2008 Kansas City Pro Am
The IRT was back at the Overland Park Athletic Club for the third straight year and the Kansas racquetball community welcomed the tour and players with open arms. NASCAR was in town the same weekend which brought some extra fans out to watch some fast paced racquetball. ESPN was also in town broadcasting the semi – finals and final on ESPN360.com live. Coming off a big history making event in Denver the weekend before there was high energy in Kansas City.
There were no real upsets in the qualifying rounds as the event boasted the largest pro draw ever however Kane Waselenchuk would have an early rematch of the Denver finals with Rocky Carson in the round of sixteen. Kane would overtake Rocky in three straight to move on to meet Jason Thoerner in the quarters. Kane would advance to the semis and meet Alvaro Beltran and Jack Huczek would meet Jason Mannino on the other half. Kane would eventually win the battle against Beltran and Huczek would take out Mannino to set the stage for these two to meet in the finals for the first time since the 2006 pro nationals in Chicago. Kane would come out on top in the final in four games in front of a packed house and a live on ESPN360.com. This would be Kane’s second title in a row and lend him some extra momentum going into the Kentucky Open the upcoming week.
Hats off once again, to the Overland Park Athletic Club which is one of the finest full service racquetball facilities in the U.S. The staff was great and hospitality overwhelming. Mike and Debbie Wedel did a tremendous job this year at putting on the event. Their ongoing support of the sport not only with the IRT but the rest of the racquetball world should not go unnoticed Also thank you to the event volunteers at the desk, Gary Beeman, Deb Herr, Joe Williams. Thank you to all the sponsors of the event and the support you give. If you have not been to this event you need to mark it on your calendar for next year!!!