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Junior WPH at the 50th Anniversary Juarez Handball Tournament Presented by the WPH
Junior WPH was thrilled to sponsor the 50th Anniversary Juarez Handball Tournament November 28th-29th, 2015 in one of North America’s best adult and junior handball communities. 17 junior handball players competed in advanced and beginner small ball and big ball singles tournament divisions, with each junior playing multiple matches in both codes throughout the weekend. Junior WPH is proud to sponsor Team Junior WPH Juarez, providing equipment, clinics and opportunities to travel to tournaments across the United States and Mexico. The WPH excited to watch the growth of the Team Junior WPH Juarez program at each event.
For a full recap from the 50th Anniversary Juarez Handball Tournament Presented by the WPH, click here
Junior WPH Clinic and Tournament at the 2015 Tucson Memorial/Junior WPH Benefit
More than 50 junior handball players from Arizona, California, Ohio, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico participated in various small ball and big ball junior handball divisions, as well as learning from several of the game’s best pros in an exciting junior clinic and skills competitions. Emerging R48 top pro and Irish Senior handball sensation Killian Carroll teamed with WPH Master Instructor David Fink to teach an unforgettable junior instructional and target-hitting competition. “Having a top pro like Killian stepping into junior clinics is incredible for the kids,” revealed Fink. “The kids were treated to world-class instruction from one of the game’s future legends and learned techniques that will help them become better players.”
Between the Junior WPH clinic, juniors participated in multiple small ball and big ball age and skill level divisions, with many of the junior players playing in three divisions. “Our kids are having an amazing experience at the Tucson Memorial,” stated WPH Juarez Coach Drft Fernandez. “We are so thankful to the WPH for providing our juniors with the opportunity to travel, compete against other juniors, and learn from the best coaches and the game.”
Why Donate to the World Players of Handball
The World Players of Handball is proud to present the Race 4 Eight V Stop #2 Tucson Memorial/Junior WPH Benefit this weekend, November 6th-8th, 2015. The no-entry fee event features more than 80 junior players under the age of 20 from Arizona, Texas, California, New Mexico, Minnesota, Ohio, and Canada, to name just a few; plus over 120 of 200 under the age of 29. All adult players are asked to make a donation for participating in the event, with 100% of the proceeds going towards junior handball development. Even if you are not attending the event, please consider a generous gift of support for the next generation of players.
Our Mission:
The World Players of Handball is a 501c3 foundation aimed at growing the game of handball by inspiring the next generation of handball players to develop leadership, integrity, a physically active lifestyle, discipline, and short and long-term goals through handball. With more than 500 junior handball clinics per year and more than 2,000 young people coached and introduced to handball thus far in 2015, the World Players of Handball provides opportunities for young people across North America to become part of a team, participate in competitions, and have fun under the direction of Certified WPH Coaches.
Where Your Donations Go:
100% of your tax-deductible donation to the World Players of Handball goes towards supporting existing junior handball programs, starting new junior handball programs, hosting clinics at schools, YMCAs, athletic clubs, summer camps, and tournaments, providing junior handball equipment, and hosting junior handball tournaments. Here is what donations supported in 2015:
- WPH No Frills junior handball tournament and clinic
- Race 4 Eight Junior WPH junior/collegiate clinics at the 2015 Houston R48, San Francisco R48, NYAC R48, Salt Lake City R48, WAC Pre R48, Plummer Pre R48, Simple Green U.S. Open R48
- Junior WPH weekly after school and weekend clinics in Tucson
- Junior WPH Canadian Junior Clinic in Tucson
- Junior WPH clinics at Khalsa School in Tucson
- Junior WPH Clinic at the Southwest Regionals in Austin, TX
- Team WPH at the USHA Hall of Fame Tournament & Women’s Classic
- Junior WPH Mega Clinic & Tournament at the WPH Xrossover Revolution
- Junior WPH Program the University of West Florida (yearly)
- Junior WPH Natty Gonzalez cd. Juarez, Mexico (yearly)
- Junior WPH Marco’s Kids in Southern California (yearly)
- Junior WPH at the Tucson Racquet Club All Sports Camp
- Junior WPH Clinic at the University of West Florida Junior
- WPH Clinic at the Jr. Vasquez California State Doubles Championships
- Junior WPH at the RFC 7 International
- Junior WPH’s Marco’s Kids Travel to Fresno
- Junior WPH Battle of the Border
- Junior WPH Tuesday Night Showdown and Junior Skill Competition
- Junior WPH Back 2 School Junior Handball Clinics in California
- Junior WPH fall clinics at Tucson’s Lohse YMCA
- Junior WPH Clinics at the Vegas 3WallBall World Outdoor Championships
- Junior WPH Clinic at the University of Florida’s WPH Argonauts Classic
Please help our efforts and make a tax-deductible donation of support to help foster the next generation of handball players, donate on-line at 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. The WPH is a non-profit 501(c) Tax Exempt Foundation. Have questions? Contact us at info@wphlive.tv
Donate to Support Junior Handball Development Today!
R48Pro V Stop #2 **No Entry Fee Event** Powered by ESPN3 – Deadline One Week!!!
The Tucson Memorial, November 6th-8th, 2015, in Tucson, Arizona (Deadline Nov 4th) brings with it a revolutionary No Entry Fee to Enter. On top of that, WPH has ESPN in the house (Tucson Racquet Club) for Saturday and Sunday.
In fact, this tournament has a slew full of cool perks. Here are some that you may not have learned about:
- Elite Men (Peixoto, Ortiz, Cordova, Chavez, Cooney, et al)
- ESPN3 – WPH Live TV film crews will air handball on ESPN3 (WatchESPN App)
- Qualifiers were expanded to 40 (1st time ever) and sold out in minutesfeaturing names like Killian Carroll (Worlds Finalist), Catriona Casey (trying to become the first women’s pro to qualify on the men’s tour), Abe Montijo (local AZ standout w/10 past qualifying belts), Vic Perez, Shorty Ruiz, Anthony Selestow, Adam Bernhard, Dan Armijo, Carlos Chavez and crossover sensations: Samzon Hernandez, Juan Santos, Alfredo Morales, Timothy Gonzalez, Rudy Cruz, and Sal Duenas, to name just a few. Juniors attempting to qualify: Tyler Stoffel (19), Michael Gaulton (16) and Juan Canales (19).
- Free Entry Fee to play. Receive souvenir, continuous food and multiple rounds of play.
- Memorial event honoring those from our handball family that have passed.
- Benefit Tournament for Junior WPH Development program. We encourage every player that attends to make a donation (not a requirement to play). Each dollar will be matched by select unnamed donors. See juniorhandball.org to read more about our programs.
- Big Ball 4 Wall big money singles and doubles featuring names like Samzon Hernandez (WPH Outdoor 3 Wall Big Ball’s #1), Juan Santos (WPH Outdoor Cup Champion of 2015), Timothy Gonzalez (NY), Chava Cordova, Carlos Pena (NY), Rudy Cruz, Shorty Ruiz, Sal Duenas and more! Plus, 4 wall small ball crossovers from Luis Cordova, Daniel Cordova, Marcos Chavez, Stephen Cooney and more. Money payouts in the “B” makes back page headlines.
- Pro/Am Small all Doubles – with $80 fee; winner takes all $1000 w/all money from the fee going to Junior WPH (This is the only division that brings an entry fee)
- Schedule is simple, Qualifiers begin Friday morning at 9am; Elite pros start at 1pm; age division, amateurs, pro/am doublesafter 4pm Friday; Big Ball begins after 6pm Friday; all juniors and women start Saturday morning.
- Seat Sales – this event will be packed. Get your name into the hat to watch courtside: info@whlive.tv (all money raised goes right to Junior WPH)
- 4-way play (some restrictions apply) however, if you lose in the qualifier you can play three more divisions as long as you play one big ball and one small ball class (ie the Crossover).
- Junior WPH Pro Player Clinics; plus Juarez vs Tucson Battle of the Border II
For details contact the WPH @ info@wphlivetv
Enter on line HERE> (http://www.r2sports.com/tourney.asp?TID=14227)
Paper Entry HERE> (PDF)
R48Pro Rankings HERE>
WatchESPN> (Having troubles? WPH All Access Pass members can watch the feed for FREE. Contact us: info@wphlive.tv)
Junior WPH Juarez Hosts a Junior Round Robin
Junior WPH Juarez continues to be the busiest Junior WPH program in North America, as Head Coach Drft Fernandez organized a junior round robin event in Juarez last weekend on the heels of four major tournament trips. The junior round robin featured 12 junior handball players under the age of 18 competing in two divisions. Alejandro Garcia defeated Andres Cordoba to win the “A” bracket, while Roberto Galarza defeated Diego Arredondo to win the “Novice.”
“We had all of our kids bring one friend that had never played before to play in the round robin,” stated Coach Fernandez. “After each of the kids played three or more matches in the event, we had a fun party.”
In the past four months, Junior WPH Juarez has traveled to the USHA Four Wall Nationals in Southern California, the Colorado State 3-Wall Championships, Junior WPH’s Battle of the Border in Tucson, and the 3WallBall Championships in Las Vegas. Junior WPH Juarez will hit the road again next week for the Simple Green U.S. Open of Handball, followed by the Tucson R48 Memorial/Battle of the Border II two weeks after the Simple Green U.S. Open. Between the four team trips that have seen Team WPH Juarez log more than 8200 miles in the Team Juarez van, Junior WPH Juarez hosts weekly junior handball clinics for the more than 20 active junior players in the junior handball hotbed.
“Junior WPH Juarez is the model for junior handball programs in North America right now,” stated WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink. “Junior WPH Juarez has an incredibly dedicated coach in Drft Fernandez, kids that love to play handball, and a group of handball players in Juarez that help the juniors learn the game and travel to as many tournaments as possible. An enthusiastic coach, a supportive handball community, kids that love to play the game, and weekly clinics is the formula to building an outstanding junior program.”
Do you want to start a junior program in your community? The World Players of Handball can help! The WPH can help to train junior coaches, provide equipment, help you market the program, and provide opportunities for juniors to compete in sanctioned junior tournaments. If you are interested, please contact David Fink at fink@juniorhandball.org.
The 2015 WPH University of West Florida Argonauts Classic
The 2015 WPH Argonauts Classic and Junior WPH Argonauts Collegiate Clinic hosted by the University of West Florida was a huge success, as collegiate players from four prominent handball universities competed and learned handball throughout the weekend at UWF’s Rec Center in Pensacola, FL. “Our goal was for everyone to play as many matches as possible and we accomplished that and then some,” declared UWF Team Founder and WPH Handball Ambassador Michael Morgan. “We used round robin formats for most of the divisions, with more than a few players playing six or seven matches during the weekend. We had 16 entries in the Men’s C, as the beginner players were showcased in the tournament’s largest bracket.”
Former WPH R48 Elite 8 Pro Luis Cordova defended his 2014 Argonauts Classic Open Singles Title, defeating Lake Forest College’s Kyle Kloss in the final. Cordova slammed, teaming with his wife Arelhi to win the Open Doubles. “Arelhi has never lost a game in the open,” boasted Cordova. “Not even Paul Brady can say that.”
Junior WPH was thrilled to present a collegiate handball clinic at the WPH sponsored University of West Florida’s 2015 Argonauts Classic for the third consecutive year. WPH Certified Coach and two-time Argonauts Open Singles champion Luis Cordova coached clinics for more than 30 collegiate handball players from the University of West Florida, University of Texas, Angelo State University, and the University of Illinois. “We split the clinic into two groups based on skill level, working on swing mechanics, serves, return of serve, and shot selection,” stated Argonauts tournament director Coach Morgan. “Overall everyone had an amazing time and is excited about next year.”
“The UWF handball team would really like to thank the WPH and the rest of our supporters for helping us make this year’s Argonauts Classic a huge success,” stated Morgan. “Everyone at the University of West Florida truly appreciates what you do for the team.”
To follow the UWF Handball Team on Facebook, click here. To follow all of the initiatives of Junior WPH, Like Junior WPH on Facebook or follow the Junior WPH at juniorhandball.org.
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer
Junior WPH Clinic at the 2015 Plummer Bash
WPH Master Instructor David Fink, NFL Legend and Plummer Bash Host Jake Plummer, and Top 10 R48 Pro Stephen Cooney hosted a Junior WPH Clinic for seven enthusiastic youngsters at the 2015 Jake Plummer Family Bash. The coaches taught footwork, throwing and hitting the ball with both hands, and having fun on the handball court. The youngsters took center stage at the premier handball event in Idaho, relishing the opportunity to learn from an NFL great and two R48 pros. “I just love seeing the kids on the handball court,” declared an excited Plummer. “This is such a great game and I could already see some of the kids getting hooked.”
JR WPH Updated Outdoor Rankings: Post Vegas
The WPH has held multiple junior events throughout the season; none more exciting than the Marina Park Back2School Bash that netted just over 150 players under the age of 23, just 40 days back. Recently, in Las Vegas, Junior WPH & Coaches hosted clinics to over 50 non-handball playing youth, followed by even more high profile junior handball competition.
During this time, JR WPH has been tracking the progress of the junior player and has come up with a ranking system for those 20 and under, 16 and under, 14 and under and 10 and under. Today, we are pleased to share them with you.
Ranking events include 1 Wall Big Ball at Venice Beach; 3 Wall Big Ball @ Vegas and Huntington Beach:
| WPH Outdoor 20-and-under Big Ball Rankings | |||||
| Rank | Player | Total | Venice ’15 | Marina ’15 | Vegas ’15 |
| 1 | Andrew Garcia (CA) | 28 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| 2 | Rodolfo Ruiz (CA) | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Angel Herrera (CA) | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 3 | Marco Alatorre (CA) | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 5 | Daniel Palacios (CA) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 5 | Alfredo Leyva (CA) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 5 | Jason Ke (NY) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Octavio Romero (CA) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | Alex Garcia (CA) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 10 | Eli Roberto (CA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | Brian Pacheco (CA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | Danny Romero (CA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | Salomon Gallego (CA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| WPH Outdoor 16 and Under | |||||
| Rank | Player | Total | Venice ’15 | Marina ’15 | Vegas ’15 |
| 1 | Danny Vasquez (CA) | 18 | 8 | 0 | 10 |
| 1 | Jesus Mendez (CA) | 18 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
| 3 | Manuel Yep (CA) | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | Oscar Sordia (CA) | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 4 | Leonardo Castillo (CA) | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 5 | Andre Moreno (CA) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Edgar Olivar JR (CA) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | Fabian Moreno (CA) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Henry Razo (CA) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 5 | Octavio Romero (CA) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 10 | Adrian Ortiz (CA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | Bryan Alvarez (CA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | Caleb Valle (CA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | Jesus Rivas (CA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | Junior Casas (CA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| WPH Outdoor 14-and-Under | |||||
| Rank | Player | Total | Venice ’15 | Marina ’15 | Vegas ’15 |
| 1 | Eddie Rocha (CA) | 28 | 10 | 8 | 10 |
| 2 | Michael Bautista (CA) | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| 3 | Jesus Mendez Jr (CA) | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 4 | Eddie Barrios (CA) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Xavier Flores (CA) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Mauricio Ortiz (CA) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 4 | Jacob Marin (CA) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | Ramon Yep JR (CA) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 9 | Freddy Espindola (CA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 9 | Miguel Valencia (CA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 9 | JP Herrera (CA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 9 | Edguardo Vargas (CA) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| WPH Outdoor 10-and-Under | ||||
| Rank | Player | Total | Marina ’15 | Vegas ’15 |
| 1 | Benjamin Torres Jr (CA) | 16 | 6 | 10 |
| 2 | Xavier Flores (CA) | 12 | 4 | 8 |
| 3 | Jacob Marin (CA) | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 4 | Jessie Barrientos (CA) | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 5 | Ramon Yep (CA) | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 5 | Angel Arazia (CA) | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | Andres Araiza (MEX) | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 8 | Destiny Rabino (CA) | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 8 | Gabriel Gonzalez Jr (CA) | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 8 | Javi Valle (CA) | 4 | 4 | 0 |