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2024 World Four-Wall Championships

DUBLIN  — Handball fans were treated to an epic day of action on finals day at the 2024 World Handball Championships. Four matches were slated to play on the show court at the National Handball Center in Dublin. It consisted of the Mens Open singles and doubles final and the Women’s Open singles and doubles final. The crowd was electric and the seats were filled all day. 

The crowd Sunday at the National Handball Center. Photo by Stephen Marken.

 The day kicked off with 2018 world champion Martina McMahon taking on Ciana Ni Churraoin in the Women’s Single finals. Ni Churraoin played lights out in game one, using her trademark power to overwhelm McMahon and convert her setups to win 15-11. It looked as if she was going to do the same in game two as she built an early lead and looked in control. But a few errors and a skipped served by Ni Churra0in gave McMahon an opening to make a comeback and she tightened the game. Still, Ni Churraoin served for match point, and with a big back wall setup it looked as if she would close it out. She powered the shot down the left, going for a deep pass, but McMahon barely got her hand on it and flipped into the left corner for a kill. A few moments later, McMahon had forced the tiebreaker. It felt like McMahon had all the momentum going into the third game, and she jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead. Ni Churraoin though refused to quit and wrestled the momentum back. She began to find her groove and built a 10-4 lead and served for the match for the second time. McMahon contined to fight though and got back in the service box. She rallied up to 8 points before Ni Churraoin sided her out and finally converted match point with a powerful shot down the left side. The joy on her face was evident as she completed the biggest win of her career.

Ciana Ni Churraoin after winng the World Title. Photo by Stephen Marken

 Next up was the Men’s Open Final between Paul Brady and Diarmaid Nash. Brady is no stranger to big games, and had his sights set on his sixth world championships. The red hot Nash was hoping to earn his first world singles title and finish off his impressive run that saw him beat multiple elite players, including current US National Champion Killian Carroll.  Nash came out fast in game one, pushing Brady all around the court and forcing him into errors. The game was one sided, and Nash won 15-8. Everybody expected a stronger Brady to come out in game two and that’s exactly what happened. Brady raced out to an 8-0 lead before Nash put a point on the board. Brady finished off the game 15-7 to force a tiebreaker that would decide the World Champion. Brady built a slight lead to begin the tiebreaker and looked in dominant form. Nash continued to fight but Brady was determined to finish. At 10-5, Brady earned a setup with his left hand that he flattened in the left corner. He immediately turned to the crowd and let out a roar. He went on to say after the match that this World Title was as sweet as his first one, and thanked everyone who helped him achieve it. When asked if he was done with this level of handball competition, he said “I never say never.”

Nash sets up for a shot in the finals. Photo by Stephen Marken.

 The finalists of the Women’s Doubles took the court next, as Ciana Ni Churrain and Niamh Heffernan would do battle with Martina McMahon and Aoife McCarthy.  McMahon looked determined to avenge her singles loss to Ni Churrain and deny her the slam. Her and McCarthy came out fast in game one and held on to win 15-11. Game two Ni Churrain and Heffernan evened the count to force a tiebreaker. With McMahon shooting the ball from the back court and McCarthy playing steady up front, they found their groove again and won 11-4 to become world champs. The last match of the day and the 2024 World Four-Wall Championships was the Men’s Open doubles between Killian Carroll and Martin Mulkerrins vs Robbie McCarthy and Joe McCann.   Like every other match that day and to nobody’s surprise, it went to a tiebreaker. Carroll and Mulkerrins built a 7-2 lead in the breaker and looked to be in control. But with the crow behind them, McCarthy and McCann wouldn’t quit. They got back in the box and never left it again. They completed the comeback to cap off and epic tournament with an epic match.

McCarthy moments after winning the Open Doubles. Photo by Stephen Marken.

 Thank you to the GAA and all of their volunteers for putting on an amazing world tournament. There were over 2,000 matches played in the span of nine days, and it took a village to pull off.  You can watch all of the action that took place over the weekend on the Sport TG4 YouTube channel. Check out all of the Draws HERE. 

CONGRATS TO OUR AMERICAN WORLD CHAMPIONS

Ed Campbell- 75+ Singles

Ed Campbell and Merv Deckert- 75+ Doubles

Dan Brennan- 70+ Singles

Sean Conneely and Ray Estevez- 70+ Doubles

Lloyd Garcia and Gary Scogin- 65+ Doubles

James Cooke- 55+ B Singles

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DUBLIN — The semifinal matches in the Men’s and Ladies Open divisions promise an exciting day of handball on Saturday, all taking place on Showcourt #1 at the National Handball Centre, located at Croke Park.

The day kicks off with the Ladies’ semifinal action, featuring Ciana Ni Churraoin against Niamh Heffernan, followed by Martina McMahon taking on Fiona Tully.

Men’s singles action begins with a rematch of the 2019 USHA Men’s Open final, as Martin Mulkerrins faces Paul Brady. Both players have looked dominant on their paths to today’s matchup, not dropping a game in the opening rounds.

The second Men’s semifinal features Diarmaid Nash against David Walsh, both of whom pulled off dramatic wins in the quarterfinals.

Nash has been in top form at these World Championships. He started strong in the quarterfinals against current USHA National champion Killian Carroll, winning the first game 15-1. The gallery and those watching the Sport TG4 YouTube live stream braced for a possible tiebreaker, knowing Carroll’s penchant for comebacks. Carroll did just that, winning the second game 15-9. Nash dictated the pace of the tiebreaker, which could have swung either way, serving out for an 11-8 victory.

David Walsh continued his incredible run in Croke Park on Thursday, defeating Team Ireland captain Robbie McCarthy 8-15, 15-8, 11-9. McCarthy had been breezing through his matches until Walsh caught fire in the second game. That streak continued as he shocked one of the tournament favorites to advance to the semifinals.

In doubles action, Leo Canales and Abraham Montijo (USA) made some clutch shots down the stretch to advance to the semifinals, defeating Colin Crehan and Diarmaid Nash (Ireland) 9-15, 15-6, 11-4. They will play Martin Mulkerrins and Killian Carroll (Ireland), who stopped Sam Esser and Braulio Ruiz (USA) with a 15-7, 15-7 win in their quarterfinal matchup.

Luis and Daniel Cordova (Mexico) defeated Peter and Paddy Funchion (Ireland) 15-9, 15-3 to advance to the semifinals. They’ll play Robbie McCarthy and Joe McCann (Ireland), who defeated Ray Ure and Ivan Burgos (USA) 15-3, 11-15, 11-4.

Stay updated on scores and match progress by selecting the “Fixtures” option for the best screen viewing experience for smart phones, tablets or PCs by following this link HERE.

Watch all the action live from the National Handball Centre on the TG4 Sport YouTube channel.

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DUBLIN — The Round of 16 at the National Handball Centre near Croke Park was challenging for players from the U.S. and Mexico on Wednesday. Luis “Lucho” Cordova of Mexico narrowly missed a victory in a thrilling tiebreaker against Ireland’s Daniel Relihan, with a final score of 15-12, 5-15, 11-10. In the tense closing moments, Relihan injured his wrist while diving to intercept a shot down the left wall. After briefly recovering, he secured the last point, advancing to the quarterfinals. 

In another intense round of 16 match, Ireland’s Peter Funchion edged out Mexico’s Daniel “Danos” Cordova in three games, finishing 15-11, 10-15, 11-8. Meanwhile, Killian Carroll of the U.S. was in top form, claiming a swift 15-2, 15-2 victory over Ivan Burgos.

The day concluded with a clash between Diarmaid Nash of Ireland and Ray Ure of the U.S. Ure, who reached the Pro Stop final in Portland, tested Nash, the 2022 USHA Men’s Champion, pushing the match to a third game before falling 15-11, 12-15, 11-6.

In the Women’s Open, Mikaila Esser of the U.S. delivered an exciting victory over Aoife Holden of Ireland, finishing 15-8, 10-15, 11-10. Esser will face Ireland’s Ciana Ní Churraoin in Thursday’s quarterfinals, while Danielle Daskalakis of the U.S. takes on Martina McMahon of Ireland.

At the Coolboy venue, Terry Britt of the U.S. defeated Edward Farrelly of Ireland in the 70-plus division with a close 12-15, 15-10, 11-10 win. Britt will face fellow American Dan Brennan in Thursday’s quarterfinals.

In the 65-plus singles at the Borris venue, Gary Sternberg of the U.S. advanced to the semifinals with a commanding 15-14, 15-4 victory over Ireland’s Michael Rossiter.

The final for the 50-plus singles is set, with Ireland’s Gavin Buggy set to face Justin Balkenbush of the U.S. on Friday morning at the Tinryland venue.

Stay updated on scores and match progress by selecting the “Fixtures” option for the best screen viewing experience for smart phones, tablets or PCs by following this link HERE.

Watch all the action live from the National Handball Centre on the TG4 Sport YouTube channel.

Ray Ure of Minnesota, USA in action against Kevin Diggins of Leixlip, Kildare in the Open Men’s round of 32 during day three of the O’Neills.com World 4-Wall Championships at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile.

DUBLIN — The Men’s Open is now down to just 16 players. Several American based players are still in the tournament and looking to secure their spot in the top eight. 

Several Team USA players will be in action on Wednesday, as all of them have advanced thus far. 

Leo Canales will take on David Walsh to kick off play on Wednesday morning. Shortly after, Ivan Burgos will go up against Killian Carroll. Ray Ure faces off with Diarmaid Nash later in the day. 

On the ladies side, Ashley Ruiz will face off with Irish phenon Martina McMahon. Mikaila Esser will take on Texas based Aoife Holden in her match. Danielle Daskalakis has a bye and will await the results today to find out who she plays. 

The action so far at the National Handball Center in Dublin has been phenomenal. Make sure you’re tuning into the live feed on the Sport TG4 Youtube channel HERE and follow along with all the brackets HERE

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DUBLIN — Round of 64 action began in the Men’s Open division today, with many americans competing. 

Abraham Montijo and Rene Lopez went down to Irish competitors in their opening round games, losing tightly contested matches. 

Loren Collado played maybe the match of the day in his round of 64 matchup against Ian McLoughlin. After winning quickly in game one, Collado could not seem to finish off McLoughlin in game two, and ended up losing 15-14. He regrouped in the tiebreaker and played his best handball of the match, winning it 11-3. 

The Round of 32 in the Men’s Open will kick off tomorrow morning at 9am Ireland time with all the big names playing. There will be some exciting matches, make sure you tune into the live feed on the Sport TG4 Youtube channel. 

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IRELAND — The 2024 World Four-Wall Championships presented by ONeills.com is less than a week away! The tournament will take place all across Ireland October 26th-November 3rd. With over 1,600 entries received, there will be plenty of matches taking place across the week of the tournament. 

Our Team USA Representatives are ready to compete for a World Title in the open division against stiff competition:

Men’s Singles: Leo Canales
Men’s Doubles: Ivan Burgos and Ray Ure
Women’s Singles: Danielle Daskalakis
Women’s Doubles: Mikaila Esser and Ashley Ruiz

The draws have been posted at knowthescore.ie which you can access HERE. 

  1. Select “Go to Draw Tree”
  2. Under Choose Tournament, choose “World 4-Wall Championships
  3. Choose your category and then division to view the bracket. 

Purchase your Team USA gear from our webstore HERE. 

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2024 USHA Three-Wall National Championships

The 2024 USHA Three-Wall Nationals brought together our handball family for another phenomenal week of handball and camaraderie at the George D. Miller Three-Wall Courts.

The Toledo Handball Club again went above and beyond by providing their unmatched tournament hospitality, keeping players and spectators well fed and happy throughout the week. The amount of work put in by the members of the Toledo Handball Club is tremendous and it is appreciated by all.

We had a pair of first time open champions in 2024, with Killian Carroll winning the Men’s Open title and Mikaila Esser winning the Women’s Open title.

With Sean Lenning hurt, Carroll was one of the favorites to win the tournament, but faced stiff competition from the likes of Luis Cordova, Tyree Bastidas, Shorty Ruiz, Sam Esser, Ivan Burgos and more.

Carroll left no doubt he was the best player in the tournament and cruised past Cordova in the finals by the scores of 21-4, 21-7. He was relentless in every rally and never let Cordova get comfortable. A laser serve earned him several free points, and he was able to push Cordova all around the court.

Killian Carroll had a successful first trip to the Three-Wall Nationals

Carroll earned his finals spot ousting Ray Ure in the quarterfinals in two competitive games. Burgos awaited Carroll in the semis but stood little chance. Carroll looked unbeatable, winning the match 21-3, 21-0 in the span of just 20 minutes.

Cordova had a shaky start to his tournament and needed a tiebreaker to overcome Abraham Montijo in his quarterfinal, but looked strong in his two game sweep in the semifinals against Sam Esser.

On the Women’s side, Mikaila Esser took down three-wall legend Megan Dorneker in a tiebreaker. After a strong game one and a commanding 14-7 lead in game two, Esser looked in control. Dornerker made a run though that was fueled by a strong serve and a right hand down the right kill shot. She came all the way back to force the tiebreaker. Esser was able to regroup, and started the tiebreaker fast and never looked back, winning the match 21-11, 15-21, 11-0.

Esser defeated Jennifer Schmitt in the semifinals in two games while Dornerker took down Irish star Clodagh Munroe in a tiebreaker.

Mikaila Esser slammed the Women’s Open divisions with the help of partner Jen Schmitt

In the doubles, Shorty Ruiz and Sam Esser returned to the top by winning their third open title together, taking down Killian Carroll and Tyree Bastidas in the finals.

In the Women’s Open, Mikaila Esser completed the slam by teaming with Jen Schmitt to defeat Kristen Hughes and Leah Kirk in the finals.

Shorty Ruiz and Sam Esser won their third three-wall open doubles title.

Thank you again to the Toledo Handball Club for their efforts in putting on the best event of the year and all of the tournament volunteers who make it possible.

Congratulations to all of our 2024 Three-Wall National Champions:

Open Singles: Killian Carroll

Women’s Open Singles: Mikaila Esser

Open Doubles: Shorty Ruiz and Sam Esser

Women’s Open Doubles: Mikaila Esser and Jennifer Schmitt

Big Ball Open Doubles: Ray Ure and John Bike

A singles: Matt Job

Women’s A singles: Audrey Peters

A doubles: Anthony Collado and Chandler Straw

B singles: Vincent Yam

B doubles: Cameron Lowe and Zach Dybal

C singles: Antonio Rivera

35 singles: Abe Montijo

Women’s 35 singles: Sabrina Zamora

35 doubles: Cary Dohman and Tony Clarke

40 singles: Tyler Stevens

40 doubles: Dave Munson and Mike Munson

45 singles: Carlos Chavez

45 doubles: Adam Szatkowski and Shane Conneely

50 singles: Dan Zimet

50 doubles: Dan Zimet and Alan Frank

55 singles: Rick Leonard

60 singles: Thomas Valenzuela

60B singles: Greg Burns

60 doubles: Thomas Valenzuela and Agustin Herrera

65 singles: Dave Dohman

65 doubles: Dave Dohman and Scott Rosenthal

70 singles: John Friedrich

70 doubles: Kevin Jarvis and Ray Estevez

75 doubles: Jim Smith and Rick Graham

80 singles: Rick Graham

MAUMEE, OhioHOLY TOLEDO, Three-Wall Nationals Week is here! The 73rd USHA Three-Wall National Championships will commence Thursday afternoon at the Lucas County Rec Center’s George D. Miller Handball Courts. This year’s event is particularly notable as it will see the crowning of a new Men’s Pro Singles champion for the first time in a decade. The last player to win not named “Sean Lenning” was Tyree Bastidas, who claimed the title in 2013. Bastidas returns to the competition, facing a field of determined contenders, including 2023 runner-up Luis Cordova Jr. and first-time entrant Killian Carroll.

In the Women’s Open Singles draw, nine-time champion Megan Dorneker is aiming to reclaim the title after falling short in last year’s final. Her path to victory will be challenging, with formidable opponents such as Mikaila Esser, Jen Schmitt, Clodagh Munroe, Kristen Hughes, and others standing in her way.

Follow all the action and check out the brackets HERE for the latest results from the Championships!

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2024 World Wallball Championships

Marston shoots for championship point in the Men’s Open Wallball Final. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile

LIMERICK, Ireland – The atmosphere at the University of Limerick Sports Arena was electric on the final day of the ONeills.com 2024 World Wallball Championships. Over 1,000 enthusiastic fans filled the venue, driven by the high stakes of the World Championship final and a palpable sense of national pride. The morning commenced with the Junior and Masters finals, setting the stage for the highly anticipated Open division showdown.

Excitement buzzed through the arena as fans eagerly awaited what promised to be a thrilling final. The two contenders, both hailing from Brooklyn, New York, did not disappoint. As play commenced, the crowd fell into a captivated silence, watching the world’s top Wallball athletes execute incredible shots from seemingly impossible angles, trading blistering serves and returns at point-blank range.

Gonzalez, a seasoned veteran accustomed to the pressures of high-stakes titles, faced Marston, who was making his first appearance in a World Championship final. The day before, Marston had triumphed over defending champion Conor McElduff, overcoming the pressure of playing against a hometown favorite. That victory bolstered his confidence, which he carried into the final.

The match began with the intensity of two fighters testing each other, reaching an even 10-10 tie. Both players delivered an extraordinary sequence of rallies, each point hard-earned. Despite using two timeouts, Gonzalez stayed level with Marston until the score reached 15-15. However, Marston then began to pull ahead, capitalizing on rally scoring to secure the first game, 21-17.

In the second game, Gonzalez, determined to force a tiebreaker, played with renewed purpose. Although he gained a slight advantage, the players once again found themselves deadlocked at 10-10. As the rallies continued, Gonzalez began to show signs of fatigue, yet he kept the score close. Marston, however, seized control, building a three-point lead. Gonzalez responded with two consecutive kills, narrowing the gap to 16-18 and prompting Marston to call a timeout.

When play resumed, Marston quickly regained his composure, overcoming a Gonzalez kill to gain the side out and a 19-17 lead. With a powerful left-handed shot, he secured the final two points, clinching the championship with identical scores of 21-17. Marston celebrated with the crowd, shared a respectful handshake with Gonzalez, and then sprinted to the cameras, basking in the applause that rained down.

While Gonzalez and the other top Wallballers remain formidable contenders for future titles, this moment belonged to Marston, whose star first rose at the USHA National Wallball final in 2023.

In the all-USA 50s final at the World Championships, Joe Kaplan emerged victorious over Jared Vale, winning in two straight games, 21-18 and 21-11. Earlier in the week, Kaplan narrowly missed capturing a second World Open Small Ball Singles title, but the Brooklyn native rebounded with a determined performance in the 50s division.

The first game was a tightly contested battle, with Vale pushing his fellow New Yorker to the limit. Kaplan, however, managed to power through the intense rallies, edging out Vale to take the opening game 21-18. In the second game, Kaplan took command, dictating the pace of play. Despite Vale’s valiant efforts to keep up, Kaplan maintained control, ultimately sealing the victory and the championship with a decisive 21-11 win.

USA’s William Polanco turned back the clock, winning the small ball Open Singles against fellow American Joe Kaplan. Both Masters eligible players played an exceptionally entertaining final, with Polanco edging out Kaplan, 11-21, 21-12 11-5.

Polanco would also win the Men’s 40-plus Singles over Ireland’s Dominick Lynch, 21-13, 21-14.

USA’s William Polanco had a tremendous World Championships, successfully defending his Open Small Ball titles and winning the 40-Plus Singles. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
McMahon gets low for a return against Tully in the Women’s Open final. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile

The Women’s Open Singles final featured an all-Ireland showdown between defending World Champion Martina McMahon and Fiona Tully. Tully demonstrated the brilliance that carried her to the championship match, but McMahon’s two-handed power and control, honed over the past decade, proved decisive. Although both games were closely contested, McMahon secured a convincing victory, winning 21-10, 21-9.

Gonzalez digs an amazing return in front of Marston in the Open Wallball Doubles final. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile

In the doubles competition, Marston teamed up with Tywan Cook to complete a remarkable slam, defeating Gonzalez and Allan Sanchez in a thrilling match, 18-21, 21-16, 11-4. Gonzalez and Sanchez, fresh off their small ball World title win, seemed poised to claim another World Doubles crown after taking the first game. However, Marston and Cook, undeterred by the early setback, elevated their game, going toe-to-toe with their opponents to clinch the final and achieve a rare World Championships Slam.

See draws and final results at: knowmyscore.ie

Matches of the ONeills.com 2024 World Wallball Championships are available at the TG4 YouTube Channel HERE.

See how “Team USA” fared in the table below (scroll to the bottom of the page).

LIMERICK, Ireland — The semifinals are set for the Men’s and Women’s Open Divisions. Kicking things off at 10 AM (Eastern), defending Women’s Champion Martina McMahon (Ireland) will tussle with Cailiosa Ni Dhuill (Ireland). In the second all-Ireland semifinal, Elise McCrory faces Fiona Tully. 

Three of four spots in the Men’s semifinals hail from Brooklyn, N.Y.  Defending 2018 Men’s Champion Conor McElduff (Ireland) faces Nazir Marston (USA) at 11 AM Eastern.  Timbo Gonzalez and Tywan Cook square off in an all-USA semifinal.  

View the draws and follow real-time results at: knowmyscore.ie

Matches of the ONeills.com 2024 World Wallball Championships will be live-streamed on the TG4 YouTube Channel HERE.

     Follow along with all of our American Players in the table below, which shows which Americans are still in their division and when their next match will be. The table will update shortly after a match concludes, so check back often for updates! The streaming schedule is also below!

LIMERICK, Ireland — With the closing ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympics now behind us, we eagerly anticipate the start of the World Wallball Championships, set to take place at the University of Limerick from August 18-24. We are proud to send some of our top one-wall competitors to represent Team USA in the Men’s and Ladies’ Open Singles and Doubles events.

     In the Men’s Open Wallball Singles, five-time USHA National Wallball Champion Tywan Cook from Brooklyn, N.Y. He will also team up with Brooklyn’s Nazir Marston, who is making his World Championships debut, to compete in the Men’s Open Wallball Doubles.

      Mel Sky from the Bronx, N.Y., will represent Team USA in the Ladies’ Open Wallball Singles while also competing in the Ladies’ Open Wallball Doubles alongside fellow Bronx player Sully Ruiz. We wish them the best of luck as they compete for Team USA in pursuit of World Wallball titles in Ireland! 

The World Wallball Championships kick off a massive celebration of handball this year in Ireland, as 2024 marks 100 years of GAA Handball. Fittingly hosted in Ireland, this event is the first stand-alone Wallball/One-Wall World Championships. The action begins at the University of Limerick on August 18 and concludes on August 23. All draws, or “fixtures,” are now available. Check them out HERE. 

     The World Wallball Championships will be using the Official Irish Wallball Rules. Download the GAA Handball Combined Rulebook HERE, and watch a video explaining the rules being used at the tournament click HERE. Follow along and cheer on our Team USA players!

     See how all the American Players performed in the table below. Congrats to the 12 champions!!

Tywan Cook
Nazir Marston
Mel Sky
Suly Ruiz

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USHA/ICHA Junior One-Wall Nationals

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The USHA Junior Nationals hosted by the Inner City Handball Association will be at the Seaside Courts at Coney Island West 5th St. & Surf Ave. This tournament kicks off the unofficial start of summer by showcasing the talents of the best junior one-wall handball players in the country. Who will be the next Junior One-Wall National Champions?

This event uses the USHA RED 21 and WHITE 21 small balls.


Who should play in this event?

  • Any teen player interested in exploring tournament handball for the first time.
  • Any teen player interested in understanding the rules of handball.
  • Any teen player interested in future scholarships in the sport of handball.
  • Any teen player interested in volunteering for a community charity.
  • Any teen player interested in learning competition strategies.
  • Any teen player interested in meeting other teen players and having a fun weekend of handball.

For proof of age, participants must have a valid school ID including a date of birth or a combination of a birth certificate and school ID.

Eye protection is mandatory. To promote our rules and emphasis on player safety, one pair of FREE lensed eyeguards will be provided to each player.

Teens entered into this event are eligible to apply for USHA & ICHA 2024 Scholarships on the ICHA website.

To encourage Girl participation, ALL GIRLS EVENTS ARE FREE THIS EVENT.

Any questions please call the IHCA at: 718-703-7699

More info HERE.

2024 USHA Three-Wall Masters Doubles

TUCSON — Sunday morning saw a big drop in temperature, as players showed up for the first matches in 50 degree weather and cloudy skies. Rain sprinkled throughout the day but only caused a slight delay in the action. 

Gary Eisenbooth and Robert Dyke successfully defended their 70 doubles title by defeating Lou Serrone and Tom Allen in the first final of the day. Eisenbooth and Dyke have superb chemistry on the court and kept Serrone and Allen on the run all match long. 

70 Doubles finalists (left to right) Tom Allen, Lou Serrone, Bob Dyke, Gary Eisenbooth after their match.

Eisenbooth and Dyke were also in the final of the 65 doubles, where they faced off against Lloyd Garcia and Tom Martinez. Garcia and Martinez took the first game but found themselves trailing in game two. Garcia found a hard lob serve down the left that helped bring his team back into the match, and they came back to win game two and take the championship.

In the 55 doubles final, John Bike and John “Flash” Robles took down John Henning and Leo Canales in a competitive match. Bike and Robles are both powerful lefties, and they were able to score a lot of points off their serve. Henning and Canales tried to keep the ball in the back court, but Robles wasn’t having it. He had his fly kill game going which was the difference that propelled them victory. 

Bike could hardly celebrate the win before he was right back on the court in the 45-plus final.  He and David Vincent were taking on brothers Thomas and Steve Natale. Bike and Vincent started fast and remained in control, leading 20-17, before a rare double fault (screen, screen, short) by Vincent gave the serve back to the Natales, who took advantage and made an improbable comeback to steal game one, 21-20.

Riding their late-game run, the Natales jumped out to a commanding 9-0 lead in game two. With everything going wrong for Bike and Vincent, they won a crucial sideout, and that’s where the tide turned.  Bike and Vincent controlled the action the rest of the way, scoring 19 unanswered points. Team Natale made some incredible shots, but they only scored one more point in game two and only four in the tiebreaker. Between Bike’s paddle kills and Vincent’s strong serve, they scored points in bunches to win the title.  

It was a great weekend of handball with plenty of phenomenal matches. Thank you to the players who supported the tournament and the volunteers who helped make it successful–especially those who helped referee and kept matches moving along.  Special Thanks to Dave Vincent and the WPH for providing blowers to help keep the courts dry on the final Sunday.  You can check the results from all of the divisions HERE. 


TUCSON — It was another gorgeous day at the Clark Park Three-Wall Courts on Saturday. Players and spectators enjoyed delicious Sonoran Hot Dogs for lunch as they took in the action on the courts. 

Semifinals were taking place across all divisions and there were several thrilling matches as players battled for a spot in the finals. 

Both semifinals in the 45 doubles needed a tiebreaker to determine the winner. In the first semifinal, brothers Thomas and Steve Natale edged out a 21-20 game one victory over John Henning and Leo Canales before dropping the second game. The Natale’s regrouped in the tiebreaker and held Henning and Canales to just one point. 

On the other side of the bracket, John Bike and David Vincent were making their return to tournament play and had a tough matchup against Phoenix’s Francisco Esparza and Washington’s Andy Romanchock. Despite Esparza and Romanchock being a first time pairing, they pushed Bike and Vincent to a tiebreaker. The tiebreaker looked as if it could go either way but some timely serves from Bike and Vincent pushed them into the finals where they will face the Natale brothers. 

A few finals were completed on Saturday evening and we saw our first national champions crowned of the weekend. 

Merv Deckert and Ed Campbell added another title to their collection, but their first in the 75 age group, as they defeated Peter Anderson and David Ackerman to clinch the title. 

The highly anticipated 35 doubles final was played, pitting Shorty Ruiz and Jeff Streibig against Abraham Montijo and Eric Hillgren. All four players continue to play at an incredible high level, but this was Ruiz and Streibig’s day. Ruiz kept his opponents in the back court by utilizing strong ceiling shots and deep drives. Streibig pounced on weak returns, as he and Ruiz cruised to a 21-11, 21-11 victory. 

35 doubles finalists (from left to right) Shorty Ruiz, Jeff Streibig, Abraham Montijo, and Eric Hillgren.

In the last match of the day, Ruiz teamed with Sam Esser in the Pro doubles finale where they handled Ivan Burgos and Max Langmack to take home the title. 

A reception was held Saturday night at the Hall of Fame building where players enjoyed checking out the game’s rich history and chatting about handball with new and old friends.

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TUCSON A beautiful spring day greeted three-wall handballers as they descended upon Clark Park for the 2024 USHA Three-Wall Masters Doubles Friday afternoon. New visitors marveled at the pristine courts, surrounded by the serene park in what is considered the Southwest’s premier 3-Wall facility.

Eric Hillgren delivers a return from the back court in Seniors (35-plus) action.

Players wasted little time getting accustomed to the courts while using the tournament’s official ONE handball, the first for any National 3-Wall event (ONE Handballs are the official handball for the One-Wall Nationals).  

Two of Friday’s first matches went to tiebreakers. In the Diamond (70-plus), Tom Allen and Louis Serrone defeated three-wall newcomers Craig Trull and Steve Lippman, 21-7, 18-21, 11-9.  In the Veteran Diamond (75-plus), Ed Campbell and Merv Deckert outlasted Dan Ho and Chris Dominico, 21-12, 19-21, 11-6. 

Next round’s matches begin Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Pacific. 

Start times and tournament brackets are now available on the tournament website HERE.

The competition will be strong across all divisions with many national title winners competing. Follow along at ushandball.org for daily updates and results!

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2024 USHA COLLEGIATE NATIONAL HANDBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP

DAY FIVE — Mark Doyle and Clodagh Munroe became the new collegiate champions on Sunday, each of them winning their first open collegiate singles title. 

Doyle defeated Ivan Burgos in a sensational final between two of the best young players in our sport. The match included several ace serves and flat rollouts from both players. Burgos speed seemed to neutralize some of Doyle’s patented paddle kills, but some untimely errors haunted Burgos throughout the match. Doyle really served and shot the ball well when it mattered towards the end, and he won two close games, 21-18 and 21-17 to win the finals.

Doyle threw his hands up in joy after rolling out a back-wall setup to close out the match, which was a delight to his coaches, teammates, and parents on hand to watch him play. 

Doyle the moment he won the 2024 Collegiate Nationals

In the Women’s Final, Munroe looked strong in her game one victory over Amy Brennan, jumping out to an early lead and controlling much of the action. The second game though was tight throughout, and both players traded rally ending shots. 

After falling short last year in the finals, Munroe looked determined to win this year. That was surely on her mind as the second game was close to finishing with both players just a few shots away from winning it. Munroe kept her composure, and stopped Brennan at 18 points and got back in the box and closed it out. You could see the joy on her face when she scored the championship point. 

You can view the winners from every division by viewing the draws on Bracket Ace HERE. 

The Collegiates is a team competition, and the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks successfully defended their title as the collegiate national champions, winning the combined open division, the men’s open division, and the women’s open division!

They were lead of course by Doyle and Munroe in points, but also had so many players near the top of the bracket that they won comfortably. The top six players from each gender is counted towards each team’s points. You can view the breakdown of all the team and player points on Bracket Ace HERE. 

The team is coached by Mike Wells and John Stoffel, who are building an incredible program in Mankato with no signs of slowing down. Congrats to all the Mavericks. 

Combined Open Title:

  1. Minnesota State Mankato
  2. Missouri State University
  3. Texas A&M University

Men’s Open Title:

  1. Minnesota State Mankato
  2. Missouri State University
  3. University of Texas

Women’s Open Title:

  1. Minnesota State Mankato
  2. Texas A&M University
  3. Missouri State University

The “A” titles are awarded to teams who don’t have enough potential points to compete in the “Open” division based on their original seeding. This group includes most of the teams and is an impressive and difficult title to win. The following programs finished in the top three in the “A” division. 

Combined A Title:

  1. Angelo State University
  2. Utah State University
  3. Pacific University

Men’s A Title:

  1. Texas A&M University 
  2. Utah State University
  3. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Women’s A Title:

  1. Angelo State University
  2. Utah State University
  3. Pacific University

The tournament was a great success this year. A big thank you to Jeff Wall and Ben Van Arsdale for setting up the tournament website on Bracket Ace, which allowed players to easily view brackets, check in for matches, view live scores on each court, and much much, much more. If you are a tournament director, consider using bracket ace for your next tournament. 

Another big thank you to all the tournament volunteers. With over 220 players this year it was the biggest collegiate nationals in years, and took a team to pull off. 

The final thank you is to the coaches, who continue to promote the game of Handball to new players who will be the future of our sport. 

If you missed any of the results from the tournament, you can find them on Bracket Ace HERE. 

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DAY FOUR- Semifinal Saturday started off with a bang when Ivan Burgos defeated defending champion and number one seed Shane Dunne in two games, 21-11, 21-11. Burgos retrieved nearly all of Dunne’s kill attempts and brought an incredible intensity to the match. 

Burgos will be facing Mark Doyle in the Men’s final tomorrow. Doyle defeated his Minnesota State Mankato teammate Ray Ure by the scores of 21-11, 21-16 to earn his spot. Doyle has looked strong all weekend, and it’s sure to be a thrilling final against Burgos tomorrow. 

Clodagh Munroe dominated Emma Kinane in the first semifinal of the Women’s Open division, never allowing Kinane to look comfortable.

On the bottom half of the bracket, Amy Brennan smoked Leah Minogue in two games, a surprising result given the players just played a tiebreaker a few weeks ago in the Irish collegiate final. 

Munroe and Brennan will face off Sunday morning at 9am Central time. Follow along with results from all divisions HERE

Clodagh Munroe and Amy Brennan will battle for the Women’s Final tomorrow.

The banquet was held Saturday night at the Graduate Hotel, which saw several players awarded for scholarships and awards. 

This year, more than $40,000 dollars were given out in scholarship dollars to collegiate student handball players! 

The Most improved Award goes to the men’s and women’s player who improved the most spots from the prior collegiate nationals to this year’s collegiate nationals. The winners this year:

Men’s Most Improved Award: Carson Kendrick, Utah State University, who improved 29 spots!

Women’s Most Improved Award: Kiaya Hoffner, Minnesota State Mankato, who improved 16 spots!

The Spirit of Handball Award goes to one men and women’s player who play the game with sportsmanship and capture the spirit of handball in the way they play and approach the game. The winners this year:

Men’s Spirit of Handball Award: Max Johnson, Colorado School of Mines

Women’s Spirit of Handball Award: Rachel Haas, Pacific University. 

All America

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DAY THREE- Bracket play started early Friday morning at 8am and didn’t conclude until after midnight! After playing their way into their final bracket, players were more evenly matched and that showed on the court. 

School spirit continued to be on display throughout the day, as players roared their teammates on and packed the courts to watch the close matches. 

The Collegiate Nationals always bring an energy unlike any other tournament.

The top four seeds in the men’s advanced to the semifinals. Shane Dunne survived a close tiebreaker to defeat Irish phenom Kyle Jordan. Ivan Burgos outlasted John Bike in a tiebreaker. Mark Doyle and Ray Ure both prevailed in their matches in two straight games. 

Those results set the table for the semifinals on Saturday:

Ray Ure vs Mark Doyle and Ivan Burgos vs Shane Dunne

On the Women’s side of the open bracket, we also saw two tiebreakers. Emma Kinane overcame Jodie Keeling after dropping game one. She cruised in the second game and tiebreaker. Leah Minogue had a similar result, losing her first game to Noelle Dowling then prevailing in the next two. The match finished around 12:30am Saturday morning. 

Clodagh Munroe and Amy Brennan won their quarterfinals without a problem, setting up the Women’s semifinal matches Saturday:

Clodagh Munroe vs Emma Kinane and Amy Brennan vs Leah Minogue.

Matches start at 9am Central time Saturday morning. Follow along HERE. 

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DAY TWO– After an exhilarating fourteen-hour day of handball on Thursday, the seeds have been determined, and the final brackets are officially live. Check them out HERE. 

As the women’s division commenced this morning, the top seeds upheld their dominance through a series of thrilling matches. School spirit has soared, with students passionately supporting their teammates. Many courts throughout the day were packed with players cheering each other on, and giving their teammates advice.

The night closed out with several exciting men’s open doubles matches. The higher seeds in doubles proved why they were at the top, with all three higher seeds winning the late matches. The winning teams will be playing in the quarterfinals on Saturday morning. Other men’s singles matches throughout the day also set the final brackets for Friday.

After today, both men and women will play in single-elimination matches, and winners will play their quarterfinals by the end of the night Friday. More exciting action continues tomorrow, and everyone is looking forward to another action packed day of the greatest game here in Minnesota.    

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DAY ONE — The first day of the tournament was electric. Players, coaches and fans packed the courts at the University of Minnesota Recreation and Wellness Center for one of the biggest collegiate tournaments in recent history. 

 The tournament was again ran with Bracket Ace, which allowed players to view live scores of matches on all of the courts on a big-screen tv. Players names were also associated with their school’s logo. Bracket Ace and its innovative features have been a big hit at the tournament.

The top seeds in the Men’s Open division held true, and the top players looked dominant in their matches. The rest of the men will battle for seeding positioning tomorrow to determine their final bracket. 

The women’s division will kick off tomorrow morning. 

Follow along with all the draws on Bracket Ace HERE. 

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MINNEAPOLIS — The 2024 USHA Collegiate Nationals will kick off Wednesday, February 21 at the University of Minnesota!

Over 220 students will be attending the tournament this year as numbers continue to rise post-pandemic.

Minnesota State University will be looking to win their third consecutive team title, and will have a good chance to do so. Around 40 other Universities will be represented in the tournament, and will do their best to challenge them. 

On the Men’s side, defending champion Shane Dunne will try to win his third collegiate national singles title. This is Dunne’s final year, and he will face stiff competition from the likes of Mark Doyle, Ray Ure, Ivan Burgos and many more strong competitors. 

Clodagh Munroe headlines the Women’s Open division. The current Minnesota State student finished as the runner-up last year, but has been looking strong in recent tournaments. Several strong players will try to take her down, including current Irish Collegiate Champion Amy Brennan. 

Make sure to follow along the tournament website HERE for updated draws. 

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2023 Junior Four-Wall Nationals Recap

Boys 19 and under champion Trejo with runner-up Gardea
Girls 19 and under champion Klicker with runner-up Peters

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The tournament wrapped up Saturday morning, concluding an epic week of handball and great hospitality from Don Quinlan and his group of volunteers. 

Bryan Trejo completed the slam in the 19 and under, teaming with his collegiate teammate at Minnesota State, Nick Kerins, to defeat Ayden Brule and Eliseo Gutierrez in the doubles final. Trejo played phenomenal all weekend, and is a future star in the sport.

Moses Gardea won the 19 and under big ball division by defeating Ayden Brule in two straight games. Gardea has tremendous skills with the big ball, and Brule could not figure him out in the final.

The 15 and under big ball title went to Isaac Holguin, who defeated Jahaziel Montes Hernandez in convincing fashion to win the title. Holguin also won the 15 and under doubles division with Leo Day to end the tournament on a high note.

Anthony Mendez went 3 for 3 over the weekend in the 13 and under, winning the small ball, big ball, and small ball doubles in the division. He made a name for himself this week, and will be a player to watch going forward. 

A big thank you again to Don Quinlan and his group of volunteers for hosting a tremendous tournament and to all the players and coaches who supported it. 

We look forward to a great tournament again next year. Check out all of the results HERE. 

____________________________________________________________________

Former junior champion Suhn Lee presented Anthony Mendez with the award. Mendez slammed the 13 and under.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — At the banquet Saturday night, players enjoyed Italian food, a ceremony that honored many of the players, and raffle drawings that gave away free handball prizes throughout the night. 

 

It began with National Juniors Chair and tournament host Don Quinlan welcoming the players and coaches and giving a speech on how long he’d been involved with the junior tournament, which has been decades. Quinlan has seen many players come and go and stressed the importance of junior handball and growing the sport.

 

Three awards were presented, and all the winners were well-deserving:

The Tom Lynch Newcomer Award: Anthony Mendez

The Kate Conlon/Kurt Johansson Most Improved Award: Moses Gardea

The Vince Gabriele Jr. Sportsmanship Award: The Alberta Junior Handball Team

 

Lastly, the players competing in their last four-wall junior nationals and had played at least four times in their junior handball careers were given their USHA Junior Alumni Bag, a long-time tradition for those graduating the junior ranks. 

__________________________________________________________________

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Several players became champions on day 3 of the 2023 Junior Four-Wall Nationals.

Among them was first-time champion Anthony Mendez from Kansas City, who dominated the 13 and under bracket. Mendez beat Zait Bustillos in the final, who is a very talented player himself. 

In the 15 and under division, Canada’s Leo Day outlasted his fellow Canadian friend Ryan Eisenbart in two straight games to win his first national title. 

The 19 and under division was claimed by Bryan Trejo when he defeated Moses Gardea in two straight games. Trejo relied on his speed to track down all of Gardea’s shots, and punished his setups when he earned one. 

The 17 and under girls division was won by Ireland’s Freya Donnellan. She defeated Canada’s Layla Kramer in two straight games to win her first national title. 

The 19 and under girls division belonged to Izzy Klicker, who was too strong for Audrey Peters in the final. Klicker used her power to her advantage and executed a high-percentage of her kill shots. 

The banquet will take place tonight, and some juniors will be honored for sportsmanship, most improved player, and newcomer of the year. 

Follow along with the Draws HERE. 

___________________________________________________________________

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Day two of the 2023 Junior Four-Wall Nationals had lots of good action and saw our first champion crowned.

Eliseo Gutierrez defeated Ireland’s Caleb Donnellan in the 17 and under final with a dominating performance. Gutierrez controlled play in the first game and withstood a late charge from Donnellan to win. Gutierrez didn’t let up in the second game, and added another national title to his collection. He is just 15 years old.

The most exciting matchup of the day was Moses Gardea and Ayden Brule in the 19 and under semifinal. Brule is a several-time national champion, and was the top seed in the 19 and under, despite only being 17.

Gardea surprised Brule in the first game, hitting several fly kills and taking advantage of some bad Brule serves. Brule evened the count in game two, pushing Gardea around the court with crisp pass and kill shots. Gardea regained his form in the tiebreaker, and although Brule made him work for each point, he converted his setups to win the match and advance to the finals.

In the 19 and under semifinal, Bryan Trejo easily cruised past Canada’s Raul Asokhan to claim his spot in the finals, where he will face off with Gardea tomorrow morning. Audrey Peters and Izzy Klicker have been dominant in the Women’s 19 and under division, and will face off in the finals of that division tomorrow morning.

The highlight of the day was short court challenge, which brought many juniors together to play their favorite game and win prizes.

Follow along with the draws HERE.

_____________________________________________________________________

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Day one of the 2023 Junior Four-Wall Nationals was a success. Players were greeted with a warm welcome from Don Quinlan and his group of volunteers, who provided excellent hospitality throughout the day.

There were several exciting matches between the juniors, especially in the 19 and under boys’ division. The most exciting may have been Canada’s Raul Asokhan vs Minnesota’s Nathan Stoffel. Stoffel started off the first game with a big lead, before Asokhan battled back to claim the first game 21-20. He used his quickness on the court to retrieve nearly every ball, wearing out Stoffel and taking the second game again by the score of 21-20.

The day concluded with a skills challenge for the 13 and under juniors, where the kids competed in a short handball obstacle course consisting of trick shots. The juniors were very impressive, and everyone won prizes! Play resumes tomorrow at 10am. Follow the draws HERE.

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SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The 2023 Junior Four-Wall Nationals will kick off December 27 in at Schaumburg Tennis Plus, a six court facility located just outside Chicago!

 

See a schedule of the tournament below, and visit the R2Sports site for draws, scores and daily updates HERE.

Team Calgary with Coach Guy Martin arrived ready to complete!

Schedule of 2023 Junior Four-Wall Nationals Tournament:

December 27

  • Play begins at 10 a.m.
  • Lunch at 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Handball “Trick Shot Challenge” after play concludes

December 28

  • Play beginning at 10 a.m.
  • Lunch at 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • “Short Court Showdown” after play concludes

December 29

  • Play beginning at 10 a.m. / Championship finals begin
  • Lunch at 11:30 a.m. – 2 .p.m
  • National Juniors Awards Banquet at 7 p.m.

December 30

  • Play beginning at 10 a.m.
  • Tournament concludes

Gordy Pfeifer HOF Induction

TACOMA, Wash. — Gordy Pfeifer was officially inducted as a Player in the USHA Handball Hall of Fame on Saturday night at the Tacoma Elks Lodge #174. The Tacoma Elks Handball group organized an incredible induction ceremony and reception for him. Many of Pfeifer’s family, friends, and former handball competitors were in attendance to celebrate Pfeifer and his decorated handball career.

In his short acceptance speech, Pfeifer thanked his competitors, his family and credited his faith for his handball achievements. Pfeifer has a court in his house, and still plays the “Perfect Game” today at 85 years young!

A big “thank you” to ceremony emcee Rob Nichols and program director/organizer Gil Mendoza. Without their work, this special night doesn’t take shape. A “special thank you” goes to Sandy Mendoza, who provided delicious cookies, a special addition to the outstanding banquet.

Introducing the 55 Handball

From the manufacturers of the ONE Ball, introducing the revolutionary 55 Ball – a game-changer designed exclusively for handball players!

The 55 is a PREMIUM HANDBALL with the peak performance features that handball players demand.  55 Handballs are approved for USHA-Sanctioned Tournaments.

We’re thrilled to unveil the remarkable 55 Ball, meticulously crafted to redefine your handball experience.

NEW 55 Handballs!

Weighing in at just 55 grams (compared to the 61 grams weight of ONE and Red 21 handballs), this ball sets a new standard in versatility, catering to players of all levels and ages. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or stepping onto the court for the first time, the 55 Ball is your ultimate companion.

Engineered with precision, the 55 Ball offers a seamless blend of comfort and performance and is meant to be easy on the hands and body, without you losing your “feel” of the ball when striking it. The 55 Ball offers lively performance straight out of the can and after many matches, this ball promises enduring excitement and engagement every time you play. Don’t just take our word for it—grab the 55 Ball, feel the difference, and witness firsthand the revolution it brings to the world of handball.

  • Lively, always.
  • Long lasting, holding bounce and staying in one piece.
  • Consistent!  From ball to ball, from can to can.

USHA Members: $11.00 a can
Non-Members: $13.75 a can

Quantity Discounts are available for USHA Members who purchase:  10 Cans, 24 Cans or 60 Cans (Case).

SHOP NOW

27th Hall of Fame R48LTE Stop #8 with National Masters & Women’s Classic

TUCSON — The anticipation for the finals on Sunday morning was high at the Tucson Racquet Club, and players and fans came in bunches to tune in to the Women’s Classic final, Men’s Pro final, and the age division Master Singles finals. 

Ashley Ruiz and Mikaila Esser squarred off in the Women’s Classic final. Each player resides in Tucson and are great friends, who know the other’s game well. 

Ruiz blitzed Esser to begin the match, jumping out to a 13-0 lead before Esser could get on the board. Esser played even after that, but Ruiz’s lead was insurmountable. Not much changed game two, as Ruiz continued her dominant form and and controlled the match from beginning to end, clinching the title for third consecutive time, 21-11, 21-8. 

Danielle Daskalakis beat Clodagh Munroe for third place while Kristen Hughes defeated Taylor Bell for fifth place in the Women’s Classic division. Nichole Alberg won the drop down division. 

Ruiz sets up for a shot against Esser in the finals

The Men’s Pro final followed with Luis Cordova Jr. taking on Sean Lenning, a rematch of the last WPH LTE stop in Juarez that went to Cordova. Lenning came out strong and built a 14-8 game one lead. He then missed a kill shot by just inches that would have won him the first game. Instead, it was a sideout and Cordova rallied all the way back to win the game. He continued that strong play in game two, and won the match 16-14, 15-1. 

Cordova attempts to track down a Lenning pass shot in the finals

The Master Singles brackets were very strong this year and all the winners and finalists should be proud of their performance. The finals on Sunday had some very exciting matches.

In the 35 plus division, Abraham Montijo overcame a one game defecit to defeat Braulio “Shorty” Ruiz in a tiebreaker to earn his second national title of the year. 

Chris Tico played 10 years down in the 40 plus division and still came out on top. He defeated Jorge Lopez in the finals and played exceptionally. 

Leo Canales Sr. defeated John Henning in the 55 plus singles final. It was a rematch of last year’s final that also went to Canales in a very close match. 

Joe Tierney entered the 60 singles division for the first time and immediately came away with a title, outlasting Tom McGrath in two games.

Gary Scogin continued his dominance in the 65 plus singles division, taking down Michael Linnik for another national title. 

Scott Spann won a loaded the 70 plus singles division that was full of strong players and former national champions. Spann outlasted Gary Eisenbooth in the finals. 

Grey Raya added another national title by claiming the 75 singles division over Art Brooks.

Lastly, Jerry Zimmerman defeated Jim Ward in the 80 singles divsion in a thrilling tiebreaker match. It is hard to believe the level of play these guys can still perform at in the 80 plus division. 

The Master Singles champions:

35+: Abraham Montijo
40+: Chris Tico
55+: Leo Canales Sr.
60+: Joe Tierney
65+: Gary Scogin
70+: Scott Spann
75+: Greg Raya
80+: Jerry Zimmerman

Thank you to all the supporters, volunteers and players who competed in the tournament. Thank you to the WPH for running the pro event alongside the Women’s Classic and Master Singles. It made for a great mega-event!

Watch a replay of the finals on our Youtube channel HERE

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TUCSON — As match play continued through Saturday, the excitement around the Tucson Racquet Club reached a fever-pitch level with the table being set for Sunday’s finals. 

In Women’s Classic action, top-seeded Ashley Ruiz cruised in her semifinal contest, defeating Collegiate All-American Clodagh Munroe of Minnesota State Mankato, 21-6, 21-1. Ruiz was dialed in to reach a second consecutive Women’s Classic final with well-placed passes and impressive power. 

On the other side of the draw, Mikaila Esser faced an uphill battle against Danielle Daskalakis after dropping the first game. She regrouped to take the second and rode the home crowd momentum to win the tiebreaker, punching her ticket to the final with scores of 13-21, 21-14, 11-9. The two Tucsonans will meet again in Sunday’s final.

The gallery stayed packed for the WPH R48Pro LTE quarters and semifinals. Sean Lenning pulled off a quarterfinal upset, stopping Martin Mulkerrins, 15-8, 14-16, 15-8 in the quarterfinals. Lenning advanced to the final after David Fink had to withdraw due to injury. 

In the opposite semifinal, the “Flying Cordova Bros.” kept the crowd pounding on the glass with an array of dazzling handball. Top-seeded Lucho Cordova was able to best his brother Danos to earn his spot in the final, 16-14, 8-15, 15-2.

Players, families and handball fans enjoyed a special Saturday Night Reception at the Handball Hall of Fame. USHA Executive Director Matt Krueger thanked those in attendance for supporting the tournament and presented the 2023 Marty Decatur Sportsmanship Award to El Paso’s Manny Talamantes.  

Talamantes was grateful for the gesture and naturally deflected any praise telling the group, “Everyone deserves this. Handball players are great people and easy to be around.”

Sunday’s finals begin at 9 a.m. Pacific, with the Women’s Classic at 10 a.m., followed by the WPH R48Pro LTE final at 11:15 a.m.

See updated draws and results HERE.

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This year’s edition of the USHA Hall of Fame Tournament will feature a WPH R48LTE Stop #8, the National Masters Singles and the Women’s Classic. All the action begins Friday, April 14 at the Tucson Racquet Club, starting with the Men’s R48LTE preliminary round at Noon.

Match start times are available HERE.

With 126 participants, the courts will be buzzing from Friday through Sunday. Reserve seating for the exhibition court is still available, but seats are selling fast! Tickets can be purchased by calling 520-795-0434, or see the tournament desk outside the Tucson Racquet Club’s Handball Lobby.

Draws will be posted, April 13 at 10 a.m. Pacific.  (Please note: draws and times are tentative and may change up until the first match played. Please double-check your times up until the day of).

We’re happy to bring players great hospitality, including a 5 p.m. Saturday dinner at the Tucson Racquet Club followed by a reception at the Hall of Fame Museum.  Follow this post for schedule updates and more information.

Can’t make it to Tucson?  Show court matches will be streamed on the USHA YouTube Channel.

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