“CONGRATULATIONS…Wayne Antone, Jordan Cooperrider and Mitchell Turner who are ALL 2017 Junior National Champions and Qualified for the USA Jr. National Team”
Coach Fran Davis w her Racquetball Family…The Antone’s, The Cooperrider’s, The Turner’s, Kevin Vasquez and Felix Hernandez. One Happy Family over the years.
My “Junior Championship Racquetball Team,” led by Wayne, Jordan and Mitchell went to the Junior National Championships in Stockton, CA on a mission to bring home some hardware and they all did just that…3 Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal. Wayne, Jordan and Mitchell are now members of the USA Junior National Racquetball Team. They all walked away with a one-year appointment to the USA Junior National Team. They will all be going to the United States Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in August to train for the 44th IRF Junior World Championships in the Minneapolis, MN in November.
National Champions, Wayne Antone Boy’s 18 and Jordan Cooperrider Girl’s 18, w Coach Fran Davis after sweet back to back victories.
Wayne Antone & Jordan Cooperrider won top 18 & under singles divisions
HEAD Penn’s Wayne Antone (Eugene, OR.) is the latest addition to the HEAD team and didn’t disappoint in his Junior Olympic debut wearing the famed HEAD ski tip logo. Antone captured the Boy’s 18 & Under Singles National Title in Stockton by beating Justice Benson in the semi-finals in 2 games and Daniel Rojas in an 11-10 victory in the tie-breaker after being down 4-9 in the breaker. It was the match of the tournament. At the event’s award ceremony, Wayne was named the 2017 USA Racquetball Male Junior Player of the Year.
Jordan Cooperrider (Palm Harbor, FL.) successfully defended her Girl’s 18 & Under Singles National Title from a
year ago. The back-to-back effort pushed Jordan’s number of career Junior National Titles to 16. In the Girl’s 18 &
Mitchell Turner and Coach Fran Davis celebrate winning the Boys 16 Doubles National Title.
Under Doubles division she finished second. Cooperrider was the female recipient of USA Racquetball’s 2017 Collegiate Scholarship.
Mitchell Turner (Salem, OR) won the Boy’s 16 & U Doubles National Title. Mitchell and his partner, Julian, had a great come from behind semi-finals win. They squeaked it out 11-10 in the tie-breaker after being down match point, 8-10, and had to fight off 3 match points before inching their way to a victory.
My Jr. Championship Team, Wayne Antone, Jordan Cooperrider and Mitchell Turner, w Me 1st night of tourney.
*Wayne, Jordan and Mitchell I am VERY PROUD of your accomplishments and how hard you all worked this year to make your dream a reality. Glad I am a part of your journey to your “championship game.”
**But remember as I used to tell Jason Mannino all the time, “It is easier to become #1, then to stay #1, as everyone is gunning for you.”
***All USAR Jr. national Championship matches are on line at USAR.org
Rocky Carson is preparing for the WOR Championship held in Marina Park in Huntington Beach, CA July 6-10. The WOR Championships is the biggest of all the Outdoor Racquetball events as well as having the most players, and the top pro’s from WOR, IRT, LPRT AND THE CPRT.
Rocky is WOR 2017 Doubles Champion.
Enjoy your journey to your “championship game,” like my “championship team.”
