The 2007 IRT Motorola Pro National Racquetball Championship presented by Verizon Wireless

Chicago Illinois – The top IRT professionals in the world converged on the Schaumburg Tennis Plus Club in Schaumburg IL a northwest suburb of Chicago for the third year as the sports second grand slam event showcased the sports best. Motorola and Verizon Wireless have been big supporters of this event and brought out all the stops bringing a whole new look to this year’s tournament. As you entered the club you were greeted by seventeen foot Motorola/Verizon Wireless flags and the Motorola “Bat Wings” lead players and fans to the main stage on the floor through the club. As the players entered the Motorola Players Village, all the event and IRT sponsors with their trade booths were set up and ready to promote their products. The VCAST VIP lounge was an addition to the event this year and allowed an area for the pro players, sponsors and their customers an opportunity to relax and enjoy the event. IRT professionals Jack Huczek, Jason Thoerner and Ruben Gonzalez kicked of the event the weekend before as they made appearances with Chicago Bear quarterback, Kyle Orton at various Verizon Wireless stores in Chicago. On Wednesday 14 amateur players teamed up with the top 14 IRT professionals for a charity pro-am to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Chicago. Fans were also treated to some great parties with AC/DC cover band “Dirt Deeds” jamming in the Motorola Players Village on Friday evening and a night with the pros on Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield.

The fans were witness to some unbelievable racquetball throughout the week and probably the highest quality play of the season on the main stage as year-end rankings were at stake here in the IRT’s last event of the season. The IRT field boasted over 50 players and the USAR Regional portion had the largest draw in many years with over 450 amateurs.

There were a few upsets in the round of thirty-two as Canadian Kris Odegard defeated Sudsy Monchik. Fellow Canadian Brian Istace beat Colombian Alejandro Herrera in a five game battle. Minnesota native John Goth took out the legend Ruben Gonzalez in four and Mexico’s Javier Moreno surprised Andy Hawthorne winning in four games to advance to the round of sixteen.

The round of sixteen saw only two surprises as Javier Moreno continued to play some great ball defeating Jason Thoerner in four games and Ben Croft won a five game thriller in front of his home town fans against Chris Crowther. All the other seeds advance on Jack Huczek, Jason Mannino, Alvaro Beltran, Rocky Carson, Mitch Williams and Shane Vanderson. The most notable round of sixteen match was the changing of the southpaw guard as six-time number one and the greatest player to ever play the game Cliff Swain bowed out to Mitch Williams. Cliff’s stellar career would come to an end this weekend and all in the racquetball world will miss him.

The quarterfinals were all battles and fantastic racquetball. Shane Vanderson and Alvaro Beltran started the day with a five game thriller and Vanderson coming out on top (8) (2) 6 8 10. Both players left it all on the court and the fans in awe. A tough match to follow Mitch Williams and Rocky Carson entered the court and the level of play stayed high. Williams came out pounding serves to take the first. Rocky regrouped the rest of the match and despite a slight ankle sprain Williams gave it his all. Carson would come out on top (9) 3 5 3. The ever-entertaining Javier Moreno would enter the stadium court with a mask on and bring the crowd to their feet as he took a page out of the WWF. Mask or no mask Jason Mannino came to play ball and put and end to Moreno’s great run at this years pro nationals (9) 4 5 8. Jack Huczek and Ben Croft would end the day of racquetball with a good match as Croft did his best to pull off an upset of number one Huczek. Jack has played solid ball all year and continued in this winning in three 1 7 9.

The semifinals would pit #3 Rocky Carson and #2 Jason Mannino and the winner securing the number two-year end ranking. This match was made for television full of excitement and great shot making as both players were at the top of their game. A two and a half hour match would ensue and Mannino would be the victor this Saturday afternoon 9 (9) 7 (4) 9. The second match would feature #1 Jack Huczek and #5 Shane Vanderson and this match would mirror the first semi. Huczek took the first two games in typical Huczek fashion and just when you thought Shane was done, he came back with a vengeance taking the next two games and extending it to a fifth game. Huczek would be ready in the fifth and take the game and match in another two hour plus match 6 4 ((9) (12) 5. The fans left the arena as tired as the players as their enthusiasm was on par with the play of the pros.

The stage was set for the Sunday final with #2 Jason Mannino facing off against #1 Jack Huczek. The excitement was building as Huczek had yet to win an event on this portable court and Mannino has always played very confidently on the court winning two US Open titles. Mannino gave it his all in this one but it was not enough as Huczek played very steady ball and wins his first major title on the stadium court.

The week featured many junior clinics as the IRT pros gave back to the sport this weekend. Shane Vanderson did a hard hit contest for the kids on Saturday and Rocky Carson did a clinic and skills competition also. Ben Croft helped out with the local Boys and Girls Club introducing them to the game for the first time.

At the check presentation Dan Aderhold of Motorola announced the Motorola and Verizon Wireless would continue its support of the sport and sponsor another Grand Slam event for the IRT in Colorado Springs September 12-16 2007. A special thanks goes out to Dan and for his efforts in bringing the IRT and the sport of racquetball to the next level. These are exciting times for the IRT and the sport.

Side notes:

A big thanks you to all the volunteers that made the event a special one. The IRT received many emails and notes complimenting the event staff and how friendly and organized the event was.

Special thanks to the event staff : Karen Denu, Martha Huske, Diane Bunker, Julie Vincent, Lynne Weisbart, Dennis Negrete and Liz Molitor without you all at the helm this event would not be as successful as it is.

Thanks to all the sponsors and box holders for your continued support.

To Sue and Leo Klimaitis, Pat and Mary Taylor, Keith Minor, Howard Miller and Mark Oda. The IRT cannot express enough how important your support means to the event and the tour. Thank you again for allowing the sport to be showcased as a true professional sport.

Thanks to Dr George Pappas and wife Linda, Gary Danno, Tony Cosmano and Mike Origer for supplying the hospitality for the VCAST Lounge.

The event raised over $15K for the JDRF, Hopeline and PCAA thanks to all the fans and players for your contributions.

Thanks you to Genesco for adding the professionalism the event and our sport has been looking for. Also to Ashley Herr of Motorola for working so hard to make this a great event for the IRT.

Thanks you to Jim Hiser, Doug Ganim, The USAR Staff, Otto Dietrich and Orlando Mayo for all the behind the scenes work that you all contributed.

To the host clubs Schaumburg Tennis Plus and Forest View Racquet Club we thank you for letting us invade your facilities for two weeks. Thanks Jaime Vine GM STP and Jim Thurber of FVRC.

Lastly thank you to all the IRT professionals for your continued professionalism and leaving it all on the court.