TUCSON- It was a tremendous weekend of Handball at the 2025 Hall of Fame Tournament with a National Master Singles and WPH LTE Pro Stop.
We saw phenomenal play over the course of the tournament from players of all ages. When players weren’t on the court, they were cramming into the bleachers to watch the Pro players compete on the show court or enjoying the beautiful Tucson mountain views and sunny weather that we had all weekend at the Tucson Racquet Club.
The highlight of the tournament was the Saturday night reception at the Handball Hall of Fame building. Players enjoyed checking out the rich history of our game and chatting with friends over drinks and dinner. We were able to celebrate a couple of award recipients during the reception as well.
Marty Decatur Sportsmanship Award: Anna Sojourner
Sojourner with her Award
Anna Sojourner was awarded the Marty Decatur Sportsmanship award at the reception. The award is given at each Handball Hall of Fame Tournament to a player that embodies “The Spirit of Handball”. Sojourner does that as much as anyone. She always has a smile on her face and it’s obvious how much she enjoys the game of handball and supports it whenever she can. She is based out of San Francisco but has supported the tournament in Tucson and we love to have her here.
Carl Porter Award: Rodney Fink
Rodney Fink with his son David, and grandson Henry.
Rodney Fink was awarded the Carl Porter award in 2023. The award is given to those who have performed outstanding service to the USHA at the national level. The award is named after the USHA’s second president, Carl Porter, who is considered the savior and architect of the modern day USHA.
We finally got the chance to celebrate Fink in 2025 at the Hall of Fame tournament. Fink has dedicated his life to handball, and has been an integral part of the game for decades now. He taught countless players the game, has been an advocate for women’s handball, generously supported pro players with prize money donations, and served on the USHA Board of Directors for many years, offering his legal expertise to the organization.
The ceremony began with a message from USHA President Denis Hogan, setting the tone for an afternoon full of gratitude, reflection, and admiration. Vern Roberts, Hall of Fame player and retired USHA Executive Director, shared heartfelt remarks about Fink’s lifelong commitment to the sport. He also delivered a written tribute from former USHA President LeaAnn Martin, who called Fink “one of handball’s greatest ambassadors.” Roberts noted, “If U.S. Handball ever had a problem, we called Rodney—and he always answered.”
One of the most touching moments came when Art Howe, Fink’s longtime friend and former Major League Baseball player and manager, took the stage. Having traveled to Tucson with Fink, Howe spoke warmly of their decades-long friendship and the deep impact handball has had on Fink’s life. “Watching Rodney share the sport with his son David—one of the best players in the world—has been a true joy,” said Howe. “But make no mistake, I’m the lucky one to have Rodney as a best friend.”
Fink closed out the ceremony in his usual humble, heartfelt fashion—thanking those who had joined him along the way. “Law was my profession,” he said, “but handball is my life.”
With applause echoing around the Hall of Fame, the ceremony not only honored a deserving recipient, but also reminded everyone of the community, passion, and enduring friendships that make handball so special.
Finals:
Players regrouped Sunday morning and put their game faces on as they competed for titles. Martin Mulkerrins defeated Ray Ure in the pro final in dominating fashion. Mulkerrins hit rocket serves at Ure which earned him setups that he punished with flat kill shots.
2025 Hall of Fame WPH LTE Champion Martin Mulkerrins with USHA Vice President Jared Vale.
In the 35+ singles final, Jeff Streibig successfully defended his crown by defeating Shorty Ruiz in two games. Streibig found himself down 18-20 in game one before hitting some timely shots to close it out and took game two 21-11.
We had a first time National Champion in the 40+ Singles! Scottie Moler brought home the gold by defeating last year’s champion Fausto Castro in two games, 21-14, 21-9. Moler had an impressive semifinal win over Los Angeles Rafael Martinez in his semifinal as well.
Multiple time national champion Bill Mehilos won the 45+ Singles final over Arturo Suarez. Mehilos defeated Suarez in game one 21-12 before Suarez forfeited the match to focus on his next one.
Suarez was right back on the court for the 50+ Singles final against fellow Californian Alex Garcia. Garcia controlled play in game one for a 21-10 victory. Game two Suarez had a slight lead but could not hang on as Garcia stormed back to win 21-18.
The 55+ Singles division was full of national champions, including Leo Canales, Sean Haley, Will Goldstein, John Henning, Jared Vale and Chris Tico. It was defending champion Canales who brought home the title. Canales has not lost a master singles match in the past five years, and is racking up the national titles!
Lloyd Garcia brought home gold in the 65+ Singles division. Garcia edged out El Paso’s Hector Garcia 21-4, 21-15 to win the finals. Lloyd also took down current Four-Wall Nationals 65+ champion Dave Streibig in his semifinal.
Joe Thomas defeated Dan Brennan in a highly anticipated 70+ Singles final that did not disappoint. After dropping game one 16-21, Thomas stormed back to win 21-13 in game two and 11-0 in the tiebreaker! They both play the game at such a high level, regardless of their age.
Two of the best age division players of the past decade squared off in the 75+ singles final. Ed Campbell took down Greg Raya in an 11-4 tiebreaker victory to earn the title. Raya defeated another legend in the division, Merv Deckert in an 11-10 semifinal tiebreaker victory but could not do the same to Campbell.
In the oldest division of them all, Jim Ward defeated Jim Smith to win the 80+ Singles final and avenge his loss to Smith in last year’s final. Ward stopped Smith at 17 in both games.
Thank you to the WPH, Rodney Fink, and all the volunteers who made this tournament as great as it was. It’s always great to celebrate our games history while etching new National Champions. Check out all of the results from the tournament HERE.
TUCSON – The Old Pueblo is the place to be as we bring together handball players from across the country for an unforgettable weekend of competition, camaraderie, and celebration! Whether you’re 11-years-old or 80+, a seasoned pro, or a passionate amateur, this tournament offers something for everyone.
The World Players of Handball (WPH) and the United States Handball Association (USHA) are proud to co-host the 2025 Hall of Fame Race 4 Eight LTE Tournament at the Tucson Racquet Club—right in the heart of handball history. Watch the pros battle it out in WPH LTE Pro Stop No. 7, test your own skills in a variety of singles and doubles divisions, and soak up the electric atmosphere of Tucson in the spring!
Pros Killian Carroll and Luis Cordova Jr. are among many who have enjoyed the Hall of Fame Celebration Banquet.
Saturday Night Hall of Fame Reception – A Must-Attend Event!
Join us for a special evening at the Handball Hall of Fame Museum (2333 N Tucson Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716) as we celebrate the legends of the game.
Doors open at 6 PM – Come early to enjoy food, drinks, and the rich history of handball.
Players admission is included. Guest admission: $20 – Bring a friend and experience this one-of-a-kind gathering!
Honoring Our Own – We are thrilled to present Rodney Fink with the prestigious Carl Porter Award for his outstanding contributions to handball on a national level. Additionally, we will recognize a player from the tournament with the Marty Decatur Sportsmanship Award, celebrating the true spirit of our sport!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this incredible weekend! Draws and Start Times are now available HERE.
NOTE: Draws and Times may change up until the start of each division. Please double-check times and match-ups. We wish everyone the best of luck this weekend!
TUCSON — It was a great weekend of handball at the 2024 Hall of Fame Handball Tournament that included the National Masters Singles and a WPH LTE Pro Stop. We saw amazing matches across the board from the 13 and under division all the way up to the 80 plus division! Martin Mulkerrins continued to show why he is one of the best players in the world as he defeated Luis Cordova in two games that came down to the wire to win the pro division. You can read the WPH recap HERE. For all the of the draws and results visit the link HERE. Saturday night players flocked to the Handball Hall of Fame building for a catered dinner and to catch up with good friends while enjoying the rich history of our sport. Scott Landis was awarded with the Marty Decatur Sportsmanship Award, an annual award given each year at the Hall of Fame tournament. Landis hails from Tennessee, and captures the spirit of handball when he plays, really enjoying himself. His love of the game is apparent when you have a conversation with him about handball.
Scott Landis was presented with the Marty Decatur Sportsmanship Award.
The finals on Sunday across the masters division were very exciting, as players and spectators packed the galleries to watch these competitors go at it. Continue scrolling to read a recap of each of our newly crowned 2024 Masters Singles champions! 35-plus Champion: Jeff Streibig
Jeff Streibig and Shorty Ruiz
Jeff Streibig won a loaded the 35-plus division that included four ranked pro’s on the WPH tour. Streibig defeated defending champion Abraham Montijo in the semifinals in two close games to clinch his spot in the finals. Awaiting him there was Shorty Ruiz, who outlasted top 10 pro Vic Perez in his semifinal match. In the final, Streibig was dominant from start to finish and never allowed Ruiz to get comfortable. He hit several ace serves and tracked down everything Ruiz hit to earn the title in two quick games.
40-plus Champion: Fausto Castro
The seventh time was the charm for 40-plus singles champion Fausto Castro. Castro had six second place USHA national tournament finishes between the A’s and the masters division but had never won a gold medal coming into this weekend. After dropping game one to Dan Mcnabney in the finals, it looked like he might take second again. Castro kept pushing though, and eventually wore down Mcnabney and won the match in a tiebreaker. He was greeted to cheers as he walked off the court as the crowd was aware that it was his first national title.
50 plus Champion: Chris Watkins
Chris Watkins was crowned the 50-plus singles champion by defeating New York’s Joe Kaplan in the finals. Watkins had a battle in his semifinal against Washington’s Roberto Herrera who pushed him in both games. Kaplan also narrowly escaped his semifinal match against Juan Flores as he won an 11-7 tiebreaker. In the finals, Kaplan seemed to track down all of Watkins’ kills to begin the match. Watkins adjusted to a more passive game and ran Kaplan all around the court with precise pass shots and corner kills which helped lead him to victory.
55-plus Champion: Leo Canales
Leo Canales and Chris Tico
The 55-plus singles division was one of the more intriguing divisions coming into the tournament. Leo Canales had a tough field of opponents to overcome if he was going to defend his title. With the likes of John Henning, Chris Tico, John Robles, John Bike, and Rick Leonard to name a few, the division felt wide open. Canales found a way and notched the title by defeating John Robles in the semifinal and Chris Tico in the finals. Tico trailed by a large margin in the second game of the finals, but clawed all the way back to 19-19 before Canales finished him off with a kill shot down the right.
60-plus Champion: Will Goldstein
Will Goldstein won his first national title in 31 years by defeating Joe Tierney in two competitive games in the 60-plus singles final. Goldstein last won a national title in 1993 when he won the four-wall B doubles division. He doesn’t compete in national events often, but when he does he’s always a threat to win thanks to a lethal left hand that can kill the ball from anywhere on the court. Tierney was right with Goldstein, but stalled at 17 points in each game while Goldstein finished strong. 65-plus Champion: Mike Linnik After losing in the finals last year, Mike Linnik won a thriller in the 65-plus singles final over Dave Streibig. Streibig started fast in game one and took down Linnik 21-13. The second game was a battle throughout, and with the players tied at 19-19 Linnik was able to hit two clutch shots to force the tiebreaker. Much like the first game, Streibig started fast and led 7-1 to begin the breaker. Linnik kept fighting and eventually caught Streibig at 9-9, and found himself serving for the match at 10-9. A nice pass shot down the right wall would finish the job for Linnik and complete his comeback, winning 11-9. 70-plus Champion: Dan Brennan Dan Brennan was eligible for the 70-plus singles for the first time and made the most of it by defeating Gary Eisenbooth in the finals. In the previous rounds before the finals, nobody was able to score more than 6 points of Brennan in a single game. Eisenbooth was able to muster 13 and 12 respectively, but ultimately could not push Brennan enough to win. Brennan admitted Eisenbooth’s agility is incredible for the 70 plus division, but he was able to control his shots in the match which helped him win. 70B Champion: Thomas Arredondo
Fresno’s Thomas Arredondo hadn’t ventured much outside California for handball tournaments; however, his first stop in Tucson proved to be a memorable one. Arredondo battled Colorado’s Mark Humphries in a tough 70B final, winning in two games, 21-18 and 21-20. Both finalists defeated the top seeded players to reach the championship match, playing virtually evenly against one another.
75 plus Champion: Ed Campbell Ed Campbell and Merv Deckert were fresh off winning the 75-plus doubles title at the three-wall masters in Tucson last month, and found themselves competing against each other for the singles title in the 75-plus division this weekend. Seemingly facing off at least once a year for a national title, these two know each other’s game well and it comes down to who can execute better. In the finals today it was Campbell who executed, as he made the most of nearly all the opportunities Deckert gave him and won in two games.
80 plus Champion: Jim Smith
80-plus finalist Jim Ward congratulates Champion Jim Smith.[/caption] Jim Smith was victorious in the 80-plus singles division after being knocked out in the semifinals last year. This year he defeated Jim Ward in the finals. Ward held Smith to just 13 points in game one, but Smith was able to win a tight second game 21-17 to force a tiebreaker. Smith kept the momentum rolling from there and held Ward to just five points to win the national title. For Ward, it was his second year in a row of losing in a tiebreaker in the 80 plus final. Thank you to all the players for competing in the tournament. There were so many tremendous matches over the weekend and the competition was incredible across all divisions. Thank you to the WPH for running the Pro Stop in conjunction with the tournament and showcasing the best players in handball to everyone at the tournament. If you haven’t made it to a Hall of Fame tournament yet, clear your calendar for next April as you don’t want to miss out any longer on this great event!
TUCSON — The World Players of Handball and the United States Handball Association will proudly collaborate on the 2024 Hall of Fame Tournament in the home city of both organizations. This year’s event brings the tradition of the annual Hall of Fame event in the spring with a National Masters Singles and WPH LTE R48Pro Stop.
There is no better place than Tucson in mid-April, so make your plans to watch the pros and play in the various amateur divisions along with the best age divisions singles players.
The Hall of Fame R48LTE singles will be the final regular season event of the 2023/24 season, as the Race 4 Eight’s best players will aim to position themselves for the Race 4 Eight Player’s Championship.
Last chance to enter is April 7. Enter online HERE.
HOUSTON — Finals Sunday featured the R48 and WR48 finals, as well as the R48 and WR48 playoffs, as the Race 4 Eight’s stars battled for Race 4 Eight gold and valuable ranking points.
Complete WPH tournament report and coverage HERE. All images and content courtesy of WPH.
Men’s R48Pro Final: Carroll vs. NashFinal: Carroll vs. Nash
Killian Carroll entered Sunday’s Houston final riding a five-tournament Race 4 Eight win streak and seeking his nineteenth Race 4 Eight final. Diarmaid Nash entered his second Race 4 Eight final in search of his first R48 title against his junior and Irish Senior rival. “I suppose in Ireland I was sick of playing Killian because we met in every tournament but we haven’t played much since so I’m looking forward to playing him,” stated Nash. Killian is a dog and gives it 120%, so I hope to play my best ever match and come out on top.”
Killian Carroll picked up where he left off on Saturday, dominating the action en route to a seven-minute, 15-1 first game win. Nash changed his approach in game two, slowing the game down with a lob serve and changing the momentum of the match. “This is what Diarmaid always does against me, he plays me,” stated Carroll after the match. “I was used to playing the ball low and hard and he slowed the game down and I made a lot of errors and he waited for his opportunities and took advantage.”
The tiebreaker started with six consecutive side outs, as neither player was able to seize the momentum. With the score tied at seven, Carroll switched to his right-handed serve for the first time in the match and rediscovered the game that carried him to the first game lead. “I’m chasing Catriona now,” stated Carroll after his nineteenth R48 title. “She has 21 and I’m just trying to keep up with her.”
Final: Carroll d. Nash, 15-1, 11-15, 15-7.
Playoffs
5th place playoff: Esser vs. Canales
Sam Esser and Leo Canales continued their rivalry in the fifth place final, with Esser taking their last encounter in the fifth place playoffs at the R48 January Classic. Canales led 19-14 and 22-18 but Esser found his back wall kill, scoring the final seven points of the match to take fifth place for the second consecutive event. “Leo and Killian are the two fastest guys on the tour, so it’s not easy to put the ball down,” stated Esser. “I feel like I was skipping my back wall shots by an inch early in the match, but I found my kills just in time.”
Final: Esser def Canales 25-22
9th place playoff: Ruiz vs. Montijo
Tucson rivals played a classic ninth place final, with Ruiz racing to a 14-2 lead before narrowly leading at the half, 15-14. “When Shorty is playing like that there’s not much anyone can do,” stated Montijo. “I just tried to grind and stay in.” Montijo changed his serve throughout the match, alternating between 2-Wall lobs, underhand lobs, power serves, and 2-Wall power serves to change the momentum. “Those slow serves just kill my momentum,” Ruiz would later say. Montijo forged ahead in the second half and just crossed the finish line with both players exhausted. “Winning ninth place is a big deal and I’m proud of myself,” stated Montijo. “Shorty made three dives in the last rally and there were not many easy points.”
Final: Montijo def Ruiz 25-23
R48 Finishes
1st: Carroll
2nd: Nash
3rd: Fink/Lucho
5th: Esser
6th: Canales, Jr.
7th: Langmack/Danos
9th: Montijo
10th: Ruiz
WR48
Final: Casey vs. Tully
Catriona Casey entered Sunday’s WR48 Houston final seeking her twenty-first WR48 title in her twenty-third WR48 start, while Fiona Tully was appearing in her first WR48 final in her third season on the tour.
Catriona blitzed Tully in game one, needing just five minutes to take the lead. Fiona started to demonstrate her immense talent in game two, playing close with Catriona in the first several rallies in game two. Casey pulled away, changing her serves and implementing the all-around game that has made her unstoppable since the inception of the tour. “I got here early, skipped rope, and threw the ball around, so even though I was nervous and my legs felt heavy, I got off to a good start,” stated Casey. “I knew Fiona would start to play better in the second and she did. I made adjustments, just as she did, and I’m thrilled to win the title.”
Final: Casey d. Tully, 15-1, 15-4.
JR WPH Clinic
JR WPH was proud to host a junior handball clinic during the 2022 Houston Race 4 Eight, teaching several youngsters how to properly swing, rally, and have fun on the court. “We have really missed having the opportunity to get kids on the court during our hiatus, and it was wonderful to see all of the smiling faces enjoying the game,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink.
Thank you
Thank you to the Houston Handball Club, the Tellepsen Family YMCA, Ron Cole, Chuck Reeve, Sandy Gaitz, Jim Krepper, and the WPH staff and broadcast crew for an outstanding event in H Town.
Follow all of the brackets from the 2022 Houston Race 4 Eight HERE
