Minnesota State Mankato Sweeps the Collegiate Nationals
PORTLAND, Ore. — Students, coaches, and local handball spectators packed the crowds Sunday morning to watch the finals of the 2025 Collegiate Nationals.
The day began with the Men’s Open final. After losing three consecutive years in the semifinals, Ray Ure broke through this year in the and defeated his fellow Minnesota State Mankato teammate John Bike in two games. Ure took game one convincingly, but fell behind early in game two 14-10. Determined to win, Ure went on a 7-0 run to take a 17-10 lead and seemed to be on his way to clinching the title.
Bike had a run left in him though, and scored four quick points to take an 18-17 lead. A missed paddle kill attempt from Bike put Ure back in the box where he tied the match at 18. The duo traded sideouts and when Ure got his second chance in the service box he closed it out with a couple of pass shots and an unreturned serve to win the match 21-11, 21-18. It was a great way for Ure to end his collegiate career.
Bike (left) and Ure (right) after their final.
Clodagh Munroe was looking to defend her title in the Women’s Open against Cuileann Bourke, who was coming off two impressive wins over the second and third seeded players in the Women’s Open division.
Munroe, while winning all her matches in two games to this point, had still not been playing her best handball. She must have been saving her best for the finals because she put together her best performance of the tournament.
Munroe pushed Bourke all around the court. The precision on her shots were near perfect throughout the match. She jumped out to a 7-0 lead in game one and never looked back, holding Bourke to just three points.
Game two wasn’t much closer. Although Bourke earned a few more points Munroe was too strong and pulled away near the end to defeat her opponent 21-9. Munroe slapped her hands together and took a moment to walk around the court after earning her second consecutive title. She will go for the three-peat next year.
In the Men’s Open Doubles, Ivan Burgos and Jorge Pimentel defeated Ray Ure and Luis Mendez in a tiebreaker match. Burgos and Pimentel were all over the court and made it difficult on Ure and Mendez to end rallies.
On the Women’s side, Munroe completed the open slam by pairing with Freshman teammate Hannah Grace to defeat the Irish duo of Cuileann Bourke and Noelle Dowling.
Women’s Open Doubles finalists from left to right: Cuileann Bourke, Noelle Dowling, Hannah Grace, and Clodagh Munroe.
You can check out the winners from all the divisions on Bracket Ace HERE.
On the team scoring side of the tournament, Minnesota State Mankato continued their dominance over the rest of the field, winning the Open Team division title in the Men’s, Women’s and Combined. Missouri State just edged out Angelo State to take second place in the Combined title. You can view all of the team scores HEREand see the top two in each division below. Six players from each gender can count towards a teams score.
Combined Open Champion: Minnesota State Mankato
Combined Open runner-up: Missouri State University
Men’s Open Champion: Minnesota State Mankato
Men’s Open runner-up: Texas A&M
Women’s Open Champion: Minnesota State Mankato
Women’s Open runner-up: Lake Forest College
Combined A Champion: Texas A&M University
Combined A runner-up: Pacific University
Men’s A Champion: Stony Brook College
Men’s A runner-up: Pacific University
Women’s A Champion: Pacific University
Women’s A runner-up: Texas A&M University
All of these teams were recognized at the banquet Saturday night along with players who were given awards and scholarships. Over $30,000 was awarded in scholarships to our handball student athletes this year.
Also at the Banquet, Martin Mulkerrins was recognized with our 2024 Coach of the Year Award. Mulkerrins took six players to his first collegiate nationals in Tucson in 2023 and now has grown the program at Texas A&M to one of the largest in the country, bringing 25+ players to the nationals.
A&M students Amesely Davis (left) and Caitlin Behne (right) presented the award to their coach.
The banquet closed with USHA Executive Director Matt Krueger asking the seniors to stand up. They received a big cheer from the crowd and were encouraged to keep playing handball, as it is a lifelong game.
Thank you to the Multnomah Athletic Club for hosting us at their world class athletic club. The students were amazed by the facility.
A special thanks to Ben Van Arsdale and Jeff Wall for volunteering their time to make this tournament successful on Bracket Ace. Bracket Ace allows players to referee on their phone, see live scores of each court in the building, and so much more. Schedule your next tournament on Bracket Ace.
Players could view live scores, what court they are on, and more from their phone and tournament desk!
Another thanks to Ben and Jeff and the other volunteers who helped make the tournament run smoothly.
Lastly thank you to the coaches for bringing their players and inspiring the future generations of handballers. This tournament is unlike any other in the world. The team spirit is unbelievable. If you haven’t been able to check out the collegiate nationals before, make your plans to visit next year when Missouri State University hosts the tournament between February 18-22.
PORTLAND, Ore. — After 3 consecutive 13 hour days of handball at the Multnomah Athletic Club, we made it to Saturday morning where semifinals started to commence. Players who have made it this far have played at least four strenuous matches, but with teammates and coaches behind them cheering them on, they showed an excellent display of handball.
The first semifinal of the day was between Minnesota State Mankato teammates John Bike and Bryan Trejo. Trejo has been the talk of the tournament so far after pulling off multiple upsets. Yesterday he took down number one seed and top seven ranked pro Ivan Burgos.
Bike though came out strong and won game one by blasting shots with his powerful left hand that Trejo could not keep pace with in game one. Trejo wouldn’t go down easy though and jumped out to a lead in game two. It looked like it could go either way when it was tied at 17-17, but Bike closed the game out with some perfect pass shots that Trejo could not receive.
Next up was the highly anticipated match between Ray Ure and Kyle Jordan. Jordan is the current Irish Collegiate Champion, and has some of the best hands in the sport. Ure has been a rising star in the sport for years, and has announced himself on the WPH Pro Tour.
Ure goes for a shot in his final against Jordan.
Jordan was no match for Ure, who hit laser serves down the left and right side that were untouched by his opponent. Neither game ever felt close as Ure cruised to a victory and clinched his spot in his first collegiate final.
Bike and Ure will be the first Americans to face off in the finals since 2018, and it will be the first collegiate title for one of them.
On the Women’s side, defending champion Clodagh Munroe and Leah Minogue played the first semifinal in the open. Munroe took control of the first game and never ceded her lead. Game two was closer and Minogue held a 15-13 lead. Munroe found her groove there, and went on a run to take a 20-15 lead. Minogue scored one more point, but then Munroe finished her off with a kill in the left corner to win.
The next semifinal was between last year’s runner-up Amy Brennan and Cuileann Bourke, who both reside in Ireland. Bourke won the first game 21-19, relying on a great three-wall serve that put Brennan in the back left corner. Second game Bourke continued to play strong and defeated Brennan 21-13 after executing many paddle kills.
Munroe and Brennan will be a great match tomorrow in the finals.
Minnesota State Mankato has a nice lead in the Open division team title, and looks like they will continue their winning streak. Check out all the team scores on the Bracket Ace scoring page HERE. Check out all the brackets HERE.
Collegiate Handball Nationals Kick Off in Portland with Intensity and Camaraderie
PORTLAND, Ore. — The energy was electric Wednesday as the 72nd Collegiate National Handball Championships got underway at the Multnomah Athletic Club. Nearly 30 schools from across the U.S., Ireland, and Canada sent their best to battle for national titles, with singles and doubles matches filling the courts.
For many players, the tournament is more than just a competition—it’s a chance to test themselves against the best, reconnect with old friends, and immerse themselves in the tight-knit handball community.
“This is my last year, so I’m really excited to be able to cheer on my team for my last time and to show the skills that I have developed over the last six years I’ve been playing handball,” said Sam Wilson, a fifth year Missouri State senior. “I think the Multnomah Athletic Club is awesome, the way the courts play and the way they’re laid out, it’s definitely a great place for the Collegiates.”
Among the larger teams, Texas A&M sent a squad of 24 players, eager to make their mark in both singles and doubles. Other perennial powerhouses, including Lake Forest College, Missouri State, Minnesota State, Mankato, and the University of Limerick, were well represented, with top-seeded players already showcasing their skills in the opening rounds.
The format guarantees every player at least three singles matches, with early seeding rounds leading into a high-stakes single-elimination bracket. This ensures plenty of action for newcomers and veterans alike.
Beyond the matches, the tournament is a celebration of Handball. Players swapped stories between games, scouted future opponents, and soaked in the atmosphere of one of handball’s most prestigious events. A banquet is scheduled for Saturday night, giving players, coaches, and alumni a chance to come together off the court.
“It’s competitive, for sure,” said Texas A&M coach Martin Mulkerrins, a former Men’s Collegiate Open Singles champion. “But at the end of the day, we’re all just excited to be here and to keep growing the sport.”
With several days of competition ahead, the stage is set for intense matchups, dramatic upsets, and unforgettable moments. As the first day wrapped up, the anticipation only grew for what’s to come in Portland’s Multnomah Athletic Club.
See the latest results on the tournament’s BracketAce website HERE (matches and scores are updated in real time).
Live streaming matches on the main show court begin on Friday. Follow the action HERE.
———————————————– Minnesota State will look to defend their team title but they’ll have to do it without their top men’s player and last year’s champion Mark Doyle, who is out with an arm injury. Their top women and defending champion Clodagh Munroe is back though and looking to bring home her second collegiate title.
Minnesota State Mankato Students Mark Doyle and Clodagh Munroe won the Men’s and Women’s Open last year. Doyle is out with an injury this year while Munroe will look to defend her title.
Many collegiate players will be experiencing the Collegiate Nationals for the first time, which is a tournament unlike any other and showcases what our game is all about.
BROOKLYN — Through 63 years of USHA One-Wall Championships, nobody has won more Men’s Pro Singles titles than Tyree Bastidas. Showcasing unparalleled skill and relentless drive, Bastidas redefined one-wall greatness by winning his tenth title, defeating his brother Jurell in Sunday’s final, 21-7, 21-9. His tenth title breaks a 30-year record held by Hall of Famer Joe Durso.
The previous weekend, the brothers faced off in the Speaker’s Cup final, which was won by Tyree. Once again in the Nationals Pro draw, his brother Jurell posed the only real threat to his younger sibling’s record-breaking title hunt. Jurell held a small lead in the first game, but that threat was quashed by Tyree’s crushing serve-and-volley game. The two opponents battled fiercely, chasing every shot and providing a tremendously entertaining final for the Coney Island crowd and those watching the Facebook live stream. A blistering serve to Jurell’s left secured match point, along with Tyree’s place in handball history.
The weather played a significant role as the matches continued. When the sun was out, temperatures on the concrete soared. Rain clouds badgered players and tournament organizers the entire weekend, but all matches were completed by Sunday afternoon, just before the rain showers resumed. We extend our deepest gratitude to the players, referees, and volunteers for making this year’s One-Wall Nationals a great experience for everyone. Special thanks to Jared Vale, Tiffany Chiu, Laurence DuBois, Glenn Usher, TripOg Fyllth, Albert Apuzzi, William Rolon, and many others!
Men’s Pro Doubles finalists Jurell and Tyree Bastidas joined by Tournament Director Jared Vale and Champions Carlin Rosa and Allan Sanchez.
In the Men’s Pro Doubles action, the Bastidas brothers faced Carlin Rosa and Allan Sanchez. This championship final provided all the drama and excitement that the singles final may have lacked, going to three games. Sanchez and Rosa jumped on their opponents out of the gate, cruising to an impressive 21-6 win, but Team Bastidas forced a tiebreaker with a 21-16 game two win. In the third set, Rosa and Sanchez regained their game one dominance, storming to a 10-3 lead before the Bastidas brothers forced a side out. That service inning for Team Bastidas only yielded one point before Sanchez and Rosa regained the serve, subsequently calling a timeout to regroup. Once play resumed, Sanchez placed a high-arcing serve down the middle to clinch championship point.
In other divisions, several players who made the trip to New York will be taking hardware back home.
Kendall Lewis celebrated his Brooklyn homecoming by outlasting Jonathan Davila in the 35-plus final tiebreaker, winning 8-21, 21-13, 11-4.
William Polanco secured the 40-plus singles crown, defeating Alvaro Rebaza 21-15, 21-12.
Joe Kaplan won the 50-plus singles, defeating defending champion Tim Moeller 21-9, 21-10.
Southern California’s Tommy Valenzuela won the 60-plus singles by defeating Richard Mascia 21-16, 21-10.
In Men’s B Singles, Andrew Acosta held off Max Churbakov 21-7, 21-17.
Jai Ragoo and Alvaro Rebaza won the Men’s 40-plus Doubles, stopping Tony Roberts and David Rojas 21-4, 21-9.
In 50-plus Doubles, Oscar DeJesus and Robert Sostre stopped Milton Jones and Carlos Madera 21-12, 21-15.
See the draws and results of the 63rd USHA One-Wall National Championships HERE.
Junior players and fans enjoyed a beautiful sunset before the lights came on at Tucson’s Clark Park 3-Wall Courts.
TUCSON, Ariz. — The 2024 Junior Three-Wall Nationals concluded in Tucson on Sunday morning. The weekend temps were soaring, and players battled the Arizona heat as well as their opponents on the scorched courts. Players were given a break during the most intense heat of the day as scheduled matches began in the early morning and ended before Noon. Play resumed after 5:00 p.m. utilizing the park’s recently installed lights. Referees gave players mandatory water breaks in addition to regular time outs.
Juniors were given a unique Southwest treat as a Sonoran Hot Dog vendor stopped at the courts on Saturday night. Players and spectators enjoyed the hospitality and the cooler weather while watching the day’s matches wrap up. During a break in the action, the USHA presented the Munoz Good Sport Award, an award named after Vince Munoz which is presented at the Three-Wall Junior Nationals. This year’s Munoz Good Sport Award was deservedly given to Tucson’s Brandon Valle, a player who exhibits the best nature and attitude on and off the courts.
All junior players were entered in a Tournament Raffle, which gave them the chance to win various prizes, including AirPods, a NorthFace backpack, Yeti water bottles, gift cards, and more. Thank you to Fred Lewis of the Fred Lewis Foundation for Youth Handball for making this donation, as the players loved it!
Vince Munoz Sportsmanship Award Winner Brandon Valle with Coach Abe Montijo
On the court we saw many great matches, and crowned new champions. Thank you to all of the coaches and parents who traveled and supported these junior players in the tournament. It’s not possible without you. A special thank you to Abraham Montijo, Max Langmack, Richie Estrella, Antonio Rivera, Chris Hogan and all the volunteers who stopped by and braved the heat.
19-Under:
Andres Cordova continues to show he is one of the best up and coming players in our sport. The younger brother of top pros Luis and Daniel Cordova, Andres has continued to improve over the years. Cordova rolled in his quarterfinal and semifinal to set up a highly anticipated championship bout against Tucson’s Ayden Brule.
Cordova came out fast and held Brule to just one point in game one. The second game began close, but Cordova was too steady for Brule, by using his strong serve down the left to score points and earn setups, to win, 21-1, 21-13.
Cordova fell in the big ball 19-Under final to Moses Gardea by the scores of 16-14, 15-8. Gardea’s game is suited for big ball, and he did a good job of moving Cordova all around the court.
Cordova and Gardea teamed up and faced off against Brule and his partner Eliseo Gutierrez in the 19-Under doubles final in what was probably the match of the tournament. After splitting the first two games, the tiebreaker was close, being a back and forth affair. The teams were tied up at 10, and Brule and Gutierrez were serving on their second server. Brule delivered a clutch serve, resulting in a easy return for a setup with his right hand which he killed in the left corner to secure the 11-10 victory.
15-Under:
Isaac Holguin of Las Cruces, N.M. slammed the 15-Under small ball divisions. Holguin has started to rack up impressive titles the past few years, first winning the singles national title by defeating Denver’s Zait Bustillos in two games. Holguin then teamed with 13-Under Champion KJ Lindsey to win the 15-Under doubles over Alex Guajardo and Angel Valenzuela 15-11, 15-7.
In the Big Ball finals, Guajardo and Valenzuela played a thrilling final. The two are cousins and know each other’s game well. Guajardo took game one and Valenzuela game two. Guajardo started fast in the tiebreaker, and would hang on to win 11-5 in the finals.
Cousins and Big Ball 15-under finalists Alex Guajardo and Angel Valenzuela.
13-Under:
After losing in the first round of last year’s 13-Under division, Tucson’s KJ Lindsey showed off his improvement this year by winning both the small ball and big ball finals in the 13-Under division. In both finals, his opponent was teammate Azriel Gomez, and each of the matches went to a tiebreaker with Lindsey prevailing. While he doesn’t turn 14 until the end of the year, Lindsey is already a steady player who makes few hand errors.
KJ Lindsey lines up for a shot in the 13 and under small ball final against Azriel Gomez.
The 13-Under doubles final was won by Luis Cordova III and Adrian Valenzuela. They swept the other three teams in their round robin division without dropping a single game.
11-Under:
Lastly, the 11-Under small ball and big ball divisions were won by Albuquerque’s Adrian Valenzuela. Valenzuela is tremendous talent for an 11 year old, as he moves very well and misses few returns. He was dominant against everyone in his division, and it will be a treat to watch him develop.
We would like to recognize the support of Fred Lewis, Abe Montijo, Max Langmack, and Richie Estrella for their support and volunteer efforts. Check out all of the results HERE.
For the first time ever, the USHA Three-Wall Junior Nationals will be held in Tucson, AZ at the Clark Park Three-Wall Courts! Matches will begin Friday July 12th and continue through Sunday morning. Matches will only be played in the morning and in the evening to stay out of the heat.
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — Phenomenal handball finals highlighted Memorial Day Weekend of the 2024 USHA Four-Wall National Championships. Four of the five Pro / Open Divisions were decided by tiebreakers and exciting finales. Killian Carroll reclaimed his spot as our Men’s Pro Singles Champion; while Danielle Daskalakis played unbelievable in the Women’s Pro Singles final against Fiona Tully to win her second Women’s Four-Wall National Singles title. Read more in the following summary of the 73rd USHA National Four-Wall Championships at Los Cab.
Men’s Open Singles: Killian Carroll vs. Martin Mulkerrins
Killian Carroll won his fifth USHA National Four-Wall Men’s Open Singles title by defeating Martin Mulkerrins in a tiebreaker in an incredible match.
The defending champion Mulkerrins didn’t make it easy on Carroll as he came out strong in the first game. Carroll did his best to run Mulkerrins around the court, but anytime Mulkerrins was able to get his feet set and step into a shot, he almost always ended the rally. The players found themselves tied at 15 in the first game when Mulkerrins caught fire. He rattled off six-straight points that included several kill shots and a few serves that cracked out for aces.
Game two was a one-sided affair the whole way. Carroll countered Mulkerrins’ first-game energy with a red hot start, and he jumped out to a 12-0 lead to start the game–a lead he never relinquished, winning 21-8 to force the tiebreaker.
Carroll set the tone for the tiebreaker by hitting four of the flattest rollouts of the tournament to start the game and built a 4-0 lead before Mulkerrins entered the service box. Mulkerrins battled back to 4-5, but Carroll again caught fire towards the end of the tiebreaker, rolling balls out flat and keeping Mulkerrins on the move. At 10-4, Carroll hit an amazing serve down the left that had Mulkerrins leaning right and double bounced before hitting the back-wall. Mulkerrins couldn’t get a hand on it and Carroll clinched the 2024 Four-Wall National title, his fifth.
Watch the replay on the Men’s Final on our YouTube Channel HERE.
Women’s Open Singles: Danielle Daskalakis vs. Fiona Tully
The Women’s Singles final featured former four-wall champion Danielle Daskalakis against multiple time runner-up and one of the best Irish Women’s player, Fiona Tully. Each player looked impressive in their semifinals, with Daskalakis defeating Collegiate Champion Clodagh Munroe, and Tully overcoming top player Ashley Ruiz.
The first game between Daskalakis and Tully was one of the most exciting of the tournament. The players traded leads throughout the first game with both displaying excellent play. Daskalakis found herself up 20-18 and serving for the first game. Tully though returned Daskalakis serve with a rollout and quickly tied the game up at 20-20. She then hit a laser serve down the left side that forced an error from Daskalakis, granting Tully the first game victory.
The second game remained close for most of the game, but when down 13-15 Daskalakis caught fire and rattled off the next eight points with an impressive array of kill shots and amazing serves that Tully couldn’t get her hands on.
Daskalakis jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker, only to be caught by Tully at 4. Daskalakis regained the serve and scored another 3 points to build a 7-4 lead, only to be passed by Tully and trail 8-7. Daskalakis sided her out there and scored the next three points and served for the match at 10-7. A back-wall error though from Daskalakis gave the serve back to Tully.
In the ensuing rally, Tully hit a huge set-up off the back-wall that Daskalakis took near shoulder height close to the front-wall and still found a way to roll it out by clipping the side wall then the front wall. Many in the crowd commented it was one of the best shots they had ever seen.
Daskalakis capitalized this time for match point by converting a back-wall setup with her left hand that she killed down the right. It was a great win for Daskalakis and you could tell it meant a lot to her. It’s her second title and she seems to only be improving. Living in California and playing four-wall more regularly has made a tremendous impact for her.
Watch a replay of the Women’s Final on our YouTube channel HERE.
Men’s Open Doubles Final:
From left to right: Men’s Open Doubles Finalists Ivan Burgos, Ray Ure, Killian Carroll and Martin Mulkerrins.
In the Men’s Open Doubles, Killian Carroll and Martin Mulkerrins successfully defended their title. It was a rematch of the final last year against Ray Ure and Ivan Burgos. Like last year, this year’s match went to a tiebreaker, and Carroll and Mulkerrins leaned on their experience to prevail.
Fiona Tully and Clodagh Munroe won the Women’s Open Doubles title by defeating Mikaila Esser and Ashley Ruiz in two games. It was Munroe’s first USHA Four-Wall National Open title and Tully’s second time winning the doubles.
Thank You to our amazing USHA Volunteers!
It was a great weekend at the Los Caballeros Sports Village filled with amazing player and people playing tremendous matches. Los Cab is a player and fan favorite site with a storied history of hosting several USHA Four-Wall National Championships. This year’s championships were another great chapter in the club’s legacy.
None of this could have happened without the amazing teamwork and volunteer help. A SPECIAL THANK YOU to Mark Zamora and the Southern California Handball Association. Zamora coordinated local organizations to help cook and serve up amazing hospitality each day. It’s not a Nationals at Los Cab without Hall of Fame Contributor Gary Cruz working non-stop behind the scenes. Finally, a big thank you to our desk of volunteers, representing Missouri State University and Texas A&M Handball Clubs! Handball has a bright future and a slew of young (now “seasoned”) veterans who can run tournaments!
Congrats to all of our 2024 USHA National Four-Wall Championships:
Open Singles: Killian Carroll
Open Doubles: Killian Carroll/Martin Mulkerrins
Women’s Open: Danielle Daskalakis
Women’s Open Doubles: Fiona Tully/Clodagh Munroe
Women’s A Singles: Laura Finn
Women’s B Singles: Sarah Walsh
Open Big Ball: Ivan Chapa
Open Amateur Singles: Cian O’Driscoll
A Singles: Ian McLoughlin
A Doubles: Adam Walsh/Cian O’Driscoll
B Singles: Darragh Mulkerrins
B Doubles: John Hurley/Jack McNeela
C Singles: John Hurley
35 Singles: Adam Bernhard
40 Singles: Adam Bernhard
40 Doubles: Eddie Silveyra/Jorge Lopez
45 Singles: George Garcia Jr.
50 Singles: Chris Watkins
50B Singles: Brian Henson
50 Doubles: Chris Watkins/Alex Garcia
55 Singles: Leo Canales Sr.
55 Doubles: John Bike Jr./John Robles
60 Singles: Steve Roberts
60B Singles: Ron Walsworth
60 Doubles: Gary Scogin/Steve Roberts
65 Singles: David Streibig
65 Doubles: Gary Scogin/Lloyd Garcia
70 Singles: Mike Barna
70 Doubles: Bob Lohmueller/Mike Barna
70B Singles: Bob Housman
75 Singles: Edward Campbell
75 Doubles: Edward Campbell/Merv Deckert
80 Singles: James Ward
80 Doubles: Jim Smith/Rick Graham
Nationals Banquet and Tom Sove Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony:
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — On Saturday night, the tournament players and guests gathered in the Terrace room at the Los Caballeros Sports Village for the banquet.
After opening remarks from USHA Executive Director Matt Krueger and USHA President Denis Hogan, World Handball Council member Dessie Keegan was invited up to speak on the 2024 World Handball Championships taking place in Ireland later this year. Keegan said Ireland is excited to play host this year to the World’s and hoping for large contingent of Americans to make the trip across the pond.
Next, Jim Ward was honored with his Grand Master sweater. Grand Master sweater’s are awarded to players who have won 10 age division national titles. Ward earned his last year at the Master Doubles, and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down at 80 years old as he has already added one title this weekend with a chance at another.
Next was Tom Sove’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. It began with a speech from Gary Cruz. Cruz and Sove have worked countless hours together administrating tournaments. Cruz went over all Sove has done for handball, from chairing committee’s to raising thousands of dollars for the development of handball and everything in between.
Next was Sove’s daughter Erika, who played handball at Lake Forest and spent many years with her dad around handball. She let her dad know who was the better player and reminded him who had more national titles, but also made sure the crowd knew just how much her father loved handball and the hours he has dedicated to it.
Lastly, USHA Board Member LeaAnn Martin gave the final speech on Sove and officially welcomed him in to the Hall of Fame. Martin and Sove have spent decades together on the Board and have formed a strong relationship through the good times and bad times of handball.
In Sove’s acceptance speech, he touched on how much the game has meant to him and thanked several people who have helped him grow the sport over the years. He of course went over some of the rules of our game and reminded everyone to wear your eye guards when you’re on the court!
He closed by urging players to continue playing and to support our youth and collegiate programs, as they are the future of the game going forward.
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — The Los Caballeros Sports Village was a welcome site to handball players at the 73rd USHA Four-Wall Nationals. It’s a beautiful facility, and the near 270 players enjoyed seeing old friends as they renewed their rivalries on the court.
With only eight courts available, days have been filled with handball from the early a.m. to the late p.m. hours, and players and spectators have packed the galleries for all of them.
In the Men’s Open, defending champion Martin Mulkerrins has looked dominant in his title defense. Mulkerrins held Sam Esser to singles digits in each game of their quarterfinal match, and then did the same to Leo Canales Jr. in their semifinal match. Canales Jr. had an impressive quarterfinal win over 2022 national champion Diarmuid Nash.
Mulkerrins will take on Killian Carroll in the final who has looked equally strong. Carroll made quick work of rising star Ray Ure in his quarterfinal, before outlasting Sean Lenning in the semifinal.
Lenning knocked Carroll out in the semifinals last year, and Carroll looked motivated to defeat Lenning this time. The first game Carroll was flawless and won handily. Game two saw Lenning come to life and the players traded blows throughout the game. Carroll kept fighting though, and fought off 5 of Lenning serves at game point! He finally closed out game two 21-20 to advance to the finals.
The heavyweight battle in the mens open final between Carroll and Mulkerrins will take place Sunday at noon.
On the Women’s side, all of the top four seeds have advanced and the semifinals are set.
Fiona Tully and Ashley Ruiz will do battle on the top side of the bracket, while Danielle Daskalakis and Clodagh Munroe will face off on the bottom half. None of these players have dropped even a game so far and both semifinals should be exciting.
You can follow along with all the draws HERE.
___________________________________________________________________ FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. —The 73rd USHA Four-Wall Nationals have arrived! Over 250 players will be competing at the Los Caballeros Sports Village. Play will begin with singles on Thursday morning and conclude with the doubles finals on Monday morning.
Start times and draws will be posted on Monday, May 20th. When they are available, you can view them HERE. Please be sure to check them each day leading up to the tournament as times are subject to change.
Defending champion Martin Mulkerrins headlines the Men’s Open draw, and he has his hands full with a tough field that includes former champions Killian Carroll and Diarmaid Nash, as well as several other top pro players. Fiona Tully has fallen short in the Women’s Open final the last two years to Catriona Casey, but without Casey in the tournament this year, she’ll try to win her first USHA Four-Wall National Open title against a stout group of women that include Danielle Daskalakis, Ashley Ruiz, Mikaila Esser, Clodagh Munroe, Aoife Holden and many more! Tom Sove will have his Hall of Fame Ceremony on Saturday night during the banquet. Sove has been a tremendous asset to handball over the years and has committed 40-plus years of service to handball where he has been dedicated to making the sport better. Tickets to the banquet can be purchased at the tournament desk for $45, and are not included with the entry fee. Reserved Pro seats will be sold at the tournament desk. There are only a limited number of seats remaining. We will be livestreaming matches on ourYouTube Channel. A tentative schedule of the tournament:– Wed., May 24: Early registration at the Los Cab Sports Village (4-7 p.m.). Warm-up and free play from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m.– Thurs., May 25: Play begins with singles in the morning. If you come up short, be sure to come back and referee and also sign up for a drop-down event.– Sat., May 27: Men’s Open Singles Semifinals will take place. The USHA Reception & Hall of Fame Ceremony for Tom Sove will take place inside the Los Cab Sports Village at 6pm.-Sun. May 28: Men’s Singles Finals and Women’s Semifinal will take place. Doubles semifinals in Men’s and Women’s Open.– Mon., May 29: Women’s Singles Final. Men’s & Women’s Open Doubles Finals. All other Finals through 2 p.m.
MINNEAPOLIS – There were two new World Four-Wall Singles Handball Champions crowned in Minneapolis over the weekend. Martin Mulkerrins and Catriona Casey both broke through and claimed their first title in the World Open Singles division.
Mulkerrins was not only looking for his first World Title, but also his first Four-Wall Open singles title. He had played in the final of a Four-Wall Nationals four previous times, but before this weekend had not come out on top. He faced off with the red-hot Sean Lenning in his final, who was also hoping to achieve his first Four-Wall National singles title. Lenning and Mulkerrins had matched up twice prior to this one in 2023, with Lenning coming out on top in both of those matches.
Mulkerrins came out strong and determined in game one, crushing the ball and hitting the bottom board routinely. Lenning could never get into the first game as Mulkerrins took it 21-11.
The second game started evenly, but Lenning caught fire towards the end. He hit several of his highlight reel kill shots and was serving much better. Mulkerrins couldn’t slow him down and lost 14-21 to force the tiebreaker.
Determined to win the tiebreaker, both players came out swinging hard. Mulkerrins found the bottom board a few times while Lenning just missed it a few times. Mulkerrins seemed to be getting stronger as the tiebreaker went on, sensing how close he was to that first national and world title. Sure enough, he scored the eleventh point and let out a joyous roar while raising his arms, as he finally won the titles he has coveted over the years. Mulkerrins played sensationally all weekend and certainly earned the title, beating some of the best in the world to win.
Catriona Casey is the most decorated player in Women’s Handball today, but had not yet won an World Open Singles title. She was on a mission to do so in Minneapolis over the weekend and in her finals victory against Fiona Tully she achieved it.
Casey after winning the World Singles title.
Casey and Tully have matched up often in the past year, with Casey always getting the best of the two. Tully had been improving on her scores recently against Casey, but was not able to challenge her in the World final.
Casey was not going to let Tully make it a game. The first game started close but that did not last long, and Casey ran away with it 21-8. She was not going to leave any doubt in game two, and played flawless handball from beginning to end. Tully could only manage one point on Casey in game two, and Casey won her first world single’s title.
After losing in the finals of the 2018 World Wallball Singles final, Vlad Klym won the title this year over Minnesota’s David Schiller 25-20. Klym defeated Schiller on his home court, and played well to do so. Schiller gave Klym his toughest test of the weekend but Klym was stronger in the finals.
Ray Ure and Ivan Burgos stunned many people by making the open doubles final. They had some impressive victories that included an 11-10 tiebreaker win over the Peter and Patrick Funchion. They then defeated Sean Lenning and Shorty Ruiz in a tiebreaker in their semifinal match, a win that caught the attention of many. Their run stopped in the finals when they fell to Killian Carroll and Martin Mulkerrins in a thrilling tiebreaker match. Mulkerrins and Carroll relied on their experience, and made far less errors in the tiebreaker. This was Mulkerrins second year in a row winning the Open Doubles final, and Carroll’s first time winning.
Catriona Casey and Aishling O’Keeffe claimed the Women’s Open doubles title by defeating three other strong teams in a round robin format. Casey and O’Keeffe have known each other and played together since they were kids, and their chemistry is evident on the court. Ashley Ruiz and Danielle Daskalakis took second.
The tournament was a huge success, and a big thank you goes out to the Minnesota State Handball Association for being incredible hosts. Thank you to BlackStack Brewing, Lake State Plumbing, and Mantle Buzz for sponsoring the tournament and making it so successful. Thank you to all of the volunteers who worked hard to make the tournament run smoothly for all players involved. It’s not possible without the support of everyone mentioned above.
You can view the final results of the tournament HERE.
Lastly congrats to all of our 2023 USHA National title winners:
MINNEAPOLIS – For the third consecutive year, there will be a new USHA Men’s Open Singles champion. In the first semifinal and rematch of last year’s final, Martin Mulkerrins delivered a dominant performance against Diarmaid Nash. A tiebreaker determined last year’s outcome, but with determined focus, the stoic Mulkerrins never allowed Nash into the match. The defending champion made a late push in the second game, but that effort was countered with Mulkerrins’ crisp shots that rocketed off the Rec and Wellness Center’s concrete walls for a 21-8, 21-14 victory.
In the remaining semifinal, Sean Lenning put on an equally impressive performance against defending World Champion Killian Carroll. In their last meeting in the WPH Player’s Championship, Carroll bested his opponent in a tiebreaker. This time around, Lenning knew a strong start would be needed to keep the speedy Carroll on his heels. With a capacity crowd in attendance, Lenning sprayed an array of amazing shots from the unlikeliest places and from impossible angles all on the court—something fans have enjoyed watching for over two decades. But Carroll seemed poised to force a third game in the second, staying close with Lenning, only trailing 18-16. A sense of urgency began pushing each serve and return from Lenning, not wanting to face his dangerous opponent in a tiebreaker for the second consecutive tournament, winning in two games, 21-7, 21-17.
Lenning and Mulkerrins will play for the Men’s National and World title, Sunday at 11 am Central following the Women’s final between Catriona Casey and Fiona Tulle (played at 10 am). Matches will be streamed live at the USHA’s YouTube Channel.
Saturday evening closed with the USHA Nationals Banquet in the Pinnacle Ballroom of The Graduate Minneapolis. The event celebrated USHA Hall of Fame Inductee Lisa Fraser-Gilmore and Minnesota State Handball Hall of Fame Inductees, Mitchell Lallier, Pete Crouser and Matt Hiber. The MSHA inductees shared their love of the game and the stories that fueled their paths to distinction. The night closed with Fraser-Gilmore’s long-awaited Hall of Fame Ceremony. In her acceptance speech, Fraser-Gilmore thanked her opponents who challenged, pushed and encouraged her over the years. Those same opponents also became longtime friends. To close, the first-ever Canadian inductee shared that her “heart was full” and invited her family to share the stage with her.
Wallball matches began yesterday at nearby Clayland Park, Minnesota’s newest outdoor one-wall courts.
MINNEAPOLIS — Over 270 players will be competing in The 72nd USHA Four-Wall Nationals and World Handball Invitational at the Minnesota University Recreation and Wellness Center. Play begins Thursday morning and will conclude with doubles finals on Monday morning.
This event will be for a World Championship in the Four-Wall and Wallball Open Singles and Doubles events. You can read the Press Release from the World Handball Council and USHA HERE.
Start times and draws will be posted early next week, and you can view them HERE. Please remember these are subject to change, and you should continue to check your start time to make sure it hasn’t changed.
Banquet tickets will be sold at the tournament desk. The Banquet will be Saturday night at 6pm at the Graduate Hotel. Lisa Fraser-Gilmore will have her Hall of Fame Ceremony during that time.
Reserved seats for the show court will be sold at the tournament desk. We will be livestreaming matches on our YouTube channel for those of you who are unable to make it to the tournament.
Here is a schedule of important events at the tournament:
– Wed., May 24: Registration at Rec & Wellness Center (4-7 p.m.). Warm-up and free play from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m.
– Thurs., May 25: Play begins with singles. If you come up short, be sure to sign up for a drop-down event.
– Sat., May 27: Men’s & Women’s Open Singles Semifinals. Men’s and Women’s Wallball events begin at Clayland Park. The USHA Reception & Hall of Fame Ceremony for Lisa Fraser-Gilmore at The Graduate Pinnacle Room (6 p.m.).
-Sun. May 28: Men’s and Women’s Open Singles Final, Sunday afternoon. Wallball finals at 3 p.m. (subject to change).
– Mon., May 29: Men’s & Women’s Open Doubles Finals. All other Finals through 2 p.m.
Make sure to follow along here for daily recaps of the tournament.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The WPH Player’s Championship concluded Sunday with two epic finals.
The first was between the two top women’s players in the world, Catriona Casey and Martina McMahon. Each of them cruised to their highly anticipated final.
The first game was handball at its finest, with several lead changes and incredible shots on display. Casey edged McMahon out to win the game in overtime 16-14.
Game two was much different, as McMahon came out of the gates red hot from beginning to end, winning 15-1 and forcing a tiebreaker.
Casey came out a new player in the breaker, converting her set-ups into kill shots and not allowing McMahon many offensive opportunities. She kept her foot on the gas until the very end, and won the third game 15-6 to become the champion.
The Men’s final between Killian Carroll and Martin Mulkerrins was just as exciting. Mulkerrins jumped out to a big lead in game one with a 7-0 lead. Carroll started to chip away, getting the score to 8-9. A backwall rollout from Mulkerrins got him back in the box where he began to get hot again, and closed out the game 15-8.
Game two began somewhat similar, with Mulkerrins holding a small lead for most of the game. Carroll trailed 8-11 before he really found his groove. He hit several aces and a few more kill shots to score the final 7 points of the game and won 15-11 to force a tiebreaker.
The tiebreaker started similar to the first game, with Mulkerrins jumping out to first a 6-0 lead, then an 11-1 lead. Carroll showed fight after that but it was too late, and Mulkerrins claimed the players championship with a 15-4 tiebreaker victory.
For much more on the tournament, visit the WPH website HERE
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The WPH Player’s Championship kicks off this weekend with the best men, women and senior players in the sport looking to end this years pro tour with a victory.
Qualifying matches begin on Friday morning with the main draw starting Friday night. The matches will be livestreamed on Watch ESPN beginning Saturday morning. For more information on the tournament, see the WPH’s full preview HERE. To follow along with the results go HERE
