Since its establishment in 1996, the CSU-Pueblo racquetball team has won every national title. With their most recent victory, they have now taken their 16th NCAA Division I Championship.
Coach Richard Krinsky helped lead the team to the finals that were held in Tempe, Ariz., from March 25-31.
The team’s number one singles player Jansen Allen was the only senior on the team and he beat Oregon State’s Tyler Knoth. Allen won 15-13 in the first game, lost the second 12-15 and took the final match 11-all.
CSU-Pueblo teammate Nick Montalbano was right behind Allen, taking the number two spot in the championship game.
Along with their individual accomplishments, Allen and Montalbano teamed up to win the men’s number one doubles championship, as well.
“I was very happy with our team,” Krinsky said. “We brought eight guys with us and we plan to bring more next year. There are more recruits coming this following year that are good prospects.”
“I have a few players, such as number three singles player Felipe Comacho and number four singles player Jacke Breadenbech that look very impressive and with hard work and practice I believe that they can all be starting at the number one position,” Krinsky said.
Both Breadenbech and Comacho are junior players and are looking to battle on the court for a number one spot and a chance at bringing the national championship and winning their own national title.
Other names that are up for the number one position next year are freshman Jose Centano, who is from Nicaragua, and Matt Childers, who Krinksy said “is a developing player that has much talent.”
Krinsky also said Daniel Orlick, from Evergreen, Colo., has a lot of potential, and there will be three more recruits joining the team from Chihuahua, Mexico, he said
“There’s a connection between that city and our racquetball team that keeps them coming up here and creating a good squad of players,” he said.
The team was also mentioned Monday, April 9, on news channel KOAA which talked about their success and what it means to the university and to the people who attend CSU-Pueblo.
Along with coaching the men’s team, Krinsky plans on trying to recruit for a women’s team that he would like to take to a championship, he said. There has never been a women’s team and he would enjoy the competition from a different league, he said. With new recruits on the way and a plan to form a women’s team next school year, CSU-Pueblo racquetball could see more championships in the future.
Shane Denning • Mar 9, 2013 at 9:49 pm
After reading the school article about racquetball at CSU-Pueblo, I’m very impressed with the Colorado State – Pueblo racquetball program, but I would like to get the facts straight, if I am not mistaken. Colorado State has won many Men’s National titles, but never an Overall Team School National Championship (combined men’s and women’s team scores). CSU-Pueblo has had a women’s team at Nationals for at least two years. Collegiate racquetball is an intercollegiate sport under the USAR governing body, NOT NCAA sanctioned.It would be nice to see more Colorado born/bred student/athletes play for CSU-Pueblo instead of “recruiting” from outside it’s borders. Does CSU offer scholarships and/or any benefits to play at CSU-Pueblo?
Debra Schneider • Apr 24, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Way to go CSU-Pueblo – Congratulations!!!
Hats off to you………CSU Pueblo Today…… for publishing the article……Racquetball is on the move in sports……a game that can be played in competition starting at age 5 yrs. and continuing into later years!!!
Hope to see more on racquetball!!!!