A Racquetball Champion in the Making: Jose Rojas

Jose Rojas, Stockton, CA, just finished winning the 18 and under Boys Gold division at the 2009 USAR Junior Olympic Racquetball Championship in dominating fashion.  He didn’t lose a game through the whole singles draw.

This up and coming junior sensation is the talk of the racquetball world as one to watch. He is above and beyond the rest of the up and coming future players.

The 2008/2009 season was a strong indication of where this young player is headed.  He has beaten top pro racquetball players including #5 on the International Racquetball Tour Jason Mannino, #6 on IRT Shane Vanderson,   #14 on IRT  Travis Woodbury, #15 on IRT Hiroshi Shimizu, #18 on IRT Anthony Herrera,  and #21 on the IRT Tony Carson.  This kid is the real deal.

What can a junior racquetball sensation player really understand that helps him compete at the Professional Level? Jose says that he needs a good ceiling game to compete in the Pro’s.

“Having a good ceiling ball game which I know I need in the pros. The biggest difference that made was it taught me to be patient and take my shot when it was necessary and not to force them. I used to be very aggressive and always went for the kill no matter where I was.” Jose Continues, “Hitting a good ceiling ball helped me be patient, force my opponent out of the middle, forced him to take a tough shot or hit a ceiling ball right back, then hit the shot I want to hit.”

In March, Jose won the 2009 USAR National Intercollegiate Championships as a freshman playing for Delta College.

As an amateur, Jose Rojas is ranked sixth in the United States Racquetball Association ranking.  His match record since June 2007 is 51 wins and only 10 losses in sanctioned events.   One of the losses came due to forfeit so that he could focus on his pro draw that he would have won a match or so and he could be prepared and not out of energy.

In 2007 Jose Rojas was recognized by SI LATINO, a Spanish version of Sports Illustrated, for his accomplishments at the 2007 Junior Olympics where he won both the boys 16 and under and the boys 18 and under divisions.

Jose comes from a state that takes their junior racquetball very serious.  California, Oregon, and Missouri are the top three states when it comes to competitive junior racquetball participation.  When I asked Jose what does he sees the future looking like for California Junior Racquetball he doesn’t hesitate to say very positive things:

“California is actually hosting many one day shootouts for fundraising for California Junior racquetball. I see it possibly growing and getting stronger just because we have so many resources we have here such as John, I, and many other people who are willing to help the Juniors get better at the sport.” Rojas continues ,“As of right now, our Junior program is stronger than ever and is just getting stronger with my younger brother Marco, who won the 16’s, coming up Jose Diaz who took second place, my little cousin Antonio Rojas who just won the 6s and 8s, and many more (too many to name).”

Jose Rojas is a product of what California Junior Racquetball is putting out there and he is definitely one to watch.