The United States Handball Association (USHA) and the United States Gaelic Athletic Association (USGAA) are proud to announce a landmark partnership uniting two communities with shared roots in Irish sport and culture. This collaboration will create new opportunities to expand handball participation across GAA clubs nationwide while celebrating the heritage, friendship, and shared values that connect both organizations.
“The collaboration between the USHA and the GAA is an exciting and natural extension of our shared mission and passion to introduce handball to new generations of players,” said Denis Hogan, President of the United States Handball Association. “The athleticism, sportsmanship, competitive challenge, and lifelong camaraderie that define our game are deeply rewarding for all who play. We’re truly grateful for this opportunity to work alongside the GAA in expanding our outreach and growing the sport together.”
SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden Gate Park Handball Courts came alive on Saturday, November 15, as players, families, and community leaders gathered for Echoes of the Alley—Golden Gate Handball, a multicultural celebration centered on “connection through community.”
Hosted by the Irish Consulate of San Francisco, with support from the Mexican Consulate, GAA, USGAA, USHA, San Francisco Recreation & Parks, and several local clubs, the event highlighted handball’s deep Gaelic roots and its long-standing presence in the Bay Area.
Special guests included:
Michael Smith, Consul General of Ireland
Marco Mena, Consul General of Mexico
GAA Handball President Conor McDonnell
SF Fire Chief Dean Crispen
Youth Clinics & Community Play
The day opened with a junior clinic led by pros Loren Collado, Rene Lopez, and Coleman McGrath, alongside volunteers from the South End Rowing Club and Dolphin Club. Young players received instruction, gear, and the chance to compete in developmental matches. Standouts included Aidan Pecko, Alileo Acosta, and Fintan Reidy.
Men’s and Women’s Exhibitions
With the courts buzzing, spectators filled the gallery for two thrilling professional exhibitions. Hall of Famer Tracy Davis faced UC Berkeley sophomore Nicole Eike. Davis claimed the win in two games, but both players delivered an engaging, high-quality match that left the juniors inspired and the crowd energized.
Bay Area pros Coleman McGrath and Erik Torres followed with an intense exhibition featuring athletic rallies, momentum swings, and—fittingly for San Francisco—a decisive backwall rollout that helped McGrath edge out the victory in two spirited games.
A Shared Celebration & Major Contribution
After the Golden Gate Handball Day Ceremony, consulate leaders and special guests awarded medals and thanked the community for its support. A highlight of the day was a GAA $10,000 donation to San Francisco Recreation & Parks to support court maintenance and improvements.
Strengthening a Growing Partnership
The event extended the momentum of the new USHA–USGAA partnership, demonstrating how handball continues to bring communities together across cultures and generations.
Thank you to all partners, volunteers, and players who made this special day possible. Special thanks to Vice Consulate Naoise Kenny for tremendous work behind the scenes, and thank you to Joheem Eike for all-day support at event!
Monday was finals day, featuring several great matches across divisions ranging from 11 & Under through 19 & Under. These juniors showcased their skills on the biggest stage of the year.
11 and Under
As mentioned earlier, Newcomer of the Year winner Zeyden Zamora won both the Small Ball and Big Ball titles in the 11 & Under division. Zamora defeated Most Improved Award winner Luan Cordova in the Small Ball final, 21–9, 21–11. He followed that up by taking down Las Vegas–based Ricardo Zavala in the Big Ball final in two straight games.
The 11 & Under division was one of the highlights of the weekend and featured several new players, including juniors from Portland, Alaska, Juarez, Las Vegas, Tucson, and Las Cruces. It was great seeing so many players from across the country.
13 and under
The 13 & Under Small Ball division was won by Luis Cordova III, who defeated San Jose–based Chad Alves in two quick games. Cordova nearly fell earlier in the tournament to former national champion Adrian Valenzuela, but won the tiebreaker 11–6.
The Albuquerque–based Valenzuela bounced back to win the 13 & Under Big Ball division over Alves in two close games. Valenzuela and Cordova III later teamed up to play up a division and win the 15 & Under Doubles.
15 and under
The 15 & Under Small Ball and Big Ball finals featured Northern California’s Jose Mendez and Albuquerque’s Angel Valenzuela in both divisions. The two were evenly matched and put on some of the best matches of the tournament.
They played the Big Ball final first, where Mendez squeaked out both games 21–18, 21–19 to win his first national title. It looked like Mendez was going to win the Small Ball title as well after building a 7–3 lead in the tiebreaker, but Valenzuela was determined to win a title. He battled back with clutch kill shots and strong serves to take the tiebreaker 11–9.
Jose Mendez (left) and Angel Valenzuela (right) battled in both 15 and under finals.
Girls 17 and under
We saw a pair of first-time winners in the Girls 17 & Under divisions. Chicago–based Olive Barrett captured first place in the Small Ball division. Barrett and her sister Lena are related to the Roberts family, who collectively have over 100 national titles. Their mother, Sarah Barrett (formerly Roberts), also holds a national title — and it didn’t take Olive long to earn her own. Tucson–based Hana Guerrero finished second in the division.
In the Girls 17 & Under Big Ball, Las Cruces–based Nadia Herrera won her first national title in her first Junior Nationals appearance by winning all three of her matches in straight games. Herrera showed great coordination and has a bright future in the sport.
Boys 17 and under
The 17 & Under Boys Small Ball final featured Las Cruces–based Isaac Holguin and Albuquerque–based Victor Guadajaro. These two have faced each other before, and once again the match was close. Holguin capitalized on a few key errors to win 21–18, 21–19.
The 17 & Under Big Ball Singles was won by Joell “Kid Boxer” Sandoval in a thrilling match against fellow Northern California rising star Richard Perez. Sandoval dug himself a hole early in game one but slowly chipped away, eventually catching Perez at 20–20 and winning 21–20. Game two was another back-and-forth battle that Sandoval won to claim his first national title.
Perez looked for redemption in the 17 & Under Doubles final, teaming up with Albert Carreras, but they ran into a strong pairing of Jose Mendez and Ethan Medina, who rolled to the title.
19 and under
The 19 & Under division was dominated by long-time junior standout and Tucson phenom Ayden Brule. Brule cruised through the Small Ball division, defeating Javier Villagran in the final.
Brule followed that up by defeating Louie Medina in the Big Ball final, dominating play from start to finish. His toughest match came in the Big Ball semifinals, where he was pushed to a tiebreaker by Josiah Rodriguez.
Brule finished off the tournament by winning the 19 & Under Doubles with fellow Tucson resident Brandon Valle, continuing to add to his impressive national title count.
From left to right: Runner ups Moises Vasquez and Joell Sandoval with Champs Brandon Valle and Ayden Brule
Fun Division
Lastly, this tournament featured the first-ever “Fun” Division, a modified two-bounce short-court format where players rotated serving so everyone had more chances to hit the ball. This became the largest division of the tournament and was a big hit among the juniors — perfect for younger or newer players. It will return.
It was an awesome week of handball at the Junior Nationals in Tucson that saw many first-time competitors experience how great the tournament is. It was great to see bigger numbers this year, and we hope they continue to grow in the future. If you have any interest in starting a junior handball program in your area, reach out to us — we’d love to help.
Thank you to all the coaches, parents, volunteers, and players who made this event possible. View all the results HERE.
After a long day two of exciting matches, players gathered at the Tucson Racquet Club for the Junior Nationals banquet. The evening opened with a speech by USHA National Juniors Chair Abraham Montijo, who spoke about how great it was to have the juniors back in Tucson and how the event is beginning to gain traction again after the COVID pandemic. He also thanked the coaches and asked them to stand so they could be recognized by the players and parents.
Shot of the Banquet
Three annual awards were presented during the banquet:
Sportsmanship Award Winner Flores (middle) with Esser (left) and Montijo (right)
The Vince Gabriel Jr. Sportsmanship Award is given to a player who goes above and beyond to play the game with fairness and capture the spirit of handball on and off the court. This year’s recipient was Donovan Flores of San Jose. Flores helped whenever he could and was seen assisting players in need — even those he didn’t know. He also capped off a great weekend by winning a consolation bracket.
The Kurt Johansson / Kate Compton Most Improved Award is given to a player who has competed in Junior Nationals before and showed significant improvement at this year’s event. Luan Cordova of Juarez received the award after finishing second in the 11 & Under division and winning the first-ever Fun Division.
Newcomer winner Zamora (middle) with Esser and Montijo
The Tom Lynch Newcomer Award is given to a player competing in their first Junior Nationals who made their presence felt. This year’s winner was Tucson’s Zeyden Zamora, who learned the game over the summer and went on to win both the 11 & Under Small Ball and Big Ball divisions against a tough field.
After the banquet, many players headed over to the United States Handball Hall of Fame to explore the sport’s history, equipment, and trophies.
Junior Nationals Open with Energy, First-Time Experiences for New Players in Tucson
Team NorCal arrived at the Junior Nationals with an impressive and deep roster.
TUCSON, Ariz. — The first day of play at the 69th USHA Junior National Championships got underway Saturday at the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club, as junior singles and doubles divisions opened with a full slate of spirited first-round matches and plenty of new faces stepping onto the national stage.
From early morning through the final matches of the day, courts were busy with young athletes competing in their first-ever Junior Nationals, setting the tone for a weekend focused on growth, learning, and high-energy competition. While championships are still days away, Day One delivered what Junior Nationals does best: opportunity, excitement, and unforgettable experiences.
For many players, simply being part of the event marked a milestone. Brayden Bolt of La Grange, Illinois—one of many first-time participants—captured the mindset shared by much of the junior field.
“Never doubt yourself,” Bolt said when asked about his approach on court. “Just get back up and work your hardest.”
That perspective carried through a day filled with competitive rallies, close games, and the natural nerves that come with playing on a national stage for the first time. Coaches and parents lined the galleries, while players encouraged one another between matches, reinforcing the supportive environment that defines junior handball.
Bolt’s goals for the tournament reflect the balance between competition and experience that Junior Nationals is known for.
“My goal for my first nationals is just to have fun and make my trip the best I could possibly be,” he said.
Beyond the courts, Tucson itself made an impression—especially for players traveling from colder climates.
“It’s nice to be in a warm place,” Bolt added. “We played basketball in a pool in December!”
With opening-round play complete, the tournament continues Sunday as players advance through singles and doubles brackets and the road toward championship matches begins to take shape. Day One served as a reminder that Junior Nationals is about more than wins and losses—it’s about building confidence, creating memories, and welcoming the next generation of handball players into the national community.
See the updated draws with scores and upcoming match times HERE.
Chicago-area newcomers La Grange Handball Club brought their young talent to Tucson for Junior Nationals.
TUCSON — The nation’s top junior handball talent is set to take the courts in Tucson for the 69th USHA Junior Four-Wall Championships. Players from across the country (Arizona, California, Texas, New Mexico, Illinois, Washington, Alaska, and Mexico) will compete in a fast-paced, championship atmosphere that celebrates the future of the sport—skill, sportsmanship, and unforgettable moments on the wall.
Play started Saturday morning at the Tucson Racquet & Fitness Club (4001 N Country Club Rd). Draws and match times are posted. From first serves to final points, Tucson promises another memorable chapter in junior handball history. Good luck to all competitors—we’ll see you on the courts! Follow the daily updates HERE.
