Jose Rojas (racquetball)

Jose Rojas
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1990-04-27) April 27, 1990 (age 34)
Stockton, California
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Sport
SportRacquetball
College teamDelta College
Turned pro2009
Achievements and titles
Highest world rankingNo. 3
Medal record
Men's Racquetball
Representing  United States
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place Burlington 2014 Singles
Gold medal – first place Santo Domingo 2012 Team
Bronze medal – third place Santo Domingo 2012 Singles
Pan Am Games
Gold medal – first place Toronto 2015 Doubles
Silver medal – second place Toronto 2015 Team
Pan Am Championships
Gold medal – first place Santa Cruz 2014 Singles
Silver medal – second place Santa Cruz 2014 Doubles

Jose Rojas (born April 27, 1990) is a professional racquetball player. Rojas's highest ranking is #3 on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), which he was at the end of the 2011–12 season.[1] At the end of the 2014–15 season, Rojas was #6,[2] which was his sixth time in the IRT top 10 at season's end. Rojas has represented the USA several times in international competition, and been a gold medalist three times.

Professional career

Rojas has two wins on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT). His latest was at the Kansas City Pro-Am in September 2013, when he defeated Rocky Carson in the final, 11–4, 11–5, 9–11, 3–11, 13–11, and more remarkably beat Kane Waselenchuk, in the semi-finals, 2–11, 11–9, 11–8, 11–4, which was Waselenchuk's first loss in a complete match since January 2009.[3]

Rojas's previous win was in February 2012 at the San Diego Open, when he beat Álvaro Beltrán in the final. His only other finals appearance was at the 2013 New York City Pro-Am, which was a loss to Carson, 11–7, 11–9, 11–4.[4]

Rojas had an impressive start to his pro career, as he made it through qualifying in his first IRT event: the 2008 Motorola IRT World Championships in Denver before losing to Álvaro Beltrán in the Round of 16. Later that season, Rojas made the semi-finals at the 2009 California Open before losing to Rocky Carson in four games.[4]

International career

Rojas has been on Team USA six times. Most recently, Rojas competed in the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, where he and Jansen Allen won gold in Men's Doubles by defeating Bolivians Conrrado Moscoso and Roland Keller in the final, 15–8, 15–5. He also was a silver medalist in Toronto in the Team competition.

Also, Rojas won gold in singles at the 2014 Pan American Championships by defeating Andres Parrilla of Mexico in the final, 15–4, 15–11, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia,[5] where he also earned a silver medal in doubles with David Horn after losing the final to Mexicans Daniel De La Rosa and Edson Martinez, 14–15, 15–12, 11–1.[6]

Rojas was part of the American gold medal team at the 16th International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, winning the final for the US by defeating Kris Odegard, 15–14, 15–10, giving the USA a 2–0 win over Canada.[7] Also at the 2012 Worlds, Rojas earned a bronze medal in men's singles by reaching the semi-finals, where he lost to Polo Gutierrez of Mexico, 10–15, 15–12, 11–6.[8]

Rojas was a bronze medalist at the 2014 World Championships in Burlington, Ontario, where he lost to fellow American Rocky Carson, 15–8, 15–12, in the semi-finals.

Rojas's performance at Worlds in 2012 qualified him for the 2013 World Games, where he reached the semi-finals, losing to Gutierrez, 15–9, 8–15, 11–9, and dropping the 3rd place match to Carson, 15–12, 9–15, 11–5.

Rojas's first appearance on Team USA was at the 2008 Pan Am Championships in Costa Rica, where he played singles, losing in the quarter finals to Gutierrez, who was the silver medalist that year.[9]

As a junior player, Rojas won the IRF Junior World Boys U18 title twice, in 2008 and 2009.[10] He's one of only four players to do so, including Sudsy Monchik, Rocky Carson, Jack Huczek and Ben Croft.

USA Competitions

Rojas won the USA Racquetball National Doubles title in 2015 with Allen and 2014 with Carson. In both years, Ben Croft and Tom Fuhrmann were runners up. In 2015, Rojas and Allen defeated Croft and Fuhrmann, 5–15, 15–8, 11–4,[11] and in 2014 Carson and Rojas won the final, 12–15, 15–14, 11–3.[12]

Rojas won the USA Racquetball Boys U18 Championship three times: 2007, 2008 and 2009.[13] He also won the USA Racquetball U18 doubles title in 2008 with Jansen Allen and 2009 with José Serrano.[13]

Rojas attended Delta College and won the USA Racquetball collegiate men's title in 2009 and 2010, and in 2010 also took the doubles title with David Horn.[14]

Rojas is sponsored by Ektelon.

See also

References

  1. ^ Racquetball, The (2013-05-29). "The Racquetball Blog: Final IRT Rankings for 2012-13". Theracquetballblog.blogspot.ca. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  2. ^ "2014-2015 IRT Rankings | IRT Tour". Archived from the original on 2018-08-05. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-09-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ a b "Pro Racquetball Stats Tour Selection Page". Bossconsulting.com. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
  5. ^ "Dropbox – Error" (PDF). Dropbox.[dead link‍]
  6. ^ "Dropbox – Error" (PDF). Dropbox.[dead link‍]
  7. ^ Racquetball Canada. "Press Release". SIRC. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  8. ^ IRF. "IRF Junior World Records". IRF. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  9. ^ PARC. "2008 Pan Am Championship Men's Draw". R2 Sports. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  10. ^ IRF. "IRF Junior World Records". IRF. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Men's Doubles US Team Qualifying Single Elimination - Racquetball - 2015 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships". www.r2sports.com.
  12. ^ "No Draws – Find Racquetball Equipment". www.r2sports.com.
  13. ^ a b USA Racquetball. "USA Racquetball Junior Olympic Champions". USA Racquetball. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  14. ^ The Racquetball Blog (12 April 2010). "USAR Intercollegiate Champions Summary". The Racquetball Blog. Retrieved 22 June 2012.