Kane Waselenchuk
Encyclopedia
Kane Waselenchuk is a professional racquetball
player from Edmonton
, Alberta
, Canada
. Waselenchuk finished the 2010-11 season as the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour
(IRT) for the 6th time. He was undefeated on court in 2010-11, with only a default loss due to illness. It was the second season he'd been undefeated on court. No other men's professional racquetball player has gone through a season undefeated. Waselenchuk, a left-handed player, has dominated the IRT for the last three seasons.
, and done that in only 96 tournament appearances for a remarkable tournament winning rate of 56.3%.
Waselenchuk won his first IRT
tournament in the 2001-02 season, which was his first year on the IRT
full time. That year he finished #4 in the IRT rankings, was #2 the following year, and then #1 at season's end in three consecutive seasons from 2003-04 to 2005-06.
Waselenchuk has won seven US Open Racquetball Championships
, pro racquetball's most prestigious event, which is more than any other player (Sudsy Monchik
is second with four US Open titles). He won it from 2003 to 2005 and from 2008 to 2011.
in the semi-finals of the California Open in January 2009. He regained the US Open title - his fourth, although did lose some games on the road to the final, including two in a tie-breaker win over Beltran. Waselenchuk finishes as the #1 IRT player for the fourth time, although he did miss three events.
Waselenchuk won 9 of the 10 IRT
events in the 2009-10 season - defeating Jack Huczek
in six finals and Rocky Carson
in two, and Ben Croft
in another. He won 102 games and lost only 3, and did not face a tie-breaking 5th game in any match. The only tournament Waselenchuk did not win was one he missed due to illness. In October, he won his 5th US Open
title setting a new mark for most US Open titles by a man, passing Sudsy Monchik
's 4 titles, and did not lose a game in winning the title.
In 2010-11, Waslenchuk won 12 IRT events, including a 6th US Open
victory. He played Mexican Alvaro Beltran
in that final, and Beltran won the first game, which was the first time Waselenchuk had lost a game in a US Open final. Waselenchuk entered the 2011 New York City Pro-Am, but withdrew due to illness prior to his semi-final with Jack Huczek
.
Waselenchuk has won the first three events of the 2011-12 IRT season, including a 7th US Open
title which is the most by any player. Waselenchuk defeated Rocky Carson
in the US Open final, as well as the Kansas City Pro-Am final, which was the first tournament of the season. Waselenchuk defeated Chris Crowther to win the Red Swaine Shootout, the 3rd tournament of the 2011-12 IRT season.
In 2004-05, Waselenchuk continues his dominance of the IRT by winning 8 of the 12 tournaments he enters, including the 2004 US Open, the second of his career. In the US Open final he only gives up four points to former IRT #1 Cliff Swain
, winning 11-1, 11-3, 11-0. The 0 or donut is the first time a player has held his opponent scoreless in a US Open final. Waselenchuk successfully retains the season ending #1 ranking on the IRT.
In 2005-06, Waselenchuk won 4 of the 10 IRT main events this season, including a third straight US Open title, when he again beat Swain in the final, but this time by scores of 11-5, 12-10, 12-10, and finished #1 at season's end.
in five games. Then in October he played in his first US Open and upset defending champion Jason Mannino
in the Round of 32 before falling in the quarters that year to Alvaro Beltran
.
Waselenchuk won his first IRT tournament in October 2001 a few weeks short of his 20th birthday, defeating John Ellis in the final of the Chicago event. He finished #4 in his first full season on the IRT. Waselenchuk improved to a #2 season ending ranking in 2002-03 (behind only Jason Mannino
), winning 3 of the 5 finals he was in that season.
. In those appearances, Waselenchuk won gold once (in singles at the 2002 Pan American Championships), silver twice (both at the Pan American Championships; one in singles in 2001 and one in doubles with Brian Istace in 1999), and bronze twice (both at the World Championships, in 2002 in singles and in 1998 in doubles with Mike Green
).
Waselenchuk won the Canadian Championship three consecutive years, from 1999-2001. He also won the doubles title in 2001 with Brian Istace.
Waselenchuk would have won a fourth title in 2006, but following the final match in which he defeated Mike Green
, Waselenchuk failed a drug test after winning the Canadian Nationals. That positive test led to a two year suspension from racquetball, so Waselenchuk did not play in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 IRT seasons.
racquetball player in her own right, though most of her success has come through doubles, including her Worlds titles. They have two daughters, and reside in Austin
, Texas
.
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
player from Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Waselenchuk finished the 2010-11 season as the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour
International Racquetball Tour
The International Racquetball Tour is the professional series that features the world's best racquetball players and the most important pro events, mostly played in the USA....
(IRT) for the 6th time. He was undefeated on court in 2010-11, with only a default loss due to illness. It was the second season he'd been undefeated on court. No other men's professional racquetball player has gone through a season undefeated. Waselenchuk, a left-handed player, has dominated the IRT for the last three seasons.
Professional career
Waselenchuk has won 54 IRT tournaments through the 2011 US OpenUS Open Racquetball Championships
The US Open racquetball championship is widely acknowledged as the premier professional racquetball event. It is a Grand Slam event with men and women competing from the International Racquetball Tour and Women's Professional Racquetball Organization, respectively. It also includes divisions for...
, and done that in only 96 tournament appearances for a remarkable tournament winning rate of 56.3%.
Waselenchuk won his first IRT
International Racquetball Tour
The International Racquetball Tour is the professional series that features the world's best racquetball players and the most important pro events, mostly played in the USA....
tournament in the 2001-02 season, which was his first year on the IRT
International Racquetball Tour
The International Racquetball Tour is the professional series that features the world's best racquetball players and the most important pro events, mostly played in the USA....
full time. That year he finished #4 in the IRT rankings, was #2 the following year, and then #1 at season's end in three consecutive seasons from 2003-04 to 2005-06.
Waselenchuk has won seven US Open Racquetball Championships
US Open Racquetball Championships
The US Open racquetball championship is widely acknowledged as the premier professional racquetball event. It is a Grand Slam event with men and women competing from the International Racquetball Tour and Women's Professional Racquetball Organization, respectively. It also includes divisions for...
, pro racquetball's most prestigious event, which is more than any other player (Sudsy Monchik
Sudsy Monchik
Sudsy Monchik , is an American racquetball player. As a five-time Pro World Champion, Monchik is considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of the sport. Monchik was known for his power and speed, as well as his shot-making ability, especially his backhand, which many believed...
is second with four US Open titles). He won it from 2003 to 2005 and from 2008 to 2011.
Recent Seasons 2008-09 to present
In 2008-09, Waselenchuk went 49-1, with the only loss to Alvaro BeltranAlvaro Beltran
Alvaro Beltrán , is a Mexican professional racquetball player. Beltrán was ranked fourth on the International Racquetball Tour at the end of the 2008-09 season during which Beltrán was the only player to beat Kane Waselenchuk, who was the #1 player that season...
in the semi-finals of the California Open in January 2009. He regained the US Open title - his fourth, although did lose some games on the road to the final, including two in a tie-breaker win over Beltran. Waselenchuk finishes as the #1 IRT player for the fourth time, although he did miss three events.
Waselenchuk won 9 of the 10 IRT
International Racquetball Tour
The International Racquetball Tour is the professional series that features the world's best racquetball players and the most important pro events, mostly played in the USA....
events in the 2009-10 season - defeating Jack Huczek
Jack Huczek
Jack Huczek is an American professional racquetball player. Huczek was the #1 men's professional player at the end of the 2006-2007 International Racquetball Tour season, and was #3 at the end of the 2008-09 season. Retired from Professional Racquetball on May 24, 2011...
in six finals and Rocky Carson
Rocky Carson
Rocky Carson is an American professional racquetball player . Carson is the current racquetball World Champion, a title he also won in 2008. Carson was the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour at the end of the 2007-08 season., and finished ranked 3rd at the end of the 2009-10 season...
in two, and Ben Croft
Ben Croft
Ben Croft is a professional racquetball player . Croft was the #6 player on the International Racquetball Tour at the end of the 2009-10 season, which was a career high and the fourth season he'd finished in the IRT's top 10 players. A native of Illinois, the right handed Croft has an aggressive...
in another. He won 102 games and lost only 3, and did not face a tie-breaking 5th game in any match. The only tournament Waselenchuk did not win was one he missed due to illness. In October, he won his 5th US Open
US Open Racquetball Championships
The US Open racquetball championship is widely acknowledged as the premier professional racquetball event. It is a Grand Slam event with men and women competing from the International Racquetball Tour and Women's Professional Racquetball Organization, respectively. It also includes divisions for...
title setting a new mark for most US Open titles by a man, passing Sudsy Monchik
Sudsy Monchik
Sudsy Monchik , is an American racquetball player. As a five-time Pro World Champion, Monchik is considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of the sport. Monchik was known for his power and speed, as well as his shot-making ability, especially his backhand, which many believed...
's 4 titles, and did not lose a game in winning the title.
In 2010-11, Waslenchuk won 12 IRT events, including a 6th US Open
US Open Racquetball Championships
The US Open racquetball championship is widely acknowledged as the premier professional racquetball event. It is a Grand Slam event with men and women competing from the International Racquetball Tour and Women's Professional Racquetball Organization, respectively. It also includes divisions for...
victory. He played Mexican Alvaro Beltran
Alvaro Beltran
Alvaro Beltrán , is a Mexican professional racquetball player. Beltrán was ranked fourth on the International Racquetball Tour at the end of the 2008-09 season during which Beltrán was the only player to beat Kane Waselenchuk, who was the #1 player that season...
in that final, and Beltran won the first game, which was the first time Waselenchuk had lost a game in a US Open final. Waselenchuk entered the 2011 New York City Pro-Am, but withdrew due to illness prior to his semi-final with Jack Huczek
Jack Huczek
Jack Huczek is an American professional racquetball player. Huczek was the #1 men's professional player at the end of the 2006-2007 International Racquetball Tour season, and was #3 at the end of the 2008-09 season. Retired from Professional Racquetball on May 24, 2011...
.
Waselenchuk has won the first three events of the 2011-12 IRT season, including a 7th US Open
US Open Racquetball Championships
The US Open racquetball championship is widely acknowledged as the premier professional racquetball event. It is a Grand Slam event with men and women competing from the International Racquetball Tour and Women's Professional Racquetball Organization, respectively. It also includes divisions for...
title which is the most by any player. Waselenchuk defeated Rocky Carson
Rocky Carson
Rocky Carson is an American professional racquetball player . Carson is the current racquetball World Champion, a title he also won in 2008. Carson was the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour at the end of the 2007-08 season., and finished ranked 3rd at the end of the 2009-10 season...
in the US Open final, as well as the Kansas City Pro-Am final, which was the first tournament of the season. Waselenchuk defeated Chris Crowther to win the Red Swaine Shootout, the 3rd tournament of the 2011-12 IRT season.
Middle Seasons 2003-04 to 2005-2006
Waselenchuk begins to dominate the IRT in 2003-04, when he wins 6 of 13 IRT events, including his first US Open title, and he finishes as the #1 IRT player for the first time.In 2004-05, Waselenchuk continues his dominance of the IRT by winning 8 of the 12 tournaments he enters, including the 2004 US Open, the second of his career. In the US Open final he only gives up four points to former IRT #1 Cliff Swain
Cliff Swain
Cliff Swain is the player with the most tournament wins in professional racquetball history. He began playing the pro tour - International Racquetball Tour - in the 1980s and continued doing so into the 2000s. Known for his great drive serve and on court intensity, the left-handed Swain was a...
, winning 11-1, 11-3, 11-0. The 0 or donut is the first time a player has held his opponent scoreless in a US Open final. Waselenchuk successfully retains the season ending #1 ranking on the IRT.
In 2005-06, Waselenchuk won 4 of the 10 IRT main events this season, including a third straight US Open title, when he again beat Swain in the final, but this time by scores of 11-5, 12-10, 12-10, and finished #1 at season's end.
Early Seasons 2000-01 to 2002-2003
In his first tournament in April 2000 at age 18, Waselenchuk made it to the quarter finals before falling to Cliff SwainCliff Swain
Cliff Swain is the player with the most tournament wins in professional racquetball history. He began playing the pro tour - International Racquetball Tour - in the 1980s and continued doing so into the 2000s. Known for his great drive serve and on court intensity, the left-handed Swain was a...
in five games. Then in October he played in his first US Open and upset defending champion Jason Mannino
Jason Mannino
Jason Mannino, born January 28, 1975, is an American racquetball player. Mannino was the #1 player at the end of the 2002-2003 International Racquetball Tour season, and was ranked fifth at the end of the 2008-09 IRT season....
in the Round of 32 before falling in the quarters that year to Alvaro Beltran
Alvaro Beltran
Alvaro Beltrán , is a Mexican professional racquetball player. Beltrán was ranked fourth on the International Racquetball Tour at the end of the 2008-09 season during which Beltrán was the only player to beat Kane Waselenchuk, who was the #1 player that season...
.
Waselenchuk won his first IRT tournament in October 2001 a few weeks short of his 20th birthday, defeating John Ellis in the final of the Chicago event. He finished #4 in his first full season on the IRT. Waselenchuk improved to a #2 season ending ranking in 2002-03 (behind only Jason Mannino
Jason Mannino
Jason Mannino, born January 28, 1975, is an American racquetball player. Mannino was the #1 player at the end of the 2002-2003 International Racquetball Tour season, and was ranked fifth at the end of the 2008-09 IRT season....
), winning 3 of the 5 finals he was in that season.
International and Canadian competitions
Waselenchuk has played for Canada eight times: at the 1998, 2000 and 2002 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships, 1999-2002 Pan American Championships as well as the 1999 Pan American GamesPan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
. In those appearances, Waselenchuk won gold once (in singles at the 2002 Pan American Championships), silver twice (both at the Pan American Championships; one in singles in 2001 and one in doubles with Brian Istace in 1999), and bronze twice (both at the World Championships, in 2002 in singles and in 1998 in doubles with Mike Green
Mike Green (racquetball)
Mike Green is a Canadian racquetball player from Burlington, Ontario. Green is the current Canadian Men's Singles and Doubles Champion, winning both titles in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia in May 2011.- Professional career :...
).
Waselenchuk won the Canadian Championship three consecutive years, from 1999-2001. He also won the doubles title in 2001 with Brian Istace.
Waselenchuk would have won a fourth title in 2006, but following the final match in which he defeated Mike Green
Mike Green (racquetball)
Mike Green is a Canadian racquetball player from Burlington, Ontario. Green is the current Canadian Men's Singles and Doubles Champion, winning both titles in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia in May 2011.- Professional career :...
, Waselenchuk failed a drug test after winning the Canadian Nationals. That positive test led to a two year suspension from racquetball, so Waselenchuk did not play in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 IRT seasons.
Personal
Waselenchuk is married to American Kim Russell, who is a three time World ChampionRacquetball World Championships
The World Racquetball Championships, organized by the International Racquetball Federation , were first held in 1981. The second World Championships were in 1984, and have been held every two years since.The World Championships have two parts...
racquetball player in her own right, though most of her success has come through doubles, including her Worlds titles. They have two daughters, and reside in Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.