Team Texas Represents at 2021 U.S. Open

John Casey, San Antonio, TX

The very first time I decided to buy a plane ticket, to really travel to a racquetball tournament, it was for this year’s U.S. Open in Minneapolis, MN. I’d been told by several friends that if I’d ever wanted to, this was the year I should go. After all, it was the 25th Anniversary of the event and the main sponsor, United Healthcare, would not be guaranteed to return after 2021. Throw in the fact that Covid had pretty much decimated the tournament schedule the entire year prior, and it was a no-brainer.

I expected the Open to be amazing—I’d heard so many stories—and it exceeded my expectations. To be fully immersed in the world of racquetball, and at such a scale, was eye-opening. The atmosphere was Olympics-esque. But what made it truly worthwhile and that much more enjoyable was the massive contingent of players from Texas, many of whom I know and am friends with, who also attended. All the usual suspects from the whole state were there...

Of the 707 players registered, 61 hailed from the Lonestar State. And let’s not forget that the U.S. Open is an international tournament. If you subtract the 93 international entries, Texas competitors represented fully 10 percent of the entire U.S. showing. Being able to watch all the top pros AND your friends play at the most prestigious and largest tournament in the world—it was, simply put, a truly amazing and fulfilling experience.

And how did we do???

Kane Waselenchuk: 4th Place, Men’s Singles Pro

Michael Perez:  4th Place, Men’s Singles Elite

Kyle Artman:  2nd Place, Men’s Singles 25/35 C

Sam Hojat:  3rd Place, Men’s Singles 30+ Open

David Karam:  4th Place, Men’s Singles 35+ A

Juan Quevedo:  2nd Place, Men’s Singles 50+ Open

Paul Julbes:  3rd Place, Men’s Singles 50+ Open

Ryan Rowlands:  1st Place, Men’s Singles 55+ A

Vidyanand Kalap:  4th Place, Men’s Singles 55+ B

Tyrone Gilmore:  1st Place, Men’s singles 60+ Open

James Jones:  1st Place, Men’s singles 65+ Open

Dane Crisp:  4th Place, Men’s singles 65+ Open

Don Scales:  4th Place, Men’s Singles 70+ Open

George Bustos/Ross Smith:  1st Place, Men’s Doubles 55+ Open

Glenn Martineau/Jody Morris:  3rd Place, Men’s Doubles 55+ Open

Rick Williams: 3rd Place, Men’s Doubles 65/75+ Open

David Mendoza/John Casey: 4th Place, Men’s Doubles Centurion+ Open

Gary Durbin/Luis Villarreal:  3rd Place, Men’s Doubles Centurion+ A

Luis Villarreal/Tom Oaks:  4th Place, Men’s Doubles Centurion+ B

Glenn Martineau/Tyrone Gilmore:  2nd Place, Men’s Doubles Super Centurion+ Open

Dane Crisp/Darjon Bittner:  4th Place, Men’s Doubles Super Centurion+ Open

Sandy Rios:  2nd Place, Women’s Doubles Centurion+ Open

Garrett Tyler/Linda Tyler:  3rd Place, Mixed Doubles Open

Sandy Rios:  2nd Place, Mixed Doubles Centurion+ Open

Paul Julbes:  1st Place, Men’s Singles Heroes Open

Glenn Martineau:  2nd Place, Men’s Singles Heroes Open

Tyrone Gilmore:  3rd Place, Men’s Singles Heroes Open

Richard Eisemann:  4th Place, Men’s Singles Heroes Open

Dave Peck:  1st Place, Men’s Doubles – Legends

Not bad at all. And while I’m at it, on principle I’ll go ahead and claim Daniel De La Rosa and his 1st Place finishes in Men’s Pro Singles and Men’s Pro Doubles, since he’s been training regularly at my home club, the Thousand Oaks YMCA in San Antonio...

That about sums it up, I think. We came to town in a big way and left our mark, Texas style. I’m so glad I decided to go—and I will be going back!