Racquetball Canada – WINNIPEG, April 12, 2017 – Team Canada has finished pool play at the Pan Am Championships and has moved on to the elimination round in singles and doubles. The 2017 Pan Am Championships is being held in San Jose, Costa Rica from April 8 to 15.

Canada’s male athletes were very successful in pool play. In singles events, Mike Green of Hamilton and Samuel Murray of Baie-Comeau went undefeated and finished first in their respective pools. The doubles team of Tim Landeryou of Calgary and Pedro Castro of Brossard also finished at the top of their pool after a perfect round robin record.  

In women’s singles, Jen Saunders of Winnipeg finished second in her pool, winning 2 of her 3 matches. Michéle Morissette of Baie-Comeau had a tough beginning to her tournament and finished last in her pool. Saunders is also playing doubles with Danielle Drury of Saskatoon. They finished third in their pool with one win. 

Results from round robin play are used for seeding in the elimination round. The elimination round begins Wednesday April 12. 

The coaches for Team Canada are Michel Gagnon of Montréal and Rino Langelier of Brossard. 

The Pan Am Championship team was selected based on results from two National Team Selection Events, the 2016 Racquetball Canada Canadian Championships and the International Racquetball Tour and Ladies Pro Racquetball Tour (LPRT) rankings. 

The Pan Am Championships take place annually. Canada has competed in twenty-eight Pan Am Championships since 1994 and has a history of success, winning eighty-five medals including thirteen gold, forty silver and thirty-two bronze.

The event is being live-streamed by the International Racquetball Federation. Links to the draws, results and live-streaming can be found at: www.internationalracquetball.com

 Round Robin Results – 2017 Pan Am Championships

Men’s Singles

Mike Green (CAN) defeated Christian Chavez (ECU),15-3, 15-8;

Green (CAN) defeated Raul Martinez Gutierrez (CUB), 15-2, 15-4;

Green (CAN) defeated Ricardo Gomez (VEN), 15-1, 15-2.

Samuel Murray (CAN) defeated Jose Daniel Ugalde (ECU), 15-4, 9-15, 11-4;

Murray (CAN) defeated Malkel Mollet Suarez (CUB), 15-3, 15-13;

Murray (CAN) defeated Luis Felipe Zea (VEN), 15-10, 15-10.

Women’s Singles

Jenny Diaz (BOLV) defeated Jen Saunders (CAN), 15-5, 15-5;

Saunders (CAN) defeated Paola Guerra (VEN), 15-6, 15-2;

Saunders (CAN) defeated Josefa Parada (CHI), 15-5, 17-7.

Carolina Gomez (COL) defeated Michéle Morissette (CAN), 15-9, 13-15-11;

Mariana Tobon (VEN) defeated Morissette (CAN), 15-4, 15-11;

Merynanyelly Delgado Araujo (DOM) defeated Morissette (CAN), 15-9, 12-15, 9-11.

Men’s Doubles

Tim Landeryou / Pedro Castro (CAN) defeated Shai Manzuri / Fernando Kurzbard (ARG), 15-10, 15-9;

Landeryou / Castro (CAN) defeated Francisco Troncoso / Rodrigo Salgado (CHI), 15-5, 12-15, 11-1;

Launderyou / Castro (CAN) defeated Carlos Medrano / Sergio Ortega (HON), 15-5, 15-3.

Women’s Doubles

Rhonda Rajsich / Sheryl Lotts (USA) defeated Jennifer Saunders / Danielle Drury (CAN), 15-4, 15-4;

Yurisleidis Allue Araujo / Maria Regla Viera (CUB) defeated Saunders / Drury (CAN), 15-11, 15-1;

Saunders / Drury (CAN) defeated Mariana Tobon / Paoloa Guerra (VEN), 15-11, 15-7.

Racquetball Canada is the national sport governing body for the sport of Racquetball in Canada. Along with the support of the Government of Canada and many valued partners, Racquetball Canada develops competitive national teams and oversees programs that grow the sport of racquetball in Canada.

Media Contact:

Jan Hanson

Director of Communications and Marketing

Racquetball Canada Board of Directors

jhanson@accesscomm.ca I 306.502.4422