2000 HEAD/Penn USRA 27th
Junior
Olympic Championships
Northwest Swim & Fitness
Minneapolis, Minnesota: June 24-28
dailies
MEDIA ADVISORY! ... Call 719/635-5396, ext. 126 for more details from Christie Hyde, USRA Media/Public Relations Coordinator. For AP-style press releases and results, visit the U.S. Olympic Committee Pressbox.
Tuesday, 06/25: Shocking Boys' Semifinals
Results in the boys' divisions were shocking today as top-seed Shane Vanderson (Dublin Ohio) was upset by his doubles partner Stephen Lewis (Kennewick, Wash.) in the boys' 18-and-under semifinals. Vanderson could not manage to keep his focus in the first game, falling behind 14-0 before getting on the board. However, it was too little, too late, as he lost the first game 15-1. Vanderson jumped to an early 10-5 lead in the second game, but gave up four-straight points on skipped shots. Eventually, Lewis was able to pull even with Vanderson and pull ahead for the 15-14 win and a spot in Wednesday's finals.
Teen-sensation Jack Huczek (Rochester Hills, Mich.) met his fiercest competition of the championships thus far when he took the court against Michael Harmon (Sarasota, Fla.) in the other boys' 18-and-under semifinals. Huczek fell behind 5-0 early in the first game, before he managed to tie Harmon at 7-7. The players exchanged the lead three times, before Harmon pulled ahead for the final time en route to the 15-12 first-game win.
But Huczek was motivated in the second game, primarily by the two times his cocky opponent nailed him with the ball during play, and jumped out to a strong lead which carried him to the 15-2 victory to force a deciding third. The young teen continued to dominate in the tiebreaker, winning 11-2.
Play will continue on Wednesday morning, with the finals in all the singles and mixed doubles being held.
Special: Junior All-American Team Announced
Nineteen girls and 29 boys were named to the USRA's Junior All-American Team, based on their performances thus far at the championships. They will be presented with awards at the championship banquet Tuesday evening.
- Krystal Csuk - Naperville, Ill.
- Adrienne Fisher - Dayton, Ohio
- Kelley Fisher - Dayton, Ohio
- Jesi Fuller - Albuquerque, N.M.
- Kali Gottsleben - Watertown, S.D.
- Nicole Grundman - St. Cloud, Minn.
- Kaitlin Inglesby - Portland, Ore.
- Shannon Inglesby - Portland, Ore.
- Sharon Jackson - Shelbyville, Ind.
- Brittany Legget - Klamath Falls, Ore.
- Kara Mazur - Avon, Conn.
- Emily Melgaard - Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
- Sarah Moyle - Beaverton, Ore.
- Dannielle Pimental - Corvallis, Ore. Janel Tisinger - Simi, Calif.
- Tristyn Trelease - Klamath Falls, Ore.
- Kristen Walsh - Salt Lake City, Utah
- Ashley Willhite - Klamath Falls, Ore.
- Crystal Winfrey - Powell, Ohio
- Ismael Aldana - Stockton, Calif.
- Nick Arturo - Anchorage, Alaska
- Jake Bredenbeck - Scandia, Minn.
- Chris Coy - Elk City, Okla.
- Bart Crawford - Klamath Falls, Ore.
- Brad Falvey - Madison, Wis.
- Andrew Grissom - San Jose, Calif.
- Michael Harmon - Sarasota, Fla.
- Jack Huczek - Rochester Hills, Mich.
- Shane Karmelin - Dacula, Ga.
- Steven Klaiman - Houston, Texas
- Colin Kush - West Hartford, Conn.
- Joey Lakowske - Corvallis, Ore.
- Joseph Lee - Baton Rouge, La.
- Erik Leetch - Siloam Springs, Ark.
- Timmy Lerow - Rocky Hill, Conn.
- David Lewis - Aurora, Colo.
- Stephen Lewis - Kennewick, Wash.
- Charlie Locke - Portland, Ore.
- Miguel Martinez - Anchorage, Alaska
- Charles Pratt - Portland, Ore.
- Taylor Regier - Gladstone, Ore.
- Sam Reid - Portland, Ore.
- Jose Rojas - Stockton, Calif.
- Marco Rojas - Stockton, Calif.
- John Sanderson - Park City, Utah
- Dan Sheppick - Milwaukie, Ore.
- Trevor Smith - Pendleton, Ore.
- Shane Vanderson - Dublin, Ohio
Monday, 06/26: Girls' Draws filled with Upsets and Comebacks
National High School-champion Adrienne Fisher (Dayton, Ohio) fell to fellow-Ohioan Crystal Winfrey (Powell, Ohio), 15-14, 15-9, in the girls' 16-and-under singles division. It appeared as though Fisher's run of bad luck would follow her into her 14-and-under semifinals, where she was the top seed. Fisher dropped the first game to Ashley Legget (Klamath Falls, Ore.), 15-12, and was trailing in the second game 12-3, before rallying an amazing comeback to win the game 15-13, forcing a tiebreaker. It appeared as though Fisher had finally hit her stride in the tiebreaker, as she cruised to the 11-6 victory, securing herself a spot in Wednesday's gold-medal match.
However, Fisher will not be meeting younger sister Kelley in the finals. Both Adrienne and Kelley played in today's 16- and 14-and-under semifinals, but Kelley could not pull out a win in either of her matches.
In the boys' divisions, Chris Coy (Elk City, Okla.) moved one step closer to realizing his dream of winning a junior Olympic title by defeating Allan Crockett (Birmingham, Ala.), 15-2, 15-13, to advance to the boys' 12-and-under singles semifinals. Coy and partner David Lewis (Aurora, Colo.) also won their semifinals doubles match over Johnny Melgaard (Coeur d' Alene, Idaho) and Noah Trowbridge (Sandpoint, Idaho), 15-3, 15-5. The two will play in the gold-medal match on Tuesday.
Jack Huczek (Rochester Hills, Mich.), who made racquetball history by becoming the youngest man to qualify for the adult National Team, continued his domination of the boys' 16- and 18-and-under singles divisions today, cruising to easy wins over Clay Burris (Brandon, Fla.) and Jason Kerwood (Beaverton, Ore.) to advance to Tuesday's semifinal rounds.
Several doubles gold-medal matches will be played on Tuesday, with the rest of the finals matches being held on Wednesday. The Junior All-American Team will be announced on Tuesday night a the championships' banquet.
Interview: Chris Coy
Chris Coy at National Singles in Houston.
Photo: John
Foust
Twelve-year-old Chris Coy, of Elk City, Okla., has been fighting against the odds his entire life. Born with cancer, Coy has lived a life filled with numerous visits to the Shriner's Children's Hospital in Dallas. At age three, he developed a bacterial infection, resulting in the partial loss of his left leg. He began preschool having to use a prosthetic limb below his left knee.
"In the beginning, there was a lot of adjustment," Coy's mother said. "He didn't want to wear (his leg) to preschool. So we decided that we would cover it up, so that the other kids wouldn't see it. That seemed to help him, and has he got more comfortable, he began wearing shorts."
Coy's parents, Susan and Mike, purchased the local athletic club in their hometown. Coy spent many hours in the club watching the various athletes perfect their talents. "One day he told us that he wanted to start playing racquetball," Susan said. "And we were like 'are you sure?' and he told us he was. So, we began teaching him to play, and have supported him in that ever since."
Coy was only six years old when he first took to the racquetball court, and had several obstacles to overcome in his play. He has no bend or flex in his prosthetic leg, which makes it difficult to use his forehand. "You'll see him run around to use his backhand, because it's so much stronger," Susan said. "Could you imagine not being able to bend your ankle or leg? It makes it very difficult for him."
However, doctors at the children's hospital have said that they will be able to fit Coy with a more workable leg when he gets older, so that he will be able to flex his foot and ankle area. In the meantime, he makes due with what he has. "He just breaks them," his mother laughs. "Every few months we have to get a new one, because he will dive and slide on the court with his leg and tear it up. He wants that mobility, and tries the best he can to get it out of what he has."
Despite the obstacles he has had to overcome, Coy has still managed to prosper in the sport he loves. In 1998, he captured his first medal at a national competition, taking the silver medal with partner David Lewis, of Colorado, in the boys' 10-and-under doubles division. He went on later that year to compete at the World Junior Championships, where he earned two silver medals in the boys' 10-and-under competition, finishing second to Mexico in both singles and doubles play.
Last month at the adult U.S. National Singles Championships, Coy won the men's 24-and-under C/D skill-level division over players more than 10 years older than him. He also took home the gold medal in the men's C skill-level division, where he ousted the top-seed player, who was 41, in the semifinals en route to the finals.
At only 12 years old, Coy already has goals set for his future. "I want to win a national and junior world title," he said. "And when I'm old enough, I want to play on the U.S. Junior National Team."
Although Coy is still too young to earn an appointment to the Junior National Team, whose members are the top three players in 14-, 16- and 18-and-under singles divisions, he has already began forming bonds with the current-Team members. "Chris sees Jack (Huczek) and Shane (Vanderson), and he loves those guys," Susan said. "He really looks up to them. Watching the older kids gives him a drive to want to be like them."
Coy is well on his way to becoming an elite junior player and accomplishing his dream of winning a national and world junior title. Today, he defeated Allen Crockett, 15-2, 15-13, to advance to the boys' 12-and-under singles semifinals, and tonight he will play in the doubles semifinals, moving himself one step closer to capturing a junior Olympic title.
Although Coy is excelling in the racquetball world, he still faces daily struggles in life. "We still have to deal with the cancer issue," his mother said. "He's had to go through chemotherapy, and he does have heart damage. We have to go down to the children's hospital in Dallas once a year for them to work with him."
However, Coy's love of racquetball has helped his medical conditions. "Many of the kids with prosthetics become couch potatoes. They don't get out and become active, which Chris needs to do in order to stay in shape to help combat his other conditions. Racquetball has been a great way for him to stay in shape."
Racquetball has also given Coy a new set of friends and family. "He seems to know everyone when we come to these competitions," his mother says. "And if he doesn't know them, he will by the time it ends. Everyone seems to love him."
Although there were questions early on when he would take the court against opponents, everyone in junior racquetball seems to know Coy now, and few question his ability once he gets a racquet in his hand. "He gets teased more in our small hometown than he does by kids from around the country who play racquetball," Susan said.
Coy will play his singles semifinal match on Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. CT against Nick Arturo, of Anchorage, Alaska. The outcome will determine whether he plays in Wednesday's gold- or bronze-medal match, both scheduled for 11 a.m.
Sunday, 06/25: Upsets Continue throughout the Draw
Upsets continued today as Jason Kerwood (Beaverton, Ore.) ousted Junior National Team-member Matthew McElhiney (Bradenton, Fla.) in the boys' 18-and-under round of 16, ending McElhiney's hopes of earning a reappointment to the National Team. Seventh-seed McElhiney dominated the first game, 15-2, but Kerwood rallied back to win the second game, 15-13, and force a tiebreaker. McElhiney's spirit appeared to have been broken in the tiebreaker, as he dropped the match, 11-4.
Saturday's spoiler John Goth (Sioux Falls, S.D.), who ousted fourth-seed Mitch Williams (Washington, N.C.), continued to wreak havoc in the boys' 18-and-under singles division, topping Michael Rojas (Stockton, Calif.), 15-11, 15-4.
The girls' divisions saw their first upset, as Crystal Winfrey (Powell, Ohio) ousted fourth-seed Jenny Cary (Hillsboro, Ore.), 15-0, 15-5, in the girls' 16-and-under singles division.
The boys' 16-and-under singles division also saw some excitement, as Patric Mascorro (Houston, Texas) toppled sixth-seed Chris Meyer (McMinnville, Ore.) in a tiebreaker, 15-5, 7-15, 11-0.
Four Minnesotans picked up wins on their home turf today. St. Cloud's Cam Grundman teamed up with Rebeka Kopf (Babylon, N.Y.) for a victory in the 12-and-under mixed doubles division, while Baxter's Darrin Prince and Cold Springs' Megan Stone picked up a forfeit in the 16-and-under mixed doubles. Grundman's younger sister, Nicole, topped Tristyn Trelease (Klamath Falls, Ore.) in girls' six-and-under multi-bounce singles tiebreaker, 11-1, 8-11, 11-0.
Doubles play will continue throughout the evening at the Northwest Athletic Club/Hiway 100, and will kick off again on Monday at 9 a.m. The championship finals will be held on Wednesday afternoon.
Saturday, 06/24: National Junior Team-Member Williams Upset in Opening Round
The Head 27th U.S. Junior Olympic Racquetball Championships presented by Penn Racquet Sports kicked off today at the Northwest Athletic Club/Hiway 100 in Brooklyn Center, Minn., and the opening round proved shocking as third-seeded Mitch Williams (Washington, N.C.) was upset by unknown John Goth (Aberdeen, S.D.), 15-13, 15-4, in the boys' 18-and-under division. Williams, who was a finalist at the U.S. National High School Championships earlier this year, will lose his position on the U.S. Junior National Team due to the loss.
Although they were on their home turf, the opening day of competition was not pretty for the 19 Minnesotans competing in the championships. However, Brady Prince, of Baxter, and Cam Grundman, of St. Cloud, did pick up wins in the boys' 12-and-under singles division. Brent Schulenberg, of Oakdale, also captured a two victories in the boys' 16-and-under division, advance to the round of 16, where he will meet second-seed Bart Crawford (Klamath Falls, Ore.).
In the boys' 14-and-under singles division, No. 13-seed Prince was ousted by unseeded Jacob Gentellon (Phoneix, Ariz.). Prince was not the only seeded player to fall in the division, as ninth-seed Matthew Hammond (Sarasota, Fla.) was ousted by Jesus Jasso Aguilera (San Antonio) and No. 14-seed Stone Garrett (Cold Springs, Minn.) fell to Drew Toland (Parkin, Ark.). Tenth-seed J.D. Brown (Grand Rapids, Mich.) also fell victim to Aaron Fitzgerald (Belle Chassr, La.).
Early rounds in girls' competition were uneventful, but the action is expected to heat up on Sunday as the top seeds go into battle for a national title.
Friday, 06/23: Junior Athletes Begin Quest for National Junior Team Appointments Tomorrow
Over 250 of the top junior racquetball players in the country have converged on Minneapolis seeking the title of national champion, along with appointments to the U.S. Junior National Team, at the Head 27th U.S. Junior Olympic Championships presented by Penn Racquet Sports, which kick off Saturday morning at the Northwest Athletic Club/Hiway 100 in Brooklyn Center.
Nearly 250 athletes have travel to Minnesota from every corner of the nation, including Alaska, Florida California and Massachusetts, to play in the U.S. Junior Olympic Championships. Athletes ranging in age from 4 to 19-years-old and representing 35 states will compete for singles, doubles and mixed doubles titles in various age-divisions, starting at 6-and-under and going up to 18-and-under.
Nineteen Minnesotans have joined the quest for a national title, with Scandia's Jake Bredenbeck being the top contender in the boys' 8-and-under singles division. Bredenbeck is the top-seeded player in the division, and is also competing in 10-and-under singles.
Eighteen appointments to the U.S. Junior National Team will also be up for grabs for those athletes competing in the boys' and girls' 14-, 16- and 18-and-under singles divisions. The top-three finishers in each of the divisions will earn a one-year appointment to the Team. As a member of the Team, they will be allowed to train at an elite Junior National Team camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., later this summer in preparation for competing at the World Junior Championships in December.
Only two athletes have already secured their spot on the Team. Jack Huczek (Rochester Hills, Mich.) and Adrienne Fisher (Dayton, Ohio) capture the U.S. National High School Championship titles earlier this year to pick up one-year appointments to the Team. Huczek, 17, made racquetball history last month when he became the youngest man to ever qualify for the adult U.S. National Team by capturing the bronze medal at the U.S. National Singles Championships. Fisher, 15, also made the record books by becoming the first female freshman to win the High School title.
First-round competition will kick off Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at the Northwest Athletic Club/Hiway 100 in Brooklyn Center. Play will continue throughout the weekend, with the finals being held on Wednesday afternoon.