Daily Blog from the 2026 Pan American Racquetball Championships

Semifinals kicked into action on Friday in the Men’s and Women’s Team Competitions. 

There was plenty of excitement there in the club today and actually every day since the event began last Saturday. We tend to focus on and report on the PARC elite level divisions, but there are a total of 134 athletes competing in this tournament and that has included athletes in Boys and Girls Singles 21-, Boys 21- Doubles, Mixed 21- Doubles, Boys and Girls 16- Singles, Girls 16- Advanced Singles, Boys Doubles 16-, and Men’s A Singles. 

It’s so great to see Junior athletes out on the courts here in Guatemala City gaining international experience to take them into the future!

As this Blog #9 is being prepared, our Team USA athletes are grabbing a last meal together this evening before Saturday passes like a whirlwind and most leave Sunday morning at o-dark-thirty to catch their flights back home. I can’t say enough about how this team has supported each other throughout this entire tournament – what a great group of athletes and human beings. It’s been a true pleasure to be here with them this past week. 

FRIDAY UNFOLDED FOR TEAM USA AS FOLLOWS:

Men’s Team Competition

Quarterfinals – USA vs. Ecuador

Thomas Carter lost to Felipe Camacho

Jake Bredenbeck def. Andres Acuña

Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck def. Andres Acuña/Felipe Segreda

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

Semifinals – USA vs. Bolivia

Thomas Carter def. Santiago Borja

Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck lost to Conrrado Moscoso/Luis Aguilar

Jake Bredenbeck lost to Conrrado Moscoso

With the loss against Bolivia in the semifinals (best 2 out of 3 matches), the USA Men’s Team did not advance forward to the finals. Congratulations to Thomas, Jake, and Sam for reaching the semifinals position in the Men’s Team Competition!

Women’s Team Competition – USA vs. Argentina

Michelle Andersen lost to Natalia Mendez

Annie Sanchez lost to Maria Jose Vargas 

Not played: Michelle Andersen/Annie Sanchez vs. Maria Jose Vargas/Valeria Centellas

With the loss against Argentina (best 2 out of 3 matches), the USA Women’s Team did not advance forward to the semifinals.  

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

STAFF MEMBERS OF THE DAY

In this Blog #9, here are the profiles of the final two members of the delegation – the head coach and the team leader.

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 a great 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 years 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 other international events. Since then, over the past 30 years he has been training athletes in various sports, including racquetball, from junior to professional. 

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Cheryl Kirk – U.S. Team Leader

City/State: Naperville, Illinois 

How old were you when you started playing Racquetball? 21

How old are you now? Next question...

What does it mean to you to be the Team Leader for Team USA?  I try to make things smoother for the staff and athletes on our teams’ international trips. It’s a treasured opportunity to do what (I think) I do best – organize, coordinate, communicate, bring snacks, and punctuate effectively (including using the Oxford comma 100% of the time).

Whom would you like to recognize/thank? I want to thank my husband and best friend, Kit Lawson, who always supports my racquetball adventures and everything else in life. And, he is an excellent dog dad to our Heidi. 

I’m grateful to the racquetball family for so many experiences remembered and for so many friendships made over these 49 years in our fabulous sport. Special thanks go to everyone who reads the Daily Blogs, all or in part! 

SATURDAY – STREAMING INFO

Although Team USA will not be competing tomorrow, the finals of the men’s and women’s team competitions will be live streamed beginning at 10:00 am MT through at least early afternoon, making for a great opportunity to view more world class racquetball on the last day of PARC. Visit IRF or PARC Instagram for Saturday’s streaming schedule, and follow this link for the brackets and other information about this event:  https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

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 (tons), the 15 countries’ delegations will be winding down, packing, and preparing to return home on Sunday.

Don’t worry, there will be one more Daily Blog (#10) published sometime Sunday or early Monday morning that lists the medalists and team competition results along with a boatload of thank you’s to so many deserving individuals and sponsors who have contributed to this overall great experience here in Guatemala City!

With no finals to play and team competition phase matches scheduled for late afternoon, several members of the delegation took the opportunity to do some sightseeing on a beautiful sunny day. According to Michelle, Dr. BettyLou was “living her best life.” She’s been working so hard, and we’re glad she got to be a tourist for a while!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

After the match wins this afternoon, our delegation of 10 went to an excellent nearby restaurant for the traditional team dinner. Sponsored by a Team USA benefactor, we enjoyed a delicious meal, outstanding service, and each other’s company...finishing early enough to get everyone back for treatment or a very reasonable bedtime. 

But let’s back up just a bit to review Thursday afternoon’s action:

THURSDAY’S RESULTS – FIRST ROUND OF TEAM COMPETITION

Thirteen men’s teams and ten women’s teams are in the competition draws, either for Thursday “feeder” matches into the quarterfinals or on Friday for those who earned first-round Byes.  

Men’s Team Competition

Ten teams were scheduled for feeder matches Thursday afternoon: Ecuador, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, USA, Cuba, Guatemala, Argentina, Dominican Republic.

USA vs. Venezuela

Thomas Carter def. Enzo Angulo

Jake Bredenbeck def. Carlos Marquez

Not played: Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Alexander Merchan/Carlos Marquez

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Women’s Team Competition

Four teams were scheduled for feeder matches Thursday afternoon: Canada, Dominican Republic, USA, and Venezuela. 

USA vs. Venezuela

Michelle Andersen def. Victoria Febres

Annie Sanchez def. Mariana Tobon Gordon

Not played: Michelle Andersen/Annie Sanchez vs. Victoria Febres/Mariana Tobon Gordon

Note that Lexi York is not in the lineup. That’s because she suffered an injury to her foot in the women’s doubles match on Wednesday. The last-minute USA change was made for the women’s team competition, and Lexi is now Head Cheerleader, exhibiting grace and care for her teammates and obtaining full custody of the canister of Cadbury Eggs (the hard shell kind with chocolate in the middle). This puts her in a position of significant power.

ATHLETE OF THE DAY

Michelle Andersen

Women’s Doubles & Mixed Doubles

Age: 37

City/State: Gilbert, Arizona

How old were you when you started playing Racquetball? Born into it

Sponsors: Key Racquetball, 3WB, OVRWatch, and Gearbox

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. I greatly appreciate my supporters for always believing in me, thank you with all my heart.

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: Maureen Mulvenna Keough, Keith Calkins, Gail Cowley, David Stob, Sharron Puckett Bradford, Kit Lawson, Kristin Wattz, Luke St. Onge, Karen Key, Darold Key, and Karen Bredenbeck. You guys rock!    

STREAMING INFO (for blog newcomers...)

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 from as the athletes themselves

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

* https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

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

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

USA ATHLETES CONTINUE IN THE TEAM COMPETITIONS

Men’s Team Competition – USA vs. Costa Rica

9:15 am – Thomas Carter vs. Felipe Camacho

10:45 am – Jake Bredenbeck vs. Andres Acuña LIVE STREAM

12:15 pm – Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Andres Acuña/Felipe Segreda

With a win against Costa Rica (best 2 out of 3 matches), the USA Men’s Team will advance to compete against the winner of Bolivia vs. Chile in the semifinals at 3:15 pm, 4:45 pm, and 5:30 pm.

Women’s Team Competition – USA vs. Argentina

10:00 am – Michelle Andersen vs. Natalia Mendez LIVE STREAM

11:30 am – Annie Sanchez vs. Maria Jose Vargas 

1:00 pm – Michelle Key/Annie Sanchez vs. Maria Jose Vargas/Valeria Centellas

With a win against Argentina (best 2 out of 3 matches), the USA Women’s Team will advance to compete against the winner of Costa Rica vs. Chile in the semifinals at 3:15 pm, 4:45 pm, and 5:30 pm.

¡Vamos al equipo de EE. UU.!

GO TEAM USA!!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Team Leader Weighs in...

Today was another day you really don’t wish for, but there’s often an upside. 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 jam-packed schedule throughout this entire tournament, they’ll capitalize on the gift of rest going into the team competition Thursday afternoon, Friday, and hopefully Saturday as well. Speaking for Pablo and BettyLou, 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. 

Women’s Doubles

Quarterfinal: Michelle Andersen/Lexi York lost to Gabriela Martinez/Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala), 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 3-11

Men’s Doubles

Quarterfinal: Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck def. Andres Acuña/Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica), 11-5, 11-9, 11-8

Semifinal: Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck lost to Rodrigo Montoya/Javier Mar (Mexico), 7-11, 4-11, 6-11

Mixed Doubles    

Quarterfinal: Erik Garcia/Michelle Andersen lost to Andres Acuña/Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica), 6-11, 14-12, 6-11, 7-11  

Now for the Team Competition here at PARC. You won’t find a Thursday schedule for the team competition at the end of this Blog #7 because the individual phase must be complete before calculating the seeding for the team competition that begins in the afternoon. The individual phase finals will conclude tomorrow morning.

Be sure to visit www.panamericanracquetball.com or R2 Sports and look for brackets for the Men’s Team (MTO) and Women’s Team (WTO) Competition about halfway down the division list. 

You will find below, however, a few key points of interest describing the team competition process.

In the meantime...

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

ATHLETE OF THE DAY #1

Lexi York

Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles

Age: 28

City/State: Born in Portland Oregon, currently living in Marine, Minnesota

Rank on Tour: 14

Age when started playing racquetball? 10 years old

Sponsors: Odisi Apparel and Gearbox (ODISI is pronounced like Odyssey)

What does it mean to you to compete for the USA at PARC?  I am extremely excited to represent the United States and make people proud of our team.

Whom would you like to recognize/thank? I would like to thank my family, my fiancé Sam, and my 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!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

ATHLETE OF THE DAY #2

Sam Bredenbeck

Men’s Doubles

Age: 30

City/State: Marine, Minnesota

Rank on Tour: 19

Age when started playing racquetball: Probably around 3 or 4 (picked up a racquet); competing around 7

Sponsors: Odisi, Atavik, Gearbox (Odisi is pronounced like Odyssey)

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.

Whom 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. My friends and family, who are always in my/our corner, cheering me/us on. I would like to thank the Minnesota Racquetball community and some very special donors for coming together to help us make this trip possible. 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.

MAIL FROM HOME

Team USA continues to receive messages from blog readers, and this warms our hearts! Thank you to Joshua Jones, John O’Donnell Jr., Maureen Mulvenna Keough, Kit Lawson, Susan Hendricks, Gail Cowley, Luke St. Onge, David Stob, Sharron Puckett Bradford, Keith Calkins, and George Bustos. 

National Rules Commissioner Joshua Jones sent this note over to the athletes yesterday: “Good luck Team USA! Your hard work, incredible talent, and good sportsmanship makes you the perfect representatives of your country and USA Racquetball. The entire USA Racquetball community is behind you! Good luck to all of you!”

STREAMING INFO (for blog newcomers...)

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 from as the athletes themselves

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

* https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

THURSDAY -- TEAM COMPETITION BEGINS!

The second phase – the Men’s and Women’s Team Competitions – begins Thursday afternoon or Friday morning, after the Individual phase concludes. 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. (FYI, Mixed Doubles is not part of the Team Competition.) 

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

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Today was a tough one. We took some hard singles losses 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 our men’s, women's, and mixed doubles teams pushing forward (we hope!) toward the finals on Thursday. Then we’ll regroup, refocus, and get ready for the team competition beginning Thursday afternoon and concluding on Saturday afternoon.

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

TEAM USA – TUESDAY’S RESULTS

Men’s Singles

Jake Bredenbeck def. Christian Aldana (Guatemala), 11-3, 11-9, 11-3

Thomas Carter lost to Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala), 10-12, 10-12, 5-11

Jake Bredenbeck lost to Conrrado Moscoso (Bolivia), 11-8, 5-11, 8-11, 4-11

Women’s Singles

Annie Sanchez def. Luz Moreta (Dominican Republic), 11-0, 11-0, 11-4

Lexi York lost to Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 11-13, 7-11, 5-11 

Annie Sanchez lost to Rebecca Amaya Ardaya (Bolivia), 7-11, 11-7, 13-11, 9-11, 4-11

Men’s Doubles

Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck def. Christian Aldana/Hector Sierra Mansilla (Guatemala), 11-5, 12-10, 11-4

Mixed Doubles 

Michelle Andersen/Erik Garcia def. Lee Connell/Juliette Parent (Canada), 11-6, 11-8, 11-6

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

ATHLETE OF THE DAY

Jake Bredenbeck

Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles

Age: 34

City/State: Marine, Minnesota

Rank on Tour: 3

Age when started playing Racquetball: 4-1/2 years old

Sponsors: ODISI Apparel, KWM Gutterman (ODISI is pronounced like Odyssey)

What does it mean to you to compete for the USA at PARC?  Wearing USA on my back while playing the sport I love is my favorite thing to do in racquetball. The only thing making it better is being able to play with my brother.

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.

STAFF MEMBER OF THE DAY – Dr. BettyLou DeYoung Reports In

“Hi, I’m Dr. BettyLou, a licensed physical therapist based in Murrieta, California. I’m honored to serve Team USA Racquetball at the Pan American Racquetball Championships, supporting athletes with advanced tools like neuromodulation therapies and integrative manual techniques focused on the nervous system and visceral health.

“Whether working with elite athletes or individuals navigating chronic pain, my mission is to help people take control of their bodies, better understand the mind-body connection, and move optimally.

“I’m the founder of Rise & Reframe Physical Therapy and Wellness, with locations in Temecula and Murrieta, California. Our approach meets patients where they are—helping them understand their body’s signals, advocate for their wellness, and pursue their goals with clarity and personalized guidance. I’m passionate about helping people maximize longevity and truly care for the body God created.

“You can follow me on Instagram at @Dr.BettyLou_dpt or @rr.physicaltherapy, and on Facebook at Rise and Reframe Physical Therapy.”

Having Dr. BettyLou here with the delegation makes a big difference! On behalf of our athletes and delegation, we are so grateful for her expertise and assistance.

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

#1 FANS CHECK IN FROM COLORADO!

Coach Jen Meyer, once a U.S. Junior Racquetball Team athlete herself a few years back, has motivated students and athletes alike in her position as a teacher for the past 28 years as well as a U.S. Adult Team and Junior Team Coach over the past 22+ years. We had a great time here in Guatemala today connecting with her class as she once again created synergy between racquetball and classroom learning. We have more in common than an almost identical elevation. Here’s what Coach Jen has to say:

“Meyerwood kiddos are cheering loud for Team USA in Colorado! I have always believed that teaching and coaching come from the same place—a deep desire to inspire. While it has been heartbreaking to not be courtside in Guatemala with the team, I didn’t want to let distance impact my support of the athletes. Instead, something more amazing happened…Team USA now has the support of 107 sixth graders! Cheryl took the time to send a video showing my students the facility as well as shout outs from Team USA athletes. I wish Michelle, Lexi, Sam, Thomas, Erik, Annie, Jake, and Pablo could have been in my classroom when they realized they were getting a personalized shout out! The buzz was electrifying…and they now believe they are famous! When students finish work (or if they want to come in during lunch) I transform my classroom into a hub of excitement, streaming live matches, and encouraging my students to cheer, learn, and connect with the game I love so much. I share insights about the players, the teamwork, and the work they put in each day to represent their country, turning each match into a teachable moment.  

“Though I cannot be there courtside, I would like to say thank you to Team USA for inspiring my kiddos to do their best and know dreams do come true! I could not be more proud of the athletes representing Team USA and for truly making a difference on and off the court! From the bottom of my heart, thank you! Play hard and good luck! We are behind you, and if you listen very carefully I would not doubt that you can hear chants coming from the mountains of Colorado!”   GO COACH JEN’S MEYERWOOD TEAM!!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

PARC GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The acronym PARC not only stands for Pan American Racquetball Championships; it also stands for Pan American Racquetball Confederation––the western hemisphere regional organization under the IRF (which is, in turn, under the IOC). Lest someone think all we do here is applaud during matches, the leadership delegates from each of the 15 countries attended the PARC General Assembly tonight, held every year at this event. A long day became longer (but highly productive) as the PARC Executive Committee guided the attendees through an agenda that included approvals of minutes and financial reports, event updates, an anti-doping update, and a letter and message from Jeff Collins and Cliff Swain (via me) issuing a renewed invitation to attend the US OPEN in Springfield, Missouri, USA, in June 2027!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

MAIL FROM HOME

Uplifting messages came flying in from every U.S. time zone today! To Karen Bredenbeck, Jairo Torres, Colleen Williams, Kit Lawson, Jen Meyer and Students, Andy Pitock, John O’Donnell Jr., Keith Calkins, Gary Mazaroff, Stewart Solomon, and Susan Hendricks...it was nice to hear from you all!

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

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

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

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

* https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

TEAM USA: WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE

It’s incredible that it’s halfway through this championship event, four days down, four to go! Wednesday takes the tournament into the quarterfinal and 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 Doubles

12:15 pm  Michelle Andersen/Lexi York vs. Gabriela Martinez/Maria Renee Rodriguez (Guatemala)  LIVESTREAM

If win at 12:15 pm, 4:45 pm semifinal vs. winner of Costa Rica and Mexico

Men’s Doubles

1:00 pm Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Andres Acuña/Felipe Segreda (Costa Rica)

If win at 1:00 pm, 5:30 pm semifinal vs winner of Mexico and Dominican Republic

Mixed Doubles    

3:15 pm Erik Garcia/Michelle Andersen vs. Andres Acuña/Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica)

If win at 3:15 pm, 6:15 pm semifinal vs. winner of Bolivia and Chile

Check out the complete streaming schedule first thing in the morning on Instagram: panamericanracquetball. 

Tomorrow is huge for Team USA! Resting up, see you then!

GO TEAM USA!!

After a spirited day of competition at Domo Complejo de Racquetball, a late evening was spent getting schedules in place for the main draws that resulted from the round robin/pool play phase of these first three days. 

Monday for Team USA was a mixed bag. Of seven matches competed, we logged three wins and four losses. There’s no doubt that the team will use these wins and losses to full competitive advantage over the next 2.5 days! 

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

Jake Bredenbeck lost to Diego Garcia (Argentina), 14-12, 7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 9-11

Thomas Carter def. Christian Aldana (Guatemala), 11-8, 5-11, 11-5, 11-4

Women’s Singles

Lexi York def. Juliette Parent (Canada), 11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8

Annie Sanchez lost to Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 9-11, 3-11, 11-8, 8-11

Men’s Doubles

Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck lost to Samuel Murray/Coby Iwaasa (Canada), 7-11, 2-11, 13-11, 9-11

Women’s Doubles

Michelle Andersen/Lexi York def. Maricruz Ortiz/Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica), 11-4, 11-7, 11-7

Mixed Doubles

Erik Garcia/Michelle Andersen lost to Gerson Miranda Martinez/Natalia Mendez (Argentina), 8-11, 10-12, 11-4, 11-9, 7-11

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

ATHLETE OF THE DAY

Thomas Carter

Men’s Singles

Age: 29

City/State: Wheaton, Illinois

Rank on Tour: 13

Age when started playing racquetball: I was about 8 or 9 years old.

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

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! 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!! And I’d like to send a special shoutout to the Racquetball NOW and Junior Team Illinois (JTI) kids!

MAIL FROM HOME

It was great to hear from these blog readers today! Saying hello and sending encouragement to Team USA were Kit Lawson, David Stob, Karen Key, Karen Bredenbeck, Tim Baghurst, Maureen Mulvenna Keough, Keith Calkins, Susan Hendricks, Sharron Puckett Bradford, Ellen Williams, Gail Cowley, and Jonathan Greenberg. 

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

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 from as the athletes themselves

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

* https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

TEAM USA: TUESDAY’S SCHEDULE

Now we’re in the main draws with seeding assigned 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 in the first phase of competition. No longer a round robin/pool play format, the draws have become single elimination now through the Thursday morning individual finals. 

Men’s Singles

9:15 am Jake Bredenbeck vs. Christian Aldana (Guatemala)

9:15 am Thomas Carter vs. Juan Salvatierra (Guatemala)

Women’s Singles

10:00 am Annie Sanchez vs. Luz Moreta (Dominican Republic)

1:00 pm Lexi York vs. Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)

Men’s Doubles

4:00 pm Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Christian Aldana/Hector Sierra Mansilla (Guatemala)

Women’s Doubles

Day/Time TBA Lexi York/Michelle Andersen (BYE)

Mixed Doubles 

5:30 pm  Michelle Andersen/Erik Garcia vs. Lee Connell/Juliette Parent (Canada) LIVE STREAM

Good luck to all!

GO TEAM USA!!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Late breaking development: Team leader (that’s me) has arrived here in Guatemala City with our physical therapist Dr. BettyLou arriving just a few hours from this writing. The delegation is nearly complete!

TEAM USA – DAY TWO AT PARC   

Hoping everyone had a great weekend! U.S. Team Head Coach Pablo Fajre comments on the second day of competition here in Guatemala City: 

“Today was a mix of strong performances and tough lessons. We secured some important wins across both the men’s and women’s draws, showing the depth, preparation, and competitive spirit that define this team. The energy has been high, and the group continues to support each other through every rally and every match.

“We did suffer a painful loss late in the day—one that stings because we know the level we’re capable of reaching. Moments like this are part of high-level competition, and while they’re never easy, they push us to regroup, refocus, and come back stronger.

“The good news is that tournaments like this are about resilience. We have another opportunity tomorrow, and this team is ready to respond. Adjustments will be made, lessons will be applied, and we’ll step back on the court with renewed determination.” 

Looking forward to tomorrow with the entire delegation now in attendance in support of Team USA!

TEAM USA – SUNDAY’S RESULTS

Women’s Singles

Annie Sanchez lost to Camila Rivero (Bolivia), 6-11,13-15, 8-11

Lexi York def. Paula Javiera Mansilla Cid (Chile), 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 

Men’s Singles

Jake Bredenbeck def. Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), 11-2, 11-1, 11-2

Thomas Carter def. Josue Bermeo (Ecuador). 5-11. 11-3,11-7, 11-1

Women’s Doubles

Michelle Andersen/Lexi York def. Camila Rivero/Rebecca Amaya Ardaya (Bolivia), 8-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9

Men’s Doubles

Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck def. Mario Andres Huyke/Orlando Josu Huyke (Colombia), 11-5, 11-7, 11-2

Mixed Doubles

Erik Garcia/Michelle Andersen lost to Andres Acuña/Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica), 11-2, 10-12, 11-4, 9-11, 9-11

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

ATHLETE OF THE DAY

Annie Sanchez

Women’s Singles

Age: 24
City/State: Gresham, Oregon 
Rank on Tour:  12
How old were you when you started playing Racquetball? 11 

Sponsors: Gearbox, Miracle on the James, Frank Hotels
What does it mean to you to compete for the USA at PARC? For me, competing for the U.S. at the Pan American Racquetball Championships is a representation of years of hard work, ups and downs, and the unwavering support of my community! When I first started playing racquetball, I really looked up to the athletes who played for Team USA, so for me it's a huge honor to be able to do the same! 

Who would you like to recognize/thank? I want to thank my family for always believing in me and cheering me on, whether it's on the international stage or at a small local tournament, you guys are the best! Also, to my coaches and training partners who believe in my game and have dedicated time to helping me be the best athlete I can be!  Beyond them, this tournament is all about the players at home and players I've had the pleasure to meet all around the country! Representing Team USA means representing all of you! And that's something I don't take lightly! Thank you for supporting me, for playing in your local events, and for tuning into my matches! Go Team USA!  

IRF/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), Estuardo Wer (Guatemala), Mauro Grandio Buzeleh (Argentina), Dean Schear (USA), Erny Escobar (Guatemala)

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

Broadcast/Streaming/Social Media: José Cruz (Guatemala), Pablo Fajre (USA), Gustavo Farell (USA), Gary Mazaroff (USA), María Paz Riquelme (Chile)

PARC REFEREES

Thirteen referees (in Spanish, arbitros) from 8 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:

German Coppolecchia (Argentina), Cristina Amaya (Italy), Diana Lilo Aguilar (Mexico), Ivan Valdez  (Mexico), Jaime Martell  (Mexico), Koko Keller (Bolivia), Fabián Torres (Colombia), Francisco Gómez (Colombia), Luis Perez (Guatemala), Edwin Galicia (Guatemala), Angel Gonzalez (Guatemala), Merynanyelly Delgado (Dominican Republic), María Paz Muñoz (Ecuador)

Gracias, arbitros!

MAIL FROM HOME

It was nice today to hear from Coach Jen Meyer, Marie Gomar, Mark Carey, Gail Cowley, Jairo Torres, Karen Bredenbeck, Chris Linnell, Diane Olivero, Sharron Puckett Bradford, Chuck Desmond, Kit Lawson, Maureen Mulvenna Keough, Keith Calkins, and Kendra Tutsch. Thanks, Racquetball Family!

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

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 from as the athletes themselves

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

* https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

These matches will be exciting and challenging with two Team USA matches scheduled for live streaming on Court 6 (see notes below). Stay tuned tomorrow, take the day off. I’ll be happy to send a note to your teacher or employer.TEAM USA NEEDS YOU!!

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

Men’s Singles

9:15 am Jake Bredenbeck vs. Diego Garcia (Argentina)

10:00 am Thomas Carter vs. Christian Aldana (Guatemala)

Women’s Singles

10:45 am Lexi York vs. Juliette Parent (Canada)

11:30 am Annie Sanchez vs. Natalia Mendez (Argentina) – LIVE STREAM

Men’s Doubles

1:45 pm Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Samuel Murray/Coby Iwaasa (Canada) – LIVE STREAM 

Women’s Doubles

2:30 pm Michelle Andersen/Lexi York vs. Maricruz Ortiz/Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica) – LIVE STREAM 

Mixed Doubles

4:00 pm Erik Garcia/Michelle Andersen vs. Gerson Miranda Martinez/Natalia Mendez (Argentina)

So ends Blog #4...but if you want to know a little more about Guatemala’s volcanoes, read on, below.

Thanks to Marie Gomar for helping with the content and sharing my fascination with Guatemala’s volcanoes. 

GO TEAM USA!!

-- Cheryl Kirk

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Volcanoes in Guatemala

One of the most meaningful and exciting Guatemala attractions for both local and international visitors are its 37 volcanoes. The three active volcanoes, Pacaya, Fuego, and Santiaguito, are different in their level of difficulty given the time and effort required to hike them.

For instance, in one hour, one can hike up Volcán de Pacaya to see the views of other volcanoes. The hike up Pacaya is on a trail of volcanic sand through a rain forest. Once high enough, volcanic lava rocks take over the landscape. The crater can be seen at a close distance with beautiful views of Volcán de Agua and Volcán de Fuego in the distance. Lava flows and explosions have been common, although Pacaya remains largely dormant. 

Fuego is a different story. It takes two days to hike it, including camping to watch Fuego’s explosions late into the night and then viewing the sunrise. This is not an undertaking for everyone! Located 33 miles from Guatemala City, Fuego gets the most attention, because its explosions are the most frequent (every 30 seconds to one minute). 

For more info, including a description of the catastrophic eruption of Volcán de Fuego in June 2018, visit

https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/es/fuego.html and https://www.bing.com/search?q=volcan+de+fuego+eruption+2018&form=APMCS1&PC=APMC

Blogger’s Note: I have a love-hate relationship with Fuego. On the one hand, he is mysterious and volatile...and dangerous...and fascinating. However, I can’t quite forgive him for his ill-timed eruption during the night of December 10, 2022. 

Indulge me for a quick share from the 2022 IRF World Juniors Championships wrap-up:

“Just when you thought Sunday would bring smooth departures home, Volcán Fuego decided differently. A major eruption took place Saturday night that necessitated closure of La Aurora International Airport for a number of hours on Sunday. 

“Who knew, it turns out airplane engines and volcanic ash do not safely co-exist. Nearly half of the U.S. Delegation (who were there at the airport as early as 3:30 am), along with many from the other countries, spent a good deal of time waiting for air travel to resume (i.e., ash no longer a safety concern). 

“So, eruption morphed into major disruption for travelers who missed their connections on the next leg of travel. However, by the end of the day, into the wee hours of Monday morning, most were back home safe and sound with this occurrence to add to the many memories of the trip.”

So you can see why I’m still a bit miffed at Fuego. Not that he cares at all.

In fact, he made himself known in a fairly big way on March 10, 2025 (yes, 13 months ago): https://ticotimes.net/2025/03/11/guatemalas-fuego-volcano-activity-ends-after-dramatic-eruption-and-evacuation

See you tomorrow!

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

“Great start for Team USA. Thomas got us going with a solid win over Peru. Next, team captain Jake dominated against Colombia, whose athletes are just returning to international competition after an interlude for a time. It's nice to have them back. 

“On the women’s side, Lexi opened with a strong performance against Guatemala. Annie followed with a tough battle against Gabriela Martinez—an excellent showing for her first time on the adult team. Very impressive.

“Both the men’s and women’s teams showed their experience in doubles, taking comfortable wins against Venezuela.

“We wrapped up the day with mixed doubles, finishing with a solid victory over Colombia.

“Overall, I’m very happy with today’s results. It was a great day—everyone performed really well, and I’m proud of the team.”

Michelle chimes in, “Everyone is very supportive. It’s great having our team courtside with us. It’s a great group, and everyone is there for each other!”

TEAM USA -- SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Men’s Singles

Thomas Carter def. David Gonzalez (Peru), 11-3, 11-3, 12-10

Jake Bredenbeck def. Set Cubillos (Colombia), 11-1, 11-5, 11-9

Women’s Singles

Lexi York def. Andrea Gabriela Reyes Perez (Guatemala), 11-2, 11-3, 11-9

Annie Sanchez lost to Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala), 12-10, 6-11, 3-11, 4-11

Men’s Doubles

Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck def. Enzo Angulo/Alexander Merchan (Venezuela), 11-3, 11-7, 11-3

Women’s Doubles

Michelle Andersen/Lexi York def. Mariana Tobon Gordon/Victoria Febres (Venezuela), 11-8, 11-5, 11-5

Mixed Doubles

Michelle Andersen/Erik Garcia def. Valeria Salas/Set Cubillos (Colombia), 11-5, 11-4, 11-6

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

PARC 2026 FORMAT/SCORING

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

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. 

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 Q7.66 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 (or two) athletes in the spotlight each day for the next six days. Then, later in the week, you’ll learn more about the staff members here in support of Team USA. Up first is... 

Erik Garcia

Mixed Doubles

Age: 29 

City/State: Pueblo, Colorado

Age when started playing racquetball: I have played racquetball since I was 7 years old.

Sponsors:  Gearbox and Pueblo Athletic Club (PAC) 

What does it mean to you to compete for the USA at PARC? It is an honor to represent your country, it is the biggest challenge/opportunity that an athlete has, which is a nice privilege to have. 

Whom would you like to recognize/thank?  I would like to thank my family that are always in my corner supporting me and giving me reasons to keep pushing. Also I’m grateful for my sponsors -  without them this would not happen. 

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 our athletes.  

Team USA was glad to receive Blog #2 feedback from Gail Cowley, Darold Key, Jennifer Donath, Karen Key, Joanne Pomodoro, Karen Bredenbeck, Keith Calkins, Tim Baghurst, Diane Grimley, Lisa Bu, and David Stob.

Board President Kristin Wattz relayed, “So proud of the group we have representing Team USA at PARC!”

David Stob declared, “I second the nomination of Michelle for a promotion.” Lisa Bu concurs. 

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 from as the athletes themselves

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

* https://www.panamericanracquetball.com/

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. 

Women’s Singles

9:15 am Annie Sanchez vs. Camila Rivero (Bolivia)

9:15 am Lexi York vs. Paula Javiera Mansilla Cid (Chile)

Men’s Singles

10:45 am Jake Bredenbeck vs. Junior Rodriguez (Dominican Republic)

11:30 am Thomas Carter vs. Josue Bermeo (Ecuador)

Women’s Doubles

12:15 pm Michelle Andersen/Lexi York vs. Camila Rivero/Rebecca Amaya Ardaya (Bolivia)

Men’s Doubles

2:30 pm Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Mario Andres Huyke/Orlando Josu Huyke (Colombia)

Mixed Doubles

4:45 pm Erik Garcia/Michelle Andersen vs. Andres Acuna/Larissa Faeth (Costa Rica)

Back with you tomorrow night! GO TEAM USA!!

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

It’s almost time for action in Guatemala City! Roving Reporter Michelle does not disappoint as she describes what life for the athletes looked like on Friday:

“We had a great practice session this morning. Everyone was fine tuning what they needed to be ready for tomorrow. We had a team meeting and went over some of the changes to the rules and what to expect for the rest of the tournament. Then some of the team went to dinner and enjoyed our last night before the competition begins. Tomorrow is game day and it’s time to lock in. So tonight everyone is preparing for tomorrow and getting a good night’s rest.”

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

USA Racquetball Athletes, Friends, & Family

Note: Michelle is already up for a promotion. Actually, she and Jake were elected team captains today, so there you go.

Head Coach Pablo Fajre represented the USA at the Coaches and Delegates Meeting that commenced at 12:00 pm at the host hotel. A great deal of information about the event was provided to the 15 countries* in attendance, especially the draws/match schedules for the first phase of competition. See below for the link to the draws. 

* Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, USA, and Venezuela

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 operations director for the competition each day.

Much Gratitude to the Athletes Here in Guatemala!

Once again this year, the athletes have stepped up with fundraising on their own to cover the lion’s share of their trip expenses to represent us all as Team USA. Although the USA Racquetball budget couldn’t cover the entire cost of the trip along with a number of other grow-the-sport initiatives and international competitions this coming year, we are partnering with the athletes to help lessen the financial impact of the trip. These seven U.S. Team members are simply amazing, so dedicated to our sport and to their fans across the United States.  

Mail From Home

A blogger oftentimes wonders if their coverage is being read. Therefore, it warms to the heart to thank those who have reached out with encouragement for Team USA after Blog #1: Diane Kirk Olivero, Sharron Puckett Bradford, Luke St. Onge, Maureen Mulvenna Keough, Kevin Cowley (APS), Brett Elkins, Alok Mehta, George Bustos, Karen Bredenbeck, Linda Price, Keith Calkins, David Stob, John O’Donnell Jr., and Patrice Calvi.

Coming Attraction: Athlete of the Day

This Daily Blog will feature an Athlete of the Day to help readers get to know more about each of the seven athletes (and the staff) here representing Team USA. First up tomorrow – Erik Garcia!

Saturday’s Schedule 

Day One looms just a few hours from this writing!

All of a sudden, it’s March 28th 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/division-list.asp?TID=53329&sortBy=defaultOrder

Yes, there will be live streaming beginning Saturday afternoon at 1:30 pm MT on the IRF YouTube Channel, the IRF Facebook page, and the Panam Sports Channel. Visit the home page of PARC (link just above) for streaming links and more information about this event. 

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

9:15 am – Thomas Carter vs. David Gonzalez (Peru)

10:00 am – Jake Bredenbeck vs. Set Cubillos (Colombia)

Women’s Singles

10:45 am – Lexi York vs. Andrea Gabriela Reyes Perez (Guatemala)

11:30 am – Annie Sanchez vs. Gabriela Martinez (Guatemala)

Men’s Doubles

1:45 pm – Jake Bredenbeck/Sam Bredenbeck vs. Enzo Angulo/Alexander Merchan (Venezuela)

Women’s Doubles

2:30 pm – Michelle Andersen/Lexi York vs. Mariana Tobon Gordon/Victoria Febres (Venezuela)

Mixed Doubles

4:00 pm – Michelle Andersen/Erik Garcia vs. Valeria Salas/Set Cubillos (Colombia)

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

USA Racquetball

Greetings from Guatemala City, where (most of) the U.S. Team Delegation had arrived as of Thursday afternoon. The team leader (aka me) will arrive on Sunday with our physical therapist arriving in the wee hours of Monday morning.  

U.S. Team athletes will compete over the next week in Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles vs. 14 other countries. They are spending these couple of days getting ready for action as competition begins on Saturday morning.

Introducing the U.S. Team Delegation

Let’s meet the delegation for this event, with competition taking place every day, Saturday, March 28, through Saturday, April 4:

Jake Bredenbeck (Minnesota): Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles w/Sam

Thomas Carter (Illinois): Men’s Singles

Sam Bredenbeck (Minnesota): Men’s Doubles w/Jake

Erik Garcia (Colorado): Mixed Doubles w/Michelle

Lexi York (Minnesota): Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles w/Michelle

Annie Sanchez: Women’s Singles

Michelle Andersen (Arizona): Women’s Doubles w/Lexi and Mixed Doubles w/Erik

Supporting our U.S. Team Athletes:

Pablo Fajre (California): Head Coach

Cheryl Kirk (Illinois): Team Leader

Dr. BettyLou DeYoung (California): Physical Therapist

First Things First

1: Arrive. 

2: Get supplies.

3. Practice!

Thursday 

While six of our seven athletes arrived true to their itineraries on Wednesday, Coach Pablo arrived in the early hours of Thursday morning after being compelled to endure a red-eye after missing a connection, not due to TSA issues but because of a delayed flight with mechanical difficulties out of San Francisco. However, Pablo is beyond tough, and after a couple hours’ sleep, he and the athletes made the traditional grocery store run. 

That consists of (a lot of) water, fruit, bread, peanut butter, jelly, maybe a cookie or two, possibly chocolate, perhaps more...you’d have to ask them, I wasn’t there.

A little later, the athletes and Pablo went to practice at the Domo Complejo de Racquetball, Guatemala’s beautiful 10-court facility. The club’s inaugural event was the IRF Adult & Junior World Championships in December 2021 and was then followed a year later by the IRF World Junior Championships. The Pan American Racquetball Championships were held here in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and we’re happy to be back again this year.

So much better (and more succinct, bless her) than the blog account above is this quote from roving athlete reporter Michelle Andersen: “No one had problems with TSA. Travel was easy except for Pablo’s. Shopping was fun and easy. Most of us have been here before, so we knew where to go and what we need. Practice went well! It was great for everyone to have court time. Today was full of lots of laughs and overall joy. We have an awesome team!”  

Well said, Roving Reporter. You’re hired.

Friday’s schedule will be brisk! While our Team USA athletes practice at the club again in the morning and perhaps again in the afternoon before competition begins on Saturday, meetings of an administrative nature will occur as well, including the Coaches and Delegates Meeting taking place at 12 noon local time, which is the same as U.S. Mountain time. This is when draws will be made available for coach review and later for publication. Tomorrow night’s blog installment will provide information on how to view the draws (aka brackets) and also how to access live streaming from the event. 

Friends & Family of USA Racquetball

Friends & Family of USA Racquetball

See you then.

GO TEAM USA!!