WPH World Junior Handball Championships 09: 09 World Junior Handball Championships

December 27-30th, 2009, Tucson, AZ- Over 110 junior players from multiple countries (Canada, Mexico, Ireland, and the United States) attend the WPH Junior Handball Championships in Tucson, AZ.

From the very first match until the last championship played, there was a buzz around the Tucson Racquet Club. 8-Time National Champion, David Chapman, flew in from St. Louis to conduct player clinics and former world and national champion, John Bike, gave on-court demonstrations and awarded trophies to the juniors.

WPH video super, Jeff Kastner, took the Red-Eye to Tucson from Portland to stream (webcast) the small ball finals and big ball championships via the Internet. John Bike, Dave Chapman, and Dave Vincent called the action from the commentary booth, as parents and family viewed the LIVE action from their homes from places far away.

"My father watched handball from his IPhone while I played in the court. He couldn't make it to the club, but he was able to watch thanks to your coverage. Thank you WPH!" -Clark

Coach Lance Lowy drove to Arizona, from Texas, to install our state-of-the-art triple drop-down bracket system; insuring that these kids had a minimum of three matches per division, per code. Speaking of code, did you know that the WPH had a small ball, big ball, and world double bounce competition? It's true! Juniors won awards in multiple age brackets, plus a 23 and under division was added for young men and women.

Banquet night was special for all who attended. Tournament co-director and WPH President, Fred Lewis, awarded several coaches with plaques for outstanding achievement in 2009. To include, James Coronado (Santa Barbra Youth Handball), Roberto Chavez (Team San Jose), Dan Armijo (New Mexico Handball), Lupe Marquez (El Paso Youth Handball), Rachel Flemming (Success-4-Kids), and Abe Montijo (Freedom Park Youth Handball). Fred's emotional speech regarding Abe Montijo's rise from Yes-2-Kids mentee, to star player to mentor, brought tears to the eyes of many.

Nearly $2,000 in raffle prizes were given away, as each junior who attended the banquet got a complimentary ticket. WPH Executive Director, Dave Vincent, was the Emcee for the shindig and barked out the winning numbers as Fred Lewis gave away X-Box360 video games, IPod Nanos, Digital Cameras, Flat Screen TV's and more as the crowd was brought to the edge of their seats with anticipation.

Back at the Tucson Racquet Club, players from various parts of the country enjoyed handball and competition on the court, but also took part in off-court fun. The sunny Tucson weather allowed Ireland's Fergal Collins an opportunity to jump head-first into the TRC Olympic-size pool and lounge in the arid temps while catching some much needed rays. Our cameras catch Fergie and his pals from the states between games just before his 19 and under World Finals.

"I have never been treated more kindly by tournament directors than I did at this event. I hope the rest of Ireland attends any event you hold because your events are class. Thank you for filming, providing such great service and hospitality and being so generous. Big thanks to Doug Clark and Fred Banfield for helping me get here. I will never forget this experience." -Fergal Collins, 19 and under world finalist.

Highlighting the event were the multiple national champions on hand to help with instructions, award ceremonies and pointers. John Bike, Fred Lewis, Dave Chapman, Luis Moreno, Courtney Peixoto, and Lupita Alvarado Bike showed their support and inspired the kids until the last match was played. Pro tour journeyman, Danny Armijo, was often seen on the court playing two-bounce and performing clinics for whomever wanted the action.

"This was such a great event. Lot's of fun handball for the juniors. Special thanks to the WPH and Y2K for involving me in this amazing event. I had a wonderful time teaching and playing with the kids. My legs are definitely sore after all the two-bounce games I played." Dave Chapman, 8-time national champion.

Big Ball and Santa Barbara, California- On the court, Alex Guadarrama, from Santa Barbra, California, defeated Angel Cuevas in the boys 13 and under big ball division. Santa Barbara took home some more brass in the 15 and under big ball class, when Efren Sanchez defeated Albuquerque's Roger Gardea. Luis Mendez gave Jason Coronado's team another trophy when he took down Johnny Coleman in the 9 and under big ball division.

John Alvarado Bike makes his all-star family proud via the live webcast when he defeats Tucson's Allen Cheng in the 11 and under world two bounce, plus 11 and under small and big ball divisions. "I just wanted you to know how immensely proud I am of him [JAB]. Not as a handball player, but as a grandfather watching his grandson, playing the game I loved to play," said Naty Alvarado Sr, 11-time national champion. "What I really loved was the way he handled himself in the handball court in very adverse situations. The bloodline took over and it seemed as if he was there before." Naty Sr watched his grandson LIVE via the WPH webcast from his home in Hesperia, CA. John Alvarado Bike's three world titles headlines the world championships alongside other great stories to follow. Congratulations JAB! Allen Cheng, JAB's opponent in the small and big ball finals claimed, "This was a great event. The banquet and auction [raffle] was exciting. John Alvarado Bike is a great competitor and tough opponent."

World games truly International- Fergal Collins, from Ireland, takes on Luis Cordova, Juarez, Mexico, in the 19 and under small ball finals. With his younger brother sitting with his 17 and under world trophy in the front row, Luis uses power serves and long rally kill-shot enders to close out our guest from the Emerald Isle. Collins had late game surges in both sets, but can only muster 14 and 15 against the lanky Cordova.

Newly implemented 23 and under division was a huge success, as it provided a positive playing avenue for an age division that is in desperate need of international attention. "Our game seems to lose players after high school and college and we hope this new division acts as a springboard to more exciting classes targeting young adults," said WPH President, Fred Lewis. "We had 11 women enter the 23 and under small ball and big ball divisions and 16 young men in the 23 and under divisions. The two bounce competition saw over 20 kids enter the 23 and under bracket. We hope these young men and women play this game longer, as we provide these exciting brackets at our events. Handball wins here."

Tucson natives Moreno and Montijo face each other in the big ball and small ball 23 and under finals after Montijo gets past Missouri's Armando Ortiz in the semis. Small ball: Moreno def. Montijo 5, 14, Big Ball Moreno def. Montijo 14, 11, World 2-Bounce: Steve Caro takes home the trophy. Iowa's Ashley Moler slams the women's 23 and under small and big ball divisions when she takes down Amanda McKay. Amanda is a product of the Tommy Burnett MoState Handball Program in Springfield, MO, and was all smiles during the 4 day affair. "I got to play handball with Dave Chapman. How could it get any better than this!?"

At the tournament desk... Benny and Bobby Young saved the day. Between multiple brackets, three forms of handball, and early start times, these two holiday handball hosts navigated the ship through crazy waters. Whew! Jim Peixoto came to the event as a spectator on Monday and made the mistake of offering his tourney desk intel; not leaving the clipboard until Wednesday when the lights turned off. Big thank you to Courtney Peixoto, Ashley Moler, Dennis Healy, Bobby Young, Jim Peixoto, Fred Lewis, Coach Lowy, Benny Young, et al., for their amazing dedication and drive to run an all star tournament desk. "The multiple drop-down format in three forms of handball provided the players with maximum court time and added to the excitement of the week," claimed tourney director Lance Lowy. "Webcasting, multiple drop-downs, and pro player clinics made this the most exciting junior tournament I have ever atended."

Special thanks to our generous sponsors... Where do we start? So many names and even if we scrubbed this article ten times we'd still miss a few names. Thank you to the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club. Rene Sitter allowed our rug rats to use the TRC facilities (Tennis Courts, Ping Pong, Pools, Hot Tub, Weights, etc) at all times of the day. Jeff Healam, from Tucson Rolling Shutters, for creating the brackets, score cards and banners (to name just a few). Fred Banfield (Mintec, Inc), Doug Clark, Jim Peixoto (Happy 58th birthday Jim!!!), Gurumeet Khalsa, Charly Charvoz, Courtney Peixoto, Ashley Moler, Dennis Healy, John Bike, David Chapman, Abe Montijo, Jerry Cronin (Arizona Cottons), House Trophies, and Bobby, Benny and Colleen Young. Big thank you to the Windmill Inn and Bruce & Louise Stone from Catelina International Catering. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We could not have held this event without generous donations from Jim Garner, Coach Lowy, and Fred Lewis. Thanks to Ektelon, Jake Plummer Foundation, the Y2K Foundation, and the World Players of Handball.

DVDs and video uploads to members...The WPH will upload all recorded matches from the show court to our server for future playback. Please stay tuned for announcements. Join the WPH as a paid member to watch: http://www.wphpass.com/.

Results are listed here...to get full results of all he brackets, please go here...