Kane Waselenchuk, Chris McDonald defend Outdoor Nationals doubles title

Chris McDonald’s family turned Marina Park into a showcase for outdoor racquetball’s multigenerational edge, and the weekend ended with six titles in the clan’s hands. The clearest result belonged to Kane Waselenchuk and Chris McDonald, who defended their men’s pro doubles crown with a 15-12, 15-3 win over Brandon Davis and Josh Tucker at the 52nd Outdoor Nationals in Huntington Beach.

That final fit the story of the entire event. Kane and Chris had to work for the opening game, but once they settled in, the second game was a statement. Kane’s win also stretched his Outdoor Nationals run to three straight titles, with two of those coming alongside McDonald, a pairing that has turned outdoor chemistry into a weapon. With no pro singles draw this year, doubles play carried even more weight, and the teams that understood angles, timing and outdoor patience had the edge.

The McDonald imprint went well beyond the men’s final. Jack McDonald and Martha McDonald repeated as mixed open champions, while Karen Grisz and Marie Gomar won women’s open doubles after surviving a round robin that left three of the four teams at 2-1, with point differential deciding the finalists. Grisz and Gomar then got their revenge in the title match, avenging an earlier group-stage loss to Sandra Ramos Mowry and Susie Boulanger to claim their first win at the event.

Martha and Jack’s mixed title run had its own bounce-back script. The McDonalds were upset in group play by Adrianna Moncada and Georges Barrera, then answered in the final to defend their 2025 crown. That kind of reversal is exactly why outdoor racquetball keeps producing family teams that matter year after year: the same players see each other on the same courts, read the same bounces, and come back with answers.

The tournament ran July 10-12 at Marina Park, where USA Racquetball marked the event’s 52nd year and passed stewardship to the 3WallBall team after longtime directors Jesus Ustarroz and Geoff Osberg stepped back. Championship matches were set for Sunday afternoon, the official ball was ProKennex Elite Orange, and the 2026 program added 75 Pro and 75 Warriors while bringing back paddleball with a $1,500 purse. Kevin Booth and Greg Freeze were also named to the World Outdoor Racquetball Hall of Fame Class of 2026, another reminder that at Outdoor Nationals, legacy is never far from the court.