2002 ProKennex IRF 14th
World Junior Championships
Presented by Penn Racquet Sports

The Orlando Fitness & Racquet Club
Orlando, Florida: December 18-22, 2002

preview | releases | drawsheets | finals & finishers

sunday: 12/22

 Mexico squeezed out a narrow 31 point victory over a young U.S. team to claim their first junior world team championship title. Although the U.S. team had their most successful day of the five-day competition they were not able to overcome a 73 point deficit going into finals play on Sunday. 

Jack Huczek, Adrienne Fisher and Ashley Willhite of the U.S. team won gold medals in their singles division. Adrienne Fisher rebounded from a 10-6 deficit in the girls 18 tiebreaker to defeat teammate Janel Tisinger. Adrienne also won the girls 16's. Jack Huczek capped an amazing junior career by establishing a record that will be very difficult to repeat. Over the course of his junior career, Jack won two gold medals in each offered division of play. Ashley Willhite, although only 14, showed her mental toughness by earning successive comeback wins, both from tiebreaker deficits, to claim the girls 14 title.

The Canadian girl's team enjoyed a strong Sunday finish, by pulling the Canadian team to its narrowest victory in junior team history. The Canadian team defeated Bolivia by only three points. 

"This is a very disappointing defeat" stated U.S. Junior Team Coach Kelley Beane  "but each team member gave 100%, This is a very young team that will be eager to reclaim the title [next year]." 

" My Junior career has been very rewarding" stated Huczek, "but it's disappointing to end with a second place team finish." "Although I won two gold medals in singles and doubles, the team trophy is what is important. I am proud to be a member of this team; they are all great players and great people. The team is young and I expect them to rebound next year."

saturday: 12/21

 As finals draw nearer, competition continues to be close, with Mexico holding a slim 49 point lead over the U.S., and the two countries looking at fourteen head to head matches. The U.S. needs to win at least 60% of that lineup to remain competitive going into Sunday, if they want to retain their world title. 

The surprise of the tournament is the strong showing of the Bolivian team. In the Boys' 18 doubles the United States squeezed out a tight 11-6 tiebreaker victory over the Bolivian team. After losing the first game 15-13, the U.S. Team went into the I-formation with World Champion Jack Huczek taking control of the match. If the Bolivian team can somehow maintain their 18 point lead over Canada it will be the first time in the event's 14 year history that Bolivia has placed in the team competition.

The athletes to watch are Mexico's David Ortega in the Boys' 14 who has never lost a World Championship match, Nancy Enriquez from Mexico in the Girls' 16 who will be attempting to repeat her 14 and under World Championship from last year, Adrienne Fisher, leading of the U.S. girl's team in 18-, Ashley Willhite from the U.S., attempting to defeat the number #2 Mexico girls and of course Jack Huczek playing another head to head match against one of the three Mexican players competing in the B18 semifinals.

friday: 12/20

 

For the first time in the history of junior racquetball the United States finds themselves trailing in points going into the second half of the Pro Kennex Junior World Championships. Although the difference is small, the U.S. trails Mexico in players who remain in the draw, almost assuring the Mexican team a greater point accumulation tomorrow. 

The one bright spot for the U.S. team is the consistent  performance of adult World Champion Jack Huczek in the boys 18-. Seeking to set a record by winning two gold medals in every age division, Jack has endured criticism for continuing to play in junior events (he's ranked #4 on the Men's Pro Tour, as well). Although seeded #1, Jack still faces strong competition from Mexico, which still fields three players in the semifinals. On the girls side, Adrienne Fisher from Ohio is the strong favorite to win the 18 year old division and maintain the U.S. dominance in this division.

Team Bolivia continues to amaze everyone by leading Canada. The Bolivian team has never placed better than sixth in Junior World competition, but their performances in the first half of the event seem to assure a better showing this year.

Overall team points thus far: 
Mexico - 624 Points 
USA - 612 Points 
Bolivia - 288 Points 
Canada - 204 Points

thursday: 12/19

 

On the second day of the competition, Team USA found themselves in a very precarious position, while Bolivia portrays guarded optimism. For the first time in the event's history, a USA boys 18- player lost in the first round. Much of the U.S. success has been due to a strong, almost unbeatable line-up of 18 year old U.S. boys. Plagued by injury and personal conflicts, three of the nation's top 4 eighteen year old boys did not qualify for the team. With this weakened lineup, the U.S. team again looks towards their girl's squad to compensate for the early loss.

But the Bolivian team is in third place behind the USA and Mexico after early rounds. Although theirs is a relatively small team (14 players), the Bolivian Team performed beyond expectations in winning 15 of 21 matches. This initial performance indicates that Bolivia has a great opportunity to upset perennial powerhouse Canada for the third place team trophy.

Competition continues through Sunday, with competition each day from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm.

wednesday: 12/18

 The 2002 Pro Kennex 14th IRF Junior World Racquetball Championships began on Wednesday at the Orlando Fitness and Racquet Club in Orlando, Florida. "The U.S. Team should be pushed to their limit" remarked Jim Hiser, IRF Technical Director. 

IRF President Keith Calkins is also on hand at the event, and agreed that "Although the U.S. Team has never lost the Junior World title, the parity that has developed throughout the world should result in a very close competition."

Major threats to the U.S. dominance will come from Mexico, Canada, Venezuela, and Bolivia. The Mexican team has actively recruited their strongest team ever and anticipates a U.S. upset. Junior Team Coach Kelley Beane is well aware of the task ahead; for the first time ever, U.S. athletes face stiff competition in each age group from 18 to 8. "Normally the U.S. had dominated the girls brackets, but this year the Mexico team matches the U.S. Team in numbers and World rankings in almost every girls bracket." she conceded.

"We have waited for 20 years for this type of equality among the different countries. For the first time, every country has an equal opportunity to win a gold medal," added Hiser. "Its great for the sport."
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