AUSTIN, Texas –The 2022 Women’s Classic came to a close on Sunday morning when Ashley Moler defeated Mikaila Esser 21-8, 20-21, 11-8 to win the title. The thrilling final was an exclamation point on a weekend filled with great women’s handball matches.
Moler dominated her first two rounds before battling the ageless Jennifer Schmitt in the semifinals. Schmitt and Moler played a long and grueling first game that saw Moler come out on top 21-13. Moler kept the momentum rolling in game two, winning 21-9.
Esser was equally impressive as Moler in the first two rounds, leading her to meet Missouri’s Suz Entzeroth in the semifinals. Game one saw Esser pull away late to win 21-12. Esser got off to a fast start in game two, building an 18-5 lead. Entzeroth made a late run getting all the way up to 13 points before Esser was finally able to put it away.
In the finals, Moler came out hot, killing all her shots off the back wall and moving Esser all around the court with her passes. Game two was the game of the tournament. Several lead changes persisted and no player could build a big lead. At 20-20, Esser was finally able to hit a perfect serve down the left that died in the left corner to force a tie-breaker.
In the breaker, Moler took advantage of some early errors from Esser and hit a couple of left handed kill shots to build a big lead. Esser fought back to get herself back in the match, but Moler would not be denied, closing it out to win 11-8.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Women’s Classic returns to University of Texas’ Gregory Gym, where the concept was first created to promote Women’s Handball. It was 38 years ago this Spring, UT Handball Coach Pete Tyson and USHA Board of Director Ron Emberg held the “Bud Light National Women’s Handball Tournament.” There was no prize money offered, but eight of the top women handball were invited and had their expenses paid. Rosemary Bellini (Hall of Fame, 1996) won the round robin format event.
The Women’s Classic traditionally offers players multiple matches in a drop-down format. This year, the event will consist of the Women’s Classic Open/A (using the Red 21) and the Women’s Classic B/Novice (using the White 21). Participants will have at least three matches in a multi-dropdown format.
Women’s Classic participants are offered travel stipends and the event pays the top-8 finishers. Held in conjunction with the Southwest Regional Championships, all Women’s Classic matches will start Friday afternoon, April 1.
TUCSON — The Inaugural USHA National Three-Wall Masters Doubles & WPH Icebreaker Pro Doubles wrapped up on Sunday afternoon with all Masters division finals. The WPH Icebreaker Pro Doubles began an completed a tough eight-team draw on Saturday with Luis and Daniel Cordova stopping Sam Esser and Braulio Ruiz, 15-1, 15-8. Read the WPH’s full write-up of the Icebreaker Pro Doubles HERE.
A special thank you to Scott Cleveland, Jim Verhaeghe and Russ Whitten for providing special Ole Pueblo hospitality (taco bar!) for the event all day Saturday.
Thank you to tournament donors and supporters: Doug Clark, Jeff Healam, Art Benitez.
With temps staying in the low 90s and partially sunny, players enjoyed ideal conditions the entire weekend–many enjoying the warm respite from the winter weather back home. San Diego Handball was well-represented on Championship Sunday. Bobby Nicholas played some of the best handball of the weekend, winning each of his divisions–the only player to achieve the feat and win his 10th Masters Division National title.
The first match of the day featured Dan Zimet and Bobby Nicholas against Southern California’s Tommy Valenzuela and Jim Ramirez in the Golden Masters (50-plus) final. Both teams brought tremendous athleticism and shot-making ability to the contest. Valenzuela brings a dangerous serve-and-shoot game with an equally talented Ramirez playing the right side. The combination of Zimet along with Nicholas proved too much for any team to handle. Zimet darted across the front court while a relentless Nicholas blasted the ball seemingly from anywhere he could set up. After dropping the first game, Valenzuela and Ramirez made a late run in the second, trying to extend the match to a tiebreaker. Zimet and Nicholas answered their opponent’s rally by regaining the serve and closing out match point, 21-12, 21-18.
In the Diamond Masters (70-plus) final, Gary Eisenbooth (CA) and Bob Dyke (VA) could do no wrong in the first game, while National Three-Wall finalists, Ed Campbell (CA) and Tim Murray (FL) couldn’t find their rhythm early. It produced a lopsided 21-1 result that indicated the final may come to a quick conclusion. The second game was slug-fest, with Campbell being more aggressive while Murray dug deep to power drives against their opponents. Dyke and Eisenbooth answered each point, keeping the game in doubt before Campbell asserted his will and helped his team force the tiebreaker, winning 21-19. The long second game didn’t help their chances in the tiebreaker, as Eisenbooth and Dyke secured the title with an 11-3 victory.
In the Veteran Diamond (75-plus) Round Robin decider, Rob Nichols and Art Brooks played the spoilers to Jim Smith and Bob Bardwell’s title run indicating why EVERY match, game and point in a round robin format can be crucial. Brooks was a late substitute partner for Nichols on Friday afternoon just before play began. On Sunday, Bardwell and Smith began the day in first place after their tiebreaker win over Dave Ackerman and Peter Anderson the day before.
Nichols and Brooks dropped their first match on Friday to Ackerman and Anderson in two games. On Sunday, they looked like a different team.
“We played loose and didn’t think about any outcome on the leader board.” Nichols stated.
Nichols stayed off his heals and attacked the ball, converting most of his shots into kills or passes. Brooks played well up front, retrieving or rekilling the majority of shots hit his. While the teams traded wins by the exact score in the first two games, Nichols and Brooks built a 9-4 lead in the tiebreaker before sealing the win, 13-21, 21-13, 11-7.
Both Ackerman and Anderson politely showed up Sunday morning, thinking they were only making an appearance for a runner-up trophy and picture; however, they earned the championship by virtue of the round robin tiebreaker format. Their title was determined by Rule 5.9.(3) Fewest Games Lost tiebreaker. Nichols and Brooks secured second place by virtue of the head-to-head result against Bardwell and Smith.
The Senior (35-plus) final saw the match’s momentum continually shift for each team. Bill Mehilos and Adam Szatkowski survived a game one blitz from brothers Adam and Dan Zimet, (21-2) to turn things around in game two by building a big lead. But the Zimet brothers didn’t concede easily, mounting a comeback to nearly even the score before Mehilos and Szatkowski forced a third game, winning 21-17. Things stayed close in the tiebreaker, with both teams playing to a 9-9 tie before Mehilos and Szatkowski notched an 11-9 win.
The Super Masters (60-plus) didn’t go to three games, but it was by far the closest match of the day. Scott Walker (OH) and Lloyd Garcia (WY) battled San Diego’s Marc Penick and Bob Nicholas in two marathon games. Penick and Nicholas prevailed, winning 21-20, 21-20, with Nicholas dramatically ending the match with a 50 foot rollout kill–a fitting end for his second doubles title of the day.
Finally, the Veteran Super (65-plus) final was between current Three-Wall Champions Bob Bardeau / Phil Kirk (OH) against Lloyd Garcia / Bob Paulsen (WY/CO). Garcia and Paulsen have played well against the pair from Ohio, but Kirk and Bardeau pulled away late to close a tough back-and-forth first game, 21-15. In the second, Kirk and Bardeau hit their stride to take the final, 21-5.
Thank you to all the players and supporters who made this event happen. It was an incredible collaboration with the WPH, and we hope to offer it again next year!
All five of the beautiful courts at the WPH Outdoor 3-Wall Handball “Clark Park” at Randolph were buzzing with activity as play begin Friday
The Inaugural USHA National Three-Wall Masters Doubles & WPH Icebreaker Pro Doubles kicks off on Friday afternoon at WPH Outdoor 3-Wall Handball “Clark Park” at Randolph (200 S Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85711).
TUCSON — The Sunday morning finals at the Tucson Racquet Club played an exciting conclusion to the 26th USHA Hall of Fame Tournament & WPH R48Pro Stop #6. For the second time this season, Killian Carroll (Boston) would defeat Luis Cordova (El Paso) in the final to secure his 20th R48Pro final, 15-4, 8-15, 15-1.
Sam Esser (Tucson) would edge Leo Canales (Chandler, Ariz.) in the 5th place final, 25-19.
In the 9th place playoff final, Max Langmack (Olathe, Kan.) stopped Ray Ure (Mankato, Minn.), 25-12. Read the R48Pro wrap-up from WPH Senior Writer Dave Fink HERE.
It was a family affair in the Brothers Leo Canales Jr. and Sebastian Canalas defeated Leo Canales Sr. and Jair Cano in two games, 21-11, 21-16.
In the Men’s A Singles, Isaac Roldan (El Paso) defeated Taylor Schmitt (Austin) in a tiebreaker, 21-5, 17-21, 11-1.
Miguel Sandoval stopped Sophia Della Croce’s rally for a third game in the B Final, winning, 21-8, 21-20.
In the Men’s Masters (40-Plus), Zach Gault (Tempe) topped John Henning, 21-13, 21-3.
Greg Demos (Bakersfield, Calif.) edged Gary Eisenbooth (San Diego) in the Men’s Super (60-Plus) final, 21-10, 21-15.
Eisenbooth paired with Glenn Carden (Bremerton, Wash.) to win the 60-Plus Doubles crown over Southern California brothers Tom and Tavo Martinez, 21-16, 21-12.
In the Veteran Diamond (75-Plus) doubles final, Terry Nett and Rob Nichols stopped Art Brooks and Thomas Olson in two games, 21-13, 21-10.
One of the last divisions to be decided was the Hall of Fame Doubles round robin, where John Henning and James Oviedo emerged the champions.
Thank you to all the players, fans and families that supported the tournament. Special thanks to the WPH, their tremendous film and production crew, the Tucson Racquet Club and their amazing hospitality service, and to all the volunteers who stepped up and helped out throughout the weekend. We hope to grow this event each year!
TUCSON — Play concluded Saturday setting up Sunday’s exciting finals in the WPH R48Pro draws and Hall of Fame divisions. Players and fans enjoyed daily hospitality from the Tucson Racquet Club wrapping up with a dinner in the downstairs restaurant.
In the Women’s Open championship decider, Ashley Moler outlasted Mikaila Esser, 21-15, 10-21, 11-3.
Moses Gardea (Albuquerque) took first place in the Boys 17-Under singles round robin. Tonalli Valencia defeated Chris Maldonado Jr. 21-18., 21-13 to win the Boys 13-Under singles. Finally, Tucson’s Brendan Beturn stopped Wendy Garcia of Juarez for the 11-Under Junior title, 21-19, 21-17.
A special Saturday Night at the Handball Hall of Fame offered players and families a chance to visit the museum while enjoying some refreshments and light snacks. R48Pro finalists Luis Cordova and Killian Carroll along with many others made an appearance and toured the museum. Also at this time, the Marty Decatur Sportsmanship Award given each year during the Hall of Fame Tournament was presented to Bill Mehilos of Indianapolis. Mehilos was recognized for his national participation, volunteerism for handball and good will on and off the court.
See today’s results on the tournament’s R2Sports site HERE.
Day 1 (Friday)———– ———– ———– ———– ———–
TUCSON — A “blustery” Friday in the Ole Pueblo cooled temps to the low 70s, but conditions were perfect for players, fans and families inside the Tucson Racquet Club for the 26th USHA Hall of Fame & WPH R48Pro Stop #6.
The return of the Hall of Fame tournament was welcome news for handball players who enjoyed the annual celebration each Spring. Being paired with the sixth WPH R48Pro Stop, the final stop of the season before the Player’s Championship in Salt Lake City made the event even more special creating extra buzz.
See the draws and today’s results on the tournament’s R2Sports site HERE.
