May 9th - Kane Waselenchuk completes the Triple Crown
Chicago IL – Kane Waselenchuk (Edmonton CAN) finished what he set out to do from the beginning of the season, finish number one. He did so in convincing fashion with a three game victory at the 2009 Motorola IRT Pro National Racquetball Championship presented by Verizon Wireless. Waselenchuk defeated second seeded Rocky Carson (Orange County CA) 11-8, 11-1, 11-6 to take the title in Chicago at Navy Pier. The largest crowd of the five day event witnessed the historic win as Waselenchuk won his third grand slam of the 2008-09 season. The won was the tenth of the year for Kane. Carson came out shooting the first game and looked like he had the game plan to win the match but once again Kane’s ability to control center court and great serve return would eventually be too much for Carson.
The event was held in Festival Hall B at Chicago’s Navy Pier and was the second event of the year that was held outside of the club setting. The event overall was a success for the IRT despite the challenges that presented itself at the pier. There were many people on the pier that were exposed to the sport of racquetball for the first time especially kids as they stopped by the arena during their school field trips during the day.
The charity event that featured Chicago football stars Matt Forte and Lance Brigs was a big hit as the event rose over $7000 for Prevent Child Abuse America.
The IRT would like to extend a huge thank you to all the volunteers that helped with the event as well as all the sponsors. Motorola and Verizon Wireless were extremely happy with the event which resulted in a one year extension was signed at the event which means the IRT will look forward coming back to Chicago next year for the 2010 Motorola IRT Pro Nationals presented by Verizon Wireless.
May 8th - Kane Waselenchuk and Rocky Carson set for the Finals
Chicago IL – Top seeded Kane Waselenchuk ( Edmonton CAN ) will face off against second seeded Rocky Carson ( Orange County CA ) in the final at the 2009 Motorola IRT Pro National Racquetball Championship presented by Verizon Wireless. Each player had to work for their final appearance on the stadium court on Chicago’s Navy Pier. Carson had a four game war with his rival Jack Huczek (Detroit MI) in the first semi-final. Huczek opened a wound on his right elbow early in the match drawing first blood. Carson would give Huczek all he could handle and won all the big points. There were very few unforced errors in this match as both players stepped up to the large crowd courtside.
A lot of speculation surrounded the second match as fourth seeded Alvaro Beltran (Tijuana MEX) met up with top seed Kane Waselenchuk. Beltran handed Waselenchuk his only defeat this season at the California Open and also pushed Kane to the limit at the US OPEN. Many thought that this would be another epic match but Waselenchuk came out on fire and Beltran had very few answers for Kane’s ability to control center court. Kane would take this match in three fairly quick games to set the stage for his tenth final of the season and the chance to be the sports first Triple Crown champion. Kane has already won the Motorola IRT World Championship presented by Verizon Wireless held in Denver and the US Open held in Memphis earlier this season.
The final is set for Saturday at 3:00pm central time.
The International Racquetball Tour – (IRT) is the governing body of men’s professional racquetball
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MAY 5-9, 2009 Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
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Kane Waselenchuk wins the 2008 Motorola IRT World Championship- Verizon Wireless
September 17-21 Denver, Colorado
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