New Hampshire Juniors participate in National Championships

Jonathan Alvarado, Bedford won the 18 and under Red Division of the Junior Racquetball Championships which were held this past weekend in E. Lansing, MI.

Alvarado, playing in the Red Division of the Olympic Format after a tough

loss in the Gold Division on Friday, defeated players from West Bend, WI,

Elkridge, MD, and Canby, OR to annex the Gold Medal.

This was Alvarado’s final year of competition in the Junior Nationals.

In the 12 and under, Gold Division, Ryan Francis, Litchfield, NH battled his

way to the Quarterfinals before losing to the eventual Champion from Findlay, OR, Spencer Shoemaker. Francis then defeated  Jake Birnel, Bellingham, WA in the third place match, 15-8, 15-5 to take the Bronze Medal in the Gold Division.

In the Doubles division of the Boys 12 and Under, Francis teamed up with Birnel. The two youngsters battled their way to the Semi- Final before getting upended by Deryk Way, Huron, OH and Jesse Mendoza, Tuscon, AZ.

Francis and  Birnel  then went on to play a third place match and defeated Derek Lynn, Odenton, MD and Thomas Carter, Murrysville, PA in a two game sweep 15-4, 15-7 to take home a Bronze Medal.

Chris Francis, Litchfield, NH  playing in the Boy’s 14 and under division  lost

eventual champion Zachary Wertz, Kenner, LA 15-11, 15-3 in the third round of the Gold Division. Francis then teamed with partner Sam Zeng and fought their way into the second round before losing  to Nicholas Riffel, Loveland, CO and Sam Reid, Portland OR.

Daniel Fishbien, Barrington, NH  playing in the Boys 12 and under lost in the first round of the Gold Division to Zachary Dalmeida, Harrison Twp, MI in a thrilling match by scores of 15 – 10, 15-14. Fishbien then played in the Red Division under the Olympic format and battled his way to the Quarterfinals before losing to Thomas Thorndike, Medford, OR. In the Doubles Fishbien teamed up with Matt Macadam, Englewood, CA losing to  Wray, Mendoza 15-5, 15-8 in the first round.