PARC 14th Tournament of the Americas

San Pedro Sula, Honduras
April 6 - 15, 2001

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United States Seeks 14th PARC Title
The United States Racquetball Association released the roster of its U.S. National Team squad set to compete in the 14th Pan American Racquetball Confederation [PARC] Tournament of the Americas in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, April 6-15.

An eight-member squad was named by Head Coach Tom Travers (Westlake, Ohio), following a mid-March team trial at the Five Seasons located in Bay Village, Ohio.

Current national champions Rocky Carson (Santa Maria, Calif.) and Cheryl Gudinas (Chicago, Ill.) will lead the Americans into Honduras where the U.S. will seek their 14th straight Tournament of the Americas team championship. They will be joined in the singles competition by fellow teammates Kersten Hallander (San Diego, Calif.) and Doug Eagle (Houston, Texas). 

Current national doubles champions Laura Fenton (Overland Park, Kan.) and Jackie Paraiso (El Cajon, Calif.) will represent the U.S. in women's doubles competition while Adam Karp (Stockton, Calif.) will be paired with Mike Guidry (Carrolton, Texas) to form the men's doubles team. The recently married Karp teamed up with Andy Roberts (Collierville, Tenn.) to win the U.S. national doubles championships in which they defeated Guidry and his partner, Ruben Gonzales (Staten Island, N.Y.) in the finals.

All but Fenton and Karp had taken part in the most recent international competition, the International Racquetball Federation [IRF] World Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico last August, at which the U.S. placed second to rival Team Canada by a very slim margin. It was the first time the U.S. hadn't held at least a share of the title since the tournament was established in 1981, and it may still be in the back of the U.S. squad's minds as they head to Honduras.

Last year's playing of this annual event was cancelled due to civil unrest in the host country of Bolivia, as a result this will be the first PARC Tournament of the Americas held in two years.