Dunne sets up on a shot at the 2023 USHA Collegiate Nationals[/caption]
TUCSON, Ariz. –The 2023 USHA Collegiate Nationals wrapped up Sunday morning with Minnesota State’s Shane Dunne and University of Limerick’s Niamh Heffernan claiming the open titles. Each player played phenomenal all weekend, especially in their final matches.
Dunne matched up with Diarmuid Mulkerrins who was in the final for the third year in a row. Dunne and Mulkerrins played even in the beginning of game one, but Dunne was able to pull away late to win 21-13. The second game Dunne raced out to a 15-0 lead over Mulkerrins, and despite a late push, Dunne maintained his lead and won 21-3, 21-10.
Dunne fought through a brutal draw to win his title. Before defeating the number one seeded Mulkerrins in the final, he defeated three seed Conor Walsh in the quarterfinals, and two seed Ray Ure in the semifinals. Dunne is in tremendous shape, and has great hands. His consistency and his commitment to playing percentage handball made the difference for him this week.
You can watch a replay of the men’s final on our YouTube Channel HERE.
Dunne teamed with teammate Mark Doyle to win the men’s open doubles division.
Heffernan sets up on a shot at the 2023 USHA Collegiate Nationals
Niamh Heffernan was very strong in her run through the women’s open division. She didn’t lose a single game along the way, and saved her best match for last in her final against Minnesota State’s Clodagh Munroe. The highly anticipated finals match was dominated by Heffernan from the beginning. Heffernan is a steady player who rarely makes a mistake. She generates tremendous power on the ball that bothered her opponents all weekend. Munroe is a special player herself, but she didn’t have the answer for Heffernan’s game today.
Heffernan teamed with Limerick teammate Sinead Meagher to win the Women’s Open doubles division.
For the second year in a row, the Minnesota State Mavericks won the open team title. Their men’s team took first place while their women’s team took second.
The Missouri State Bears finished second in the team title race. Their men took third place while their women took first place.
The 2023 National Collegiate Team Champions: Minnesota State University
Final Standings (points scored) Combined Open Division Team Champions: 1. Minnesota State University, Mankato (4,485) 2. Missouri State University (4,332) 3. University of Texas-Austin (4,192) 4. Lake Forest College (3,216)
Men’s Open Division Team Champions: 1. Minnesota State University, Mankato (2,305) 2. Lake Forest College (2,144) 3. Missouri State University (2,128) 4. University of Texas-Austin (2,076) 5. Pima Community College (1,064)
Women’s Open Division Team Champions: 1. Missouri State University (2,204) 2. Minnesota State University, Mankato (2,180) 3. University of Texas-Austin (2,116) 4. University of Arizona (1,132) 5. Lake Forest College (1,072)
Combined A Division Team Champions: 1. Utah State University (2,532) 2. Pacific University (2,320) 3. Texas A&M University (2,096) 4. Stony Brook University (1,900) 5. Angelo State University (1,864)
Men’s A Division Team Champions: 1. University of Milwaukee (1,620) 2. Stony Brook University (1,244) 3. Texas A&M University (1,024)
Women’s A Division Team Champions: 1. Texas A&M University (1,072) 2. Pacific University (1,060) 3. Angelo State University (1,004) 4. Utah State University (720) 5. Stony Brook University (660)
Men’s B Division Team Champions: 1. Utah State University (1,812) 2. Pacific University (1,264) 3. Colorado School of Mines (912) 4. Angelo State University (860)
Thanks to all the coaches, players, and volunteers who made this tournament a great success. We look forward to the 2024 USHA National Collegiate Championships at the University of Minnesota.
You can view all the brackets and preliminary rounds on Bracket Ace HERE
TUCSON, Ariz. –Preliminary match play continued on Thursday with many of the competitors playing into their final divisions for team scoring purposes.
If you’re unfamiliar with the USHA National Collegiate format, each participant plays two preliminary “seeding” matches to best match their skill set with other players. With their initial ranking and these two matches, they are placed in a final single elimination round of 16 division. The further they advance in that division, the more points they score for their team.
Final divisions are set and begin Friday morning, and that usually brings a full day of competitive handball and exciting close finishes. Follow along at BracketAce.com HERE.
The Tucson Racquet Club, University of Arizona Handball Club, and the USHA welcomes collegiate handball athletes from around the country and from overseas for the 70th USHA National Collegiate Championships.
The tournament officially kicked off Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m. (Mountain) at the Tucson Racquet Club.
See below to see the tentative start times for all singles players and doubles teams. Please note that these start times are tentative and may change up to Wednesday afternoon.
Brackets, times and recent results available on Bracket Ace HERE
Host Venue: Tucson Racquet Club – 4001 N Country Club Rd, Tucson, AZ 85716. There is plenty of parking at the club. When you walk in, you will continue to walk until you go outside and see the pool. The courts are in the building directly to the right of the pool when you walk out. The Tucson Racquet Club does not provide towels, and there are limited lockers available for a price, so please plan accordingly if you’d like to shower in their locker rooms. Coaches Meeting: The coaches meeting will be held on site at the Tucson Racquet Club at either the upstairs or downstairs restaurant. The first coaches meeting will take place Wednesday at 12:00pm and the second meeting will take place Saturday around 2:00 pm. Please do your best to be in attendance. If you are unable to make the meeting and are a head coach, please ask us about the coaching stipend. Tournament meals: Hospitality and Lunches will be served for players and coaches. We will have small items for breakfast in the morning. We are also providing $20 in vouchers for food. These may be used any time from Wednesday to Saturday in the upstairs restaurant. In addition to the voucher, the food schedule is the following:Wednesday: 5:00pmThursday & Friday: 1:00pmSaturday: 11:00amPlayers bags and equipment: We will have tents set up for players to leave their bags and equipment in at the Racquet Club. We do not want the bags laying in the lobby or hallway by the courts as there is not much room. Court availability before the tournament: The courts are reserved Tuesday night from 5:00pm to 7:00pm for the Tucson Handball league. If you are in early, you may go to the club and practice, but please stay off the courts during those times. Banquet: The banquet will be held at Bear Down Gym on the University of Arizona. A map is attached to this email and we will have printed copies at the tournament. The gym is about a 10-minute drive from the courts. The banquet will begin around 6:00 Saturday night. Bracket Ace- Remind your players to download Bracket Ace and Ace Referee before the tournament and make a Bracket Ace account. We will have QR codes that lead to the apps at the tournament if they need to download them and make an account there. Hope in Handball Youth Program- A reminder that a youth handball program in Pennsylvania is hoping to collect collegiate handball shirts from teams across the country. They will give the shirts to their youth players. If you or your players have any shirts you’re willing to donate, please bring them to the tournament and give them to Matt or I.
The main exhibition court matches will be featured and streamed on the USHA YouTube Channel.
Brackets and results will be posted here and will be updated every 2-3 hours, starting on Wednesday afternoon. Follow along on our website for daily updates.
Please have your players download the apps called Bracket Ace and Ace Referee. (QR codes are below that will take you straight to the app store to download.) We will also have QR codes at the tournament for players to use. See the message below with more information on the benefits of the apps.
The 70th USHA National Collegiate Championships will be using Bracket Ace tournament software to enhance this year’s tournament experience. Participants are strongly encouraged to download the Bracket Ace app along with its companion scoring app Ace Referee before the tournament begins. The Bracket Ace app allows for real-time bracket updates, following players (iOS® only) and links to video. The Ace Referee app lets you referee a match by scanning a QR code, and it shows live scores for all ongoing matches so you can see the score on every court no matter where you’re at!
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.
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
SAN GABRIEL, Calif. – Juniors descended upon Smith Park for the final day of the Junior National Three-Wall Championships. Fittingly, the best matches of the weekend featured handball’s future stars battling for supremacy and a national title in each of the division finals.
By the finals, most players adapted to the courts with shorter sidewalls and no ceiling. Some used the short walls to their advantage, aiming their serves close to the edge of the sidewall making it difficult to return.
In the Boy’s 19-Under final, Anthony Sanchez (Los Angeles) relied heavily on his serve to keep a determined Ryan Watkins (Apple Valley, CA) off the court chasing down shots to return to win, 21-17, 21-19.
Watkins made his return to junior nationals play after nearly a decade away. Playing baseball at nearby Glendale College, Watkins practices with his dad Chris (a Grand Master) and other top players in Victorville. In the previous two rounds, Watkins looked to be the clear front-runner in the 19-Under division, especially after an impressive win over top-seeded George Mitchell in the semifinals, 21-15, 21-11.
Sanchez came up through coach Patrick Saito’s program out of Washington Irving Middle School, and after a pandemic layoff (for everyone), he had been keeping his skills sharp on Southern California’s three-wall courts.
Sanchez proved to be up for the challenge. He built an early lead using a Z-serve that would either hit the sidewall or scoot “out the door” for a nearly impossible return. Remarkably, Watkins chased down the majority of those shots and was able to stay within reach to overtake his opponent. Sanchez kept applying pressure with his serve, which was just enough to hold off Watkins for a four-point game one win.
In the second, Watkins was on pace to force a tiebreaker, blasting serves and kills to craft a lead while keeping Sanchez involved in longer rallies. From the way Watkins was playing, the park crowd was expecting an inevitable third game, but Sanchez executed crucial shots down the stretch and rediscovered his serve to close the match.
Sanchez had the opportunity to slam with partner Yung Tang, but they had to get through former Washington Irving Middle School teammates Fermin Victoria and George Mitchell. It would be Mitchell and Victoria’s day, playing consistent doubles to win in two games, 21-17, 21-13.
Sanchez did collect his second singles title by defeating Victoria in the Boys 19-Under Big Ball singles, 21-6, 21-17.
As exciting as things were in the Boys 19-Under divisions, the next generation of stars in the Boy’s 15-Under divisions wowed the crowds with an impressive array of shots and athleticism.
Tucson’s Ayden Brule held off a much improved Eliseo Gutierrez of Denver in the 15-Under small ball final, 21-19, 21-15. Each player exhibited the trademarks of top three-wallers, fly killing returns and placing pass shots out of their opponent’s reach. Brule made the toughest shots down the stretch, wrapping up his third Junior Three-Wall singles crown to go with the title he won in Toledo.
In the Boy’s 15-Under Big Ball final, Xavier Flores (Los Angeles) made an incredible comeback to defeat JJ Arellano (Lennox, CA), 11-21, 21-9, 11-9. Both players hold six Junior Three-wall titles between them and make a nearly unbeatable doubles team. While Flores could kill the ball from any point on the floor, getting reactions from the crowd after each one, Arellano was the steadier player by picking and choosing the most opportune times to kill high percentage shots for a game one win, 21-11.
A determined Flores came out on fire in the second, willing himself to a 21-9 victory.
The torrid pace would favor Arellano, as he built an 8-0 lead in the tiebreaker before Flores could gather himself to score his first point. That first point would start a scoring run that would cause Arellano to burn his timeouts. The strategy allowed Arellano to get another point, but Flores wouldn’t be denied as the “thwack” of ball became louder and louder with each return. Arellano fought off one match point, but he couldn’t convert any scoring chances before Flores regained the serve and took championship point, 11-9.
Fred Lewis Foundation’s Jorge Pimentel and Sophie Della Croce would sweep the big ball and small ball titles in the 21-under divisions.
Players gathered around to congratulate 2019 USHA Coach of the Year Patrick Saito who was given his award by USHA’s Matt Krueger while a number of his students joined by other juniors offered Saito their thanks and congratulations.
Southern California’s George Mitchell was presented with the first “Munoz Good Sport Award.” This new junior sportsmanship award, named in honor of three-wall legend and Hall of Famer Vince Munoz, will be given each year at the USHA National Junior 3-Wall Championships to the most deserving player who best exemplifies the sportsmanship Munoz exhibited throughout his playing career.
A Special Thank You to the following: SCHA, Jim Vandenbos, Mark Zamora, Roy Harvey, Rob Nichols, Ralph Fregoso, Sabrina Zamora, Roberto Camacho, Patrick Saito and all the coaches and juniors who made this event run so well. THANK YOU!
Thank you to First Ace supporters which provided Ardito Travel Funds to junior players traveling 250 miles or more.
SAN GABRIEL, Calif. – It’s been three years since the USHA National
Junior Three-Wall Championships were last held. Players and families
relished the opportunity to reconnect at the handball courts with the
friends they had made at the annual summer event. Others were making
out-of-town trips for the first time.
“Our kids have been playing and practicing against each other for so
long, and many of our newer players have never traveled outside of
Tucson for a handball tournament.” said Abe Montijo, Executive Director
of the Fred Lewis Foundation for Youth Handball.
Play in singles, doubles, small ball and big ball divisions began
Friday at noon, continuing until dusk as temperatures reached the low
90s on the four courts of Smith Park.
Two Southern California players treated the crowd in the match of the
day in the Boys 15-Under Singles small ball division. Freddy Reyes Jr.
of Venice Beach defeated Jose “JJ” Arellano (Lennox) in a competitive
first game, 21-17. Arellano, a player who has dominated in the younger
junior divisions, came out blasting in the second game, attacking every
opportunity to kill or pass. Leading 20-10, Arellano seemed poised to
force a tiebreaker where he would have momentum in his favor. But Reyes
stayed level-headed and calm, a trait definitely learned by watching his
dad, Freddy Sr. during many matches at the Venice Beach Rec Center. A
side out was the opportunity he needed to stop Arellano’s scoring
onslaught.
Back in the service box with the serve and a renewed sense of
urgency, Reyes delivered the smooth strokes and accurate shots he had in
the first game. With each shot, he chipped away at his deficit until he
scored his 11th unanswered point to win, 21-17, 21-20. The
last point produced the loudest cheers of the day, with the crowd
applauding both players as they shook hands and walked off the court.
Reyes will play Ayden Brule of Tucson in Saturday’s semifinal.
Arellano went into the drop-down bracket in small ball; however, he
advanced to the semifinals of the 15-Under big ball division.
DAY 5 — Play concluded Sunday with several doubles finals throughout the morning.
In the Women’s Doubles Final, Catriona Casey and Fiona Tully defeated Ashley Moler and Mikaila Esser in two games. The Irish tandem played flawless throughout the match. Esser and Moler made a late run at the end of game two but it was too late, as they fell 21-4, 21-11.
The Men’s Open Doubles final between Diarmaid Nash and Martin Mulkerrins vs Max Langmack and Sam Esser was one of the matches of the tournament. Langmack and Esser came out firing game one to stun the irish team but could not take advantage in game two or three. Despite a day removed from an incredible Men’s Open Singles final, Nash and Mulkerrins found enough energy to win 17-21, 21-15, 11-4.
Thanks to all players who participated in the tournament and to the incredible people and players in Portland who volunterred and planned the tournament!
WATCH LIVE SUNDAY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcFim0p9aig
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DAY 4 — We crowned several singles champions on Saturday including the Men’s and Women’s Open Singles champions.
Catriona Casey put on an amazing display of handball in her victory over Fiona Tully in the Women’s Final. Casey’s precision and ability to go a whole match without making a mistake was incredible and propelled her to the win.
The Men’s Final was one of the best national finals to be played in years. Diarmaid Nash overcame Martin Mulkerrins in an 11-9 tiebreaker after dropping the first game. The gallery was stunned at the ability of both of these players. Nash’s hands in the front court were unbelievable. He was able to handle Mulkerrin’s power and dump shots in the corner by taking speed off the ball. It was an amazing display.
Several other champions were crowned Saturday.
Check out the brackets HERE to see all of the results.
DAY 3 — The Men’s and Women’s Open finals are set for tomorrow after the semifinals concluded Friday.
Martin Mulkerrins defeated Shorty Ruiz in convincing fashion in the first men’s semifinal, 21-7, 21-5. Diarmaid Nash then put on a spectacular performance to defeat Sean Lenning 21-13, 21-2 to set up an all-Irish final tomorrow.
Catriona Casey showed why she is regarded as the best women’s player in the world in her victory over Mikaila Esser 21-0, 21-2. Fiona Tully and Ashley Moler followed that with what was maybe the match of the day, which belonged to Tully 21-14, 12-21, 11-5.
In other action, we had our first national champion winners today.
Men’s 35: Shorty Ruiz
Men’s 55: Lennart Delatorre
Men’s 80: Ed Grossenbacher
Men’s B: Michael Stenberg
Catch the action live on Saturday HERE.Streaming starts at 11am PST
PORTLAND — Days 1 and 2 at the Multnomah Athletic Club were filled with great matches. Nearly all the singles divisions are down to their semifinals or the finals.
The WPH will be filming both the Men’s and Women’s Open semifinals on Friday. You can watch the action live by clicking HERE.
The first semifinal will take place at 11am (pacific time) between Martin Mulkerrins and Braulio “Shorty” Ruiz. That will be followed by Sean Lenning and Diarmaid Nash at noon.
After the men conclude, the women will play their semifinals. The first matchup will be Catriona Casey vs Mikaila Esser. That will be followed by Ashley Moler vs Fiona Tully.
Check out the results in each division by clicking HERE.
We’re proud to partner with the WPH to allow you to watch the action from the showcourt at the USHA Four-Wall Nationals live! The following links will give you access for each day. Stay tuned for the filming start times each day.
The United States Handball Association and the Inner City Handball Association are proud to host the One-Wall Junior Small Ball Nationals on June 11 & 12. The tournament will take place in Coney Island at the West 5th St. & Surf Ave. courts. Nearly 80 juniors will be competing to take home a national championship! Follow along with the action HERE.
The United States Handball Association mourns the loss of a true handball legend and contributor: George D. Miller.
It was George Miller who spearheaded the effort to get eight regulation size three-wall courts with lights constructed in the mid-70s to bring the Nationals to northern Ohio in 1975. The tournament has 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.
George D. Miller R.W. Kendler Award in 2005.
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.
George was recognized for his efforts when he received the R.W. Kendler Award in 2005. The R.W. Kendler Award is given to those who provide outstanding, unselfish service to the game of handball on a regional level; however, George Miller’s impact on handball reached beyond the Mid-America boarders.
As an incredible volunteer off the courts, George was a tenacious competitor on them, earning Grand Master status with 14 USHA National Titles (13 Three-Wall, 1 Four-Wall).
National handball champion shared love of sport in Toledo
Printed: May 22, 2022 George D. Miller, 1939-2022
BY ELLIE BUERK BLADE STAFF WRITER
George D. Miller, who made a national name for himself as a handball champion, died Friday at Hospice of Northwest Ohio. He was 82.
Mr. Miller died of pneumonia after battling dementia and dysphagia for some time, his wife, Joyce Miller, said.
Throughout his life, Mr. Miller worked for various Toledo-area companies — including as a warehouse manager for Superior Uniform Sales and as a club manager for Spring Meadows Court Club, formerly in Holland — but his true passion lay on the handball court.
“The handball community has lost their king,” Jim Lowe, a friend and former doubles partner of Mr. Miller’s, said, reading aloud from an email he’d received from another player in response to Mr. Miller’s passing.
“We called him our ‘greatest of all time.’ He was our ‘GOAT,’” said Rick Stevens, another of Mr. Miller’s friends.
Both Mr. Lowe and Mr. Stevens are members of the Toledo Handball Club, of which Mr. Miller was president.
As a man, Mr. Miller was humble and introverted, his friends and wife recalled.
“He was a really quiet person. He never promoted himself in any way,” Mrs. Miller said.
But as a player, he was a competitor.
“He not only knew how to play the game, but he figured out the best strategies to win. He was a smart player,” Mrs. Miller said. She is herself a national handball champion.
In addition to a slew of state and regional titles, between 1984 and 2011, Mr. Miller won 13 national 3-wall doubles handball titles, as well as one Canadian title.
Mr. Miller once told The Blade, “Handball is a true sport … It’s like boxing. It’s one-on-one. It’s just you and your opponent.”
In the early 1970s at the Lucas County Recreation Center in Maumee, Mr. Miller helped plan and build what at the time was considered the largest 3-wall handball and racquetball complex in the country. For well more than four decades, the courts have housed the National 3-Wall Handball Tournament every Labor Day Weekend.
For years, Mr. Miller ran the tournament on his own.
“George was quiet, but when George wanted to get something done, it got done. When George spoke, people listened,” Mr. Stevens said.
During the 2022 national tournament, Mr. Miller’s friends have planned to rename the county recreation center’s handball courts in honor of the late champion.
“Handball is like a big fraternity. If you name a player that plays in New Jersey or Fort Worth, Texas, you would know them because you’ve probably played them. And George was one of the players who kept that fraternity close-knit,” Mr. Lowe said. “He meant so much to handball and to me as a friend.”
Mr. Miller shared his love for the sport with his father, George A. Miller, Sr.
Both father and son were inducted into the Ohio Handball Hall of Fame, in 1987 and 1991, respectively. For years, Mr. Miller ran a handball tournament — the George Miller Sr. Memorial Handball Tournament — in honor of his father.
The senior Miller, like his son, was a warehouse manager, but he also supported his family by buying and flipping houses, Mrs. Miller said. His mother, Marie Miller, worked as an accountant.
Mr. Miller was born at home on Sept. 11, 1939 in Whitehouse. In 1957, he graduated from Macomber High School, where he played basketball. At 6 feet 4 inches, the man was a natural athlete.
After helping the Macmen reach the state semifinals in his senior year of high school, Mr. Miller went on to play some college ball for the University of Toledo, Mrs. Miller said.
The Millers were married on Aug. 16, 1980, and Mr. Miller became a stepfather to his new wife’s two sons, Todd and Ryan Sturt.
“He was so delighted to be given the opportunity to be a stepfather to them,” Mrs. Miller said. “He knew enough not to just throw himself in, but instead he quietly folded into their lives.”
In 2006, the United States Handball Association awarded Mr. Miller the Robert W. Kendler Award in honor of his organizational and promotional work, and in 2017, the Ohio Handball Association also awarded the handball champion their organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mr. Miller was a supporter of local and national charities, Mrs. Miller said, including the Cherry Street Mission, the United States Handball Association’s development fund, Yosemite National Park, the National Wildlife Association, and Doctors Without Borders.
Always an avid reader, Mr. Miller especially cared for the Swanton Public Library. Tributes in his honor can be made there or to any of the other charities that he supported throughout his life.
Mr. Miller was preceded in death by his brother, Richard. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Miller; his stepsons, Todd and Ryan Sturt; four step-grandsons; and his sister, JoAnn Orr.
A memorial will be held at Weigel Funeral Home in Swanton on Thursday. Visiting is scheduled from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., with a service and then a social hour at Loma Linda Restaurant following.
Contact Ellie Buerk at: [email protected] or on Twitter @EllieBuerk.
The World Players of Handball and the United States Handball Association are pleased to announce the live streaming of the 2022 USHA National Four Wall Championships from the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, OR, this June.
Courtesy of the USHA’s President’s Club and the World Players of Handball BOD & Members, fans will enjoy all of the action from Friday through Sunday, June 17-19, 2022, from Portland, Oregon, via the WPH and USHA homepages; wphlive.tv and ushandball.org, respectively, and their social media pages.
Live streamed matches will include, but not be limited to, the Men’s Pro singles quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals, the Women’s Pro singles semifinals and finals, and the Men’s Pro Doubles semifinals and finals.
The live broadcast will include multiple camera angles, insider commentary, player interviews, replays, graphics, and more. Buckle up…it’s going to be an exciting ride from the Rose City!
The deadline to enter the 2022 USHA Four Wall Nationals is soon; plus gather more information … 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.
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