Junior National Racquetball Championships

My travels take me to different parts of the Globe and my most recent trip was to Grand Prairie Alberta to cover the Racquetball Junior National Championships for Eastlink TV held at Eastlink Center.

Upon arrival we went to the center and found everyone to be extremely not only friendly, but very hospitable in all areas of the sport.

My contact was (upon arrival) Barbara May the Executive Director for Alberta Racquetball as well as a wealth of knowledge and understanding in a way, you would not understand until you met her.

Putting on an event such as this takes time, dedication and involvement from the community, which there is no shortage of from anyone you ask.

In addition to covering the event for Eastlink TV we were given the “guided tour of the City” by Tim Gedcke, station manager of Eastlink TV in Grand Prairie, which we were thankful for.

Local organizer Jeff Buller is the event organizer  and at the young age of (he asked me not to say) is one that is clearly dedicated in promoting the sport to the community.

Holding this at the Eastlink Centre is clearly an understanding that this sport is headed in the right direction, not only today, but for years to come.

The event started April 20th with competitors from across Canada and the farthest from the east is from the province of Quebec.

West they come from British Columbia, with several attending doing double duties, such as referee and volunteer as they were  needed.

Jewel Sauve of L’Assomption, Que. is the Girl’s U16 Junior National Racquetball Champion after she defeated Alexandra Murray of  Brandon, Man., 15-2, 4-15, 11-9, on Thursday in Grande Prairie, Alberta at the 2014 Canadian Junior National Racquetball Championships.

Sauve and Murray both qualify for the 2014 Junior National Team as the top two players in Girl’s U16.

In other action, the 2013 champions in the U18 divisions are on track to repeat in 2014. On the boy’s side, last year’s winner Coby Iwaasa of Lethbridge, Alta. defeated Tanner Prentice of Macrorie, Sask., 15-0, 15-6, in one semi-final and will play Nicolas Bousquet of Montreal in the final, as Bousquet beat Sami Harb of Burlington, Ont., 15-7, 13-15, 11-2, in the other semi.

Iwaasa and Bouhttp://www.albertaracquetball.com/index.htmlsquet were the 2013 finalists in Boy’s U16, which Iwaasa also won.

In Girl’s U18, Michele Morissette of Baie Comeau, Que. defeated  McKenzie Brayley of Calgary, 15-11, 15-0, in the fourth round of play.

The Girl’s U18 is a round robin competition, but with the final on Saturday, we ended up seeing Morissette play Danielle Drury of Saskatoon, with both players currently undefeated at press time.

On Thursday, Drury beat Milana Paddock of Brandon, Man., 15-2, 15-3.

Players are competing not only for National Junior Championships, but spots on the Canadian Junior National Team that will compete at the 2014 World Junior Racquetball Championships in Cali, Colombia.

While this does not take place until October, it’s never to early to get your game in motion and players in the Boy’s and Girl’s 14 & under, 16 & under and 18 & under can qualify for the team by working at becoming one of the top two players in their respective division.

Results Summary

Boy’s Singles 18 & Under – Semi-finals

Coby Iwaasa (Lethbridge, Alta.) d. Tanner Prentice (Macrorie, Sask.), 15-0, 15-6
Nicolas Bousquet (Montreal, Que.) d. Sami Harb (Burlington, Ont.), 15-7, 13-15, 11-2

Final

Coby Iwaasa (Lethbridge, Alta.) v. Nicolas Bousquet (Montreal, Que.)

Boy’s Singles 16 & Under – Semi-finals

Trevor Webb (Cambridge, Ont.) d. Ryan Bateman (Leamington, Ont.), 15-0, 15-0
Graham Frattinger (Martensville, Sask.) d. Devin Halko (Edmonton, Alta.), 15-8, 15-8

Final

Trevor Webb (Cambridge, Ont.) v. Graham Frattinger (Martensville, Sask.)

Boy’s Singles 14 & Under – Semi-finals

Chris Culhane (Coquitlam, B.C.)  d. Kaleb Osborne (Penetanguishene, Ont.), injury forfeit
Simon Comeau (Valleyfield, Que.) d. Ethan Frigon (Sherwood Park, Alta.),  9-15, 15-10, 11-7

Final

Chris Culhane (Coquitlam, B.C.) v. Simon Comeau (Valleyfield, Que.)

Girl’s Singles 18 & Under – Round 4

Michele Morissette (Baie Comeau, Que.) d. McKenzie Brayley (Calgary, Alta.), 15-11, 15-0
Danielle Drury (Saskatoon, Sask.) d. Milana Paddock (Brandon, Man.), 15-2, 15-3
Callie Hunter, (Burlington, Ont.) – BYE

Girl’s Singles 16 & Under – Round 3

Thanks to everyone for making us feel so welcome at this National event.

http://www.albertaracquetball.com/index.html