THE RETURN OF INTERCOLLEGIATES - MIZZOU CAPTURES TOP TEAM HONORS!

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by USA Racquetball

After a two-year hiatus, the 2022 National Intercollegiate Championships wrapped up yesterday in Tucson, Arizona, with the University of Missouri taking the Team title. Eighty-eight players from thirteen colleges vied for the coveted title of Intercollegiate Champion.

The team standings were tight all weekend, but in the end, Mizzou brought home their first-ever Team title, with Brigham Young University (BYU) taking second and Oregon State rounding out the top three. The top three Women’s teams were Missouri, University of the Pacific, and BYU. Only 60 points separated the top three Men’s teams, with only four points separating 1st and 2nd: University of Missouri, BYU, and Oregon State University (OSU).

University of Missour

BYU Racquetball Team

Oregon State Racquetball Team

The Finals

The Women’s Doubles final pitted Alondra Canchola and Annie Roberts (University of the Pacific) against Kate Zawalski and Abby LaChance (University of Missouri). Canchola and Roberts took control of the match from the beginning, taking the title in two games, 15-2, 15-2.

Alondra Canchola and Annie Roberts take the Women's #1 Doubles title and 2nd place Women's Team Title

The Men’s Doubles final had Ariel Tito and Samuel Lazcano Ramirez (Colorado State University-Pueblo) taking on Ben Baron and Arthur Schmeiser (Northern Arizona University). Tito and Lazcano Ramirez took the first game, 15-6, but Baron and Schmeiser fought back, winning the second game, 5-15, and forcing the tiebreaker. With the support of their team reverberating through the courts, NAU pulled out the win, 11-3.

Arthur Schmiser and Ben Baron win the Men's #1 Doubles Title and the NAU Men's Team takes 3rd

The Women’s #1 Singles final came down to Annie Roberts (University of the Pacific) vs. Shane Diaz (Northeast Lakeview College). In front of a packed crowd, Roberts won the match, 15-4, 15-6. Throughout the game, Roberts hit drive serves to the back left corner, putting Diaz on the defense. In the second game, Roberts found a wall-hugging second serve, making return difficult for Diaz.

Annie Roberts and Mike Wedel shake hands

The Men’s #1 Singles final featured Arizona’s own Ben Baron (NAU) against Ariel Tito (CSU-Pueblo) with Tito winning in two games, 15-9, 15-3. “My coach told me to play smart, and I didn’t make many mistakes,” said Tito said. In just his freshman year, Tito took home the title of Intercollegiate Champion.

 Mike Wedel and Ariel Tito

Intercollegiate Coach of the Year Award

The National Intercollegiate Coach of the Year was awarded to Dr. Jim Hiser, who is retiring after 34 years of coaching CSU-Pueblo’s team. In an emotional acceptance speech, Hiser said he first began coaching at the University of Michigan and that Intercollegiates was always his favorite tournament because of the athletes.

Jim Hiser

All-Americans Named

Forty-eight All-American designations were awarded to the top four in each Singles division and the top two in Doubles.

Ariel

Tito

Samuel

Lazcano Ramirez

Daniel

West

Bryce

Johnson

Garrison

Walker

Trevor

Melton

Bryce

Palmer

Jesus

Galvan

Larry

Ninh

Nathan

Ellmo

Jeremy

Dixon

John

Dowell

Ben

Baron

Arthur

Schmeiser

James

Storgion

Cody

Boucher

Johnny

Greenberg

Robert

Griffin

Will

Neunreiter

Evan

Keener

Paul

Morris

Alex

Briegleb

Blaize

Britton

Cade

Hyde

Foster

Kirsch

Megan

Curran

Molly

McClanahan

Kate

Gammon

Megan

Skinner

Annie

Roberts

Shane

Diaz

Julia

Stein

Kate

Zawalski

Alondra

Canchola

Faith

Malek

Katterlea

MacGregor

Rebekah

Barney

Kelsey

MacDonald

Maddie

Fitcher

Elisa

Padilla

Abby

LaChance

Jessica

Hyland

Jenna

Heaton

Chloe

Hilsenteger

Ashlyn

Bell

Natalie

Faulkner

Darlene

Maitem

Sadie

Barham

All-American Intercollegiate Group Shot

USA Racquetball would like to thank Penn and Visit Tucson for sponsoring the tournament, as well as Talty Bar, APS Nike, Rollout, and Ashaway. Along with our sponsors, a big thanks to Renee Sitter and the staff at the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club for hosting our grand return to Intercollegiates. USA Racquetball has amazing contractors who help put on the tournament including Jazmin Trevino who kept the tournament running ahead of schedule, Debi Wedel, and Leo Vasquez who figured out a way to get the games streamed despite some challenges. Thanks to our official photographer Dylan Shoemaker (IG: @thefittestphotographer).

For a complete list of results, please visit: https://www.r2sports.com/tourney/viewResults.asp?TID=38237

Photos courtesy of Dylan Shoemaker

Correction: It was previously reported that the Northern Arizona University Men's Team took third place. We have corrected the article to reflect that the Oregon State University Men's Team finished in third place. 

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