The Vicenza Racquetball Club and Racquetball Italia hosted the Vicenza Winter Shootout at the fitness center on Caserma Ederle Feb. 3-4.
The U.S. Army Garrison Italy Sports, Fitness and Aquatics staff supported the sport event, which is one of the few tournaments in Italy on the European Racquetball Tour.
Players from Italy, Germany, Bolivia (living in Italy), and the United States competed in men's singles, women's singles, and doubles brackets for trophies and, more importantly, bragging rights until the next tournament, according to J.D. Lattuca, Vice President of Racquetball Italia and tournament director.
"We had a great turnout with 16 players," said Lattuca. "Not only did we have the top players from Italy, but also some of our players traveled from as far away as Rome and Bad Tölz, Germany, to play."
Lattuca added that the tournament could not have happened without the support of Directorate of Family and MWR employees.
"We couldn't have done this without the support of Mark Hill and the rest of the fitness center crew," Lattuca added. "They went above and beyond to ensure this tournament was a success."
Lattuca, who works at U.S. Army Africa KMO, claimed the top prize this weekend, defeating Henry Angulo of Bolivia in two games to win the Men's Open title (15-4, 15-1). Lattuca also claimed the Doubles Open title, with doubles partner Carlo Papini of Rome, defeating Donald Forbes and Arturo Doss of the U.S. Army Garrison Italy Fire & Emergency Services (15-14, 15-14).
"Donald (Forbes), Arturo and I play here all the time so we get used to how each other plays," said Lattuca. "These tournaments force us to up our level of play and focus on beating top level players from other clubs."
Marco Arnoldi, president of Racquetball Italia, called this weekend's event one of the best on the European Racquetball Tour. "What a great weekend of play! Racquetball is already a great cardio workout, and tournament racquetball is intense. You better be in shape if you're going to play in a tournament like this."
On the women's side, Bolivian Mabel Vela defeated her good friend and fellow Bolivian, Vianca Torrico, in two games (15-7, 15-3) to claim the Women's Open title.
Racquetball Italia and the Vicenza Racquetball Club will host its next tournament, the Italian Nationals (Campionato Nazionale Italiano), which will also take place April 21-22 at the Ederle fitness center.
Complete Results:
Men's Open Final: J.D. Lattuca (USA) def. Henry Angulo (BOL) 15-4, 15-1; Third/Forth Place: Donald Forbes (USA) & Gabe O'Connor (USA)
Doubles Final: J.D. Lattuca (USA) / Carlo Papini (ITA) def. Donald Forbes (USA) / Arturo Doss (USA) 15-14, 15-14; Third/Forth Place: Peter Zuber (GER) / Thomas Zuber (GER) & Henry Angulo (BOL) / Marco Arnoldi (ITA)
Women's Open Final: Mabel Vela (BOL) def. Vianca Torrico (BOL) 15-7, 15-3
(Article contributed by J.D. Lattuca)
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