Gary Rohrer - World Champion

During October, a contingent of 21 Minnesotans traveled to Ireland for the World Handball tournament. Some of the players from the MSHA who participated in many divisions were: Anna Christoff, Steve Johnson, Jerry Jordahl, Brian Mahaffy, Mark McQuillan, Warren Mitchell, Jerry Peitz, Tim Pulis, Don Reiter, Gary Rohrer, Bob Smith, Greg Taylor. Most won a match or two, some went further.

Gary Rohrer was lucky enough to team up with Bill Flowers from Portland, Oregon and win the 60 Doubles Championship in, of all places, the Garryhill Handball Club. The matches were held in many little towns or fields where there was a free standing building with one handball court, sometimes one squash court and occasionally a gym, with the likelihood of a soccer field outside. Many of the courts had a heating system that allowed the temperature to be the same indoors as outdoors (40 - 50!) It was nipppy playing!

The people were very hospitable. A good time was had by all. Over 300 players from the USA attended. The USA won most all of the divisions. Our group came back all fired up for the next nationals in June in Portland and the next Worlds in Edmunton, Canada in August 2006. They also discussed an interest in holding the Worlds in Minnesota in 2009. To be fair to the Irish we could have them play in Winona one day, Rochester another, then Mankato, next Duluth and finally the last rounds in the Twin Cities area, making use of the U, MAC, Midway YMCA, St. Anthony AC, St. Paul Downtown Y, Minneapolis Y, Northwest Clubs and so on. It was a long trip but a good one enjoyed by all.

- Gary Rohrer