00 pm Mixed 21 match. There in Des Moines on a Friday night, Ella was stuck, alone, in the Marriott Hotel elevator between the 15th and 16th floors!

What could one possibly do besides panic, yell, melt down? Nope, none of that from Ella. She passed the time by warming up for her match. Smart.

Once Ella was finally extracted, she hoofed it down 16 flights of stairs and ran two blocks down to the Y. Note: Ella, why didn’t you just take the other elevator? Um..never mind..don’t answer that.

Ella is the deserving recipient (by unanimous vote) of the inaugural Cool as a Cucumber* Award at Junior Nationals.

*The idiom "cool as a cucumber" means to be exceptionally calm and composed, especially in stressful situations. It suggests a sense of being unbothered or unruffled, even when faced with pressure. – CoPilot Search

Ellen Williams

The PARTY!  

At the Annual Awards and Ice Cream Party on Saturday evening at the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel, Board of Directors President Kristin Wattz served as program emcee, recognizing everyone who contributed their time, efforts, expertise, and financial support for this Junior Nationals event.

Cheryl Kirk

Cheryl Kirk

Junior Team USA Coach Director Jen Meyer presented the U.S. Junior National Team 2026 World Cup, Esprit Cup, and Sportsmanship Awards:

• World Cup Male and Female Athletes of the Year – DJ Mendoza and Naomi Ros
• Esprit Cup Male and Female Athletes of the Year – Jasur Pridatko and Sloka Marivada
• Sportsmanship Award – Violet Kennedy

All American certificates were presented to the 62 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. Then the athletes, along with their families and coaches, headed back home to continue their summer activities.

USA Racquetball

To the parents, guardians, family members, and coaches who accompanied their athletes to Des Moines, 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!

Thanks to everyone who came to Junior Nationals. See you next year for the 2027 USA Racquetball National Junior Racquetball Championships at a location to be announced very soon!

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U.S. Junior Team and All-Americans

At the 2026 USA Racquetball Junior National Championships, the Gold divisions had very special significance, with the finalists (1st and 2nd) in Singles and the winning teams in Doubles landing a coveted spot on the 2026-27 U.S. National Junior Racquetball Team.

Representing eight states, a total of 34 athletes comprise Junior Team USA for the coming year. Nine players “triple qualified” and eight additional players “double qualified.”

Please see the companion article HERE for a full listing of the U.S. National Junior Team members as well as the 62 All Americans who excelled at the tournament.

Congratulations to all!