US JUNIOR TEAM NAMED

2021 USA Racquetball Junior Championships & Adult Team Qualifying Presented by Penn 
Wellmark YMCA

Des Moines, Iowa

July 14-18, 2021

In last month’s issue of Serving Up the News, an article appeared recapping most of this event. Adults and Juniors alike had just returned home from Des Moines where they spent a few jam-packed days connecting with friends; sometimes competing against those same friends; and enjoying once again the camaraderie that can only be fully understood by those who are members of the Racquetball Family.

Some of this article is a repeat of last month’s coverage, but we had more to add, including the 2021-22 U.S. Junior Team roster and the list of All Americans who were recognized on Saturday night at the Ice Cream Party and Awards Ceremony!

The Saturday night party was a hit by multiple accounts. Highlights included the naming of the US Adult and Junior Teams; recognition of All Americans (junior athletes who placed in the semifinals and higher); a special recognition award for US Junior Team Head Coach Charlie Pratt and his assistant coaches Robbie Collins, Jen Meyer, and Jody Nance, who administrated the US Junior Team selection process last year during the pandemic; and inspiring advice via well-delivered comments by Rocky Carson, Michelle De La Rosa, Erika Manilla, and Troy Warigon.

U.S. Junior Team Coach Charlie Pratt (who also competed at this event and won a spot on the U.S. Adult Team) had this to say:

"My favorite part about this tournament was seeing everyone after nearly two years. Juniors, parents, my fellow adult competitors, the USA Racquetball staff. I know we all missed that environment. It was great to compete again. I enjoyed the opportunity to compete in the same tournament as the Juniors. I don't know if I will ever have that opportunity again. I normally go to Junior Nationals to watch the matches. This year I got to share in the same experience, competing for a spot on Team USA. For a lot of us this was the first tournament back since the start of the pandemic. Courts were closed for many of us for a long time. It was a good reminder of the determination that the athletes have, young and old. Despite a pandemic that makes an indoor sport like racquetball almost impossible, we all still found a way to get better, and we came ready to compete. That is the true spirit of a competitor: someone who will always find a way to be the best version of themselves, no matter the circumstances."

Thank-You Notes!

USA Racquetball is so pleased that lemonade could be made from lemons, i.e. when the St. Louis Festival slated for early June had to be canceled, quick action on the part of the staff, combined with the can-do attitude of Iowa Racquetball Association President Dan Horner and his team of volunteers, resulted in the pulling together of this great event in record time.

Among the many volunteers who gave of themselves––their time and TLC­­­­––a few must be mentioned in the “above and beyond” category for their significant donations of time and resources: Greg Beckett, Lou Ebeling, Melissa Horner, Brad Knox, Renae Lampkin, Don McCormick, and Carrie Reitmeier. Thank you!!

The Wellmark YMCA is a beautiful facility -- spacious and modern -- with a staff of very nice people.

The two host hotels (Renaissance Savery and Hyatt Place) were within easy walking distance of the YMCA and provided the “home away from home” for the players and their families.

We couldn’t be more grateful for these sponsors and contributors:

The Event Sponsors were Penn (presenting sponsor), APS Nike, Ashaway Racket Strings, Connect Sports, Rollout Racquetball, Talty Bar, and RockTape. They ALL rock in our book!

Food sponsors were Chick-fil-A and Smitty’s Tenderloin who provided great food and great aromas in the Y!

Catch Des Moines, the convention and visitors organization, were once again great partners, with their financial and in-kind contributions (e.g., signage) making a big difference toward the success of the event.

RESULTS

The Junior format was either round robin or Olympic format straight draw, the latter beginning with the Gold division with non-winners populating Red, Blue, or White divisions depending upon their match results each round.

For all match results, please visit the tournament site. 

Photo credit: Rhonda Kimler

 US Junior Team -- 2021-2022

BOYS			GIRLS
10 Singles			10 Singles
Alejandro Robles Picon	CA		Natalia Canchola	CA
Lucas Frost-Biskup	NE
10 Doubles
Chris Nelson	TX
Adrian Nelson	TX
12 Singles			12 Singles
Nathan Rykhus	CA		Andrea Perez-Picon	CA
Vaishant Mangalampalli	CA		Aanshi Thakur	CA
12 Doubles			12 Doubles
Nathan Rykhus	CA		Andrea Perez-Picon	CA
Vaishant Mangalampalli	CA		Zara Ximena Barraza	TX
14 Singles			14 Singles
Eshan Ali	CA		Sonya Shetty	CA
Joseph Marshall	TN		Andrea Perez-Picon	CA
14 Doubles			14 Doubles
Eshan Ali	CA		Aarya Shetty	CA
Alexander Pappas	CA		Sonya Shetty	CA
16 Singles			16 Singles
Nikhil Prasad	CA		Naomi Ros	TX
Josh Shea	NY		Ava Kaiser	MN
16 Doubles			16 Doubles
Nikhil Prasad	CA		Ava Kaiser	MN
Gatlin Sutherland	MT		Kareena Mathew	OR
18 Singles			18 Singles
Timmy Hansen	FL		Annie Roberts	OR
Julius Ellis	CA		Erin Slutzky	MO
18 Doubles			18 Doubles
Vedant Chauhan	CA		Heather Mahoney	CA
Josh Shea	NY		Julia Stein	PA

Recognized as Junior All Americans (Semifinalists and Finalists)

18 Singles -- Timmy Hansen, Andrew Gleason, Kamahele Britos, Julius Ellis

18 Doubles -- Josh Shea, Vedant Chauhan, Andrew Gleason, Timmy Hansen

16 Singles -- Nikhil Prasad, Gatlin Sutherland, Josh Shea, Vedant Chauhan

16 Doubles -- Vedant Chauhan, Josh Shea, Gatlin Sutherland, Nikhil Prasad

14 Singles -- Eshan Ali, Axel Lopez, Joseph Marshall, Alexander Pappas

14 Doubles -- Eshan Ali, Alexander Pappas, Axel Lopez, Juan Herrera II

12 Singles -- Nathan Rykhus, Adrian Nelson, Caleb Marshall, Vaishant Mangalampalli

12 Doubles -- Vaishant Mangalampalli, Nathan Rykhus, Alejandro Robles Picon, Aarush Sudamalla

10 Singles -- Alejandro Robles Picon, Kabir Sethi, Adrian Nelson, Lucas Frost-Biskup

10 Doubles -- Chris Nelson, Adrian Nelson

 

18 Singles -- Annie Roberts, Julia Stein, Shane Diaz, Erin Slutzky

18 Doubles -- Estefania Perez, Erin Slutzky, Heather Mahoney, Julia Stein

16 Singles -- Heather Mahoney, Naomi Ros, Kareena Mathew, Ava Kaiser

16 Doubles -- Kareena Mathew, Ava Kaiser, Arya Cyril, Esha Cyril

14 Singles -- Sonya Shetty, Jordan Ellis, Aanshi Thakur, Andrea Perez-Picon

14 Doubles -- Aarya Shetty, Sonya Shetty, Camila Canchola, Jordan Ellis

12 Singles -- Andrea Perez-Picon, Camila Canchola, Elizabeth Denler, Aanshi Thakur

12 Doubles -- Andrea Perez-Picon, Zara Ximena Barraza, Aarya Shetty, Elizabeth Denler

10 Singles -- Natalia Canchola

 

There’s nothing like returning home with a heart full of appreciation for a great job done by all; for having had the chance to witness the love and support of families and coaches for their players; and with the realization that racquetball will be alive and well in the hands of the next generation of players.

Congratulations to the new U.S. National Junior Team members, the All Americans, and indeed to all who played with everything they had. We are so proud of you!