Author: DV
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
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.
Silent Auction to Benefit Handball’s Youth
Handball Legend, Fred Lewis and his non-profit Foundation, designed to Enrich the Lives of Children Through the Sport of Handball And Related Activities, will be holding a Silent Auction this Saturday, November 22nd (2014) at the Lodge at Ventana Canyon in Tucson, Arizona. Cocktails begin at 6pm followed by an amazing dinner and Silent Auction. All monies raised will go toward area youth and the quest to get more young athletes onto handball courts across America.
Handball has been cited by the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition as the number one overall activity for cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and balance. This was determined by a panel of seven fitness experts. By giving children the opportunity to play handball, the Foundation will help them in their quest to live healthier and happier for the rest of their lives. In addition the children will be introduced to activities that will foster lifelong friendships and camaraderie.
To contact Lewis, please call 520-440-0528
Tucson to Host Jr Nationals
59th Annual USHA National Junior 4-Wall Championships – DEC 26-30TH, 2014
Handball Hall of Fame, Great Weather and more in Tucson!
Tucson is home to the U.S. Handball Hall of Fame and juniors can check out the great photos, videos, and more, during the annual main event for aspiring handball players. For the second time, the Juniors will offer big ball competition.
Special Note: The big ball events will start on Dec. 26, with special consideration for out-of-town players for a late start. Plan to arrive as early as possible on the 26th if you’re planning to play big ball.
More news about the nationals:
Visit http://www.ushandball.org for links to the Facebook page.
What a Day for Junior WPH
Junior WPH held an unprecedented day of handball clinics on Saturday, November 15th, 2014. Certified WPH Instructors coached junior handball clinics in Tucson, AZ, Modesto, CA, and Pensacola, FL, emphasizing the fundamentals and strategies that make handball so beneficial for young people.
WPH Rookies Coach Tanner Cleveland led his enthusiastic group of junior players through their weekly Saturday clinic on the heels of the group’s second junior handball tournament at the WPH R48 IV Tucson Stop #2 the weekend before. “These kids are really improving and loving the game,” revealed WPH Development Director David Fink from the balcony at the Tucson Racquet Club. “The kids are playing at least twice a week and they are showing tremendous aptitude for handball and the tremendous values that handball provides for young people.”
WPH Master Instructor Emmett Peixoto coached a junior handball for Carl Rice’s avid group of junior handball players between the ages of 12-16 in Modesto, CA. “The clinic was really fun,” revealed the Olympic Club handball pro and WPH R48 #3. “The kids were so eager to learn and we had a great time playing throughout the afternoon.”
WPH Certified Coach Luis Cordova led a group of 25 handball players in a Junior WPH clinic at the WPH Argonauts Handball Classic in Northwest Florida. “The clinic was unquestionably the highlight of the great event,” revealed Cordova. “Players of all levels participated, with each player coming prepared with questions on how to play better handball.”
The WPH is able to host weekly junior handball clinics and support tournaments across the country because of the generous donations of those in the sport and outside of the sport that believe in the tremendous benefits that handball provides to young people. 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. –Story by David Fink, WPH