AUSTIN — The 2025 Southwest Regional tournament concluded Sunday evening, ending one of the largest regional tournaments we’ve seen in a long time. Mikaila Esser notched her first Women’s Classic title by defeating Clodagh Munroe Sunday morning by the scores of 15-12, 15-10. It was a sweet victory for Esser, who has come close to winning the Women’s Classic title several times but never prevailing until this weekend.
In 2022, Esser lost on these same courts in Austin in the Classic finals against Ashley Ruiz in a tiebreaker. Ruiz again defeated her in the finals in 2023, and then it was Clodagh Munroe defeating her in the semifinals of last year’s tournament in St. Louis.
Esser was determined to win this year and it showed with her play on the court. She played phenomenal handball in the final against Munroe, who also looked strong. The famous “fish bowl” court at the Gregory Gym is known for it’s all glass walls and a tough court to return ceiling balls off the back wall. Esser used that to her advantage by pounding the ceiling and putting Munroe deep in the corners of the court. This forced several errors and weak returns from Munroe that Esser converted into corner kills.
Esser (left) shows off her trophy with Munroe (right)
Esser was equally impressive in her semifinal win over Aoife Holden who defeated her only a month earlier on the Women’s Pro tour and has been playing strong. Munroe was dominant in her semifinal win over Handball Hall of Famer Jennifer Schmitt. Holden defeated Schmitt to claim third at the Women’s Classic.
University Texas Alum Kristen Hughes had an impressive win over Lake Forest star Emma Kinane to win fifth in the tournament.
The Women’s B division had 26 ladies competing in it! Many of them were collegiate players and we saw awesome play from them. Sarah Reels made the trip from Pacific University in Oregon and brought home the B title by defeating Missouri State’s Elaina Schoene. There is a bright future in handball for many of these women!
Champion Reels (right) with Schoene (left)
Martin Mulkerrins won the WPH Men’s Pro division by defeating Mark Doyle in a tiebreaker. Doyle was appearing in his first final, and had impressive wins over Daniel Cordova and Dave Fink to earn his spot against Mulkerrins. Despite his sensational run, Mulkerrins proved why he is the number one ranked pro on the WPH tour. Read a full recap of the Pro action from the WPH HERE.
On Saturday night, the 175+ players and some guests gathered in the banquet room at the Gregory Gym to honor long time Texas Coach Pete Tyson. Tyson, now 88, coached handball for over 50 years and has introduced thousands of players to the game.
Marting (right) holds the microphone for Tyson (left)
Some of his former players came to be a part of the celebration, including John Bike Jr. who talked about how much Tyson meant to him and how Tyson cared so much about his players, on and off the court. Bike Jr. was followed by former USHA Executive Director Vern Roberts and another one of Tyson’s former players, LeaAnn Martin. Both Roberts and Martin reflected on their memories with Tyson, but also talked about how much he has meant to the game of handball and it’s development. Tyson helped write the rulebook for handball and has written many instructionals for the game that are still read today. Tyson closed out the banquet with a touching speech and by thanking Bike Jr, Roberts and Martin for being there and being some of his best friends.
Handball is strong in the Southwest Region. Outisde of the Women’s Classic and Pro division much handball was played from regional players. Several Collegiate Handball students are learning the game and traveling all around the region to participate in tournaments. Ambassador’s are working hard to grow and promote the sport.
Another highlight of the tournament was adding a four-wall big ball division which encouraged many outdoor players in Texas to come inside and support the tournament.
A big thank you to the University of Texas Handball Club for putting on an awesome tournament. A special shoutout to Noel Aguilar, who envisioned this tournament a year ago and did an amazing job of putting it together and ensuring it ran smoothly despite having three short days to fit in a bunch of matches.
Check out all of the results from the tournament HERE.
AUSTIN– The 2025 Women’s Classic is underway from the Gregory Gym on the campus of the University of Texas. A huge draw of nearly 50 women are on hand competing for the prestigious classic title.
Defending champ Clodagh Munroe has cruised so far in the tournament. She’ll face stiff competition though if she wants to retain her title from the likes of Aoife Holden, Mikaila Esser, Emma Kinane and more who are all vying for their first Classic title.
The coolest moment of the tournament so far was Jennifer Schmitt squaring off against Amesely Davis in the round of 16. Schmitt, a Hall of Fame player who has dominated the sport for years took down Davis’s mom, Sharon Baylor, in the 1991 Collegiate National Finals. Davis was unable to get revenge for her mother as she fell in two straight games.
Davis (left) and Schmitt (right).
Follow along with the drawsHERE and stay tuned for more updates.
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas Handball Team proudly invites players and fans from across the country to the Pete Tyson Classic, featuring the WPH Race 4 Eight LTE Stop #8 and the prestigious USHA Women’s Classic—all set in the iconic Gregory Gymnasium on the UT-Austin campus.
This event marks a powerful union of tradition, elite competition, and the future of the sport.
The University of Texas boasts one of the most storied handball legacies in collegiate history—home to countless national titles, legendary athletes, and a passionate community that has helped shape the game for generations. At the heart of that legacy stands Pete Tyson, a Hall of Fame Contributor, revered coach and mentor whose impact on the program and its players continues to inspire. The tournament bearing his name celebrates not just his contributions, but the spirit of excellence and inclusion that define Texas Handball.
This year’s Classic also hosts Stop #8 of the WPH Race 4 Eight Men’s LTE series, bringing some of the top men’s players in the world to Austin for high-caliber action in a setting steeped in tradition. It’s the perfect pairing of elite play and student-driven passion.
Alongside, the USHA Women’s Classic returns, highlighting the current and rising stars of women’s handball. This Classic traditionally features emerging talent and seasoned competitors alike, continuing the USHA’s longstanding commitment to advancing women’s handball.
Whether you’re a longtime player, a new fan, or returning to where it all started, join us for a weekend that celebrates handball’s past, present, and future—deep in the heart of Texas. Get more tournament details HERE.
TUCSON- It was a tremendous weekend of Handball at the 2025 Hall of Fame Tournament with a National Master Singles and WPH LTE Pro Stop.
We saw phenomenal play over the course of the tournament from players of all ages. When players weren’t on the court, they were cramming into the bleachers to watch the Pro players compete on the show court or enjoying the beautiful Tucson mountain views and sunny weather that we had all weekend at the Tucson Racquet Club.
The highlight of the tournament was the Saturday night reception at the Handball Hall of Fame building. Players enjoyed checking out the rich history of our game and chatting with friends over drinks and dinner. We were able to celebrate a couple of award recipients during the reception as well.
Marty Decatur Sportsmanship Award: Anna Sojourner
Sojourner with her Award
Anna Sojourner was awarded the Marty Decatur Sportsmanship award at the reception. The award is given at each Handball Hall of Fame Tournament to a player that embodies “The Spirit of Handball”. Sojourner does that as much as anyone. She always has a smile on her face and it’s obvious how much she enjoys the game of handball and supports it whenever she can. She is based out of San Francisco but has supported the tournament in Tucson and we love to have her here.
Carl Porter Award: Rodney Fink
Rodney Fink with his son David, and grandson Henry.
Rodney Fink was awarded the Carl Porter award in 2023. The award is given to those who have performed outstanding service to the USHA at the national level. The award is named after the USHA’s second president, Carl Porter, who is considered the savior and architect of the modern day USHA.
We finally got the chance to celebrate Fink in 2025 at the Hall of Fame tournament. Fink has dedicated his life to handball, and has been an integral part of the game for decades now. He taught countless players the game, has been an advocate for women’s handball, generously supported pro players with prize money donations, and served on the USHA Board of Directors for many years, offering his legal expertise to the organization.
The ceremony began with a message from USHA President Denis Hogan, setting the tone for an afternoon full of gratitude, reflection, and admiration. Vern Roberts, Hall of Fame player and retired USHA Executive Director, shared heartfelt remarks about Fink’s lifelong commitment to the sport. He also delivered a written tribute from former USHA President LeaAnn Martin, who called Fink “one of handball’s greatest ambassadors.” Roberts noted, “If U.S. Handball ever had a problem, we called Rodney—and he always answered.”
One of the most touching moments came when Art Howe, Fink’s longtime friend and former Major League Baseball player and manager, took the stage. Having traveled to Tucson with Fink, Howe spoke warmly of their decades-long friendship and the deep impact handball has had on Fink’s life. “Watching Rodney share the sport with his son David—one of the best players in the world—has been a true joy,” said Howe. “But make no mistake, I’m the lucky one to have Rodney as a best friend.”
Fink closed out the ceremony in his usual humble, heartfelt fashion—thanking those who had joined him along the way. “Law was my profession,” he said, “but handball is my life.”
With applause echoing around the Hall of Fame, the ceremony not only honored a deserving recipient, but also reminded everyone of the community, passion, and enduring friendships that make handball so special.
Finals:
Players regrouped Sunday morning and put their game faces on as they competed for titles. Martin Mulkerrins defeated Ray Ure in the pro final in dominating fashion. Mulkerrins hit rocket serves at Ure which earned him setups that he punished with flat kill shots.
2025 Hall of Fame WPH LTE Champion Martin Mulkerrins with USHA Vice President Jared Vale.
In the 35+ singles final, Jeff Streibig successfully defended his crown by defeating Shorty Ruiz in two games. Streibig found himself down 18-20 in game one before hitting some timely shots to close it out and took game two 21-11.
We had a first time National Champion in the 40+ Singles! Scottie Moler brought home the gold by defeating last year’s champion Fausto Castro in two games, 21-14, 21-9. Moler had an impressive semifinal win over Los Angeles Rafael Martinez in his semifinal as well.
Multiple time national champion Bill Mehilos won the 45+ Singles final over Arturo Suarez. Mehilos defeated Suarez in game one 21-12 before Suarez forfeited the match to focus on his next one.
Suarez was right back on the court for the 50+ Singles final against fellow Californian Alex Garcia. Garcia controlled play in game one for a 21-10 victory. Game two Suarez had a slight lead but could not hang on as Garcia stormed back to win 21-18.
The 55+ Singles division was full of national champions, including Leo Canales, Sean Haley, Will Goldstein, John Henning, Jared Vale and Chris Tico. It was defending champion Canales who brought home the title. Canales has not lost a master singles match in the past five years, and is racking up the national titles!
Lloyd Garcia brought home gold in the 65+ Singles division. Garcia edged out El Paso’s Hector Garcia 21-4, 21-15 to win the finals. Lloyd also took down current Four-Wall Nationals 65+ champion Dave Streibig in his semifinal.
Joe Thomas defeated Dan Brennan in a highly anticipated 70+ Singles final that did not disappoint. After dropping game one 16-21, Thomas stormed back to win 21-13 in game two and 11-0 in the tiebreaker! They both play the game at such a high level, regardless of their age.
Two of the best age division players of the past decade squared off in the 75+ singles final. Ed Campbell took down Greg Raya in an 11-4 tiebreaker victory to earn the title. Raya defeated another legend in the division, Merv Deckert in an 11-10 semifinal tiebreaker victory but could not do the same to Campbell.
In the oldest division of them all, Jim Ward defeated Jim Smith to win the 80+ Singles final and avenge his loss to Smith in last year’s final. Ward stopped Smith at 17 in both games.
Thank you to the WPH, Rodney Fink, and all the volunteers who made this tournament as great as it was. It’s always great to celebrate our games history while etching new National Champions. Check out all of the results from the tournament HERE.
TUCSON – The Old Pueblo is the place to be as we bring together handball players from across the country for an unforgettable weekend of competition, camaraderie, and celebration! Whether you’re 11-years-old or 80+, a seasoned pro, or a passionate amateur, this tournament offers something for everyone.
The World Players of Handball (WPH) and the United States Handball Association (USHA) are proud to co-host the 2025 Hall of Fame Race 4 Eight LTE Tournament at the Tucson Racquet Club—right in the heart of handball history. Watch the pros battle it out in WPH LTE Pro Stop No. 7, test your own skills in a variety of singles and doubles divisions, and soak up the electric atmosphere of Tucson in the spring!
Pros Killian Carroll and Luis Cordova Jr. are among many who have enjoyed the Hall of Fame Celebration Banquet.
Saturday Night Hall of Fame Reception – A Must-Attend Event!
Join us for a special evening at the Handball Hall of Fame Museum (2333 N Tucson Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716) as we celebrate the legends of the game.
Doors open at 6 PM – Come early to enjoy food, drinks, and the rich history of handball.
Players admission is included. Guest admission: $20 – Bring a friend and experience this one-of-a-kind gathering!
Honoring Our Own – We are thrilled to present Rodney Fink with the prestigious Carl Porter Award for his outstanding contributions to handball on a national level. Additionally, we will recognize a player from the tournament with the Marty Decatur Sportsmanship Award, celebrating the true spirit of our sport!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this incredible weekend! Draws and Start Times are now available HERE.
NOTE: Draws and Times may change up until the start of each division. Please double-check times and match-ups. We wish everyone the best of luck this weekend!
