LIHU‘E — At the 2011 U.S. National Racquetball Championships, Kaua‘i’s Philip Eliana was honored to attend but disappointed in his performance. In 2012, Eliana turned that disappointment into hardware. Competing as a member of the 2012 U.S. Air Force Racquetball
LIHU‘E — At the 2011 U.S. National Racquetball Championships, Kaua‘i’s Philip Eliana was honored to attend but disappointed in his performance. In 2012, Eliana turned that disappointment into hardware.
Competing as a member of the 2012 U.S. Air Force Racquetball team, Eliana took home three medals from the competition in Fullerton, Calif.
A Staff Sergeant in the 293rd Combat Communications Squadron at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Eliana placed second in the Men’s 30-plus Military Singles, second in the Men’s Doubles C division and garnered a consolation medal in the Men’s Military Singles B/C division.
Eliana said he was just happy to be a member of the team last year, but this year his focus was on playing better — which he did.
“I really knew what to expect this time,” he said. “It’s a long five-day event and if my held up I knew I would do well.”
Eliana said long days were spent at the courts and he’s resting some sore muscles after the tournament, but he said he took home many memories — including seeing World No. 1 Kane Waselenchuk win his record seventh US Open Racquetball Championships title.
“It was an awesome national championship event,” Eliana said. “I didn’t come home with any gold medals but now I have something to aim for at my third try at this event next year.”
