MAUMEE, Ohio — Championship Sunday at the 2025 USHA Three-Wall Nationals was a thriller and delivered some exciting matches. It was highlighted by Shorty Ruiz achieving a lifelong dream with his first Men’s Pro Singles title.
Ruiz captured the championship with a decisive two-game victory over John Bike. The opening game was a tense battle. Bike stood just two points from winning game one before a few untimely errors allowed Ruiz to seize momentum and steal game one. In game two, Ruiz found his rhythm and never looked back, cruising to a 21-12 win. Fittingly, the match ended with Ruiz’s signature ceiling shot soaring over Bike’s reach, prompting a roar of triumph from the new national champion. After the match, Ruiz thanked the crowd and praised Bike’s performance. He also admitted that him being in better shape this year helped him prevail.
Ruiz goes for a kill shot against Bike in the final.
In the Women’s Open final, Mikaila Esser successfully defended her title, defeating doubles partner Ashley Ruiz. Ruiz came out strong, jumping to an early 5-0 lead, but Esser’s trademark combination of powerful drives and well-placed ceiling shots quickly turned the tide. She rallied to take game one, 21-13, then carried that momentum into game two with a fast start and a commanding 21-7 finish. “This is my favorite tournament, and I’m so happy to win it again.” Esser said after the match, smiling with her second consecutive singles crown in hand.
Esser reaches back to drive the ball in the final
The Pro Doubles final saw the debut partnership of John Bike and Sean Lenning produce gold, as the pair claimed the championship by defeating first-time three-wall finalists Ivan Burgos and Ray Ure.
Esser completed a “slam” in the Women’s Open division, teaming with Ashley Ruiz to sweep the four-team doubles field. For the second straight year, Kristen Hughes and Leah Kirk finished as runners-up.
This year marked the 50th edition of the USHA Three-Wall Nationals at the George D. Miller Handball Courts in Maumee, and once again, the Toledo Handball Club delivered unmatched hospitality and a first-class tournament. For five decades, this Labor Day tradition has brought the handball community together in Toledo, and this year was a celebration worthy of that legacy. Here’s to another 50 years!
Congratulations to our 2025 National Champions:
Men’s Open: Shorty Ruiz
Women’s Open: Mikaila Esser
Men’s A: Carter Kounovsky
Men’s B: Zach Gabriel
Women’s B: Scarlett Smith
Men’s C: Eddie Rodriguez
Women’s 35: Mel Sky
Men’s 40: Tony Clarke
Men’s 45: Adam Zimet
Men’s 50: Joe Kaplan
Men’s 50B: Juan Pichardo
Men’s 55: Pete Hanover
Men’s 60: Thomas Valenzuela
Men’s 65: Phil Kirk
Men’s 70: John Friedrich
Men’s 75: Ed Campbell
Men’s Open Doubles: Sean Lenning and John Bike
Women’s Open Doubles: Mikaila Esser and Ashley Ruiz
Men’s Big Ball Open Doubles: Allan Sanchez and Shorty Ruiz
Men’s A Doubles: Carter Kounovsky and Vincent Yam
Men’s B Doubles: Rob and Michael Humphreys
Men’s 35 Doubles: Dave and Mike Munson
Men’s 35 Big Ball Doubles: Freddy Torres and Allan Sanchez
Men’s 45 Doubles: Shane Conneely and Adam Szatkowski
Men’s 55 Doubles: Dan Zimet and Alan Frank
Men’s 60 Doubles: Alan Frank and Mark Zamora
Men’s 65 Doubles: Jake Esser and Brad Bronenkamp
Men’s 70 Doubles: Ray Estevez and Tim Sterrett
Men’s 75 Doubles: Bob Bardwell and Ed Campbell
Mixed Fun One-Wall Doubles: Allan Sanchez and Mel Sky
Bike goes for a drive in his semifinal victory against Lenning
MAUMEE, Ohio — Perfect weather set the stage for Saturday’s semifinal action at the 2025 USHA Three-Wall National Championships, with temperatures in the low 70s creating ideal playing conditions for a memorable day of handball.
In the Men’s Open division, the first semifinal delivered a stunning upset as John Bike defeated 14-time champion Sean Lenning. Bike edged out a hard-fought first game, 21-18, then unleashed a devastating serving attack in game two, overwhelming Lenning, 21-3. With the win, Bike continues a remarkable family legacy, joining his father and grandfather as finalists at the Three-Wall Nationals.
The second Men’s Open semifinal featured a rematch of the recent WPH Ice Bowl final between Shorty Ruiz and Luis Cordova. Cordova appeared to be in control after cruising in game one and holding match point at 20-17 in game two. Ruiz, however, refused to yield, saving match point, rattling off four consecutive points to force the tiebreaker, and seizing control early. Leading 10-3 in the breaker, Ruiz executed a perfectly placed ceiling fist shot to clinch the match and book his place in the final. “Bike’s the only one standing in my way of getting this title I’ve been wanting my whole life, so I need to keep executing my game in the final,” Ruiz said afterward.
On the Women’s Open side, defending champion Mikaila Esser showcased her power and precision in a commanding win over former champion Tracy Davis. Esser controlled the match from start to finish, keeping Davis deep in the court with a steady mix of drives and ceiling shots.
Esser will face her doubles partner, Ashley Ruiz, in Sunday’s championship match after Ruiz defeated last year’s runner-up, Megan Dorneker, in straight games. “My serve was working and getting me setups in the front court, where I’m most comfortable,” Ruiz said. Both Ashley and her husband, Shorty Ruiz, will be playing for Open titles on Championship Sunday.
Saturday evening also featured a celebration of a remarkable milestone: 50 years of the USHA Three-Wall Nationals in Toledo. Since 1975 (with only one cancellation due to COVID-19), the Toledo Handball Club has set the standard for hospitality and tournament excellence, drawing players back year after year.
Jim Lowe, speaking on behalf of the Toledo Handball Club, captured the sentiment perfectly, sharing that he has continuously skipped a family reunion over Labor Day weekend — because his handball family gathers in Toledo at the same time.
The evening also honored brothers Mike and Dave Munson, who were awarded their “Grand Master” sweaters, recognizing players who have won 10 age-division national titles. Remarkably, the Munsons achieved this feat in under a decade, winning nine of the 10 titles together as a doubles team. Bill Mehilos teamed with each brother for the other title, or as Dave Munson joked, “tagged along.” In an emotional speech, Mike Munson thanked his family, the Chicago Handball community, Lake Forest coach Mike Dau, and his brother Dave for their role in reaching this milestone.
MAUMEE, Ohio – Under clear skies at the George D. Miller Handball Courts, the second day of competition closed in dramatic fashion, with players and fans soaking in the action on the center’s eight courts. Meanwhile off the courts, the grills were fired up with Toledo Handball Cooks delivering up amazing hospitality, adding to the relaxing Three-Wall Nationals atmosphere.
In Men’s Open Singles action, Sean looked like his vintage self, firing crack serves and ripping drives down the walls against One-Wall Champion, Tyree Bastidas. What might have been a championship final a decade ago played out as a quarterfinal today, showing just how deep this field has become.
In other quarterfinal action, Ray Ure came out blazing against John A. Bike, taking the first game 21–12 and carrying that momentum to a 16–10 lead in the second. But Bike wasn’t done—he steadied, got his serve rolling, and stormed back to win 21–16. The tiebreaker saw Ure bolt to a 7–0 lead, but a skipped setup cracked the door open. Bike pounced, caught fire, and completed the comeback 11–7, as Ure was hesitant at some key moments.
In the lower have of the bracket, Luis Cordova and Sam Esser went shot for shot in a nail-biter. Locked at 8–8, Esser had the serve when Cordova unleashed a perfectly executed 50-foot ceiling ball that stunned the gallery and swung momentum. Cordova kept the serve and closed it out, showing why he’s so dangerous under pressure.
In another thriller, Shorty Ruiz trailed Daniel Cordova 17–20 in game one before digging deep. Ruiz fought off game point, stole the opener 21–20, and then dominated the second 21–7. His trademark ceiling shot was on full display, pushing Cordova off the court and sending him to the sidelines in frustration.
In Women’s Open Singles action, Mikaila Esser looked unstoppable, blitzing Ireland’s Jodie Keeling in two quick games by capitalizing on her opponent’s inexperience at this level.
Former champion Tracy Davis returned to Toledo in top form, dispatching Kristen Hughes in straight games with the poise of a veteran.
Ashley Ruiz was equally sharp, dismantling newcomer Christina Pecaut without giving her room to breathe.
Meanwhile, Megan Dorneker’s serve was red-hot against Leah Kirk, propelling her into the semifinals and setting up an impressive foursome of past champions in the Women’s Open semis.
The Men’s C division delivered some of the closest matches of the tournament so far, with three out of four decided in tiebreakers. Rhys Cohen (Chevy Chase, Md.) advanced with two tiebreaker wins in his opening matches, while Eddie Rodriguez (Elkhart, Ind.) went 2–0, including a gritty three-game victory over Austin Tyler (Loveland, Ohio), 12–21, 21–8, 11–2.
That set up a championship showdown between Cohen and Rodriguez, scheduled for Noon on Sunday. With the margins razor-thin in round-robin play, every rally has carried weight—and the Men’s C final promises more of the same.
See some clips from today’s matches (Facebook) HERE.
MAUMEE, Ohio – HOLY TOLEDO, Three-Wall Nationals Week is here, and we can’t wait for another awesome tournament. This year is extra special as this is the 50th year that the Toledo Handball Club has hosted the tournament! They are amazing and do tournament hospitality like nobody else!
The 74th USHA Three-Wall National Championships will begin Thursday afternoon at the Lucas County Rec Center’s George D. Miller Handball Courts. This year’s event will see the return of Sean Lenning who holds the all-time record with 14 Three-Wall National Titles! If he wants to win his fifteenth it won’t be easy, as top players Luis Cordova, Daniel Cordova, Shorty Ruiz, Ray Ure, John Bike, Tyree Bastidas and many more will stand in his way of the title!
Action shot from Lenning at Toledo
In the Women’s Open Singles draw, Mikaila Esser is back to defend her title. She is joined by a stacked Women’s Open division that includes three other prior champions: Megan Dorneker, Ashley Ruiz, and Tracy Davis! It will be fun to watch.
Follow all the action and check out the brackets HERE for the latest results from the Championships! Stay tuned to this page and our social media pages for updates from the tournament.
3-Wall Masters Doubles Wraps Up in Palm City, Fla.
PALM CITY, Fla. — The 2025 Justin Wilson Memorial and USHA Masters Doubles delivered a thrilling weekend of handball in Palm City, featuring both familiar faces and rising talents in the Championship Circle.
Alaska’s Alfredo Herrera, a standout junior and Pacific University alum, captured his first national title alongside Florida’s Nick Mattioni in the Seniors (35+) division. The duo outlasted Chicago’s Dane and Adam Szatkowski in a dramatic tiebreaker, flipping the script on Team Szatkowski—who are known for coming out on top in high-pressure moments. A spectacular get by Herrera late in the match shifted momentum, sealing their 10-21, 21-13, 11-8 victory.
The Szatkowski brothers didn’t stay down for long. They rebounded in the Veteran Masters (45+) final, defeating Nick Mattioni and Adam Zimet in two hard-fought games, 21-19, 21-14, to add another title to their collection.
In the Golden Masters (50+), New York’s Jai Ragoo and Joe Kaplan continued their dominant run across all handball disciplines. The duo powered past South Florida’s James O’Rourke and Juan Pichardo to claim the championship.
Dan Zimet found himself in need of a new partner for the Veteran Golden Masters (55+) after longtime teammate Alan Frank had to withdraw. Enter Delaware’s Ray Estevez—eligible for the 70+ but showing no signs of slowing down. With Estevez’s relentless defense complementing Zimet’s signature offensive firepower, they steamrolled Florida’s top 55+ team, Greg Burns and Harry Cohen, 21-9, 21-4.
Former Bay Area standout David Wyrsch made a triumphant return to the winner’s podium in the Super Masters (60+). Now a Florida resident, Wyrsch teamed up with fellow transplant Steve Johnson to edge out Ray Estevez and James O’Rourke in a grueling battle, 16-21, 21-19, 11-3. Wyrsch’s lethal serves and Johnson’s steady play proved to be the difference-makers in the decider.
The Veteran Super Masters (65+) final saw Dave Dohman and Jimmy DeVito halt Mike Angley and Dan Vera’s upset run with a commanding 21-12, 21-7 win. “It’s all about power on these courts, and Jimmy has power,” Dohman said of his hard-hitting partner. Vera, meanwhile, reflected on a disappointing final after he and Angley had stunned Ohio’s top pair, Phil Kirk and Bob Bardeau, in the semis.
The Diamond Masters (70+) division has belonged to Bob Dyke and Gary Eisenbooth in recent years, and this year was no exception. While they continue to challenge younger competition in the 65+ bracket, they remain the class of their division. St. Louis’ Steve Campbell and Bob Roman pushed them in the first game, but Dyke and Eisenbooth pulled away in dominant fashion, 21-15, 21-2.
Canadian legend Merv Deckert added another trophy to his storied career, winning the Veteran Diamond Masters (75+) alongside new partner Bob Miller of Florida. Dan Ho and Chris Dominico finished as runners-up in round-robin play.
Karl Lady and Dale Ziegler continued to prove why they are handball royalty, defeating Dennis Uffer and Denny Fehr in the Platinum Masters (80+). With countless titles between them, it was a privilege to watch these four legends battle it out once again.
For the first time ever, the USHA hosted a 3-Wall Big Ball Masters Division—and Florida’s Flamingo Park duo Eddie Perez and Mervyn Bruno set the bar high. They dominated the competition, culminating in a 21-4, 21-6 victory over Daytona Beach’s Brett Arsenault and Kyle Greenhalgh in the final. Expect this division to grow in the future!
Off the court, the tournament celebration at Duffy’s Sports Bar on Saturday night brought players and families together in a lively gathering. Organizers expressed gratitude to all participants, especially Florida’s strong turnout, which helped make this the largest 3-Wall Masters Doubles in the event’s four-year history. Plans are already in place for an encore next year, so mark your calendars: March 20-22, 2026!
One of the most touching moments of the weekend came earlier on Saturday when handball player Noah Yannie honored LCpl Justin Wilson with a stirring trumpet performance of the Star-Spangled Banner. As the notes rang out, play stopped—not just on the handball courts, but on the nearby pickleball courts as well—paying tribute to Wilson’s ultimate sacrifice.
A special thank-you goes to Bob Dyke, Cabell McVeigh, Bob Miller, Greg Burns, Gary Eisenbooth, and the incredible volunteers who made this event possible.
Additional gratitude to our tournament sponsors: Tim Murray, Karl Lady, Bob Snyder, and Team Zamba!
Players gathered at Duffy’s in Stuart, Fla. for the Saturday night banquet.
Florida Welcomes Its First 3-Wall Nationals with Fierce Competition
PALM CITY, Fla. — A picture-perfect Florida spring day set the stage for the opening matches of the Justin Wilson Memorial USHA 3-Wall National Masters Doubles, marking the first-ever national 3-wall event held in the Sunshine State. Players from across the country and Canada turned out in record numbers, making this the largest edition in the event’s four-year history.
Match of the Day: Humphreys & Rothstein vs. O’Rourke & Pichardo
The most exciting showdown of the day unfolded in the Golden Masters (50+) division, where Orlando’s Rob Humphreys and Mike Rothstein squared off against Miami’s James O’Rourke and Juan Pichardo in a battle that stretched nearly two hours. After splitting the first two games 21-16 apiece, both teams found themselves locked in a tense tiebreaker.
Humphreys and Rothstein came out strong, controlling early rallies with steady, disciplined play. But O’Rourke and Pichardo refused to back down, gaining momentum in the second game and forcing a dramatic final showdown. In the deciding game, the South Florida duo found their rhythm, capitalizing on key openings to dominate the tiebreaker 11-3 and claim victory.
The day’s other tiebreaker thriller unfolded in the Veteran Diamond (75+) division, where Larry Dohman (Chicago) and Artie Diamant (New York) took on Bob Miller (Florida) and Merv Deckert (Winnipeg).
Dohman and Diamant pulled off an early surprise, edging out a 21-20 win in the first game. But Miller and Deckert quickly adapted, finding their chemistry and executing a flawless game plan to take control. They stormed back with convincing 21-10 and 11-5 victories, sealing their comeback and advancing to the next round.
Elsewhere. in the Diamond (70+) division, Steve Campbell (Bradenton) and Bob Roman (Saint Louis) stopped a late rally from Terry McGuire (San Diego) and Bill Moritz (Chicago), 21-12, 21-18.
Looking Ahead All top seeds advanced without major upsets, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of competition.
Play resumes Saturday at 10 a.m. as the Masters Doubles action continues. Check out Friday’s full results at the R2Sports link HERE.
At the conclusion of play, tournament organizers are hosting a Masters Doubles Three-Wall celebration, Saturday at 7 p.m. at Duffy’s Sports Grill (Stuart South), 6431 SE Federal HWY, Stuart, FL.
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PALM CITY, Fla. — The United Sates Handball Association is excited to bring the USHA Masters Series (age division national tournaments) to The Sunshine State with the 2025 Justin Wilson Memorial USHA 3-Wall National Masters Doubles! This is a USHA-Sanctioned Masters event, and champions of ALL divisions will be honored on the National Champions Wall in the Handball Hall of Fame in Tucson, Ariz. About the park and the LCpl. Justin James Wilson Foundation: Lance Corporal Justin Wilson of Palm City was a Marine killed by a roadside bomb in the Helmand province, in March 2010. He was only 24 when he died. When his body was brought home hundreds of people in the community stood on the Palm City Bridge with flags. The park was renamed in his honor in September of that same year and there is a memorial to his sacrifice in the park. He was laid to rest with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. Read MORE… The LCpl. Justin James Wilson Foundation or “Justin’s Wings” is non-profit organization that also advocated support for this tournament. The Foundation’s purpose is to raise funds to supplement or pay for transportation of family members to either see off and or greet their returning service men and women. In the past, additional funds were used to provide therapy trained dogs to help our vets with PTS
VENICE BEACH, Calif. – New National Champions were crowned on Saturday and Sunday at the Venice Beach Handball Courts.
Saturday brought big ball action, and several of California’s finest up and coming big ball players were on site to compete for a national title. Santa Ana Handball Club Coach Gilbert Granado coordinated for many of his junior players to compete, and they had a successful day, winning multiple national titles.
Many California Big Ball Juniors had a successful weekend.
One of the most exciting matches of the day came in the big ball 17 and under final, where Patrick Leyva outlasted Freddy Reyes Jr. in a thrilling final, where Leyva pulled away late in both games to claim the title.
Reyes Jr. got his revenge in the 17 and under doubles, when he teamed with Jose Arellano to defeat Leyva and his partner Kevin Batiz in what was the last match of the day. Reyes Jr. and Arellano withstood a huge comeback from Leyva and Batiz to close out the match in front of a packed crowd.
Small ball finals were played Sunday morning, and the crowd was treated to several exciting finishes.
The first final of the day was the 13 and under, and pitted California’s Kevin Batiz against New Mexico’s Isaac Holguin. After dropping game one, Batiz fought back to claim game two and three to win the final. Batiz completed the singles slam in the 13’s as he won both the small ball and big ball division.
The 15 and under saw Tucson’s Tonalli Perales-Valencia take out Colorado’s Diego Rodriguez. Perales-Valencia and Rodriguez had some impressive long rallies but Perales-Valencia was able to close out his opponent to win 21-13, 21-14.
The 17 and under went to Colorado’s up and coming star Eliseo Gutierrez. Gutierrez overcame a slow start to defeat Jose Arellano in two straight games in the final.
The most anticipated final of the day was the 19 and under final between Tucson’s Ayden Brule and Santa Barbara’s Bryan Trejo. Each player has been a star at Venice Beach, racking up multiple national titles. The final did not disappoint, and showcased the highest level of handball from the tournament. Brule played his best match of the weekend, and fought through many momentum swings to win both games, and the title. Brule is just 16 years old and is becoming one of the most decorated juniors of all time.
Brule and Gutierrez played up together to win the 19 and under doubles final over Arellano and Trejo to close out the day with their second title each.
Gutierrez (swinging) and Brule (left) each added two national titles over the weekend, including winning the 19 and under doubles together.
A big thank you to the Southern California Handball Association for their amazing hospitality and giving the kids such a great tournament experience. Thank you to the all of the volunteers who helped the tournament run smoothly. Lastly, thank you to the coaches who brought their kids to the tournament, it will give them life-long memories.
VENICE BEACH, Calif. – After a four-year absence, the National Three-Wall Junior Championships returned to Venice Beach Rec Center which is just off the world famous boardwalk and Muscle Beach. Small ball competition began on Friday, as most seeds advanced in the singles and doubles divisions. Big ball divisions begin Saturday morning and will be continued throughout the day.
On Thursday, before matches started, juniors were given a tour of Las Angeles Fire Department Station 69. The LAFD has a deep history linked to handball, many of the stations have handball courts on site.
Players were treated to a station tour by former National Champion Tati Silverya with Sal Castillon, and at the end were also gifted LAFD shirts.
See the updated results and progress of matches HERE.
————————————————————————————————– Times and draws are now available.Please know that these are subject to change and players and coaches should continue to check them up until the day of the event.Players should arrive 15 minutes prior to their match start time and be readier for earlier start times in the later rounds, especially on Saturday.
The 2023 USHA Junior Three-Wall Nationals return to the Venice Beach Handball Courts this year July 14-16!
The Los Angeles Fire Department will be giving a tour of Fire Station 69 Thursday, at 2:30PM. All players are welcome. Address: 15045 Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Players and spectators will be just steps away from the beach and next to the famous Venice Beach Boardwalk and Muscle Beach. The Southern California Handball Association has tremendous hospitality planned for the kids. Come join us for a great weekend of handball and fun!
How to sign up: Contact the USHA at 520-795-0434 or enter HERE, or Enter through the Southern California Handball Association by contacting your local SCHA representative.
Address of the courts: Venice Beach Recreation Center- 1800 Ocean Front Walk Venice, CA 90291.
When will divisions play?
Small ball divisions are expected to begin Friday and continue through the weekend.
Big Ball divisions will begin on Saturday and are expected to conclude on Sunday morning. Big Ball matches will be one 21-point game until the finals.
Robert Dyke prepares to return a serve at the Three-Wall Masters. Dyke and his partner Gary Eisenbooth won both the 60’s and the 70’s division in Tucson.
TUCSON — It was another beautiful day at the Clark Park Three-Wall Courts on Sunday as players took to the concrete to compete for a national title.
The best match of the day was the 35 doubles finals between Abraham Montijo and David Schiller vs Braulio Ruiz and Ashley Ruiz. The Ruiz husband and wife duo came out on fire to win game one, never letting Montijo and Schiller find their groove. Game two Montijo and Schiller found their serve and used an abundance of aces to force a tiebreaker.
The Ruiz family regrouped to begin the tiebreaker and held a 10-3 lead before Montijo and Schiller made a furious run to tie the game at 10. The Ruiz family forced a sideout to get in the box but could not capitalize on their two serves. Montijo and Schiller got back in the box and ended the match, winning 11-10 and completing an epic comeback.
The 60 doubles final between Tom Martinez and Joe Berman vs Gary Eisenbooth and Robert Dyke was another thriller. Eisenbooth and Dyke jumped out to a fast start and easily claimed game one. Martinez and Berman deployed a serve and shoot strategy that won them game two. Eisenbooth and Dyke controlled the tiebreaker by playing more defense, and keeping their opponents deep in the back court, a strategy that won them their first title of the day.
Eisenbooth and Dyke weren’t done there, and were vying for their second title when they took on Ed Campbell and Tim Murray in the 70 plus final. A close first game filled with strong serves by both sides went to Eisenbooth and Dyke. They kept that momentum rolling in the second game, and defeated their opponents 21-5 to win their second final of the day.
Defending champs David Ackerman and Peter Anderson put the title on the line against Bob Bardwell and Terry Nett in the 75 doubles final. Ackerman and Anderson continued their dominance, never letting their opponents into the match, and winning 21-8, 21-10.
In the Pro Doubles Final, Luis and Daniel Cordova edged out a close game one against Braulio Ruiz and Sam Esser, and dominated play in game two to win their second consecutive pro doubles title 21-16, 21-12.
Thank you to the WPH, Scott Cleveland, Russ Whitten, Jim Verhaeghe, and all other volunteers for their efforts to help put on a great tournament.
You can view all the results from the tournament HERE
TUCSON — The sun was shining at the Clark Park Three-Wall Courts on Saturday and it was beautiful day for some outdoor handball.
The seeds have held true in all divisions as we prepare for the finals on Sunday.
The 35 final with pit Braulio Ruiz and his wife Ashely Ruiz against Abraham Montijo and David Schiller in what is sure to be an entertaining match.
The first time pairing of Tom Martinez and his partner Joe Berman will do battle in the 60’s final against Robert Dyke and Gary Eisenbooth, who have been playing tremendous handball together the last couple of years.
The 70’s final will include Dyke and Eisenbooth as well, as they will be aiming for two titles tomorrow, the second being against Ed Campbell and his partner Tim Murray. The two teams faced off in the finals last year with Dyke and Eisenbooth winning in a tiebraker.
Defending champs David Ackerman and Peter Anderson will be looking to win back to back years in the 75’s division when they take on Terry Nett and Bob Bardwell for the championship.
The Pro Doubles final will include brothers and top ranked pro’s, Luis and Daniel Cordova, against the current three-wall national champions Braulio Ruiz and Sam Esser
You can see all the results from the tournanent HERE
MAUMEE, Ohio — The forecast looked questionable at best when players went to bed Sunday night wondering if they were going to be able to play outside Monday morning. Despite dark overcast skies Monday morning, the rain did not come and all of the matches were able to take place on the three-wall court.
Ashley Ruiz and Suzanne Entzeroth played the women’s final to begin the day. Ruiz played like she was on a mission and controlled the game from start to finish. Ruiz’s fly kills and power drives kept Entzeroth off balanced the whole match. Ruiz exclaimed “Finally!” moments after she scored the final point. This was her first singles title in Toledo after a few tough losses in the final. It was well deserved, as she played great all weekend.
Ruiz then teamed up with Mikaila Esser to defeat Entzeroth and Sandy Ng in the Women’s Open Doubles Final. With Ruiz’s fly kill ability in the front court and Esser’s power drives in the back they are a tough team to beat. They have now won the last two years.
Shortly after Ruiz and Esser won their match, their husbands, Shorty Ruiz and Sam Esser teamed up to take on Martin Mulkerrins and Sean Lenning in the Men’s Open Doubles finals. Ruiz and Esser were also looking to go back to back as they won the doubles title last year.
Mulkerrins and Lenning started fast, building a 15-5 lead. Ruiz caught fire after that, and brought his team back to the tie the game at 17-17. Mulkerrins and Lenning stopped the run there, and looked to be in control serving at 20-17 with both servers. A Ruiz kill sided out Mulkerrins, and then Lenning hit his serve into the floor which gave Ruiz and Esser the serve back. Ruiz and Esser closed out the final 4 points to take game one. They started out 11-0 game two and never looked back, and defended their title.
Last year, the Esser’s and Ruiz’s were the first engaged couples to team up and win a national open doubles title with each other. This year they were the first married couple to do so.
The Toledo Handball Club again put on an amazing tournament with incredible hospitality. Every year they seem to top the last. Thank you to all of their volunteers and to everyone who helps make the tournament what it is: the best in the world.
MAUMEE, Ohio — Rain Sunday morning forced all of the action to be moved to the four-wall courts. Players and fans made the short trip to Bowling Green State University where 7 indoor courts awaited them. This was the first time in two decades play had to be moved inside.
Sean Lenning and Leo Canales put on a thriller in the Men’s Open Final. Lenning jumped out to a fast start in game one, hitting absolute lasers for serves down both the left and right walls. He easily took the first game. Canales responded in game two, retrieving everything Lenning hit and wearing him out to claim the second game.
The tiebreaker started with more of the same, and Canales jumped out to a 7-0 lead on Lenning. From there, Lenning looked like a different player. He rattled off several unbelievable ace serves that no player in the world could retrieve. Canales battled but had no answer for Lenning’s power, as Lenning came back to win the match, and his twelfth Three-Wall National Open Singles title. This was his first on a four-wall court.
The Women’s Open semifinals played today, beginning with Suzanne Entzeroth and Mikaila Esser. Esser dominated game one and looked to be in control of the match. Entzeroth though looked to be shaking off the four-wall rust in game two, and was able to win the second game. The tiebreaker was back and forth, but Entzeroth’s touch in the front court made the difference as she won and advanced to the finals.
On the other side of the bracket, Ashley Ruiz defeated Sandy Ng in dominating fashion. Ng had trouble with the back-wall shot and Ruiz was able to exploit the weakness. She will take on Entzeroth in the finals Monday morning.
The Men’s Doubles final will be between Shorty Ruiz/Sam Esser and Martin Mulkerrins/Sean Lenning
The Women’s Doubles final will be between Ashley Ruiz/Mikaila Esser and Sandy Ng/Suzanne Entzeroth.
The Big Ball Doubles final will be Brian Medina/Leo Canales and Shorty Ruiz/Allan Sanchez.
While we’d love to stay outside, but the only way to restart the tournament TODAY is to play indoors on four-wall courts.
The backup site is the STUDENT REC CENTER at Bowling Green State University. (Approximately 20 miles from the hotel/courts…south, down I-75).
BGSU Rec Center address is: 1411 Ridge St, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403
ONLY USE THE REC CENTER ENTRANCE OFF RIDGE STREET
Please use the map as a guide to parking and where you can find the main entrance HERE.
All standard parking is free on Sunday and Labor Day.
Use any Red Lots (1, 10, 16 & 18) or Orange “X” (See the map).
10 a.m. matches should expect to check in around 1:30 p.m. or begin sooner if possible.
Lunch will still be available at Noon at the George D. Miller Handball Courts, if you want to catch a bite before coming down.
Handball Tournament: 71st USHA National Three-Wall Championships Dates: Sep 1-5, 2022 Location: Maumee, OH USA – Lucas County Rec Center Director: USHA Website Link:https://www.r2sports.com/tourney.asp?TID=39088
_____________________________________________________________MAUMEE, Ohio — Saturday and day three of the tournament brought the Men’s Open Singles semifinal matches and the Women’s Pro singles quarterfinal matches. Sean Lenning played Abe Montijo in the first semifinal, and controlled the match from start to finish. Lenning’s serve could be the best ever on the three-wall court, and nobody has shown an answer for it yet. Leo Canales defeated Shorty Ruiz in a tiebreaker after dropping game one of the match. Canales has now won two tiebreakers in a row and will have the tough task of taking down Lenning tomorrow. On the Women’s side, Mikaila Esser dispatched Leah Kirk in the first quarterfinal of the day. Esser and Kirk had many long rallies but Esser’s consistency made the difference. Ashley Ruiz defeated Kristen Hughes in two quick games, using her fly kill anytime she had the chance and putting it down routinely. Suz Entzeroth just edged out Jennifer Schmitt in her quarterfinal, surviving the first game 21-20 and then winning the second 21-15. In one of the best matches of the day, Sandy Ng defeated Megan Dorneker in a tiebreaker. Ng is a great one-wall player as well, and will be tough for any of her opponents to defeat as she brings a different type of game to the court. Near the end of the night, three awards were given out: Toledo Handball was recognized as the 2021 Organization of the Year, and it’s obvious why to anyone who attends the three-wall nationals. Anthony La Rocca was awarded the Volunteer of the year award for 2021. La Rocca has been vital in Indiana where he has really grown the one-wall scene. Thomas Valenzuela was awarded his Grand Master jacket, which goes out to players who have won 10 age division national title. Valenzuela will attempt to add another title in the 50 doubles this weekend. Follow along with all of the results HERE _______________________________________________________________________________MAUMEE, Ohio — Day two of the tournament brought beautiful weather and sunny skies all day. The action heated up on the court as the open quarterfinals took place in the Men’s Open division. The highlight of the day though was the ceremony held to dedicate the three-wall courts at the Lucas County Recreation Center to the late George D. Miller. Hundreds of players and spectators gathered to hear a presentation from Toledo Handball Club’s Jim Lowe, USHA Executive Director Matt Krueger, and Lucas County Administrators. Miller was the driving force behind the courts and did so much to make the Three-Wall Nationals a success. His legacy will live on for many many years. At the end of the ceremony, Miller’s wife Joyce was honored with a gift, and the proclamation stating that the Board of Directors of Lucas County have named the handball courts at the Lucas County Recreation Center in his honor. Sean Lenning continued to dazzle the crowd with his strong serves and power on the three-wall court. He defeated Bill Mehilos and will take on Abraham Montijo in the first semifinal tomorrow. Montijo took on Ireland’s Martin Mulkerrins, who is teaching handball at Texas A&M this year. Montijo got off to fast starts in both games, and was able to hold on a late Mulkerrins run in each game to win 21-18, 21-18. Leo Canales had a thrilling 11-9 victory over Sam Esser. Canales rallied back from a 6-0 deficit in the tiebreaker to take the match. He will take on Shorty Ruiz in the second semifinal tomorrow. Ruiz defeated long time three-wall star Dane Szatakowski in his quarterfinal match. Ruiz hit several ace serves down the left and right that helped propel him to victory. The semifinals will take place tomorrow, and the Women’s Open quarterfinals will also begin tomorrow. View all the results and follow along HERE _____________________________________________________________________________ MAUMEE, Ohio — Day one of the tournament brought perfect weather and great handball. The Toledo Handball Club welcomed all the players to the 2022 USHA Three-Wall Nationals with their tremendous hospitality. Players enjoyed catching up with their handball buddies who they had not seen since last year. The opening round of singles kicked off in most divisions. Long time three-wall stars Bill Mehilos and Dane Szatakowski played great in their impressive victories today. Mehilos defeated Max Langmack in his round of 16 match, and will take on Sean Lenning tomorrow. Szatakowski took out Brian Medina, and will face Shorty Ruiz tomorrow. One of the matches of the day was in the 60 singles, where Miguel Garcia Jardon defeated Dan Allen in a marathon match. Garcia Jardon routinely retrieved shots that were 10 feet behind the deep line, and was able to just outlast Allen in the tiebreaker. Matches kick off at 10am tomorrow. View all the results and follow along HERE_______________________________________________________________________________________MAUMEE, Ohio — The Toledo Handball Club and USHA welcome players and families back to the traditional Labor Day Weekend classic, the 71st USHA National Three-Wall Championships at the Lucas County Rec Center. The draws and start times are now available HERE.Please Note: Times and matches are tentative (things may change up to the day of the event). Double-check playing times and match up The Three-Wall National Tournament is everyone’s the favorite event of the year, and the Toledo Handball Club promises to offer another prime event. At this year’s tournament, in memory of longtime handball great, George Miller, the Toledo Handball Club will name the Lucas County Rec Center Three-Wall Courts the George Miller Three-Wall Handball Courts.
George Miller thanks the Three-Wall Nationals players and families during his acceptance speech for the R.W. Kendler Award in 2005.
George Miller’s Legacy to Toledo Handball and the National Three-Wall Championships
It was George Miller who spearheaded the effort to get eight regulation size three-wall courts with lights constructed in the mid-70s, bringing the Nationals to northern Ohio in 1975. Our Three-Wall Nationals have been held there ever since. For players who made the trip to the Lucas County Rec Center for the USHA Three-Wall Nationals each Labor Day Weekend, George didn’t just embody the event, he was it (he would be the last person to mention that fact). While establishing an amazing cadre of volunteers, George still did it all: running the grills, sweeping the courts and even picking up trash around the park.
His amazing work stretched nearly five decades and made the Three-Wall Nationals a top destination not only for handball players in the U.S., but extending to Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Australia and more. Handball players who knew George or played in Toledo will want to attend this year’s ceremony.
This is the best three-wall facility in the country, featuring eight regulation courts with lights. Paired with Toledo Handball Club’s amazing hospitality, the Three-Wall Nationals are a must! The complex has something for everyone, so bring the family! In case of rain, a local club is available.
ATTENTION: For players entering DOUBLES EVENTS WITHOUT A PARTNER. USHA staff can connect you with eligible players for your division, but the responsibility falls solely on the player to have a complete team by the entry deadline. Those who cannot find a partner by the deadline will be removed from doubles and the 2nd event fee will be refunded (or the player may be placed in another eligible singles division).
For your time off the court, the Toledo Area has plenty to offer. See the “Things to do in Toledo” HERE.
USHA & WPH Big Ball Doubles
The USHA and WPH have partnered again to offer Big Ball Doubles in Three-Wall and Wallball. A promotional entry fee and $2K Prize Money purse is guaranteed for these divisions.
MAUMEE, Ohio — Sunday and Monday were full of finals matches in all divisions. The weather continued to be sunny and 75 degrees for perfect championship weather.
Sean Lenning and Daniel Cordova played the Men’s Open Final in front of a packed crowd at the Lucas County Rec Center. The crowd saw what they have been seeing for many years: Lenning domination. His serve was nearly unreturnable and if Cordova was able to get a hand on it Lenning punished the return. He cruised to the victory 21-5, 21-3 for his 12th open singles national title, a record he continues to add too.
In the Men’s Open Doubles Final, Shorty Ruiz and Sam Esser denied Sean Lenning the slam by defeating him and his partner Abraham Montijo by the scores of 21-17, 21-15.
The Women’s Open Singles final featured number one seed Danielle Daskalakis and two seed Ashley Moler. Daskalakis played like she was on a mission to bring home the title all weekend and that did not change in the final. Between her hop serves down the left and her consistent corner kills in the front she was too much for Moler to handle, and won 21-8, 21-11.
Moler was able to get some revenge in the Women’s Open Doubles Final when she and her partner Mikaila Mitchell defeated Daskalakis and her partner Jennifer Schmitt 15-21, 21-15, 11-6.
On the Big Ball side, Brian Medina and Sergio Guzman came in as the seven seed and shocked the draw by winning three consecutive tiebreakers to take home the title in the Men’s Open 3-Wall Big Ball Doubles division.
In the Men’s Open One-Wall Doubles division, Timbo Gonzalez and Richie Vera won the round robin format without dropping a game the whole tournament.
Check out the results of every division on R2Sports by clicking HERE.
MAUMEE, Ohio — Saturday morning at the Three-Wall National began with a lesson: That you should never give up. That’s because Dale Ziegler won his first ever national title and he did it in the 80 plus singles division (the oldest division offered) over Norm Young.
The Women’s Open also began on Saturday morning with Mikaila Mitchell edging Kristen Hughes in a hard fought tiebreaker match. Mitchell moves on to face number one seed Danielle Daskalakis in the semifinals.
On the bottom half of the bracket, Ashley Moler brought her “A” game and defeated Leah Kirk in two games, 21-2, 21-5. Moler moves on to the other semifinal to face Megan Dorneker, who took out Jennifer Schmitt in her Quarterfinal matchup 21-3, 21-9.
The Men’s Open began their semifinals with defending champ Sean Lenning surviving a close first game with Max Langmack before finding his serve and cruising to victory in game two to win the match 21-16, 21-7. Lenning will face Daniel Cordova in the final Sunday morning.
Cordova played one of the most exciting matches of the tournaments in his semifinal against Shorty Ruiz. Ruiz fought off a couple of game points in game one to take it 21-20. Cordova and Ruiz came out very even at the beginning of game two before Cordova found his groove at 12-12 and pulled away to win 21-13 and force a tiebreaker. Cordova was able to outlast Ruiz by using his hop serve and conditioning to win 11-7. Cordova and Lenning will play for the national championship at 12am eastern time Sunday.
The Men’s Open Doubles Quarterfinals began today with all the higher seeds advancing. Sean Lenning and Abraham Montijo will take on Dane Szatkowski and Bill Mehilos in the top half of the bracket while Shorty Ruiz and Sam Esser will face Daniel Cordova and Allan Sanchez on the bottom half.
You can follow all the action on R2Sports by clicking HERE. Stay tuned for many finals results tomorrow!
MAUMEE, Ohio — The weather couldn’t have been nicer for days one and two of the USHA Three-Wall Nationals. Players arrived Thursday and Friday to the Lucas County Rec Center in beautiful 75 degree weather. The Toledo Handball Club’s famous hospitality was on full display for all participants and spectators.
The quarterfinal’s of the open kicked off Friday morning with number one seed and defending champ Sean Lenning taking out the young and talented Jon Guttierez 21-3, 21-4.
Lenning will continue his title defense against Max Langmack in the semifinals who edged out Abraham Montijo with his aggresive serve and shoot style 21-11, 21-19.
On the bottom half of the bracket Shorty Ruiz defeated California’s Brian Medina in two games 21-4, 21-15. Ruiz will face Daniel Cordova tomorrow in the other semifinal.
Cordova advanced by surviving long time 3-wall star Dane Szatkowski 21-18, 21-16 in a match filled with great hops and kill shots.
Follow along with all the brackets at R2sports by clicking HERE.
Draws and start times have been posted for the USHA Three-Wall Nationals. You can view them on R2sports by clicking HERE.
Please note that draws and start times are tentative, and you should continue to check up to the day of your match for any updates.
MAUMEE, Ohio — The Toledo Handball Club and USHA are proud to announce the traditional Labor Day Weekend classic, the 70th USHA National Three-Wall Championships at the Lucas County Rec Center.
We missed you! This is everyone’s the favorite event of the year, every year (except 2020), and the Toledo Handball Club promises to offer another prime event!
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.
For your time off the court, the Toledo Area has plenty to offer. CLICK HERE to see Toledo Attractions.
