Greetings from Temuco, Chile, at the XXV Pan American Racquetball Championships (formerly the Tournament of the Americas). This event is hosted by PARC (Pan American Racquetball Confederation) and includes the championship divisions as well as junior, senior and A divisions.
Representing the U.S. is Rhonda Rajsich in Women's Singles and yours truly (USAR President Cheryl Kirk aka delegate, team leader, "coach," player in Men's A Doubles with Franco Capandegui of Argentina, and reporter).
Opening Ceremonies at 4:00 pm Friday kicked off the event. Each national delegation was announced and accompanied into the ceremonies by a young local person dressed in traditional Chilean costume. Each country's flag was displayed by two team members, with the rest of the team proceeding in behind. Rhonda and I proudly brought in the American flag and took our place among the players of the thirteen other countries represented here.
The format here is round robin, then from those results a championship single elimination draw is formed. Rhonda's first round today against Natalia Corti (ARG) resulted in a win, 15-2, 15-2. Sunday's match at 11:30 am* is against Maria Paz Riquelme of Chile and Monday's, again at 11:30 am*, pits Rhonda against Maria Cespedes of the Dominican Republic. Tuesday will be a free day, then it's back to the courts Wednesday-Saturday. The event concludes on Saturday afternoon followed by a banquet at the Hotel Dreams (host hotel, very nice).
Results and live streaming are available at:
http://www.internationalracquetball.com/resultsss.aspxLook for the live streaming icon (a roll of film) halfway down the page on the right.
* Note that the time here in Chile is Central time plus two hours. In other words, when it's 12 noon in Chicago, it's 2 pm in Temuco.
Check back for updates when Rhonda plays.
GO USA!!
~Cheryl Kirk
April 3, 2012
Reporting from Temucho, Chile at the XXV Pan American Racquetball Championships
Tuesday mid-day from Temuco, where the weather is surprisingly chilly. I walked down the street this morning to scope out a laundry facility, and it was a brisk 40 degrees F. They say the ocean is so painfully cold that swimming is not possible. You'd think it would be hot, but in this hemisphere they're going into winter. Temperatures are ranging from the 40's at night to the 60's/low 70's during the day.
All is well here at the event. Fourteen countries, not sure the total number of athletes, but there are many. The atmosphere is upbeat, excited, and, naturally, competitive. When people enter the dining room and pass by tables, for example, it's not just "good morning," it's "good morning, Guatemala!"
The hotel here is just great, nice employees who learn your name. Rhonda and I have discovered a restaurant called "Oregon" where the food, service and ambiance are all just top-notch. You've never tasted such flavorful vegetables (even the celery...yes, really). The avocados (sprinkled with oil and lemon) are to die for.
As the team leader (with Rhonda being the team), it's my job to make sure I have the draw and match times; set our daily schedule; have water, towels, and practice balls available; greet the other country's coach and player before the match and shake their hands afterward. I'm not a coach, but perhaps an insightful comment to offer here and there... Also, make sure "the team" adheres to all US Team rules in the handbook. This is the biggest challenge -- Rhonda is quite a handful. (Kidding, she's great.)
Speaking of Rhonda, after winning her three round robin matches with seven total points scored against her, today is the event's scheduled day off. She'll work out, eat (a lot!), and relax. (Did you know ... world-class athletes take in an exponential number of calories per day compared to the average person's consumption -- to fuel their incredible metabolisms!)
The draw is set for the rest of the week -- Rhonda is seeded #1 in the Women's Singles main draw, with Paola Longoria (MEX) at #2. Included with Rhonda in the top half of the draw (24 players) are Susana Acosta (MEX) at #4, Frederique Lambert (CAN) at #5, Maria Jose Vargas (BOL) at #8, Cristina Amaya (COL) at #9, Claudine Garcia (DOM) at #12, and Veronique Guillemette (ARG) at #13.
Rhonda's first round will be Wednesday 1:15 pm local time (Central +2 hours) against the winner of the feeder match between the players from Colombia and Guatemala (#16 and #17 seeds, respectively).
Live streaming is available on courts 4 and 5 here at this five-court facility.
http://www.internationalracquetball.com/resultsss.aspx
Look for the live streaming icon (a roll of film) halfway down the page on the right.
The Women's Singles drawsheet appears here...tune in to cheer on Rhonda! GO USA!!
--Cheryl Kirk
P.S. In the second round of the Men's A Doubles RR, my partner Francisco Capandegui (ARG) and I (USA), won our first game, 15-13, but then the guys from Chile came on strong. Scores were, sadly, 2 and then 4 in the 'breaker. Tomorrow is the third round, then a playoff bracket involving all four teams in the RR (the rest of the teams are all from Chile). They're all serving to the weaker player...go figure. That's the game; so would I...
