From Team USA Daily Report...Racquetball

RACQUETBALL

The U.S. racquetball team got off to a very strong start in preliminaryround play at the Pan American Games Sunday (Oct. 17), winning five of six matches in both the singles and doubles brackets on the first
day of competition in Guadalajara.

World champion Rhonda Rajsich (Phoenix, Ariz.) started the U.S. campaign off with an emphatic win over Maria Cordova of Ecuador, 15-6, 15-3. Cheryl Gudinas (Naperville, Ill.) then kept the momentum
going on the women’s side by defeating Marie Gomar of Guatemala, 15-3, 15-1.

On the men’s side, world champion Rocky Carson (Ladera Ranch, Calif.) made quick work of Jose Ugalde of Ecuador, winning 15-2, 15-2.

“It was a good start to the tournament – both for me and for the team,” said Carson. “I felt like I started my match strong and finished even stronger.  Playing at altitude changes the dynamics a little but I am used to adjusting as it’s a part of playing any sport at a high level. The courts and the venue here at the Pan Am Games are really nice. Everything is first class.”

In doubles competition, Chris Crowther (Riverside, Calif.) and Shane Vanderson (Tampa, Fla.) defeated Ricardo Monroy and Teobaldo Fumero of Bolivia, 15-7, 15-13, then Rajsich and Aimee Ruiz (Allentown, Pa.-USA) paired up to defeat Islhey Pardes and Mariana Tobon of Venezuela, 15-7, 15-7, to close out a successful day for Team USA.

The lone setback for the American team came in men’s singles side where Alex Ackerman (Dallas, Texas), making his international debut, dropped his first match to Fernando J. Rios of Ecuador. 15-5, 15-12.
All of the competitors will be back in action Tuesday (Oct. 18) at the Revolucion Racquetball Complex