The 2006 San Diego Open - Event Recap

Day One Wednesday Feb.23,2006- The top fifty IRT professionals converged the American Athletic Club for the 2006 San Diego Open. Event director Brent Avery was very elated about the large 300 amateur players that come out to support this prestigious event. Players from all over the globe were here this weekend to get their fill of racquetball. The hospitality is non– stop here in National City as all the participants will be treated to an endless supply of food and drink throughout the weekend. This year also featured some added excitement as the IRT professionals were wired for sound so the fans could hear all the behind the scenes action from the court. #1 player in the world Jack Huczek was there to try and continue his winning ways but #2 Kane Waselenchuk also maded it to this event to try and stop him. Local favorites #4 Alvaro Beltran and #5 Jason Mannino will showcased their talents in an effort to take the title. Last year’s champion # 3 Cliff Swain was be back to defend his title as will last year’s runner up Shane Vanderson. Rounding out the top eight , Jason Thoerner has shown signs all season that he has what it takes to compete on the IRT. The amatuer draw began today with matches beginning at 10am.Don’t miss all the action this weekend at the 2006 San Diego Open Racquetball Championships!!!

Day TwoThursday Feb.24,2006 - Wow !!! Eleven hours of top notch racquetball was witnessed by capacity crowds all day. First round qualifying matches started at 1:00pm and the last match finished at 12:15am. There were some great matches in each round as some players played three matches to get into the main draw. Local star and American Athletic Club member Mike Orr was able to fight thru a tough draw and make it into the main draw for the first time in his racquetball career. Aaron Granberg of Minnieapolis was able to win a tough five game battle against Ruben Gonzalez. Ruben overturned three calls in the tie breaker which is why he is the comsumate professional. Mitch Williams fought off his nemesis Javier Moreno in a five game battle to advance to the main draw. Calgary native, Brian Istace came back from two games down to defeat Agustin Tristan in five games. Polo Guiterrez defeated Ben Croft to continue his rise on the IRT following up his quarterfinal finish at this year Choice Hotels US OPEN.

Day Three Feb 25,2006 – There were some great match ups in Friday’s round of sixteen’s with only one real upset which saw #11 Josh Tucker defeat #7 Shane Vanderson. These two have had many battles in the past and this one was no exception. Josh was able to come out on top in five games to make his first quarterfinal appearance in over a year. He would go on to meet Cliff Swain in the third match of the evening. Cliff easily disposed of Polo Gutierrez in three straight games. Rocky Carson had his hands full with Mitch Williams winning in three tough games. Mitch continues to improve with each event. Rocky will meet the local hero Alvaro Beltran who took out Mike Orr in four games. This was Orr’s first time qualifying into the show. Jack Huczek wasted little time defeating Aaron Granberg in three, as did Jason Mannino with Andy Hawthorne. The Huczek vs. Mannino match will be the second quarter of the evening. Kane Waselenchuk made his first appearance in over two months on the IRT and had an entertaining match against his countryman Brian Istace. Kane looked very fit and was too much for Istace winning the match in three games. In the last sixteen match, Jason Thoerner took out a tough Chris Crowther winning in three straight to meet up with Waselenchuk in the first quarter of the evening.

The first quarter featured #2 Kane Waselenchuk against #9 Jason Thoerner. Kane picked up were he left off at the US Open and played some great ball. Thoerner could not mustard a run of any kind as Kane would win the first two games convincingly. Thoerner finally got into a groove and was able to finish game three with a win but it was all Waselenchuk in the fourth as he would take the match 6,3, (7), 2 Kane would go on to meet the winner of the Swain/Tucker match in Saturday’s 4pm semi-final.

The second quarter of the evening would pit the #1 player in the world Jack Huczek against #5 Jason Mannino. Jack has come out on top in the previous meeting this season but there is something about San Diego that just not in Huczek’s favor. Jason would play some great ball in this match mixing up his pinches with the down the lines and keep Jack off balance. In the end it would be Mannino on top in this one (6), 3,8,8 and will go on to meet the winner of the Carson /Beltran match in Saturday’s 6pm semi-final.

The third quarter of the evening would showcase raw power as #3 Cliff Swain would battle #11 Josh Tucker. Lob serves were the extreme rarity in this match as both players lit up the court with drives serves that left most of the fans shaking their heads in awe. Josh would take the first game with a few aces but the return of serve would give him the win. Swain would make an adjustment in his serve and keep Tucker off balance and guessing the rest of the match winning in four games (9), 7,1,7. Swain will go on to meet fellow southpaw Waselenchuk in the Saturday 4pm semi.

The last match of the evening showcased local hero #4 Alvaro Beltran and southern California standout

#6 Rocky Carson. Beltran’s home club fans showed their appreciation for their favorite player here this weekend with a loud ovation to start the match. Carson would quiet them as he takes the first game win. At 9-9 in the second Beltran dives for a ball and lands on his left shoulder popping it out of the socket. Local EMT’s at the club would set it back in place enabling Alvaro to continue and take the next game in overtime. Rocky would spoil the home club hero’s quest for the SD title and win the next two and the match 7, (11), 3,7. Rocky will advance to meet Mannino in the 6pm semi-final on Saturday evening.

Day four Saturday Feb.25, 2006- The day started off with the IRT players signing autographs and taking pictures with over fifty juniors at the AAC. Leslie Pawka does a tremendous job with the San Diego junior program. What a thrill it was for both player and kid alike as the guys made the kids weekend.

The semi-finals started off with the battle of power between #2 Kane Waselenchuk and #3 Cliff Swain. Who would hit it the harder seemed to be the theme as both players hit bullet serves to score points and keep each other out of position. Kane would show no signs of rust after missing the last two events. Cliff would get the shot he was looking for, as he was not facing Kane after two wars prior to playing him as he had done in past events. It would be Waselenchuk in three straight games in this one 10,6,6 to advance to the finals on Sunday against the Mannino/Carson winner. Swain is an amazing competitor and an inspiration to all those that get to witness his play.

The second match up was all the fans could ask for as Jason Mannino and Rocky Carson put on a show for the fans. After playing the first two games, as Mannino would describe in the players lounge as “This is the battle of who could play the worst ball!” and Rocky agreed as each player won a game. They would bring the level up to another level the rest of the match as each player traded amazing gets and pin point shots. Rocky would get the big point in game five to Mannino’s dismay and win the match 9, (2), (7), 3,9. Jason had fun with Rocky’s family several times during this match as they sat on the glass. A few finger waves and pointing kept the crowd entertained the whole match. Rocky would go on to his first final of the year and meet Waselenchuk in the Sunday noon final.

Day five Sunday Feb 26,2006 – With the mariachis gone but the carne asada still cooking on the grill, a pack house came out to watch the battle between #2 Waselenchuk and #6 Carson. Which Rocky would show up today, the Rocky of old where Kane had his way with him or the Rocky that nearly pulled of the upset of the IRT season at the US Open when he last met Kane there in the semi’s? Would making it to the final sponsor less, sporting Nike Jumpman clothing with One Shot shorts and an unfamiliar racquet in his hand s make it tough for Kane to win his first IRT title after sitting out the last two events? Well Rocky did show up in full force with the backing of his family on the glass and the unfamiliar racquet in Kane’s hands had no bearing on his ability to play the game of racquetball. With former IRT great Charlie Brumfield in the crowd to compare notes of how the game used to be played and how it is played now both players put on a show. Kane would come out in game one in control mixing up some blistering shots with off speed touch shots, which would give him the first game. Rocky would take full advantage of Waselenchuk’s miscues in the next two games and take a commanding two game to one lead. In unfamiliar territory being down 2-1 Kane regrouped and found a way to come from behind to win his first San Diego Open title 6, (5), (7), 6,4.

SIDE NOTES:

What a party on Saturday night. A 20-piece mariachi band DJ and all the Mexican food you could eat, by far the best party at an IRT event. The AAC knows how to take care of all their players.

The best hospitality is featured at this event with food being served around the clock for the entire event.

p.s. Shame on the player that complained that there were no free drinks and that they had to pay $2 for drinks. Free food all week, a tournament shirt , the top players in the world playing, free use of the facility, hanging out with friends and getting to play at least one racquetball match all for $50. WOW!!

Big thanks to Tony Ramirez of OHE Painting and Wallcovering Inc. for sponsoring the event. Not only is he the title sponsor he also helps out at the tournament desk and is one of Alvaro Beltran sponsors. It is people like Tony that make the sport so special. Thanks Tony.

Thank you to all the other sponsors of the event and for keeping our great sport alive.

What a great turnout for the juniors this weekend. Leslie Pawka did a tremendous job assembling the kids for the tournament as all the kids had a chance to compete in the event. It was great watching the kids eyes light up as they got autographs from all the IRT players. They also had their pictures taken. As Kane approach the autograph area on Saturday morning he remark with a big smile “It feels like we are at Toys R Us with all these kids here!”

Rocky Carson’s wife Jen, looked beautiful this weekend cheering on her husband, as they get ready to have their second child this Friday. Good luck to the Carson family and congrats!!!

Brent Avery continues to amaze everyone as his event gets better and bigger every year. The IRT extends it’s thanks to you, your family and all the volunteers that help make this event one of the best on the schedule. Izzy you are the man!!!

We all look forward to coming back next year.

To view qualifying draw click here




To view main draw click here




 Izzy watching the gate

 The juniors having fun at the event

  The Mariachi's at the Sat.party

 The finalists with Brent Avery event director

 Ruben with his paintings

 The fans at the semi's

 The best chef in SD

 The other chef in SD

 Event sponsor Tony Ramirez working the tournament desk