JR WPH at #TucsonMemorial

Posted on November 7, 2018November 7, 2018 by DV

Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 11/4/18-

JR WPH proudly hosted a JR WPH Clinic and junior singles brackets at the 2018 Tucson Memorial, providing opportunities for the youngsters to learn from the game’s best and to showcase their talents at one of the sport’s premiere events.

JR WPH Clinic

WR48 superstars Catriona Casey and Ciana Ni Churraoin led a special Q&A session for a number of enthusiastic youngsters on Super Saturday at the 2018 Tucson Memorial, detailing their growth in the sport, their passion for the game, how they prepare to play in pro events and much more. The WR48 superstars then fielded questions from the awestruck junior players.

“The juniors were really interested in the types of drills and practice we do to improve,” stated first year Sports Psychology graduate student at Mankato State and former WR48 finalist Ni Churraoin. “Catriona and I also discussed our tournament preparation and what makes handball so special.”

Thank you to Catriona and Ciana for inspiring the next generation of players and providing an opportunity for the youngsters to develop and understanding of what it takes to become a world-class athlete.

JR WPH Singles

The 2018 showcased junior handball, with several dozen junior

players from Tucson, Phoenix, El Paso, and Juarez demonstrating passion for the game and outstanding sportsmanship in the JR WPH singles.

Tucson’s Antonio Rivera won the Contender singles, defeating El Paso’s Osvaldo Marquez in the rising stars bracket.

2018 Tucson Pre Qualifier Sportsmanship Award Winner Luke Lambert won the Contender’s dropdown bracket, defeating Jaiden Chacon in a tiebreaker in the final.

Future R48 star Andres Cordova won the 17-and-under singles, defeating Phoenix’s Jesus Castillo in the final.

Phoenix’s Uziel Rodriguez clinched the 17-and-under dropdown, defeating Phoenix teammate Lorenzo Medrano in the final.

Sebastian Canales completed the 17/19-and-under Juarez junior singles sweep in the 19-and-under singles, defeating Phoenix’s Rodrigo Silva in the final.

Thank you to junior coaches Abraham Montijo (FLF), Drft Fernandez (JR WPH Juarez), Chris Hogan (PHX), and Dan Willeford (ASU) for bringing their teams to the 2018 Tucson Memorial.

“The juniors are the highlight of the event,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “While the pros inspire the juniors, it’s the juniors that inspire the pros and the rest of tournament players.”

Keep an eye out on juniorhandball.org, as new clinic opportunities and recaps pop up weekly. Want to coach a clinic or a junior handball program? Need more information regarding junior handball? The Junior WPH group spans multiple countries, continents and oceans with clinics happening daily. We can help! Contact WPH Development Director David Fink at david.fink@wphlive.tv

To enable Junior WPH to continue to host junior handball clinics and tournaments across North America with Certified WPH Coaches, the World Players of Handball invites you to make a tax-deductible donation today in supporting the growth of the game. 100% of the donations received by the WPH go towards junior handball development. Donate on-line here, or send your generous gifts through PayPal (extremehandball@cs.com) or by mailing checks to: WPH, 3561 E. Sunrise Dr. Suite 125, Tucson, AZ, 85718.

JR WPH UWF “I Love Handball”

Posted on October 25, 2018October 25, 2018 by DV

Pensacola, FL, WPH Press, 10/25/18- The University of West Florida proudly hosted the JR WPH UWF “I Love Handball” Fundraiser Classic at the HLS Facility on the campus of the University of Florida on the third weekend in October, featuring collegiate players from the University of West Florida and the University of Texas. JR WPH has proudly sponsored the UWH Argos Handball Team since 2013, one of the best collegiate handball programs in the country.

The University of Texas’ Jeremy Aguilar captured the four-man Men’s Open singles round robin, defeating Nicholas Wilson (FL), Mike Desgrottes (FL), and the 2017 JR WPH Collegiate Coach of the Year and UWF handball standout Michael Morgan.

Coach Morgan bounced back in the Open Doubles, teaming with Desgrottes to overcome Enrique Arancibi (TX) and Aguilar.

Avery Shepherd (TX) captured the Women’s Open singles, defeating Tiffany Duncan (FL), Annie Wallace (FL), and Bella Smith (TX).

“JR WPH is extremely proud to support the UWF Team and the exciting UWF events and clinics throughout each year,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “Seeing the University of Texas travel to Pensacola to challenge their UWF friends and rivals is awesome!”

Thank you to UWF tournament directors Kayla Fulghum and JR WPH Collegiate Coach of the Year Michael Morgan. Photos courtesy of Michael Morgan.

Follow the brackets and results from the JR WPH UWF “I Love Handball” Fundraiser Classic HERE

David Fink

WPH Senior Writer

JR WPH at U of A Campus

Posted on October 10, 2018October 12, 2018 by DV

JR WPH Clinics at the U of A Fall Break Camp

Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 10/10/18- JR WPH coaches were thrilled to coach junior handball clinics for youngsters between the ages of 7-12 at the University of Arizona Fall Break Camp at the campus Rec Center.

JR WPH Coaches tailored the lessons to each group, focusing on hand-eye coordination, agility, and balance exercises for the younger students and drill-based handball exercises and games for the older students.

“We loved that the kids had the opportunity to learn handball,” stated Rec Center director Allison Brown.

“Thank you so much for taking the time to teach the campers about handball!” explained Fall Camp director Alexandra Graham. “It was really cool to hear them tell their parents about what they learned that day!”

“JR WPH is proud to have held handball clinics at the U of A Rec Center each semester for the past five years,” stated WPH Master Instructor David Fink.

“JR WPH is always excited to share our passion for handball and the lifetime benefits our great game provides to players of all ages and abilities.”

100% of the donations received by the WPH go towards junior handball development. Donate on-line here, or send your generous gifts through PayPal (extremehandball@cs.com) or by mailing checks to: WPH, 3561 E. Sunrise Dr. Suite 125, Tucson, AZ, 85718.

Atlanta JR WPH Clinic

Posted on October 9, 2018October 9, 2018 by DV

Atlanta, GA, WPH Press, 10/8/18- The Missouri State Handball team made the 14-hour drive from Springfield, Missouri, to Atlanta, Georgia, packing ten players into two cars to attend the Race4Eight 8’s first stop of the year at the R48 8 Ron Cook Peachtree Open. Within minutes of arriving at the event, the MOState handball team was treated to a Junior WPH instructional handball clinic, led by Race 4 Eight pros David Fink and Marcos Chavez. Fink and Chavez focused on the V Pass, the Power Serve, as well as handball conditioning exercises.

The 10 college students ranged from novice to open level players, with each thrilled to learn skills and drills to improve their handball games.

“We try to make it to every tournament we can because we love the tournaments and getting a chance to play,” stated MO State All American and team captain Sam Esser.

“The Race 4 Eight tour is an incredible platform to inspire young players and we’re thrilled to be able to provide opportunities for young players to share the court and be inspired by the best handball players in the world,” stated Fink.

Jr WPH Hood River

Posted on September 15, 2018September 15, 2018 by DV

by N. Flores –

The Oregon Handball Assoc is proud to report the new pact between the WPH and Hood River Handball, forming a new Jr WPH team at Horizon Christian School in Hood River, OR. This new Jr WPH Hood River class has two dozen Jr players between 7^thand 12^th grade at the small private school, with half the class attending bi weekly morning lessons and the other half attending bi-weekly afternoon lessons. Science teacher and Stenberg family patriarch Oscar Stenberg leads the classes, assisted by fellow science teacher Jim Brown and local player Ron Harder, as well as other members of the Stenberg family and other members of the Hood River handball community.

The first set of classes were held on September 14^th at the Hood River Elks Lodge, with instructors Oscar Stenberg, Jim Brown, Ron Harder, and Helen Stenberg leading the classes, with Pat Harford and Jennifer Hinman assisting the afternoon class. Both the morning and afternoon classes had 11 players each in attendance and that number is expected to grow as the class continues.

The WPH Foundation was instrumental in establishing the program, providing dozens of gloves, goggles, and handballs for the new team. “Oscar contacted me wondering where he could obtain handball gear for his students” explained Oregon Handball Chairman Nick Flores. “I contacted the WPH immediately, and within a few days all the necessary handball gear was delivered directly to Oscar’s doorstep.” The WPH also provided their valuable curriculum to the Hood River coaches to help get the program started.

Students in the Junior WPH Hood River program are learning proper form and swing mechanics, and basic concepts and strategies of the game, as well as character traits that are essential for handball such as teamwork and integrity. Additionally, the program will have an ongoing goal of tournament participation for its students, and the students will be able to play in local tournaments at no cost thanks to the generosity of the Alten Handball Foundation. A concerted effort will be made to include Junior WPH Hood River students at the 2019 Oregon State Singles Championship to play against students from Sheldon High School in Eugene, as well as other local high schools.

If you would like to support the effort, get involved, or learn more about Junior WPH Hood River or the Hood River Handball Association, please contact the HRHA at hoodriverha@gmail.com.

www.juniorhandball.org

Stay in School Tournament

Posted on August 6, 2018August 6, 2018 by DV

Brooklyn, NY, WPH Press, 8/18– JR WPH was thrilled to be one of the sponsors of Castle Hill Handball’s 3^rd Annual Stay in School Handball Tournament, featuring more than 70 jr handball players between the ages of 5-17 at Castle Hill Ave. Handball Courts in Brooklyn, NY. Each participant of the Stay in School Handball Tournament received a free backpack with school supplies filled with school year essentials. In addition to receiving backpacks and school supplies for participating, the top three finishers in each age group won laptops, bicycles, tablets, and more.

When not competing in boy’s and girl’s singles brackets at the Stay in School extravaganza, the youngsters had the opportunity to learn from the best in the game. New York City 1-Wall stars Tywan Cook, Hector Velez, Allan Sanchez, and Carlin Rosa coached clinics for the youngsters throughout the day, emphasizing footwork and the fundamentals to making solid contact with the ball. The pros set up cones in various spots on the court, with the youngsters running through the cones and serving after reaching the final cone. The older junior players also had the opportunity to rally with and play points against the top players.

“Stay in school, that’s the main goal,” stated tournament director Richie Vera, speaking to New York City’s News 12. “We’re all thrilled to have hosted a great event that is going to set up the kids to be successful for the upcoming school year.”

“This event is all about getting the kids excited and giving the kids skills to reach their potential in the classroom,” stated handball ambassador and high school teacher Michael Dembin.

“The Stay in School event was amazing,” stated 2017 WPH Volunteer of the Year and JR WPH NYC 1-Wall Championships tournament director Veronica Figueroa. “There is nothing like watching children play handball, and for a grandmother like myself, watching your grandchildren play the game you love so much. Thank you to Richie Vera for donating the bikes and school supplies and for hosting another great Stay in School event.”

“Richie Vera and Castle Hill hosted another awesome event for the kids,” stated WPH/Castle Hill Florida Cup champion Hector Velez. “I played a couple of the kids in singles and had a great time. I had a lot of fun watching these kids who look up to the top players and it was really cool that so many of the top players came out to support the event. Carlin Rosa, Tywan Cook, Chris Miranda, and myself also played an exhibition doubles match to show the pro level of competition.”

“Richie Vera and the Castle Hill Handball Association are doing incredible things for young people in Brooklyn and JR WPH is so proud to support Richie, the Castle Hill Handball Association, and all of the young people playing handball,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “Nothing could be better than inspiring the next generation of handball players in a positive and organized event, all while providing the youngsters back to school supplies to ensure that the kids are prepared to succeed in the upcoming school year. Thank you Richie, the Castle Hill Handball Association, and all of the volunteers that made the 2018 Stay in School event such a success!”

Photos courtesy of Michael Dembin, Veronica Figueora, Christina Marie Torres, and Nancy Western.

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