Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nationality | American | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Colorado | February 1, 1998|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Racquetball | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Erika Manilla (born February 1, 1998) is an American racquetball player. Manilla is the current Pan American Games Champion in Mixed Doubles, winning gold with her brother Adam at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. [1] She also won doubles at the 2022 US Open Racquetball Championships with Natalia Mendez, and has won six USA Racquetball (USAR) National titles (2 singles, 3 doubles, 1 mixed doubles).
Manilla grew up in Centennial, Colorado. Manilla holds a B.S. in biomedical sciences from the Northern Arizona University.
Manilla reached the Girls U14 Singles semi-finals at the 2012 World Juniors in Los Angeles, where she lost to Natalia Mendez of Bolivia, 15–5, 15–4. [2] She played Girls U14 Doubles that year with Jordan Cooperrider, and they finished 3rd in a six team round robin competition. [3]
In Sucre, Bolivia, in 2013, Manilla lost in the quarterfinals of Girls U14 Singles to team-mate Jordan Cooperrider, 15–12, 15–9. [4] Manilla and Cooperrider played doubles together and finished 2nd to Mexicans Montserrat Mejia and Andrea Ramirez in a seven team round robin competition. [5]
At the 2014 World Junior Championships in Cali, Colombia, Manilla lost in the quarterfinals of Girls U16 Singles to Costa Rican Melania Sauma, 15–5, 15–7. [6] he again teamed up with Cooperrider for Girls U16 Doubles, and they lost to Sauma and Sofia Soley in the semi-finals, 15–6, 15–13. [7]
Manilla played at the 2015 World Junior Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she lost in the quarterfinals of Girls U16 Singles to Gabriela Martinez, 15–11, 15–9. [8] Manilla and Jordan Cooperrider won Girls U16 Doubles, going undefeated in a five team round robin competition. [9]
Manilla won Girls U18 Singles at the 2016 World Junior Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where she beat Melania Sauma of Costa Rica, 15–3, 15–13, in the final after defeating team-mate Jordan Cooperrider in the semi-finals, 15–9, 13–15, 11–7. [10] She and Cooperrider were 2nd in doubles to Guatemalan sisters Andrea and Gabriela Martinez. [11]
The 2016 USAR National Singles Championships were in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, close to Manilla's home, so she played in them, losing in the quarterfinals to Cheryl Gudinas, 15–12, 8–15, 11–4. [12]
Manilla went to college at Northern Arizona University, and represented them in the 2017 USAR Intercollegiate Championships in Fountain Valley, California, where she and Erin Boadway defeated Carla Muñoz and Samantha Baker of Colorado State at Pueblo to win Women's Doubles, 15–10, 15–12. [13] In singles, Manilla lost in the semi-finals to Melania Sauma of Arizona State University, 3–15, 15–5, 11–9. [14]
Manilla teamed up with Jackie Paraiso for the 2018 USAR National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona. They lost in the semi-finals to Kelani Bailey and Sharon Jackson, 15–2, 15–14. [15]
At the 2018 USAR Intercollegiate Championships, Manilla lost in the final to Carla Muñoz (Colorado State at Pueblo), 15–9, 15–8, after beating Lexi York (Oregon State) in the semi-finals, 15–7, 14–15, 11–8, [16] but she and Erin Boadway successfully defended their doubles title by defeating York and Natalie Lorati in final, 14–15, 15–10, 11–8. [17]
Manilla played in the 2018 USAR National Singles Championships in Pleasanton, California, where she lost to Sheryl Lotts in the quarterfinals, 15–7, 15–8. [18]
In 2019, Manilla teamed up with Hollie Scott for the USAR National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona, where they lost to Danielle Maddux and Michelle De La Rosa, 15–9, 15–10, in the quarterfinals. [19]
Manilla represented Northern Arizona at the 2019 USAR Intercollegiate Championships in Tempe, Arizona, where she finished 3rd in singles, after losing to Hollie Scott (Washington) in the semi-finals, 15–9, 15–4, and then defeating Melania Sauma (Arizona State), 15–5, 4–15, 11–4, in the 3rd place match. [20] In doubles, Manilla played with Lindsay Briglia, and they lost in the semi-finals to Brenda Laime and Adriana Riveros (Colorado State at Pueblo), 15–13, 15–2, and lost the 3rd place match to Elyse Duffie and Elena Robles (Purdue), 15–6, 2–15, 11–4. [21]
Manilla was in the draw for the 2019 USAR National Singles Championships in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, but she forfeited her first match against Cheryl Gudinas in the quarterfinals. [22]
Manilla played one or two Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour events a season from 2014 to 2020, and never made it past the Round of 32. [23]
At the 2020 USA Racquetball National Doubles Championships in Tempe, Arizona, Manilla won Women's Doubles with Aimee Ruiz, as they defeated Hollie Scott and Lexi York in the final, 15–6, 15–9. [24] There was also a US Team qualifying singles event in Tempe, and Manilla defeated Rhonda Rajsich, 15–3, 12–15, 11–7, in the semi-finals, but lost in the final to Scott, 15–5, 9–15, 11–9. [25] The doubles win should have put Manilla on Team USA for the 2020 World Championships, but then the COVID-19 pandemic happened, and international racquetball events were cancelled or suspended.
At the 2021 USA Racquetball National Team qualifying event in Des Moines, Iowa, Manilla lost in the semi-finals of Women's Singles to Kelani Lawrence, 15–13, 15–6, and then won the 3rd place match against Hollie Scott, 15–14, 15–11. [26] She won Women's Doubles with Rhonda Rajsich, as they beat Michelle De La Rosa and Sheryl Lotts, in the final, 15–8, 15–14. [27]
Manilla began to play the LPRT full time in 2021, but in three events still hadn't made it past the Round of 32. [28] Thus, it was a surprise when she reached the semi-finals of the 2021 US Open. Manilla defeated Montserrat Mejia, 15–9, 13–15, 11–3, in the Round of 32, Micaela Meneses, 14–15, 15–12, 11–6, in the Round of 16, Gabriela Martinez, 6–15, 15–5, 11–4, in the quarterfinals, before losing to Paola Longoria in the semi-finals, 15–13, 15–10. [29]
Her doubles win at national team qualifying put Manilla on Team USA for the 2021 Racquetball World Championships in Guatemala, where she played Women's Doubles with Rhonda Rajsich. They reached the final by defeating Argentina's Valeria Centellas and Natalia Mendez, 6–15, 15–9, 11–8, in the semi-finals, but lost to Mexicans Paola Longoria and Samantha Salas, 15–14, 15–6, in the final. [30]
She made her second pro semi-final in the 2021–22 LPRT season at the 2022 Vero Beach Open, where Manilla lost to Paola Longoria, 15–11, 15–6. [31] These results helped Manilla finish No. 6 at season's end. [23]
Manilla played at the 2022 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. She and Rhonda Rajsich reached the semi-finals by beating Colombians Cristina Amaya and Maria Paz Riquelme, 15–9, 15–5, 15–11, but lost in the semis to Argentina's Natalia Mendez and Maria Jose Vargas, 15–11, 12–15, 15–14, 15–14. [32] Manilla played Mixed Doubles with Alejandro Landa, losing in the semi-finals to Mexicans Rodrigo Montoya and Samantha Salas, as Landa was assessed three technical faults, resulting a match forfeit. [33]
Manilla won the 2022 USA Racquetball National Women's Singles title [34] by defeating Rhonda Rajsich in the final, 11–7, 11–8, 11–1. [35] She played doubles with Aimee Roehler, and they lost in the final to Kelani Lawrence and Hollie Scott, 11–6, 11–4, 8–11, 11–8, in the final, after beating Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich in the semi-finals, 11–8, 11–7, 13–11. [36] Manilla played Mixed Doubles with her brother Adam Manilla, and they lost to Michelle De La Rosa and Alejandro Landa in the final, 5–11, 11–4, 11–9, 12–10. [37]
At the 2022 Racquetball World Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Manilla played Women's Singles, losing to Bolivian Angélica Barrios in the quarterfinals, 11–6, 11–9, 5–11, 11–7. In the Women's Team event, the USA beat Guatemala in the quarterfinals, but then lost to Mexico in the semi-finals, so Manilla left Mexico with a bronze medal.
Manilla played at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. She defeated Canadian Michèle Morissette, 11–7, 11–7, 11–5, in the Round of 32, but lost to Mexican Montserrat Mejia, 11–9, 16–14, 8–11, 15–13, in the Round of 16. [38] She and Michelle Key played Women's Doubles, and they lost in the quarterfinals to Bolivians Angélica Barrios and Jenny Daza, 11–5, 11–5, 11–7. [39] The 2023 Pan Am Championships were the qualifying event for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, and Manilla's performances helped the USA qualify for Santiago. [40]
Manilla won the 2023 USA Racquetball National Women's Singles title by defeating Kelani Lawrence in the final, 11–3, 8–11, 11–7, 11–6. [41] She also won both the USA National Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles championships in 2023. In Women's Doubles, she and Michelle Key defeated Lawrence and Hollie Scott, 7–11, 11–4, 11–6, 11–7, in the final, after beating Sheryl Lotts and Rhonda Rajsich in the semi-finals, 11–8, 11–5, 11–6. [42] Manilla played Mixed Doubles with her brother Adam Manilla, and they defeated Daniel De La Rosa and Hollie Scott in the final, 11–6, 11–8, 10–12, 11–9. [43]
Manilla won gold in Mixed Doubles at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. She and brother Adam Manilla beat Argentina's Diego Garcia and Maria Jose Vargas, 11–4, 11–4, 11–6, [44] in the final, after defeating Mexicans Paola Longoria and Eduardo Portillo, 11–9, 13–11, 6–11, 8–11, 11–7, in the semi-finals. [45] In Women's Singles in Santiago, Manilla lost to Mexican Paola Longoria, 11–3, 11–5, 11–9, in the quarterfinals, [46] and in Women's Doubles she and Michelle Key lost to Argentina's Natalia Mendez and Vargas, 10–12, 11–9, 11–5, 12–10, in the quarterfinals. [47] But Manilla and Key did get bronze in the Women's Team event, as they defeated Bolivia, 2–0, in the quarterfinals, [48] but lost to Mexico, 2–0, in the semi-finals. [49]
Manilla was runner up in both Women's Singles and Doubles at the 2024 USA Racquetball National Indoor Championships in Tempe, Arizona. She lost in the singles final to Hollie Scott, due to an injury, after losing the first game, 11–5. [50] In doubles, Manilla and Michelle Key lost to Scott and Kelani Lawrence, 7–11, 12–10, 11–9, 15–13. [51] Also, Manilla and brother Adam Manilla were the defending champions in Mixed Doubles, but they lost in the semi-finals to Thomas Carter and Lawrence, 11–6, 11–6, 9–11, 11–4. [52]
Manilla has represented the USA internationally several times, and her highlight is a gold medal in Mixed Doubles with her brother Adam at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. She's played the LPRT full time since 2021, with her highlight victory being the 2022 US Open LPRT Doubles title with Natalia Mendez. Manilla has won six USA Racquetball National titles: 2 singles, 3 doubles, 1 mixed doubles.
This table lists Manilla's results across annual events.
Year | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
USAR Nationals – Singles | QF | – | QF | QF | P | SF | W | W | F | ||
USAR Nationals – Doubles | SF | QF | W | W | F | W | F | ||||
USAR Nationals – Mixed Doubles | F | W | SF | ||||||||
US Open | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | – | P | SF | F | – | ||
US Open Doubles | QF | QF | 32 | 32 | – | P | QF | W | – | ||
LPRT Ranking | 55 | 50 | 40 | 52 | 46 | 54 | – | 37 | 6 | 4 | |
Note: W = winner, F = finalist, SF = semi-finalist, QF = quarterfinalist, 16 = Round of 16. P = pandemic cancelled event.
See also
Rocky Carson is an American professional racquetball player. Carson has won a record 5 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships in Men's Singles, and 2 Pan American Games gold medals in singles. He was the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT) in 2007-08 & 2017–18. Carson has also played outdoor racquetball, and in 2008, he became the first man to win Men's Singles at the World Outdoor Championship, as well as the indoor IRF World Championship, and US Open. Carson has won 27 International Racquetball Tour (IRT) titles and has been ranked in the top 10 for a record 23 seasons.
Rhonda Rajsich is an American racquetball player. She has been World Champion in Women's Singles twice, and Pan American Champion 6 times, as well as US Open champion four times. Rajsich was the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour season ending rankings four times – three straight seasons from 2005–06 to 2007-08 and then again in 2010–11. She is of Serbian descent.
Paola Michelle Longoria López is a Mexican racquetball player. She is the current Women's World Champion in Singles and the Team event, winning both divisions at the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) 2024 World Championships in San Antonio, Texas. Longoria is the winningest player in IRF World Championship history, and she is the only woman to win both singles and doubles at Worlds. Longoria is also the #1 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) tour, and was the first Mexican woman to attain the #1 pro ranking, doing so at the end of the 2008–09 season. She repeated the feat at the end of 2009–2010 season, and has been #1 for ten consecutive seasons. Longoria's style is characterized by a semi-western grip of the racquet, which is unusual for racquetball; Longoria is the only pro player using this grip style.
Kristen Walsh Bellows is a retired American racquetball player. She represented the USA on four occasions, winning gold in Women's Singles at the 2005 Pan American Championships. On the women's professional racquetball tour, Walsh Bellows won once, and was twice ranked 4th in the season ending rankings. She was also a five-time USA Racquetball (USAR) collegiate champion.
Samantha Salas Solís is a Mexican racquetball player. Salas is the current World Champion in both Women's Doubles - winning that title for a fifth time with Paola Longoria at the 2022 World Championships in San Luis Potosí, Mexico - and Mixed Doubles with Rodrigo Montoya. She is also the current Pan American Games Champion in Women's Doubles, winning that title with Longoria for a third consecutive time in 2019 in Lima. Salas was the second Mexican woman to finish in the top 10 rankings on the women's pro tour, doing so at the end of the 2006–07 season. Salas was ranked 3rd at the end of the 2019-20 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season, which was her tenth season in the top 10.
María José Vargas is a Bolivian-born Argentine racquetball player. She is the current Pan American Champion in Women's Singles, Women's Doubles, as well as the Women's Team event. Vargas is also the current South American Racquetball Champion in Women's Singles and Doubles. Vargas has ten wins on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT), and was the LPRT's #1 player in 2023-24.
Frédérique Lambert is a Canadian racquetball player. Lambert is the current Canadian Champion in Women's Singles and Women's Doubles, and has won eleven Canadian Championships: six in Women's Singles and five in Women's Doubles. She has been a member of the Canadian National Team since 2008, and has won several medals in international competitions, including a silver medal in Mixed Doubles at the 2022 World Championships. Lambert was the #2 ranked player in back to back Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) seasons: 2016-17 and 2017-18.
Daniel de la Rosa is a Mexican-born American Professional racquetball and Professional pickleball player. De La Rosa is the current International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in both Men's Singles and Mixed Doubles, winning the titles in 2024 in San Antonio, Texas, where he was also part of the US team that won the Men's Team title.
Michelle Key is an American racquetball player. Key is the current Pan American Champion in Mixed Doubles. She also has two medals from the Pan American Games. She earned silver in the Women's Team event in Toronto in 2015 and bronze in the Women's Team event in Santiago in 2023. Key was ranked 7th at the end of the 2014-15 Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) season.
Carla Muñoz Montesinos is a Chilean professional racquetball player. She has won multiple medals, including the three consecutive gold medals in the USA Racquetball National Intercollegiate Championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In 2014, Munoz was awarded Best Racquetball Player of the Year by the Chilean Journalist Association. She plays on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour and has been ranked as high as 8th.
Janel Tisinger is an American racquetball player. She is the current USA Racquetball National Champion in Women's Doubles winning the title for a 5th time in 2019 with Aimee Ruiz. Tisinger is former World Champion in Women's Doubles, with Ruiz, winning the title in 2016.
Gabriela Martinez is a Guatemalan racquetball player. Martinez is the current Pan American Games Champion in women's doubles. She is a former International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in the women's singles, winning the title at the 2018 World Championships. Martinez has competed on the Guatemala National Team at international tournaments since 2012, garnering many medals across her career.
Natalia Mendez is a Bolivian-born Argentine racquetball player. She is the current South American Champion in Women's Doubles and the current Pan American Champion in Women's Doubles and the Women's Team event, winning those titles with Maria Jose Vargas. Mendez has also medaled at the International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Championships as well as the Pan American Games.
Carlos Keller is a Bolivian racquetball player. Keller was on the Bolivian Men's Team that won back to back gold medals at the Pan American Games in 2019 and 2023. Their first gold medal at the 2019 games in Lima, Peru was Bolivia's first racquetball gold medal at the Pan Am Games, and they successfully defended that gold at the 2023 Games in Santiago, Chile. He was also part of the Bolivian men's team that won gold at the 2022 Pan American Racquetball Championships, which was Keller's third gold medal at Pan Am Championships to go with his two Men's Singles titles, won in 2018 and 2019.
Angélica Barrios is a Bolivian racquetball player. Barrios is the current Pan American Champion in Mixed Doubles, winning the title at the 2023 Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and a former Pan Am Champion in Women's Singles. She is also the first Bolivian to win a medal at the World Games, as she won bronze at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama.
Montserrat Mejía is a Mexican racquetball player. Mejía is the current World Champion in Women's Doubles, and helped Mexico win gold in the Women's Team event at the 2024 World Championships in San Antonio, Texas. She finished #1 on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour in 2022–23, becoming the second Mexican to do so after Paola Longoria.
Alexandra Herrera is a Mexican racquetball player. She is the current World Champion in Women's Doubles. A left-handed player, Herrera was the #2 player on the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour in 2020-21 and again in 2021–22, two of her nine seasons in the LPRT top 10.
Jake Bredenbeck is an American racquetball player. Bredenbeck is a four time USA Racquetball (USAR) National Champion: three times in Men's Singles and once in Men's Doubles. He's also won on the International Racquetball Tour, and represented the USA internationally.
Javier Mar is a Mexican racquetball player. Mar is the current two time Pan American Games champion in Men's Doubles with Rodrigo Montoya, first winning gold at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru and then again at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. He's a former International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Champion in Men's Doubles with Montoya, winning that title in 2021. Mar has also won doubles titles on the International Racquetball Tour.
Adam Manilla is an American racquetball player. He is the current Pan American Games champion in Mixed Doubles winning the title in Santiago, Chile, with his sister Erika Manilla in 2023. He also helped the USA win the Men's Team title at the 2024 Racquetball World Championships in San Antonio, Texas. A left-handed player, Manilla has also won doubles titles on the International Racquetball Tour.