February 27, 2022

Québec’s Murray and Lambert Win National Team Selection Event

CALGARY, February 27, 2022 – Samuel Murray and Frédérique Lambert, the top ranked male and female racquetball athletes in Canada, finished on the top of the podium in their respective divisions at the 2022 Winter National Team Selection Event held this weekend in Calgar

Lambert (Montréal) defeated Michèle Morissette (Baie-Comeau) in the Women’s Open final with scores of 8-15, 15-10, 15-6, 15-10. The first game of her set against Morissette was the only game she lost over the weekend.

Samuel Murray (Baie-Comeau) finished first with a win over Coby Iwaasa (Lethbridge) in the Men’s Open division with scores of 15-8, 15-11, 15-14. Although Iwaasa made a strong push, Murray’s experience helped him finish off the match in three games.

Danielle Drury (Saskatoon) took third place in the women’s event with a win over Juliette Parent (St. Jacques) in a match that went the full five games. The two went back and forth before Drury won in the tiebreaker with scores of 11-15, 15-9, 15-11, 13-15, 11-6.

Kurtis Cullen (Brandon) finished in third place in the Men’s Open event. He was to play Trevor Webb (Cambridge) in the 3^rd place match, but Webb forfeited the match.

Twenty-five athletes from across Canada competed in the tournament that ran February 25 and 26 at the Acadian Recreation Complex in Calgary.

The team that will represent Canada at the upcoming Pan Am Championships will be selected using results from the tournament as well as other national selection events held already this year. The championships are being held in Bolivia from April 9 to 16.

The tournament was the first event Racquetball ran using the International Racquetball Federation rule and scoring changes being implemented across Canada. For more information about the changes click here.

Click here for complete draws and results.

Women’s Open Gold Medal Round Results Summary

Gold Medal Match:

(1) Frédérique Lambert (Montreal, QC) defeated (2) Michèle Morissette (Baie-Comeau, QC), 8-15, 15-10,15-6,15-10.

Bronze Medal Match:

(3) Danielle Drury (Saskatoon, SK) defeated (4) Juliette Parent (St. Jacques), 11-15, 15-9, 15-11, 13-15, 11-6.

Semifinals:

(1) Lambert defeated (4) Juliette Parent, 15-3, 15-11, 15-13;
(2) Morissette defeated (3) Drury, 11-15, 11-15, 15-13, 15-12, 11-8.

Quarterfinals:

(1) Lambert defeated (9) Marjolaine Parent (St. Jacques, QC), 15-7, 15-12, 15-2;
(2) Morissette defeated (7) Tamara Wilscam (Repentigny, QC), 15-6, 15-6, 15-9;
(3) Drury defeated (6) Cassie Prentice (Macrorie, SK), 15-8, 15-9, 15-6;
(4) Juliette Parent defeated (5) Alexis Iwaasa (Edmonton, AB), 14-15, 15-12, 15-6, 15-5.

Round of 16:

(1) Lambert – bye;
(2) Morissette – bye;
(3) Drury – bye;
(4) Juliette Parent – bye;
(5) Iwaasa – bye;
(6) Prentice – bye;
(7) Tamara Wilscam defeated (10) Terra Cowen (Prince Albert, SK), 15-8, 15-9, 15-7;
(9) Marjolaine Parent defeated (8) Ofelia Wilscam (Repentigny, QC), 15-4, 15-5, 15-3.

Men’s Open Gold Medal Round Results Summary

Gold Medal Match:

(1) Samuel Murray (Baie-Comeau, QC) defeated (2) Coby Iwaasa (Lethbridge, AB), 15-8, 15-11, 15-14.

Bronze Medal Match:

(5) Kurtis Cullen (Brandon, MB) defeated (3) Trevor Webb (Cambridge, ON), forfeit.

Semifinals:

(1) Murray defeated (5) Cullen, 15-2, 15-7, 11-15, 15-9;
(2) Iwaasa defeated (3) Webb, 15-8, 15-13, 15-7.