Author: DV

US Handball Junior Nationals Wrap Up

US Handball Junior Nationals Wrap Up

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Watch the YouTube Video HERE:  http://youtu.be/LKUe1IZ7IBA
 
Wednesday, December 31st, 2014, WPH Press- The United States Handball Association’s Junior National 4 Wall Championships wrapped in Tucson, AZ, on Tuesday, December 30th [2014] with a few marquee matches playing out in select divisions.  Ireland’s Gabhain McCrystal was seeking his second straight Boy’s 19U trophy; meanwhile, Luis Bustos (last year’s 15U champ) was gunning for a 17U crown.  In doubles, McCrystal (Omagh, Co. Tyrone, IRE) and fellow club-mate Pol Clarke looked to win the big trophy verses young phenom, Tyler Stoffel (MN), and one of the Pacific Northwest’s rising stars, Jordan Taylor (WA).
Jesus Avila (15) won another junior title [slamming the 15U singles and doubles] and is appearing to be following in the same footsteps as another local Tucsonan, Luis Moreno; meanwhile, the talk of the tournament was the play and sportsmanship from Canadian Ivan Burgos.  “Burgos took down the 13U Small and Big Ball Divisions and would have been competitive in any division he wanted to play in,” claimed WPH’s Dave Vincent. “That includes the 19U singles.  This kid has the it factor!”
In  the women’s brackets, Kena Byrd-Jackson may come from handball blood, as her mother played New York 1 Wall before transplanting to Arizona some years back, but she is relatively new to the game, only playing for three very short years.  Byrd-Jackson slammed the 15U small ball girls singles and 19U girls doubles (Maldonado).
The full list of champions are posted below.  You can get all of the scores and articles related to this event by visiting R2sports.com or the United States Handball Association’s Website or Facebook Fan page.
2014 USHA Junior 4 Wall Nationals, by the Fred Lewis Foundation
List of Champions:
SINGLES
19U Boys Small Ball     Gabhain McCrystal (IRE) def Anthony Collado (CA): 21-10, 21-7
19U Boys Big Ball     Rodolfo Ruiz (CA) def Manuel Ruiz (CA): 21-20, 21-19
17U Boys Small Ball     Luis Bustos (CA) def Alex Guadarrama (CA): 21-18, 21-3
17U Boys Big Ball     Andrew Garcia (CAN) def Michael Gaulton (CAN): 21-11, 16-21, 11-8
15U Boys Small Ball     Jesus Avila (AZ) def Michael Gaulton (CAN): 21-16, 21-12
15U Boys Big Ball     Samuel Richer (CAN) def Noe Rios (AZ): 21-5, 19-21, 11-5
13U Boys Small Ball     Ivan Burgos (CAN) def Jose Maldonado (AZ): 21-17, 21-12
13U Boys Big Ball     Ivan Burgos (CAN) def Carlos Villegas (MEX): 21-4, 21-8
11U Boys Small Ball     Luis Fernandez (CA) def Savid Sanchez (CA): 19-21, 21-16, 11-8
11U Boys Big Ball     Andres Maldonado (AZ) def Nathan Stoffel (MN): 21-2, 21-14
9U Junior Small Ball     Ayden Brule (AZ) def Antonio Rivera (AZ): 21-8, 21-7
9U Junior Big Ball     Ayden Brule (AZ) def Antonio Rivera (AZ): 21-7, 21-3
Girls 15U Small Ball     Kena Byrd-Jackson (AZ) def Marisol Maldonado (AZ): 21-4, 21-6
Girls 13U Small Ball     Sophie Della Croce (AZ) def Belisa Camacho (AZ): 21-13, 13-21, 11-8
Girls 13U Big Ball     Alexandra Jewitt (CAN) def Ariel Cheng (AZ): 21-5, 21-6
DOUBLES
19U Boys Small Ball     McCrystal/Clarke (IRE) def Stoffel/Taylor (MN/WA): 21-13, 21-9
19U Boys Big Ball     Garcia/Palma (CA) def Badillo/Ruiz (CA): No Score Reported
17U Boys Small Ball     McGrath/Rodriguez (CA) def Gaulton/Biddle (CAN/OR): 21-4, 21-15
15U Boys Small Ball     Camacho/Avila (AZ) def Richer/Burgos (CAN): 21-18, 20-21, 11-10
13U Boys Small Ball     Pimentel/Maldonado (AZ) def Ure/Cooke (IL): 21-5, 21-3
Girls 19U Small Ball     Byrd-Jackson/Maldonado (AZ) def Camacho/Croce (AZ): 21-20, 21-4

WPH Fun Day in Pinetop

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WPH Race 4 Eight pros David Fink and Sean Lenning made the stunning four-hour drive from Tucson to Pinetop, AZ to play a Junior WPH fundraiser exhibition match and pro-am doubles with the local handball community.

Lenning and Fink inspired the locals with brilliant shot making and exciting comebacks. Lenning battled back from a first game deficit to score eight unanswered points to close out the game, 15-10. Lenning was on the verge of a two-game victory, leading 14-12 in game two, but Fink forced a tiebreaker with five consecutive kill shots. Lenning trailed 4-1 in the decider but rallied with six ace serves and four kills shots, clinching the match 15-10, 14-16, 11-4.

Fink and Lenning played over a dozen games of pro-am doubles with the handball regulars at the Bodyworks Handball Club, teaming up with different players in virtually each game.

“We love having the guys come up here and having a chance to play with and against them is so much fun,” revealed WPH Pinetop Fun Day donor Mike Park. “We all learn so much from watching and playing with the pros and we hope the guys come back regularly.”

The local press sent a reporter to cover the WPH Pinetop Fun Day, as players posed for pictures and explained the benefits of the greatest lifetime sport.

Thank you to Mike Park for the incredibly generous donation to Junior WPH and congratulations to Mike and his wife on their 50th wedding anniversary! If your handball community would life to host a WPH Fun Day Junior WPH Fundraiser in your city, please contact WPH Youth and Donor Development Director David Fink at fink@race4eight.com.

Junior WPH held over 600 junior handball clinics across the world in 2014 and plans on an even bigger 2015. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today and supporting the growth of the game. 100% of the donations received by the WPH go towards junior handball development.  Donate on-line at www.thehandballstore.com, send your generous gifts through PayPal (extremehandball@cs.com) or by mailing checks to:  WPH, 3561 E. Sunrise Dr. Suite 125, Tucson, AZ, 85718.

Like the World Players of Handball on Facebook, log onto wphlive.tv or follow the WPH on Twitter @dfwph and @wphlive for all of the handball news from on and off the court! The World Players of Handball is a non-profit foundation aiming to grow the game of handball through innovation and inspiring the next generation of players through junior clinics with certified WPH coaches, junior tournaments and the Race 4 Eight tour.

USHA National Jr 4-Wall Update Day 2

Over 100 junior handball players filled the Tucson Racquet Club handball courts on the first full day of action at the 59th Annual USHA National Junior 4-Wall Championships in small ball and big ball action.

Local Tucson juniors dominated nearly all of their matches, as Jesus Avila, Cesar Pimentel, Jorge Pimentel, Joe Maldonado, Jr., Andres Maldonado, Ken Byrd-Jackson, Kaelen Rae, Alan Cheng, Carlos Espinoza, and Carlos Villegas advanced in their respective age groups. Irish stars Gabhain Mc Crystal and Pol Clarke and Canadian standout Michael Gaulton also advanced, while California sensations Anthony Sullivan, Luis Bustos, and Anthony Collado appear poised to claim national titles.

All of the junior will still be in action on Day 3, as the 59th Annual USHA National Junior 4-Wall Championships features a unique triple drop down format that ensures each youngster will play at least three matches during the event.

Follow all of the results on ushandball.org or go to http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=12855

Pictured: 13-and-under big ball finalist Carlos Villegas

David Fink

WPH Senior Writer

USHA National Jr 4-Wall Update

WPH Press: The 59th Annual USHA National Junior 4-Wall Championships kicked off this afternoon in beautiful Tucson, AZ, home of the United States Handball Association. Players from throughout the U.S., Canada, and Ireland filled the Tucson Racquet Club courts for first day of big ball action and an exciting junior handball clinic.

Fred Lewis Foundation Head Coach Abraham Montijo, FLF Offensive Coordinator Sean Lenning, and WPH Master Instructor David Fink led and enthusiastic group of 16 junior players between the ages of 9-16 in a three-court clinic, emphasizing the sidearm stroke, back wall technique, serve and return of serve, and mostly how to have fun on the handball court!

“The WPH was extremely proud to collaborate with the USHA and the Fred Lewis Foundation on this exciting clinic that set the stage for an incredible tournament,” revealed Fink. “The kids were so eager to learn and to improve their games. I think the coaches had even more fun than the students.”

Big ball action will continue tomorrow and the small ball divisions will start as well. Northern California’s 16-year old Anthony Sullivan is already anticipating several very difficult matches. “I am playing in the 19-and-under and there are a lot of really good players entered,” revealed the precocious 16-year old that defeated WPH R48 top 20 pro Erik Torres to win his first open tournament several months ago. “Tyler Stoffel, Gabhain Mc Crystal, and Coleman McGrath are all playing really well and I cannot wait to start playing.”

To follow all of the action from the most prestigious 4-Wall junior handball tournament in the country, go to ushandball.org or click here: http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=12855

Good luck to all of the participants!

Photo courtesy of Matt Krueger and the USHA

Fun Day in Pinetop, AZ

A Pinetop Fun Day

Pinetop_pic (1)The WPH heads to Pinetop, AZ on December 29th, 2014, for a special holiday exhibition match, clinic and pro-am doubles with Race 4 Eight Elite pros David Fink and Sean Lenning. Fink and Lenning will play one another in a singles match, coach clinics, and team with locals for round robin pro-am doubles. All proceeds from the event will go towards Junior WPH and inspiring the next generation of handball players.  Event Flier, HERE> (PDF)

“These WPH Fun Days are a great way to connect with local handball communities and give local handball players the opportunity to watch and play alongside the pros,” revealed WPH Development Director David Fink. “Along with meeting the locals, we want to inspire young players to start playing the game in these local communities and there is no better way to be inspired than watching the pros and having a chance to learn and play alongside them.”

Bodyworks Health & Fitness Center, 4800 South White Mountain Road, Show Low, AZ 85901.

If your handball community is interested in hosting a WPH Fun Day fundraiser with WPH Race 4 Eight pros, please contact WPH Development Director David Fink at fink@race4eight.com.

Like the World Players of Handball on Facebook, log onto wphlive.tv or follow the WPH on Twitter @dfwph and @wphlive for all of the handball news from on and off the court! The World Players of Handball is a non-profit foundation aiming to grow the game of handball through innovation and inspiring the next generation of players through junior clinics with certified WPH coaches, junior tournaments and the Race 4 Eight tour.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today and supporting the growth of the game. 100% of the donations received by the WPH go towards junior handball development.  Donate on-line at http://www.thehandballstore.com, send your generous gifts through PayPal (extremehandball@cs.com) or by mailing checks to:  WPH, 3561 E. Sunrise Dr. Suite 125, Tucson, AZ, 85718

59th USHA 4 Wall Junior Nationals

WPH Press, 12/9/14, The United States Handball Association is proud to present the 59th Annual USHA National Junior 4-Wall Handball Championships in Tucson, AZ, hosted by the Fred Lewis Foundation for Youth Handball; December 26th-30th, 2014, at the Tucson Racquet Club. Juniors from the U.S., Canada, and Ireland will have the opportunity to compete in singles and doubles in the game’s oldest and most prestigious 4-Wall junior handball tournament.

Video by Dave Vincent, WPH Live TV

“Tucson has hosted almost all of the game’s greatest men’s and women’s players in 2014 and will now play host to the greatest junior handball players in the world,” revealed WPH Development Director David Fink. “Tucson has one of the best junior handball communities in the world and I cannot wait to watch our local stars challenge the best from across the world. The World Players of Handball is very proud to be donating and supporting the game’s most prestigious 4-Wall junior championship.”

“With the Fred Lewis Foundation for Youth Handball hosting the Junior Nationals, young handballers will enjoy a truly unique experience,” boasted USHA Development Coordinator Matt Krueger. “On Opening Night, junior players will be welcomed to the Tucson Racquet Club with a clinic from our local pros. From there, they’ll have the opportunity to test their skills with various court challenges in our Handball Rodeo. Our unique drop-down format promotes competition and participation since each player is guaranteed three matches. This allows players of all abilities to eventually play into their appropriate skill level and compete against peers with similar experience.”

“Junior handball is certainly booming and one needs to look no further than the Tucson Racquet Club on most nights to see the junior game flourishing,” stated WPH Executive Director David Vincent. “The TRC will really be buzzing when Tucson’s best juniors are greeted by the best juniors in the world just after Christmas.”

To register for the grandest event in 4-Wall junior handball, click here or go to ushandball.org. You can also like the World Players of Handball on Facebook, log onto wphlive.tv or follow the WPH on Twitter @dfwph and @wphlive for all of the handball news from on and off the court!

Junior Feature: Jesus Avila

by david fink

As the 59th Annual USHA National Junior 4-Wall Championships approaches, Tucson’s two-time junior national champion Jesus Avila eagerly awaits the opportunity to add to his national championship total on his home court at the Tucson Racquet Club.

Jesus Avila, known as “Zeus” in the Tucson handball community, practices five days a week in preparation for big events. Zeus started playing handball at the age of 10, learning the strokes and developing a love for the game with his three brothers at Tucson’s Freedom Park, one of the Southwest’s premiere 3-Wall courts.

Five years later, Zeus plays most of his handball at the Tucson Racquet Club under the watchful eye of his legendary coach, Fred Lewis. Zeus’ brothers Juan, Jorge, and Cesar also train at the Tucson Racquet Club, with each of the brothers boasting top-five national rankings in their respective age divisions. Zeus, Juan, Jorge, and Cesar are four of the over 40 junior handball players that are members of the Fred Lewis Foundation, an organization designed to enrich the lives of children through handball.

Zeus considers winning the 15-and-under singles at the 2014 USHA National Junior 3-Wall Championships in Boulder, CO to be his greatest handball accomplishment to date, defeating rivals Edwin Laredo and Agustin Santiago en route to the title. Jesus also faces stern competition on his FLF team, as he and his contemporary Alan Cheng battle regularly at practices and in tournaments.

Zeus’ goal is to become one of the top pros and to follow in the footsteps of his favorite player and handball idol, Luis Moreno. Zeus considers his best shot to be his right-hand kill shot, but spends most of his time practicing his left-hand and ceiling shots as he prepares for tournaments. Despite winning the 15-and-under singles at the 2014 USHA National Junior 3-Wall Championships, Zeus’s favorite code of handball is 4-Wall. Zeus loves handball because the game forces him to use both hands and always be moving. Zeus preaches working hard, never becoming angry on the court, and always trying to grow the game as the blueprint to becoming a top handball player and ambassador.

Follow Jesus Avila in the 15-and under singles and doubles, his brothers, the rest of the FLF team and all of the junior players from around the world at the 59th Annual USHA National Junior 4-Wall Championships on ushandball.org or http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=12855

Junior WPH Adult Clinic Fundraiser

Junior WPH hosted a special adult clinic fundraiser at the Tucson Racquet Club to raise funds for upcoming junior handball initiatives and teach adult players the secrets of the pros.

WPH Master Instructor and Development Director David Fink coached the lesson for adult players seeking to improve their games while supporting the growth of the game. Coach Fink reinforced the fundamentals of the three most common handball strokes and introduced various drills to practice each of the strokes. The Junior WPH Tucson juniors practiced similar techniques on an adjacent court.

“I really got a lot out of the clinic,” revealed Tucson’s Bob Durazo after the one-hour clinic. “I now know what I need to improve and how to do it.”

Junior WPH will offer more adult clinics between now and the USHA 4-Wall Junior Nationals in Tucson at the end of December to raise money for junior handball and to teach veteran players the secrets of the pros.

Like the World Players of Handball on Facebook, log onto wphlive.tv or follow the WPH on Twitter @dfwph and @wphlive for all of the handball news from on and off the court! The World Players of Handball is a non-profit foundation aiming to grow the game of handball through innovation and inspiring the next generation of players through junior clinics with certified WPH coaches, junior tournaments and the Race 4 Eight tour.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today and supporting the growth of the game. 100% of the donations received by the WPH go towards junior handball development.  Donate on-line at www.thehandballstore.com, send your generous gifts through PayPal (extremehandball@cs.com) or by mailing checks to:  WPH, 3561 E. Sunrise Dr. Suite 125, Tucson, AZ, 85718.