BIG MONTH FOR JR WPH

What a month for Junior WPH!

In the past 30 days, Junior WPH hosted 160 junior handball clinics at the Tucson Racquet Club All Sports Camp, the 2nd WPH-Outdoor Big Ball 3 Wall Nationwide Challenge, by JR WPH & EDTL Handball (Cup Stop #3), featuring a junior handball clinic for 30 juniors with six of the top big ball pros in the world and the 3-Wall big ball junior nationals for 80 junior handball players, the four-day Junior WPH Calgary Handball Camp hosted by Hall of Famer John Bike, a junior handball clinic at the Jr. Vasquez California State 3-Wall Doubles Championships and naming Aoife McCarthy and Catriona Casey as WPH Certified Instructors.

Junior WPH at the Tucson Racquet Club All Sports Camp:

WPH Certified Instructors Aoife McCarthy and Catriona Casey and WPH Rookie Coach Tanner Cleveland coached 40 junior handball lessons per week at the Tucson Racquet Club Summer Camp for 160 youngsters. Coaches McCarthy, Casey and Cleveland have made a positive impression on every student with whom they have instructed, with many of the youngsters are asking how they can continue playing handball when the summer camp ends. “We cannot ask for a better situation to introduce the game of handball than the Tucson Racquet Club Summer Camp,” declared WPH Development Director David Fink. “The TRC Summer Camp is one of the most well-run and organized summer camps in the country and the kids are incredibly enthusiastic and eager to learn to play handball.”

Junior WPH junior handball clinic at the 2nd WPH-Outdoor Big Ball 3 Wall Nationwide Challenge, by JR WPH & EDTL Handball (Cup Stop #3):

WPH Player’s Cup pros Samzon Hernandez, Ricky Ruiz, Timbo Gonzalez, Sal Duenas and Mando Ortiz, as well as Race 4 Eight pros and WPH Certified Instructors David Fink, Aoife McCarthy and Catriona Casey served as coaches for an enthusiastic group of 30 junior handball players during the Junior WPH clinic at the 2nd WPH-Outdoor Big Ball 3 Wall Nationwide Challenge, by JR WPH & EDTL Handball in La Mirada, CA.

The juniors received instruction from the elite pros on the two-wall serve, the kill shot and the return of serve and were then able to play doubles points with and against the game’s best players. The juniors soaked in all of the lessons and were eager to try the shots in their upcoming tournament matches. “I learned the side-front kill and to take the ball before it bounces on the return of serve,” boasted one of the juniors.

Junior WPH Big Ball 3-Wall Junior Nationals, by Junior WPH & EDTL Handball:

Junior WPH and EDTL Handball were thrilled to have hosted 80 juniors under the age of 23 in the most prestigious junior 3-Wall big ball tournament in handball at La Mirada Park in La Mirada, CA. Juniors played alongside their 3-Wall heroes, including Juan Santos, Samzon Hernandez, Timbo Gonzalez and Alfredo Morales. “Our group is making a conscious effort to bring more players into the game,” declared WPH Executive Director Dave Vincent. “By including the elite players with the juniors at the same events, we are confident that the juniors will continue to love the game and strive to be the best players they can be.”

Junior WPH Calgary Summer Handball Camp hosted by John Bike:

Hall of Famer and WPH Certified Coach John Bike inspired an enthusiastic group of junior handballers at the Junior WPH Calgary Summer Handball Camp in the Great White North. Coach Bike stressed the fundamentals, while incorporating cross-training activities and other sports to improve footwork and conditioning.

“The kids really enjoyed the sessions,” bellowed Coach Bike. “There are a couple of nine-year olds that can really play! We played mostly 4-Wall and ended the week with a great day at the 3-Wall courts.”

WPH Names Aoife McCarthy and Catriona Casey WPH Certified Coaches:

Aoife McCarthy and Catriona Casey became WPH Certified Coaches by virtue of excelling all four components of the Junior WPH Certification exam. “Excelling at the WPH Coaching Exam is extremely difficult and requires a tremendous amount of preparation, experience, diligence and passion for the game,” declared WPH Donor Development Director David Fink. “These ladies were so impressive in all phases of the exam and the WPH is so proud to name Aoife and Catriona as Certified Coaches.”

Junior WPH Clinic at the Jr. Vasquez 3-Wall California Doubles Championship

Junior WPH proudly hosted a junior handball clinic at the Jr. Vasquez California State 3-Wall Doubles Championships. WPH Player’s Cup elite pros and WPH Coaches Sal Duenas and Samzon Hernandez instructed the junior clinic at the famed Jr. Vasquez event for the second consecutive year.

“Junior WPH growth and development is second to none,” barked Duenas. “I was honored to help the juniors improve their games. The juniors were taught proper stretching, fun drills to improve the fundamentals of each stroke, and Samzon and I teamed up with the kids to play doubles points.”

Junior WPH Women’s Shootout Benefit

Junior WPH hosted its first ever Women’s Shootout Benefit event to raise money for Junior WPH and the growth of the game in Tucson, AZ. WPH Women’s Race 4 Eight stars Catriona Casey, Tracy Davis and Aoife McCarthy played one another in an exciting one game to 25 round robin format, with Casey winning the first ever Junior WPH Women’s Shootout with dominating victories over Aoife McCarthy and Tracy Davis. Huge thank you to Doug Clark, Gurumeet Khalsa, and Charlie Wicker for donating to the event and for the fans at the Tucson Racquet Club that came to support the fundraiser.

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