PLEASANTON, Calif. — The tournament wrapped up Friday morning with finals taking place in doubles and big ball singles divisions. After the finals, players said there goodbyes to old and new friends they spent countless hours on the court with over the week.
A big thank you to the Northern California Handball Association for putting on a great tournament for the kids.
Thank you to all the kids who played this year and the parents/coaches who accompanied them. We had players represented from Ireland, Canada, Mexico, and of course the United States.
We look forward to another great tournament next year. Check out all of the results HERE.
(Nicole Eike with USHA’s Matt Krueger and flanked by her parents, Randall and Joheem after winning the Sportsmanship Award)
PLEASANTON, Calif. — The third day of action brought several finals in the small ball singles events.
The first title of the day belonged to Alex Duval who defeated Alex Neri to win the 13 and under small ball finals. Duval, who is only 12 years old, caps off an impressive year which also saw him win the 13 and under title at the four-wall nationals in June.
Ireland’s Anthony Clifford put everyone on notice with his impressive two game sweep over Eliseo Gutierrez in the 15-under final. Gutierrez looked overmatched as Clifford saved his best for the championship final after a week of nearly flawless handball.
The 17-under final was one of the most highly anticipated finals of the day with Ireland’s Rory Carthy taking on Mexico’s Andres Cordova. Carthy got off to a hot start in both games, and never took his foot off the gas. While Cordova has an impressive arsenal of shots, he couldn’t get into a rythm, dropping the final with the scores of 6 and 7.
The 19-under final featured Ireland’s Kyle Jordan and California’s Ryan Watkins. This match featured several incredible rallies, but Jordan was just too strong. Jordan has an incredible serve that would give any player in the world trouble. Between that and his ability to kill the ball, he overcame Watkins.
The girls 19-under final featured two of Ireland’s strongest up and coming players. Leah Minogue took Jodie Keeling. Minogue and Keeling were dead even most of the first game, but Minogue was able to hit some clutch shots and close it out. She used her momentum to easily take game two.
Keeling would earn her title in the girls 17 and under, where she took out Illinois Izzy Klicker in two dominant games.
The girls 15 and under was a battle between two more young Irish stars, with Carmel Kelleher taking on Katie Jordan. Kelleher came out fast and easily claimed game one. Despite a great effort from Jordan in game two, Kelleher held her off to win 21-5, 21-17.
The night concluded with a banquet that featured delicious barbeque from Frank’s Barbeque.
The annual Junior Nationals awards were presented to the following three deserving players:
The Tom Lynch Newcomer Award: Niko Vasquez The Kate Conlon/Kurt Johansson Most Improved Award: Alexander Duval The Vince Gabriele Jr. Sportsmanship Award: Nicole Eike (pictured above)
PLEASANTON, Calif. — Day two of the tournament had action in all divisions, including small ball, big ball, and doubles.
Our first champion was crowned when Albuquerque’s Adrian Valenzuela defeated El Paso’s Luis Cordova III to win the 11 and under small ball division.
The 19 and under small ball division saw Los Angeles’s Ryan Watkins advance to the final by defeating Mexico’s Luis Ogaz. Watkins will take on Ireland’s Kyle Jordan who has looked very strong to this point.
The 17 and under final will feature Mexico’s Andres Cordova and Ireland’s Rory Carthy. Each player has been dominant so far this week and it should be one of the most exciting finals of the tournament.
The 15 and under division will feature Colorado’s Eliseo Guttierez and Ireland’s Anthony Clifford. Guttierez took down another Irish player, Caleb Donnellan, in an impressive semifinal win.
Washington’s Alexander Duval and California’s Alex Neri will square off for the 13 and under final tomorrow morning. Neri survived a close tiebreaker to advance.
On the girls side, Ireland’s Leah Minogue advanced to the 19 and under final with ease. She will take on Jodie Keeling in the finals tomorrow, who won an 11-9 tiebreaker in her semifinal to advance.
Keeling will also be looking to win the girls 17 and under final when she finishes her round robin matches.
Ireland’s Carmel Kelleher and Katie Jordan will compete for the girls 15 and under final tomorrow in what is sure to be a great match.
Doubles and big ball semifinals will be held tomorrow. You can view all results to this point and follow along with the draw HERE
PLEASANTON, Calif. — Day one of the USHA National Junior 4-Wall Nationals kicked off Tuesday morning. With weather affecting travel all over the country, several players were delayed and had to have their match pushed back. Thanks to the hard work of the Northern California Handball Association, the day ran as smooth as it could, and play was caught up as much as possible.
Quarterfinals were played in all small ball divisions, and tomorrow will feature several exciting semifinal matches. The big ball divisions will also begin tomorrow along with some doubles divisions.
PLEASANTON, Calif. — The 66th USHA National Junior 4-Wall Championships are slated to kick off next Monday, Dec. 26 at The Bay Club Pleasanton. Nearly 70 players from around the country, Canada, Mexico and Ireland will descend on the club next week to compete in small ball and big ball events.
The USHA National Junior Championships offer players drop-down events, so players of similar skill land in a competitive bracket.
Draws and tentative start times are now available. Please note: times and draws may change up until the first match is played. See the draws and start times HERE.
ST. LOUIS — Sunday at the Hinder Club was filled with many exciting finals matches and terrific handball.
One of the first matches of the day was the 35 doubles final between Kevin Pettus/Will Lemp and Jeff Streibig/Ryan Willis. All four players play at a high open level and it showed on the court. The teams split the first two games to force a tiebreaker. Streibig and Willis jumped out to a 7-3 lead, but they would score no more points after that. Kevin Pettus became red hot at the end of the match, rolling out several shots to earn his team the victory.
Gary Scogin also had a day to remember, winning two national titles on Sunday, one in the 60+ and the other in the 65+.
His first match was in the 65+, where he teamed up with his long time partner Lloyd Garcia to take on Scott Rosenthal and Kevin Jarvis. Scogin and Garcia have not lost a match together in their age division for several years, and Sunday was no different. Scogin and Garcia defeated the Illinois duo 21-16, 21-10.
Scogin then teamed with local favorite David Streibig to win the 60+ doubles over Jake Esser and Jim Lewis in two straight games, 21-4, 21-12.
The players and spectators who traveled to the tournament were amazed by the Hinder Club, the only exclusive Handball Club in the country. The hospitality was tremendous throughout the weekend.
A huge thank you to Eric Hillgren, David Streibig, Jeff Streibig, Mike Benkleman, Gary Hughes, Jim Ward and the many more St. Louis ambassadors who made this tournament so great. If you haven’t made it to the Hinder Club yet, make sure to add it to your bucket list.
See all the winners of each division below, and check out the full brackets HERE.
ST. LOUIS — The finalists for all divisions were decided on the second full day of action in the Masters Doubles.
In the Men’s Pro Invitational final, a possible preview for next week’s WPH R48Pro Stop in Tucson (The Memorial), Martin Mulkerrins handled Killian Carroll in two competitive games, 21-17, 21-11.
As matches concluded, players and family gathered in the upstairs lounge where Tucson’s Vince San Angelo was honored and awarded his Grand Masters sweater, an honor for those who win at least 10 age division titles.
USHA President Denis Hogan presented the sweater to San Angelo, who shared with those gathered, “This journey started 19 years ago. It’s tough but glad players have a goal to chase.” San Angelo will be playing for title number 11 on Sunday with partner Bob Braine.
USHA President Denis Hogan presents the Grand Masters Sweater to Vince San Angelo of Tucson.
ST. LOUIS — The 2022 USHA Masters Doubles hosted by the Missouri State Handball Association started off with a nail-biter Friday afternoon at the St. Louis Hinder Club. Peter Anderson (Spring, Texas) and Bob Miller (Sunrise, Fla.) kicked things off against the California duo of Jim Smith and Dave Ackerman in the 75-plus Doubles. After splitting the first two games, the foursome were locked in a back-and-forth affair in the tiebreaker. At match point, team Smith/Ackerman gained the crucial sideout and were able to snatch the 11-10 victory. Anderson and Miller are not eliminated, and will still be competing in round robin action throughout the weekend.
In 35-plus action, tourney director Eric Hillgren stepped away from the tournament desk to pair with partner Richard Lynch against David Elkin and Shane Conneely. Home court advantage came into play as the Hinder Club team stormed back from a second game route to win, 21-20, 7-21, 11-9.
Mostly, on the first day, out of town players were abuzz about the beautiful St. Louis Hinder Club. With over 120 members, the club is a “handball only” facility, with seven courts (one side glass exhibition court), fully equipped locker rooms (steam room, cold plunge and jacuzzi), and a bar lounge.
“What an awesome place!” exclaimed Gary Scogin of Austin, Texas.
“We’d love one of these (clubs) in every city,” said USHA board member, Rob Nichols. “It’s a great spot where handball always takes priority.”
The MSHA also invited top pros for an 8-player invitational bracket. Martin Mulkerrins, Killian Carroll and Luis Cordova all advanced, while local Jeff Streibig scored a mini upset against Sam Esser, 21-18, 21-17.
ST. LOUIS — The Missouri State Handball Association and USHA present the 2022 USHA National Masters Doubles, held at the St. Louis Hinder Club. Over 100 players have entered this doubles event, featuring players from ages 35 to over 80.
A Pro Invitational Singles bracket brings some of the best players in the world to this “handball exclusive” club. First and preliminary rounds begin Friday at 1 p.m. with tournament check-in at Noon.
Karl Lady (left) won his first USHA National Title over Wayne Neumann in the 80 singles division!
TUCSON — The 2022 Master Singles wrapped up Sunday afternoon after a morning of well played and exciting finals matches.
It’s hard to pick what was the best match of the day, as nearly all of them were thrilling and showcased handball at it’s best at each age divison.
Congratulations to Karl Lady on winning his first national title in the 80 singles division over Wayne Neumann. Lady has come close to winning before, and played fantastic this weekend to get over the hump.
Greg Raya outlasted Jim Ward in a tiebreaker to add another national title to his collection in the 75 singles final. After dropping game one, Raya dominated games two and three.
Ed Campbell and Merv Deckert put on another phenomenal final, with both players defying their age on the court. Campbell won in an 11-9 tiebreaker, and found a left lob serve late in the match that made the difference.
Juan Canales Sr. just outlasted John Henning in the 55 singles final. Canales fought off game point twice in game one, and won the second game 21-11. Canales used his speed to track down everything and wear down Henning.
Alex Garcia defeated Raul Jasso in two extremely well played games. Garcia’s crack serve down the right came up clutch when he needed it the most.
Thank you to the Tucson Racquet Club and all the players who competed in the tournament. It was a great weekend filled with great matches.
You can view all of the results from the tournament HERE
TUCSON — Saturday was another day full of entertaining matches at the 2022 Master Singles in Tucson. We also crowned our first two champions of the weekend!
Shorty Ruiz won the 35 singles division in two straight games over Jorge Lopez to earn his second age division national title, with the first one coming at the Four-Wall Nationals in Portland. He has his sights on becoming a Grand Master (10 age division titles) before he reaches the age of 40.
Rudy Guzman claimed the second title of the day by defeating Rob Birrell in the 60B finals. Guzman hits the ball with great power and has a deadly fist pass shot that earns him points routinely. Guzman will also play Sunday in the 65 singles final against Daniel Brennan
The match of the day was played between Idaho’s Chris Tico and California’s Alex Garcia in the 45 plus division. Garcia closed out game one strong to win 21-16, but got dropped in the second game 21-7 by Tico. It looked as if Tico was going to win the tiebreaker as well when he jumped out to a 7-0 lead. Garcia battled back, and ultimately sided out Tico at match point and came in the box at 8-10, and was able to score the final three points of the match to win 11-10.
Garcia will take on Raul Jasso in the finals tomorrow who also won in a close tiebreaker, his over Sean Haley 11-9.
Sunday brings finals in the Men’s 45, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, and 80’s division. Follow along with the results HERE.
Joe Berman (Right) and Pete Dominguez (left) pose holding a 1997 Handball Magazine featuring Berman on the cover (under Priscilla) after winning the 35 Master Singles. The same year Dominguez won the 40B division. 25 years later they are still competing and back for more!
TUCSON — The USHA Master’s Singles kicked off Friday afternoon and immediately got off to an exciting start! The first match of the day was between John Goranson and Rob Birrell. After dropping game one 21-12, Birrell just edged out Goranson in game two to win 21-19. He kept that momentum rolling into the tiebreaker, and took victory in the final game 11-6 with a full crowd watching.
That match set the tone for the day, as we saw many tightly contested matches after that. Sean Haley overcame Fausto Castro in a two hour marathon tiebreaker match to advance to the semifinals against Shorty Ruiz in the 35 division.
After dropping game one badly to Mike Lockhart, Grey Raya hit a couple beautiful pass shots at the end of game two to force a tiebreaker. Raya didn’t let up in the breaker, and knocked out Lockhart in another thrilling match.
Play kicks off at 9am PST on Saturday. The 35 division and 60b division will be decided. Make sure to follow along with the action HERE
TUCSON — The USHA Masters Singles Invitational is set to kick off on Friday, Sept. 30–the first one held since early 2019. First and preliminary rounds begins Friday afternoon at the Tucson Racquet Club. Draws for the 2022 Masters Singles are available! (First match is at 3 p.m.)
Please Note: Draws and times may change, so please review your start times up until the start of your event.
Hospitality will be provided at the Tucson Racquet Club, starting Friday evening. Masters Singles celebration dinner will be held Saturday at the in the Rillito Room at the Club.
After dinner, there will be a Saturday Night Reception at the Handball Hall of Fame! Players and families are welcome to attend and enjoy the museum while catching up with friends.
MAUMEE, Ohio — The forecast looked questionable at best when players went to bed Sunday night wondering if they were going to be able to play outside Monday morning. Despite dark overcast skies Monday morning, the rain did not come and all of the matches were able to take place on the three-wall court.
Ashley Ruiz and Suzanne Entzeroth played the women’s final to begin the day. Ruiz played like she was on a mission and controlled the game from start to finish. Ruiz’s fly kills and power drives kept Entzeroth off balanced the whole match. Ruiz exclaimed “Finally!” moments after she scored the final point. This was her first singles title in Toledo after a few tough losses in the final. It was well deserved, as she played great all weekend.
Ruiz then teamed up with Mikaila Esser to defeat Entzeroth and Sandy Ng in the Women’s Open Doubles Final. With Ruiz’s fly kill ability in the front court and Esser’s power drives in the back they are a tough team to beat. They have now won the last two years.
Shortly after Ruiz and Esser won their match, their husbands, Shorty Ruiz and Sam Esser teamed up to take on Martin Mulkerrins and Sean Lenning in the Men’s Open Doubles finals. Ruiz and Esser were also looking to go back to back as they won the doubles title last year.
Mulkerrins and Lenning started fast, building a 15-5 lead. Ruiz caught fire after that, and brought his team back to the tie the game at 17-17. Mulkerrins and Lenning stopped the run there, and looked to be in control serving at 20-17 with both servers. A Ruiz kill sided out Mulkerrins, and then Lenning hit his serve into the floor which gave Ruiz and Esser the serve back. Ruiz and Esser closed out the final 4 points to take game one. They started out 11-0 game two and never looked back, and defended their title.
Last year, the Esser’s and Ruiz’s were the first engaged couples to team up and win a national open doubles title with each other. This year they were the first married couple to do so.
The Toledo Handball Club again put on an amazing tournament with incredible hospitality. Every year they seem to top the last. Thank you to all of their volunteers and to everyone who helps make the tournament what it is: the best in the world.
MAUMEE, Ohio — Rain Sunday morning forced all of the action to be moved to the four-wall courts. Players and fans made the short trip to Bowling Green State University where 7 indoor courts awaited them. This was the first time in two decades play had to be moved inside.
Sean Lenning and Leo Canales put on a thriller in the Men’s Open Final. Lenning jumped out to a fast start in game one, hitting absolute lasers for serves down both the left and right walls. He easily took the first game. Canales responded in game two, retrieving everything Lenning hit and wearing him out to claim the second game.
The tiebreaker started with more of the same, and Canales jumped out to a 7-0 lead on Lenning. From there, Lenning looked like a different player. He rattled off several unbelievable ace serves that no player in the world could retrieve. Canales battled but had no answer for Lenning’s power, as Lenning came back to win the match, and his twelfth Three-Wall National Open Singles title. This was his first on a four-wall court.
The Women’s Open semifinals played today, beginning with Suzanne Entzeroth and Mikaila Esser. Esser dominated game one and looked to be in control of the match. Entzeroth though looked to be shaking off the four-wall rust in game two, and was able to win the second game. The tiebreaker was back and forth, but Entzeroth’s touch in the front court made the difference as she won and advanced to the finals.
On the other side of the bracket, Ashley Ruiz defeated Sandy Ng in dominating fashion. Ng had trouble with the back-wall shot and Ruiz was able to exploit the weakness. She will take on Entzeroth in the finals Monday morning.
The Men’s Doubles final will be between Shorty Ruiz/Sam Esser and Martin Mulkerrins/Sean Lenning
The Women’s Doubles final will be between Ashley Ruiz/Mikaila Esser and Sandy Ng/Suzanne Entzeroth.
The Big Ball Doubles final will be Brian Medina/Leo Canales and Shorty Ruiz/Allan Sanchez.
While we’d love to stay outside, but the only way to restart the tournament TODAY is to play indoors on four-wall courts.
The backup site is the STUDENT REC CENTER at Bowling Green State University. (Approximately 20 miles from the hotel/courts…south, down I-75).
BGSU Rec Center address is: 1411 Ridge St, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403
ONLY USE THE REC CENTER ENTRANCE OFF RIDGE STREET
Please use the map as a guide to parking and where you can find the main entrance HERE.
All standard parking is free on Sunday and Labor Day.
Use any Red Lots (1, 10, 16 & 18) or Orange “X” (See the map).
10 a.m. matches should expect to check in around 1:30 p.m. or begin sooner if possible.
Lunch will still be available at Noon at the George D. Miller Handball Courts, if you want to catch a bite before coming down.
Handball Tournament: 71st USHA National Three-Wall Championships Dates: Sep 1-5, 2022 Location: Maumee, OH USA – Lucas County Rec Center Director: USHA Website Link:https://www.r2sports.com/tourney.asp?TID=39088
_____________________________________________________________MAUMEE, Ohio — Saturday and day three of the tournament brought the Men’s Open Singles semifinal matches and the Women’s Pro singles quarterfinal matches. Sean Lenning played Abe Montijo in the first semifinal, and controlled the match from start to finish. Lenning’s serve could be the best ever on the three-wall court, and nobody has shown an answer for it yet. Leo Canales defeated Shorty Ruiz in a tiebreaker after dropping game one of the match. Canales has now won two tiebreakers in a row and will have the tough task of taking down Lenning tomorrow. On the Women’s side, Mikaila Esser dispatched Leah Kirk in the first quarterfinal of the day. Esser and Kirk had many long rallies but Esser’s consistency made the difference. Ashley Ruiz defeated Kristen Hughes in two quick games, using her fly kill anytime she had the chance and putting it down routinely. Suz Entzeroth just edged out Jennifer Schmitt in her quarterfinal, surviving the first game 21-20 and then winning the second 21-15. In one of the best matches of the day, Sandy Ng defeated Megan Dorneker in a tiebreaker. Ng is a great one-wall player as well, and will be tough for any of her opponents to defeat as she brings a different type of game to the court. Near the end of the night, three awards were given out: Toledo Handball was recognized as the 2021 Organization of the Year, and it’s obvious why to anyone who attends the three-wall nationals. Anthony La Rocca was awarded the Volunteer of the year award for 2021. La Rocca has been vital in Indiana where he has really grown the one-wall scene. Thomas Valenzuela was awarded his Grand Master jacket, which goes out to players who have won 10 age division national title. Valenzuela will attempt to add another title in the 50 doubles this weekend. Follow along with all of the results HERE _______________________________________________________________________________MAUMEE, Ohio — Day two of the tournament brought beautiful weather and sunny skies all day. The action heated up on the court as the open quarterfinals took place in the Men’s Open division. The highlight of the day though was the ceremony held to dedicate the three-wall courts at the Lucas County Recreation Center to the late George D. Miller. Hundreds of players and spectators gathered to hear a presentation from Toledo Handball Club’s Jim Lowe, USHA Executive Director Matt Krueger, and Lucas County Administrators. Miller was the driving force behind the courts and did so much to make the Three-Wall Nationals a success. His legacy will live on for many many years. At the end of the ceremony, Miller’s wife Joyce was honored with a gift, and the proclamation stating that the Board of Directors of Lucas County have named the handball courts at the Lucas County Recreation Center in his honor. Sean Lenning continued to dazzle the crowd with his strong serves and power on the three-wall court. He defeated Bill Mehilos and will take on Abraham Montijo in the first semifinal tomorrow. Montijo took on Ireland’s Martin Mulkerrins, who is teaching handball at Texas A&M this year. Montijo got off to fast starts in both games, and was able to hold on a late Mulkerrins run in each game to win 21-18, 21-18. Leo Canales had a thrilling 11-9 victory over Sam Esser. Canales rallied back from a 6-0 deficit in the tiebreaker to take the match. He will take on Shorty Ruiz in the second semifinal tomorrow. Ruiz defeated long time three-wall star Dane Szatakowski in his quarterfinal match. Ruiz hit several ace serves down the left and right that helped propel him to victory. The semifinals will take place tomorrow, and the Women’s Open quarterfinals will also begin tomorrow. View all the results and follow along HERE _____________________________________________________________________________ MAUMEE, Ohio — Day one of the tournament brought perfect weather and great handball. The Toledo Handball Club welcomed all the players to the 2022 USHA Three-Wall Nationals with their tremendous hospitality. Players enjoyed catching up with their handball buddies who they had not seen since last year. The opening round of singles kicked off in most divisions. Long time three-wall stars Bill Mehilos and Dane Szatakowski played great in their impressive victories today. Mehilos defeated Max Langmack in his round of 16 match, and will take on Sean Lenning tomorrow. Szatakowski took out Brian Medina, and will face Shorty Ruiz tomorrow. One of the matches of the day was in the 60 singles, where Miguel Garcia Jardon defeated Dan Allen in a marathon match. Garcia Jardon routinely retrieved shots that were 10 feet behind the deep line, and was able to just outlast Allen in the tiebreaker. Matches kick off at 10am tomorrow. View all the results and follow along HERE_______________________________________________________________________________________MAUMEE, Ohio — The Toledo Handball Club and USHA welcome players and families back to the traditional Labor Day Weekend classic, the 71st USHA National Three-Wall Championships at the Lucas County Rec Center. The draws and start times are now available HERE.Please Note: Times and matches are tentative (things may change up to the day of the event). Double-check playing times and match up The Three-Wall National Tournament is everyone’s the favorite event of the year, and the Toledo Handball Club promises to offer another prime event. At this year’s tournament, in memory of longtime handball great, George Miller, the Toledo Handball Club will name the Lucas County Rec Center Three-Wall Courts the George Miller Three-Wall Handball Courts.
George Miller thanks the Three-Wall Nationals players and families during his acceptance speech for the R.W. Kendler Award in 2005.
George Miller’s Legacy to Toledo Handball and the National Three-Wall Championships
It was George Miller who spearheaded the effort to get eight regulation size three-wall courts with lights constructed in the mid-70s, bringing the Nationals to northern Ohio in 1975. Our Three-Wall Nationals have been held there ever since. For players who made the trip to the Lucas County Rec Center for the USHA Three-Wall Nationals each Labor Day Weekend, George didn’t just embody the event, he was it (he would be the last person to mention that fact). While establishing an amazing cadre of volunteers, George still did it all: running the grills, sweeping the courts and even picking up trash around the park.
His amazing work stretched nearly five decades and made the Three-Wall Nationals a top destination not only for handball players in the U.S., but extending to Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Australia and more. Handball players who knew George or played in Toledo will want to attend this year’s ceremony.
This is the best three-wall facility in the country, featuring eight regulation courts with lights. Paired with Toledo Handball Club’s amazing hospitality, the Three-Wall Nationals are a must! The complex has something for everyone, so bring the family! In case of rain, a local club is available.
ATTENTION: For players entering DOUBLES EVENTS WITHOUT A PARTNER. USHA staff can connect you with eligible players for your division, but the responsibility falls solely on the player to have a complete team by the entry deadline. Those who cannot find a partner by the deadline will be removed from doubles and the 2nd event fee will be refunded (or the player may be placed in another eligible singles division).
For your time off the court, the Toledo Area has plenty to offer. See the “Things to do in Toledo” HERE.
USHA & WPH Big Ball Doubles
The USHA and WPH have partnered again to offer Big Ball Doubles in Three-Wall and Wallball. A promotional entry fee and $2K Prize Money purse is guaranteed for these divisions.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Tyree Bastidas defeated his brother Jurell for the second straight year to claim his eighth one-wall pro singles title.
Tyree was dominant in game one, using his great serve and drive shots to win 21-7. Game two saw Jurell jump out to a fast start and early lead, but Tyree clawed his way back in the game. The brothers played even until the end. At 20-19, Tyree was serving for the match and hit a perfect ace just over the short line that Jurell didn’t even move for.
The victory gave Tyree the slam after winning the doubles with his brother. He continues to show that he is a force to be reckoned with one the one-wall court. You can watch the finals on our YouTube Channel HERE.
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BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Rain fell over the Coney Island Handball courts on Sunday and caused a long delay in play. Because of the rain and a few Saturday night matches needing to be pushed to Sunday morning due to the lack of daylight, the Pro Singles Final between Tyree and Jurell Bastidas had to be moved to Sunday, August 21st at Noon Eastern Time.
Despite the Men’s Pro singles not playing, championship Sunday was still filled with several great matches.
Eddie Perez kicked off the day with a strong victory over Milton Jones in the 50 singles finals. That was followed by William Polanco putting on a serve and shoot clinic to win the 40 singles final over Jai Ragoo. Ragoo later teamed with Joseph Kaplan to win the 40 doubles title.
Tony Roberts and George Figueroa continued their dominant run in Coney Island, knocking off Thomas Valenzuela and Oscar Dejesus in a close match in the 50 doubles.
The Pro Doubles saw Tyree and Jurell Bastidas square off against Allan Sanchez and William Polanco. The first game came down to the wire. Sanchez and Polanco lead 20-17, but despite having several serves to put the game away couldn’t convert and the Bastidas brothers squeaked out a 21-20 victory. Their momentum carried into the second game, and they were dominant from start to finish, defeating Sanchez and Polanco 21-2 to earn the Pro Doubles title.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Day two of the One-Wall Nationals was a hot one from start to finish. Players battled through the heat and played sensational Handball.
The Women’s Finals concluded Saturday morning with Danielle Daskalakis claiming victory over Sandy Ng 21-20, 21-14 in a thrilling match. At 20-20 in game one, Ng held serve to close out the game and just barely missed an ace serve down the left. The ball was just over the side line, giving Daskalakis the serve back where she closed it out.
Daskalakis and Ng later teamed up to win the Pro Women’s Doubles final over Tracy Davis and Melissa Sky, where they played flawlessly.
The Pro Men’s division played their quarterfinals and semifinals Saturday. Four-wall star Killian Carroll played a sensation match against Wallball champion Tywan Cook in what was the match of the day.
Cook crushed Carroll in game one, but Carroll found a serve that Cook had no answer for in game two, and forced a tiebreaker. It looked like Cook was going to win when he jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but Carroll rediscovered his serve and won the next 9 points of the match.
Tyree Bastidas cruised past PeeWee Castro in his quarterfinal, showing why he is the defending champion.
Tyree’s brother, Jurell Bastidas, played a nearly 3 hour match against Alvaro Rebaza that saw a plentitude of momentum swings. Bastidas was able to find the bottom board in the tiebreaker to take victory.
Saul Gonzales won the last quarterfinal, defeating Joshua Garcia. Gonzales just narrowly escaped game one 21-20, and looked to be in trouble after losing game two 21-6. He rediscovered his form in the tiebreaker to win 11-1.
The first semifinal was between Tyree Bastidas and Killian Carroll. Bastidas ran Carroll all over the court, and Carroll tracked down many tough balls, but Bastidas had too much power and easily advanced to the finals.
Jurell Bastidas looked equally as dominant against a tough Saul Gonzales in his semifinal. This game featured a lot of strong serves and power drives. The two played evenly in both games but Bastidas was able to close them both out 21-17.
The Men’s Pro Final between Tyree and Jurell Bastidas will take place tomorrow at 11:00am eastern time. It’s a rematch of the Speaker’s Cup final, which went to Jurell.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Day one of the tournament was met with overcast skies and sporadic sprinkles in the early part of the day, a welcomed addition to the New York heat. Afternoon came with sunny skies and high temperatures which the players battled through.
The first two rounds of the Men’s Pro division were played today, with most of the top seeds holding true. Brothers Tyree and Jurell Bastidas entered the tournament as the top two seeds and both looked great on the court today. The quarterfinals and semifinals of the Men’s Pro will be played tomorrow.
The quarterfinals and semifinals of the Women’s Pro division were also played today. Danielle Daskalakis looked dominant against Mikaila Esser in the first semifinal of the day, dazzling the crowd with one inch high kill shots and hop serves that Esser could not get a hand on. Daskalakis advanced 21-1, 21-4.
Sandy Ng and Tracy Davis squared off in the second semifinal, with Ng prevailing 21-4 and 21-6. Ng’s serves were impressive, and Davis could never get a feel for a strong return. Tomorrow’s final between Ng and Daskalakis looks to be an exciting one as both players are on top of their game.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — For the second consecutive year, the 61st USHA National One-Wall Championships has grown, adding more players and competitive divisions! The Women’s Pro divisions and a Women’s B singles division are a welcomed addition. Good luck to all the players competing in Coney Island this weekend!
Play begins Friday morning at the Seaside Courts, located at Surf Avenue and West 5th Street. Draws and start times are now available HERE.
Please note: start times and draws are subject to change up to the day of the first match. Remember to double check players’ times the day of the event.eight
CONEY ISLAND – Beautiful weather greeted players and fans Sunday morning as final matches concluded for the 14th USHA Wallball Nationals.
In the Men’s Pro Singles final, defending champion Tywan Cook overcame a slow start to capture his fourth title over Joshua Garcia, 25-8.
The score did not indicate how close the final was between the two competitors. Garcia jumped out to a fast start, surprising Cook and the hundreds gathering around to watch the action. Making the most of his first singles final appearance, Garcia kept Cook guessing by mixing up serves down the right line and killing Cooks returns for a 7-0 lead. Cook is no stranger to high pressure matches, and he quickly rebounded—giving Garcia an ace serve down the right line to start an incredible scoring 13-1 scoring run.
At 13-8, Garcia fired a shot from the deep right court that looked like an easy kill, but Cook made an amazing diving return for a rekill to gain the sideout. From that point, Cook kept up his torrid pace until he earned championship point.
“Josh played great, but Tywan’s serve and shoot game was just incredible,” said tourney director Jared Vale.
Cook had defeated Hector Velez 25-15 in the semifinals, while Garcia advanced with an injury default win over Sacha Kruithof Perelló.
After winning the singles title, Cook had a chance to slam paired for the first time with Nazir Marston against Timothy Gonzalez and Allan Sanchez in the Men’s Open Doubles. Sanchez and Gonzalez, two-time Wallball Doubles champions (2015 & 2017), took down Cook and Marston in a back-and-forth affair, 25-18.
Early on, Cook and Marston appeared on their way to a championship, building a 15-10 lead, but Gonzalez and Sanchez kept chipping away. Sanchez anchored the team on the right side while Gonzalez traded shots with Cook on the left. At 15-15, Cook committed an avoidable hinder by stepping into Gonzalez’s shot. Cook didn’t argue with referee Larry DuBois’s call but used a time out to try and stop their opponent’s momentum.
With a 16-15 lead, Sanchez and Gonzalez seemed more relaxed and focused, taking high percentage shots and placing all the pressure on their opponents to a 25-18 win.
In Sunday’s other finals, Tyshawn Morante and David Castro put on a clinic in the B Doubles, defeating Nicholas Pappas and Mohamad Mansi, 25-5. After their doubles win, Morante and Castro faced off in the B Singles final, with Morante shooting to a 25-13 victory.
Cesar Sala and William Polanco outlasted George Figueroa and Ray Lopez in a marathon final to win the 40-plus doubles, 25-23.
In a wide-open 50-plus doubles division, Albert Gordaliza and Mike Falcis defeated Jared Vale and Eddie Petrizzi, 25-22.
Thank you to all the players who made this year’s Wallball Nationals a success! A special thank you to Jared Vale, Alethia Mendez-Caba, Milton Jones, Karen McConney and everyone on the One-Wall Committee who helped at the desk, keeping matches rolling to make this a great event for the players. Lastly, a huge thank you to Shenta Pizzaro, who anchored the check-in desk, results and printing.
CONEY ISLAND – A steady stream of beachgoers and wallball fans flowed into the Seaside Handball Courts near the cross streets of Surf and West 5th Avenue as temperatures began to rise into the low 90s. Play began for all other divisions for the 14th USHA Wallball National Championships after the B Singles and Doubles opened competition on Friday.
Jenny Qu (Flushing) proved to the class of the Women’s Pro divisions this summer. Facing Danielle Daskalakis in the singles final, Qu bolted to a 9-0 lead, keeping her foot on the gas paddle to win the title convincingly, 25-7. Qu’s plan was to stay aggressive, while resisting every effort from her opponent to work her way back into the match. While Qu played flawlessly, Daskalakis struggled to find a consistent rhythm that’s carried her to so many titles.
Qu’s day was far from being done. Pairing with Daskalakis in the Women’s Pro Doubles, they reached the final to face the phenomenal sister duo from Brooklyn, Melanie and Jessinia Gerarte. The championship match featured some memorable momentum swinging shots from each team with Qu and Daskalakis defeating their opponents, 25-21. Qu’s hot shooting from the singles final carried over to the doubles as she controlled the court, building a 20-10 lead. But the Garate sisters found a new gear, pushing the pace to come away on the winning end of some amazing rallies. Even a timeout by Qu/Daskalakis couldn’t stop the Garate sisters’ push as they went on an 11-0 run to take a 21-20 lead and sway the final in their favor. Daskalakis and Qu answered with slick pass down the right line to gain the side out. With the serve back, Daskalakis and Qu made a final push to reach championship point to complete Qu’s slam.
The Men’s Pro Division attracted more international* participation this year in the event’s history. The U.K.’s Luke Thompson and Spain’s Sacha Kruithof Perello were evidence that the world is indeed catching up to the talent of the nearly untouchable crop of players from New York.
Thompson won his first match and nearly upset No. 5 seed David Velez in a close contest in the round of 16, losing 25-23.
On the other side of the draw, Sacha survived the wicked serves from Christian Renville, winning 25-18 for a quarterfinal match with No. 2 seed, Timbo Gonzalez—a match that drew the biggest crowd of the day.
Seemingly immune to grueling heat and fast pace, Sacha demonstrated exceptional athleticism, hustling to each side of the court to kill or rekill Gonzalez’s shots. While Gonzalez kept the match within reach, Sacha wouldn’t be denied a trip to the semifinals, netting a 25-21 victory. Semifinals begin Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m.
In the 50-plus singles, Jose Olivencia was primed to defend his 2021 title, but Ronald Beard outlasted Olivencia for a 25-23 victory. The two were nearly equal the entire match until Beard dropped two winners to the left to gain the title.
In the 40-plus singles, Cesar Sala stopped Lenny Medina 25-11. After a close semifinal, Sala stepped up big against Medina, controlling the front court to keep Medina on the defensive.
To close the day’s action, a new face entered the Women’s Open divisions. Kaitlyn Colon dominated the Women’s B Divisions completing her slam with an impressive win over Michelle Clara, 25-14.
She paired with Cynthia Lian to defeat Raquel Garcia and Myohwa Hwee for the Women’s B Doubles crown.
See Saturday’s results, Sunday’s start times and the rest of the draws HERE.
*William Coello of Ecuador was also in the tournament draws, entering the Men’s 40-plus divisions.
Friday, June 24.
CONEY ISLAND, N.Y. — The 14th USHA Wallball National Championships kicked off on Friday with B Singles and B Doubles action. Top-seeded David Castro (Bronx) looked strong, stopping Jonathan Rodriguez (Ridgewood, NY) 25-11 and Jeanpierre Garcia (Elmhurst, NY), 25-3 to advance to the quarterfinals. Castro faces Cesar Ayala Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern).
Brooklyn’s Christopher Briones-Moran, the No. 2 seed, kept pace with Castro by delivering two dominant performances, defeating Jonathan Montalvo (Bronx) 25 Jonathan Montalvo 25-9 and Zach Hill (New York), 25-7 to reach the quarterfinals.
Men’s and Women’s Pro events along with age division events begin Saturday morning. Matches are one 25-point game.
See Friday’s results, Saturday’s start times and the rest of the draws HERE.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The WPH Player’s Championship concluded Sunday with two epic finals.
The first was between the two top women’s players in the world, Catriona Casey and Martina McMahon. Each of them cruised to their highly anticipated final.
The first game was handball at its finest, with several lead changes and incredible shots on display. Casey edged McMahon out to win the game in overtime 16-14.
Game two was much different, as McMahon came out of the gates red hot from beginning to end, winning 15-1 and forcing a tiebreaker.
Casey came out a new player in the breaker, converting her set-ups into kill shots and not allowing McMahon many offensive opportunities. She kept her foot on the gas until the very end, and won the third game 15-6 to become the champion.
The Men’s final between Killian Carroll and Martin Mulkerrins was just as exciting. Mulkerrins jumped out to a big lead in game one with a 7-0 lead. Carroll started to chip away, getting the score to 8-9. A backwall rollout from Mulkerrins got him back in the box where he began to get hot again, and closed out the game 15-8.
Game two began somewhat similar, with Mulkerrins holding a small lead for most of the game. Carroll trailed 8-11 before he really found his groove. He hit several aces and a few more kill shots to score the final 7 points of the game and won 15-11 to force a tiebreaker.
The tiebreaker started similar to the first game, with Mulkerrins jumping out to first a 6-0 lead, then an 11-1 lead. Carroll showed fight after that but it was too late, and Mulkerrins claimed the players championship with a 15-4 tiebreaker victory.
For much more on the tournament, visit the WPH website HERE
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The WPH Player’s Championship kicks off this weekend with the best men, women and senior players in the sport looking to end this years pro tour with a victory.
Qualifying matches begin on Friday morning with the main draw starting Friday night. The matches will be livestreamed on Watch ESPN beginning Saturday morning. For more information on the tournament, see the WPH’s full preview HERE. To follow along with the results go HERE
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 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.
HOUSTON — Finals Sunday featured the R48 and WR48 finals, as well as the R48 and WR48 playoffs, as the Race 4 Eight’s stars battled for Race 4 Eight gold and valuable ranking points.
Complete WPH tournament report and coverage HERE. All images and content courtesy of WPH.
Men’s R48Pro Final: Carroll vs. NashFinal: Carroll vs. Nash
Killian Carroll entered Sunday’s Houston final riding a five-tournament Race 4 Eight win streak and seeking his nineteenth Race 4 Eight final. Diarmaid Nash entered his second Race 4 Eight final in search of his first R48 title against his junior and Irish Senior rival. “I suppose in Ireland I was sick of playing Killian because we met in every tournament but we haven’t played much since so I’m looking forward to playing him,” stated Nash. Killian is a dog and gives it 120%, so I hope to play my best ever match and come out on top.”
Killian Carroll picked up where he left off on Saturday, dominating the action en route to a seven-minute, 15-1 first game win. Nash changed his approach in game two, slowing the game down with a lob serve and changing the momentum of the match. “This is what Diarmaid always does against me, he plays me,” stated Carroll after the match. “I was used to playing the ball low and hard and he slowed the game down and I made a lot of errors and he waited for his opportunities and took advantage.”
The tiebreaker started with six consecutive side outs, as neither player was able to seize the momentum. With the score tied at seven, Carroll switched to his right-handed serve for the first time in the match and rediscovered the game that carried him to the first game lead. “I’m chasing Catriona now,” stated Carroll after his nineteenth R48 title. “She has 21 and I’m just trying to keep up with her.”
Final: Carroll d. Nash, 15-1, 11-15, 15-7.
Playoffs
5th place playoff: Esser vs. Canales
Sam Esser and Leo Canales continued their rivalry in the fifth place final, with Esser taking their last encounter in the fifth place playoffs at the R48 January Classic. Canales led 19-14 and 22-18 but Esser found his back wall kill, scoring the final seven points of the match to take fifth place for the second consecutive event. “Leo and Killian are the two fastest guys on the tour, so it’s not easy to put the ball down,” stated Esser. “I feel like I was skipping my back wall shots by an inch early in the match, but I found my kills just in time.”
Final: Esser def Canales 25-22
9th place playoff: Ruiz vs. Montijo
Tucson rivals played a classic ninth place final, with Ruiz racing to a 14-2 lead before narrowly leading at the half, 15-14. “When Shorty is playing like that there’s not much anyone can do,” stated Montijo. “I just tried to grind and stay in.” Montijo changed his serve throughout the match, alternating between 2-Wall lobs, underhand lobs, power serves, and 2-Wall power serves to change the momentum. “Those slow serves just kill my momentum,” Ruiz would later say. Montijo forged ahead in the second half and just crossed the finish line with both players exhausted. “Winning ninth place is a big deal and I’m proud of myself,” stated Montijo. “Shorty made three dives in the last rally and there were not many easy points.”
Final: Montijo def Ruiz 25-23
R48 Finishes
1st: Carroll
2nd: Nash
3rd: Fink/Lucho
5th: Esser
6th: Canales, Jr.
7th: Langmack/Danos
9th: Montijo
10th: Ruiz
WR48
Final: Casey vs. Tully
Catriona Casey entered Sunday’s WR48 Houston final seeking her twenty-first WR48 title in her twenty-third WR48 start, while Fiona Tully was appearing in her first WR48 final in her third season on the tour.
Catriona blitzed Tully in game one, needing just five minutes to take the lead. Fiona started to demonstrate her immense talent in game two, playing close with Catriona in the first several rallies in game two. Casey pulled away, changing her serves and implementing the all-around game that has made her unstoppable since the inception of the tour. “I got here early, skipped rope, and threw the ball around, so even though I was nervous and my legs felt heavy, I got off to a good start,” stated Casey. “I knew Fiona would start to play better in the second and she did. I made adjustments, just as she did, and I’m thrilled to win the title.”
Final: Casey d. Tully, 15-1, 15-4.
JR WPH Clinic
JR WPH was proud to host a junior handball clinic during the 2022 Houston Race 4 Eight, teaching several youngsters how to properly swing, rally, and have fun on the court. “We have really missed having the opportunity to get kids on the court during our hiatus, and it was wonderful to see all of the smiling faces enjoying the game,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink.
Thank you
Thank you to the Houston Handball Club, the Tellepsen Family YMCA, Ron Cole, Chuck Reeve, Sandy Gaitz, Jim Krepper, and the WPH staff and broadcast crew for an outstanding event in H Town.
Follow all of the brackets from the 2022 Houston Race 4 Eight HERE
