World Team Racquetball at the Warhawk Open

By Rob Sabo

World Team Racquetball returns this week at the Warhawk Open in Monroe, La.

Northern Louisiana’s premier racquetball event begins Thursday at the University of Louisiana at Monroe Activity Center. It’s the third iteration of World Team Racquetball, with four professional and multiple amateur teams competing at the Warhawk Open. The four glass-back wall courts at ULM will provide excellent viewing opportunities for team competition, which is a combination of mens’ and mixed doubles.

Professional players from the Dovetail Thunderbolts, KWM Gutterman Racquetball Kingz, Culligan Waterboys and Louisiana Lasers will join top regional amateur players from the Texas Outlaws and Mississippi River Hawgs. Team Dovetail and Dovetail Thunderbolts founder Mike Kinkin said that World Team Racquetball is not about how well players do individually but how well they can work together as a team. Kinkin recently deactivated Team Dovetail to focus on running the WTR for owner and sponsor Keith Minor of KWM Gutterman.

“Keith and I share a vision for World Team Racquetball,” Kinkin said. “With the state of racquetball, we have to offer something the fans can get behind.

“Everyone has their favorite basketball, football and baseball teams,” he added. “If we can create high-level racquetball teams that fans can get behind, then we give fans a new format for racquetball that they can appreciate and support.”

Lalo Portillo, Maria Renee Rodriguez and amateur Jordan Walters are playing for the Dovetail Thunderbolts, while Christina Amaya Cassino, Maurice Miller and amateur Troy Warigon are playing for the Louisiana Lasers. The KWM Gutterman Kingz features Jaime Martell, Naomi Ros and amateur Austin Cunningham, while Robbie Collins, Annie Sanchez and amateur Dylan Pruitt round out team play for the Waterboys.

World Team Racquetball made its first appearance at the 15th annual KWM Gutterman 3WallBall World Outdoor Championships in Las Vegas in 2024. The Dovetail Thunderbolts – Rocky Carson, Lalo Portillo, Andres Acuna, Alexandra Herrera, Montse Mejia and USA Racquetball Hall of Fame coach Fran Davis – won that event. The Thunderbolts also won the second WTR event that was held at the John Pelham Memorial Tournament of Champions in Portland in December.

WTR teams earn points based on the total number of points scored across two games to 15 in mens’ doubles and mixed doubles. Each team consists of three players. The professional teams feature two professionals paired with one top regional open player. The one-serve rule is in effect, and WTR matches at the Warhawk Open will be live-streamed, Kinkin said. 

World Team Racquetball is scheduled for additional tournaments in 2025: the 16th annual Dave Posnack JCC Racquetball Tournament in Davie, Fla. on April 06, and the Irish Open May 2-6. 

IRT touring professional Adam Manilla, who has been sidelined the last two IRT Tier-1 tournaments with a shoulder injury but took the microphone along with Kane Waselenchuk last weekend at the 40th annual PapaNicholas Shamrock Shootout in Lombard, Ill., said he’s excited for the return of team racquetball. Manilla played in the inaugural WTR event in Las Vegas for team Eve Genesis along with Alvaro Beltran, Alan Natera, Carla Munoz and Brenda Laime.

“Racquetball is mostly an individual sport, so it’s fun to bring the team concept to life,” Manilla said. “It allows fans to get more engaged and cheer for a team of their favorite players. The Warhawk Open is a great tournament, and the addition of the WTR is going to make this event even more special. I know many players and fans are excited to see how the team portion of the event unfolds. I’m looking forward to more WTR events and competing in team racquetball again myself.”

World Team Racquetball has contracted since its inception in 2024, but Kinkin is confident the number of teams will expand again as the WTR gains traction among racquetball professionals and fans.

“I think when we show fans that team racquetball works and is fun, we can grow the number of professional teams,” Kinkin said. “It is important to recognize the other original WTR team owners: Abel Perez, Mike Coulter, Mike Martinez and Hank Marcus. They helped lead the WTR to where we are today, and without them, we would still be thinking about this.”