ST. LOUIS — Sunday at the Hinder Club was filled with many exciting finals matches and terrific handball.
One of the first matches of the day was the 35 doubles final between Kevin Pettus/Will Lemp and Jeff Streibig/Ryan Willis. All four players play at a high open level and it showed on the court. The teams split the first two games to force a tiebreaker. Streibig and Willis jumped out to a 7-3 lead, but they would score no more points after that. Kevin Pettus became red hot at the end of the match, rolling out several shots to earn his team the victory.
Gary Scogin also had a day to remember, winning two national titles on Sunday, one in the 60+ and the other in the 65+.
His first match was in the 65+, where he teamed up with his long time partner Lloyd Garcia to take on Scott Rosenthal and Kevin Jarvis. Scogin and Garcia have not lost a match together in their age division for several years, and Sunday was no different. Scogin and Garcia defeated the Illinois duo 21-16, 21-10.
Scogin then teamed with local favorite David Streibig to win the 60+ doubles over Jake Esser and Jim Lewis in two straight games, 21-4, 21-12.
The players and spectators who traveled to the tournament were amazed by the Hinder Club, the only exclusive Handball Club in the country. The hospitality was tremendous throughout the weekend.
A huge thank you to Eric Hillgren, David Streibig, Jeff Streibig, Mike Benkleman, Gary Hughes, Jim Ward and the many more St. Louis ambassadors who made this tournament so great. If you haven’t made it to the Hinder Club yet, make sure to add it to your bucket list.
See all the winners of each division below, and check out the full brackets HERE.
ST. LOUIS — The finalists for all divisions were decided on the second full day of action in the Masters Doubles.
In the Men’s Pro Invitational final, a possible preview for next week’s WPH R48Pro Stop in Tucson (The Memorial), Martin Mulkerrins handled Killian Carroll in two competitive games, 21-17, 21-11.
As matches concluded, players and family gathered in the upstairs lounge where Tucson’s Vince San Angelo was honored and awarded his Grand Masters sweater, an honor for those who win at least 10 age division titles.
USHA President Denis Hogan presented the sweater to San Angelo, who shared with those gathered, “This journey started 19 years ago. It’s tough but glad players have a goal to chase.” San Angelo will be playing for title number 11 on Sunday with partner Bob Braine.
USHA President Denis Hogan presents the Grand Masters Sweater to Vince San Angelo of Tucson.
ST. LOUIS — The 2022 USHA Masters Doubles hosted by the Missouri State Handball Association started off with a nail-biter Friday afternoon at the St. Louis Hinder Club. Peter Anderson (Spring, Texas) and Bob Miller (Sunrise, Fla.) kicked things off against the California duo of Jim Smith and Dave Ackerman in the 75-plus Doubles. After splitting the first two games, the foursome were locked in a back-and-forth affair in the tiebreaker. At match point, team Smith/Ackerman gained the crucial sideout and were able to snatch the 11-10 victory. Anderson and Miller are not eliminated, and will still be competing in round robin action throughout the weekend.
In 35-plus action, tourney director Eric Hillgren stepped away from the tournament desk to pair with partner Richard Lynch against David Elkin and Shane Conneely. Home court advantage came into play as the Hinder Club team stormed back from a second game route to win, 21-20, 7-21, 11-9.
Mostly, on the first day, out of town players were abuzz about the beautiful St. Louis Hinder Club. With over 120 members, the club is a “handball only” facility, with seven courts (one side glass exhibition court), fully equipped locker rooms (steam room, cold plunge and jacuzzi), and a bar lounge.
“What an awesome place!” exclaimed Gary Scogin of Austin, Texas.
“We’d love one of these (clubs) in every city,” said USHA board member, Rob Nichols. “It’s a great spot where handball always takes priority.”
The MSHA also invited top pros for an 8-player invitational bracket. Martin Mulkerrins, Killian Carroll and Luis Cordova all advanced, while local Jeff Streibig scored a mini upset against Sam Esser, 21-18, 21-17.
ST. LOUIS — The Missouri State Handball Association and USHA present the 2022 USHA National Masters Doubles, held at the St. Louis Hinder Club. Over 100 players have entered this doubles event, featuring players from ages 35 to over 80.
A Pro Invitational Singles bracket brings some of the best players in the world to this “handball exclusive” club. First and preliminary rounds begin Friday at 1 p.m. with tournament check-in at Noon.
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.
CONEY ISLAND – Beautiful weather greeted players and fans Sunday morning as final matches concluded for the 14th USHA Wallball Nationals.
In the Men’s Pro Singles final, defending champion Tywan Cook overcame a slow start to capture his fourth title over Joshua Garcia, 25-8.
The score did not indicate how close the final was between the two competitors. Garcia jumped out to a fast start, surprising Cook and the hundreds gathering around to watch the action. Making the most of his first singles final appearance, Garcia kept Cook guessing by mixing up serves down the right line and killing Cooks returns for a 7-0 lead. Cook is no stranger to high pressure matches, and he quickly rebounded—giving Garcia an ace serve down the right line to start an incredible scoring 13-1 scoring run.
At 13-8, Garcia fired a shot from the deep right court that looked like an easy kill, but Cook made an amazing diving return for a rekill to gain the sideout. From that point, Cook kept up his torrid pace until he earned championship point.
“Josh played great, but Tywan’s serve and shoot game was just incredible,” said tourney director Jared Vale.
Cook had defeated Hector Velez 25-15 in the semifinals, while Garcia advanced with an injury default win over Sacha Kruithof Perelló.
After winning the singles title, Cook had a chance to slam paired for the first time with Nazir Marston against Timothy Gonzalez and Allan Sanchez in the Men’s Open Doubles. Sanchez and Gonzalez, two-time Wallball Doubles champions (2015 & 2017), took down Cook and Marston in a back-and-forth affair, 25-18.
Early on, Cook and Marston appeared on their way to a championship, building a 15-10 lead, but Gonzalez and Sanchez kept chipping away. Sanchez anchored the team on the right side while Gonzalez traded shots with Cook on the left. At 15-15, Cook committed an avoidable hinder by stepping into Gonzalez’s shot. Cook didn’t argue with referee Larry DuBois’s call but used a time out to try and stop their opponent’s momentum.
With a 16-15 lead, Sanchez and Gonzalez seemed more relaxed and focused, taking high percentage shots and placing all the pressure on their opponents to a 25-18 win.
In Sunday’s other finals, Tyshawn Morante and David Castro put on a clinic in the B Doubles, defeating Nicholas Pappas and Mohamad Mansi, 25-5. After their doubles win, Morante and Castro faced off in the B Singles final, with Morante shooting to a 25-13 victory.
Cesar Sala and William Polanco outlasted George Figueroa and Ray Lopez in a marathon final to win the 40-plus doubles, 25-23.
In a wide-open 50-plus doubles division, Albert Gordaliza and Mike Falcis defeated Jared Vale and Eddie Petrizzi, 25-22.
Thank you to all the players who made this year’s Wallball Nationals a success! A special thank you to Jared Vale, Alethia Mendez-Caba, Milton Jones, Karen McConney and everyone on the One-Wall Committee who helped at the desk, keeping matches rolling to make this a great event for the players. Lastly, a huge thank you to Shenta Pizzaro, who anchored the check-in desk, results and printing.
CONEY ISLAND – A steady stream of beachgoers and wallball fans flowed into the Seaside Handball Courts near the cross streets of Surf and West 5th Avenue as temperatures began to rise into the low 90s. Play began for all other divisions for the 14th USHA Wallball National Championships after the B Singles and Doubles opened competition on Friday.
Jenny Qu (Flushing) proved to the class of the Women’s Pro divisions this summer. Facing Danielle Daskalakis in the singles final, Qu bolted to a 9-0 lead, keeping her foot on the gas paddle to win the title convincingly, 25-7. Qu’s plan was to stay aggressive, while resisting every effort from her opponent to work her way back into the match. While Qu played flawlessly, Daskalakis struggled to find a consistent rhythm that’s carried her to so many titles.
Qu’s day was far from being done. Pairing with Daskalakis in the Women’s Pro Doubles, they reached the final to face the phenomenal sister duo from Brooklyn, Melanie and Jessinia Gerarte. The championship match featured some memorable momentum swinging shots from each team with Qu and Daskalakis defeating their opponents, 25-21. Qu’s hot shooting from the singles final carried over to the doubles as she controlled the court, building a 20-10 lead. But the Garate sisters found a new gear, pushing the pace to come away on the winning end of some amazing rallies. Even a timeout by Qu/Daskalakis couldn’t stop the Garate sisters’ push as they went on an 11-0 run to take a 21-20 lead and sway the final in their favor. Daskalakis and Qu answered with slick pass down the right line to gain the side out. With the serve back, Daskalakis and Qu made a final push to reach championship point to complete Qu’s slam.
The Men’s Pro Division attracted more international* participation this year in the event’s history. The U.K.’s Luke Thompson and Spain’s Sacha Kruithof Perello were evidence that the world is indeed catching up to the talent of the nearly untouchable crop of players from New York.
Thompson won his first match and nearly upset No. 5 seed David Velez in a close contest in the round of 16, losing 25-23.
On the other side of the draw, Sacha survived the wicked serves from Christian Renville, winning 25-18 for a quarterfinal match with No. 2 seed, Timbo Gonzalez—a match that drew the biggest crowd of the day.
Seemingly immune to grueling heat and fast pace, Sacha demonstrated exceptional athleticism, hustling to each side of the court to kill or rekill Gonzalez’s shots. While Gonzalez kept the match within reach, Sacha wouldn’t be denied a trip to the semifinals, netting a 25-21 victory. Semifinals begin Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m.
In the 50-plus singles, Jose Olivencia was primed to defend his 2021 title, but Ronald Beard outlasted Olivencia for a 25-23 victory. The two were nearly equal the entire match until Beard dropped two winners to the left to gain the title.
In the 40-plus singles, Cesar Sala stopped Lenny Medina 25-11. After a close semifinal, Sala stepped up big against Medina, controlling the front court to keep Medina on the defensive.
To close the day’s action, a new face entered the Women’s Open divisions. Kaitlyn Colon dominated the Women’s B Divisions completing her slam with an impressive win over Michelle Clara, 25-14.
She paired with Cynthia Lian to defeat Raquel Garcia and Myohwa Hwee for the Women’s B Doubles crown.
See Saturday’s results, Sunday’s start times and the rest of the draws HERE.
*William Coello of Ecuador was also in the tournament draws, entering the Men’s 40-plus divisions.
Friday, June 24.
CONEY ISLAND, N.Y. — The 14th USHA Wallball National Championships kicked off on Friday with B Singles and B Doubles action. Top-seeded David Castro (Bronx) looked strong, stopping Jonathan Rodriguez (Ridgewood, NY) 25-11 and Jeanpierre Garcia (Elmhurst, NY), 25-3 to advance to the quarterfinals. Castro faces Cesar Ayala Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. (Eastern).
Brooklyn’s Christopher Briones-Moran, the No. 2 seed, kept pace with Castro by delivering two dominant performances, defeating Jonathan Montalvo (Bronx) 25 Jonathan Montalvo 25-9 and Zach Hill (New York), 25-7 to reach the quarterfinals.
Men’s and Women’s Pro events along with age division events begin Saturday morning. Matches are one 25-point game.
See Friday’s results, Saturday’s start times and the rest of the draws HERE.
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.
