Top Seeds Advance In Pro National Racquetball Event

Top seeds advance in the Motorola Pro National Racquetball Championship

Presented by Verizon Wireless

Chicago IL – The Motorola IRT Pro Nationals presented by Verizon Wireless quarterfinals got underway this Thursday at Chicago’s Navy Pier. The excitement of the event can be felt on the pier as the top players in the world prepared to play their first matches on the stadium court. The first match up was 12^th seeded Javier Moreno ( Chihuahua Mex) taking on his long time doubles partner, 4^thseeded Alvaro Beltran (Tijuana Mex). This was the match of the evening as the players battled to a fifth game with Beltran coming out on top 7-11, 12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8. The win moved Beltran on to the semi-finals where we will meet #1 ranked Kane Waselenchuk (Edmonton CAN). Waselenchuk advanced by defeating 9^thseeded Chris Crowther (San Diego CA) 11-7, 11-7, 11-4. Beltran has the only win against Waselenchuk this season on the IRT and it should be a great match. On the other side of the draw 3^rdseeded Jack Huczek (Detroit MI) took out 5^thseed Shane Vanderson (Tampa FL) in three straight games 11-3, 11-4, 11-4 to meet up with 2^nd seeded Rocky Carson (Orange County CA) in the other semifinal. Carson make quick measure of 10^thseeded Andy Hawthorne (Champaign IL) 11-0, 11-2, 11-5. Carson and Huczek have battled many times over the past few years and Saturday’s matchup should be no different.

Match times for the Friday semi finals are at 6:30pm and 8:00pm central with the final set for Saturday at 3:00pm. The event today will also feature special guest appearances by Chicago football stars Lance Briggs and Matt Forte as they work alongside Motorola Verizon Wireless and the IRT to help raise funds for Prevent Child Abuse America. The charity benefit runs from 4-6pm and will and will feature various silent auction items and a chance to meet the Briggs and Forte.

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is the governing body of men’s professional racquetball

Dave Negrete IRT Commissioner