2009 Spring Classic and State Open Singles

University of Minnesota Rec Center, Minneapolis, MN

April 24-26, 2009

 

A dozen divisions made for a great weekend of singles handball at the University of Minnesota Rec Center on a cold and rainy weekend.  The outdoor weather had little resemblance to the hot action on the courts.  The tournament committee did a great job keeping the courts full and 150+ matches moving along all weekend.  The traditional great Minnesota hospitality kept the players and spectators well fed for the entire weekend.

 

Matt Hiber continued his dominance in 2009 taking the Open Singles title in addition to his Open Doubles win earlier this spring.  In all, Matt has taken the Open singles championship eight times in the last 15 years!  Steve Christoff was the only opponent to score more than 8 points, loosing 21-16, 21-3 in the semi final match.  To no ones’ surprise, Andy Nett demonstrated great athletic ability defeating Ray Miller and Pete Crouser before getting a lesson from Matt.   Crouser could be heard mumbling about the one that got away when he floored a set-up opportunity at 10-10 in the semi final tie-breaker against Andy.   Pete defeated a depleted Christoff for third place and Ryan Maloney took consolation honors.

 

The A Division saw the crowning of a new champion in Steve Tamminga.  This was Steve’s first singles championship since winning the C division in 2004.  He controlled the very reliable and patient John Naksone in two hard-fought games for the title.  Up and coming Mat Langhorst took third place over Michael Burk – everything finished just as the tournament committee seeded the draw!  Brandon Glaze defeated the sizable Ed Miller in a tie-breaker to win the consolation bracket.

 

The U of M produced the B Division winner in Kevin Lammi – a real testiment to the collegiate program.  Kevin defeated the second seeded Danny Kieffer.  Justin Nishioka defeated Darryl Ekstrom fir third place and Jesse Fleck defeated fellow U of M product Matt Johnson for the B Consolation title.

 

Veteran player John Laliberte progressed through tie-breakers in the quarters and semis to take top honors with only two games in the C Division finals.  But Mark Mylan took him to the edge at 21-14, 21-20 in a thrilling finals match.  Michael Miller got revenge for his semi final tie-breaker loss to take the third place trophy in a tie-breaker win over Dane Swanson.  Watch out for this 16 year old player!  Dan Schonhardt worked his way to the consolation titles after loosing to the division winner early Saturday morning.

 

Jesus Cordero dominated the Juniors Division in wins, points, age and size.  This kid can play some handball!  Thirteen year-old David Miller presented a pretty good challenge – just wait a few years.  It was only 23 years ago when Matt Hiber took second in the Juniors.

 

The Masters brackets brought on some great tournament competition.  In the Masters A (40+) Division Mike Wells dominated with only second place finisher Steve Johnson getting more than 8 points in any game.  Steve had to go tie-breaker against John Stoffel to secure second place.

 

Hall of Fame inductee Paul Dorland did it again – winning another title in the Golden Masters A (50+) Division soundly defeating Brett Broxey 21-13, 21-2.  To Brett’s credit he scored the most points against Paul in the whole tournament. Paul has 28 MSHA titles in the last 25 years!! He has won every division he entered this year including both the Masters and Golden Masters Doubles.  Phil Kleineschay claimed third place over Mike Black and Tim Fichtel defeated Mike McGraw in the consolation.

 

Mike McQuillan dominated an error-prone Sheldon Silberman to claim the top spot in the Golden Masters B (50+) Division – too many McQuillans, apparently.  It was good to see Sheldon running around on his replacement ankle.  George Langhorst brought home the second third place trophy for the Langhorst family defeating the champion’s brother Mark McQuillan.  Ed Simonet defeated Paul’s older brother Doug Dorland from Alaska to earn the consolation honors.

 

It doesn’t get any easier as you get older.  John Miller found the going tough against John Nett in the Super Masters (60+) Division finals.  Maybe third place winner Greg Taylor took too much out of Miller in the semis.  Paul Nelson took consolation honors in a great three-game match against Bill Brown.  There is no quit in these super handballers.

 

It’s a great testament to handball when an 81 year-old can win the consolation prize in the Diamond Masters (70+) Division.  Congratulations to Dick Faunce.  But the top prize goes to Ron Causton in a demanding match against Jim Norman.  Skip Kiland looked about 60 defeating a pretty nimble Bill Gimble for third place.

 

Rebecca Cole from Mankato took top honors in the Womens Division.  Callie Larsen took second and Chelsey Barber took third.

 

Twenty-three Novice players from the U of M, Mankato State and elsewhere competed through five rounds of play. Chris Delaney from MSU took first place over Samuel Finkelstein with an 11-6 tie-breaker win.  Micah Dorfner, also from MSU took third over Nate Hoffman and MSU student Jon Nuytten took consolation honors over 14 year-old Trevor Kleineschay – another kid to watch.  It was quite a division for MSU and overall for the handball players from Manakto.

 

A special thanks to the U of M Handball Club for co-hosting the event and all their help throughout the tournament.  It was a great handball season!

 

See photos from the 2009 Open Singles Championships

 

Open Singles

Preliminary Round

·        Chris Iverson (Minneapolis) def. Brian Burke (St. Paul) 21-17, 20-21, 11-10

·        Ryan Maloney (Cottage Grove) def. Tim Kappes (North St. Paul) 21-8, 21-12

 

Quarterfinals

·        Matt Hiber (Roseville) def. Iverson 21-2, 21-6

·        Steve Christoff (St. Paul) def. Jim Grota (Rochester) 21-8, 21-5

·        Andy Nett (Winona) def. Ray Miller (St. Paul) 21-19, 21-6

·        Pete Crouser (St. Paul) def. Maloney 21-5, 21-5

 

Semifinals

·        Hiber def. Christoff 21-16, 21-3

·        Nett def. Crouser 21-17, 18-21, 11-10

 

Finals

·        Hiber def. Nett 21-7, 21-8

 

Third Place

·         Crouser def. Christoff 21-12, 21-7

 

Consolation 

·         Ryan Maloney def. Ray Miller 21-20, 21-15

 

 

A Singles

Quarterfinals

·        Steven Tamminga (Minneapolis) def. Will Camisa (Minneapolis) 21-4, 21-12

·        Michael Burke (St. Paul) def.  Ed Miller (Shoreview)  21-7, 21-4

·        Mat Langhorst (Duluth) def. Mitch Van Eps (Eagan) 21-3, 21-1

·        John  Nakasone (St. Paul) def. Brandon Glaze (Eagan) 21-10, 21-3

 

Semifinals

·        Tamminga def. Burke 21-8, 21-11

·        Nakasone def. Langhorst 21-11, 21-11

 

Finals

·         Tamminga def. Nakasone 21-16, 21-7

 

Third Place

·         Langhorst def. Burke 21-15, 21-8

 

Consolation 

·         Brandon Glaze def. Ed Miller 21-10, 16-21, 11-4

 

 

 

B Singles

Quarterfinals

 

Semifinals

·        Lammi def. Nishioka 21-19, 17-21, 11-8

·        Kieffer def. Ekstrom 21-2, 21-10

 

Finals

·         Lammi def. Kieffer 21-16, 21-15

 

Third Place

·         Nishioka def. Ekstrom 21-5, 21-12

 

Consolation 

·         Jesse Fleck def. Matt Johnson 21-13, 21-3

 

C Singles

Preliminary Round

·        John Laliberte (Shoreview) def. Steve Swanson (Coon Rapids) 21-17, 21-7

·        Ben Olson (La Cresent) def. Marshall Clark (Mankato) 21-10, 21-3

·        Michael Miller (Shoreview) def. Noah Odland (St. Paul) 21-10, 21-1

·        Christopher Yard (Mankato) def. Pat Macdonald (Minneapolis) 21-13, 21-10

·        Dane Swanson (St. Paul) def. Tom Pearson (St. Paul) 21-4, 21-18

·        Emily Rund (Minneapolis) def. Josh Salwey (Mankato) 14-21, 21-6, 11-9

 

Quarterfinals

·        Laliberte def. Daniel Schonhardt (Buffalo) 16-21, 21-12, 11-1

·        Miller def. Olson 21-11, 21-2

·        Swanson def. Yard 21-4, 13-21, 11-5

·        Mark Mylan (Mound) def. Rund 21-9, 21-1

 

Semifinals

·        Laliberte def. Miller 17-21, 21-12, 11-6

·        Mylan def. Swanson 17-21, 21-1, 11-8

 

Finals

·         Laliberte def. Mylan 21-14, 21-20

 

Third Place

·         Miller def. Swanson 21-19, 15-21, 11-5

 

Consolation 

·         Dan Schonhardt def. Marshall Clark 21-5, 21-1

 

 

Juniors Singles (round robin)

1.      Jesus Cordero (St. Paul)

2.      David Miller (Shoireview)

3.      Austin Kleineschay (Maple Grove)

4.      Ben Kleineschay (Maple Grove)

 

 

Masters (40+) A Singles (round robin)

1.      Mike Wells (Good Thunder)

2.      Steve Johnson (White Bear Lake)

3.      John Stoffel (North Mankato)

4.      Mark Brissett (Duluth)

5.      Adalberto Cordero (Minneapolis)

 

 

Golden Masters (50+) A Singles

Quarterfinals

·        Paul Dorland (Mankato) def. Mike McGraw (Eden Prairie) 21-6, 21-5

·        Mike Black (Mendota Heights) def. Mike Kloos (Woodbury) 21-8, 21-15

·        Phil Kleineschay (Maple Grove) def. Brian G. Mahaffy (Minneapolis) 21-5, 21-10

·        Brett Broxey (Brooklyn Park) def. Tim Fichtel (Mendota Heights) 15-21, 21-14, 11-10

 

Semifinals

·        Dorland def. Black 21-9, 21-8

·        Broxey def. Kleineschay 21-8, 21-13

 

Finals

·         Dorland def. Broxey 21-13, 21-2

 

Third Place

·         Kleineschay def. Black 21-9, 21-9

 

Consolation 

·         Tim Fichtel def. Mike McGraw 21-9, 21-15

 

 

Golden Masters (50+) B Singles

Quarterfinals

·        Sheldon Silberman (Golden Valley)

·        Mark McQuillan (Shakopee) def. Doug Dorland (Palmer) 12-21, 21-16, 11-5

·        George Langhorst (Moose Lake) def. Steve Laliberte (White Bear Lake) 20-21, 21-5, 11-1

·        Mike McQuillan (St. Paul) def. Ed Simonet, Jr. (Stillwater) 21-1, 21-12

 

Semifinals

·        Silberman def.  Mark McQuillan 21-20, 20-21, 11-4

·        Mike McQuillan def. Langhorst 21-10, 21-17

 

Finals

·        Mike McQuillan def. Silberman 21-10, 21-4

 

Third Place

·        Langhorst def. Mark McQuillan 21-8, 21-9

 

Consolation 

·        Ed Simonet def. Doug Dorland 21-7, 21-13

 

 

Super Masters (60+) A Singles

Quarterfinals

·        John Nett (Winona) def.  Paul Ernster (Lino Lakes) 21-9, 21-9

·        Bill Ingram (Woodbury) def. Paul Nelson (Hager City) 2-21, 21-12, 11-9

·        John  Miller (Edina) def. Bill G. Brown (Shoreview) 21-7, 21-6

·        Greg Taylor (Woodbury) def. Dan Levey (Minneapolis) 21-19, 21-6

 

Semifinals

·        Nett def. Ingram 21-6, 21-10

·        Miller def. Taylor 21-15, 21-5

 

Finals

·        Nett def. Miller 21-9, 21-11

 

Third Place

·        Taylor def. Ingram forfeit

 

Consolation 

·         Paul Nelson def. Bill Brown 21-14, 14-21, 11-6

 

 

Diamond Masters (70+) Singles

Quarterfinals

·        Jim Norman (Minneapolis) BYE

·        William J. Gimble (Plymouth) def. Brian Wessel (Hugo) 21-17, 21-14

·        Skip Kiland (Shoreview) def. Dick Faunce (Maple Grove) 21-1, 21-0

·        Ron Causton (New Brighton) BYE

 

Semifinals

·        Norman def. Gimble 21-4, 21-7

·        Causton def. Kiland 21-14, 21-6

 

Finals

·        Causton def. Norman 21-12, 21-8

 

Third Place

·         Kiland def. Gimble 21-8, 21-13

 

Consolation 

·         Faunce def. Wessel forfeit

 

 

Womens Singles (round robin)        

1.      Rebbeca Cole (Mankato)

2.      Callie Larsen (Minneapolis)

3.      Chelsey Barber (Savage)

4.      Hallie Wyckoff (Minneapolis)

 

 

Novice Singles

Preliminary Round

·        Kristi Knudsen (Rochester) def. Logan Uhlenhake (Mankato) 21-4, 21-14

·        Michael Glasenapp (Rochester) def. Mark Shook (Woodbury) 21-1, 21-2

·        Keith Holman (Minneapolis) def. Matthew Sarkinen (Roseville) 21-7, 21-13

·        Eric Ellestad (Minneapolis) def. Paul Kornmann (Crystal) 21-3, 21-12

·        Josh Faecke (Minneapolis) def. Jon Nuytten (Mankato) 21-7, 18-21, 11-4

·        Dan Pangerl (Pine City) def. Max Schaefer (Minneapolis) 21-11, 21-5

 

Round of Sixteen

·        Micah Dorfner (Mankato) def. Knudsen 21-2, 21-14

·        Glasenapp def. Justin Quinn (Minneapolis) 21-10, 21-3

·        Chris Delaney (Mankato) def. Trevor Kleineschay (Maple Grove) 21-0, 21-18

·        Holman def. Kevin Hirst (Minneapolis) 21-10, 21-17

·        Samson Finkelstein (St. Paul) def. Ellestad 21-3, 21-6

·        Matt Burr (Minneapolis) def.  Vern Miller (St. Paul) 21-7, 13-21, 11-3

·        Faecke def. Glenn Oslin (Mankato) forfeit

·        Nate Hoffmann (Minneapolis) def. Pangerl 21-11, 21-11

 

 

Quarterfinals

·        Dorfner def. Glasenapp 21-18, 21-17

·        Delaney def. Holman forfeit

·        Finkelstein def. Burr 21-4, 21-5

·        Hoffmann def. Faecke 21-12, 21-15

 

Semifinals

·        Delaney def. Dorfner 21-8, 21-9

·        Finkelstein def. Hoffmann 6-21, 21-2, 11-8

 

Finals

·         Delaney def. Finkelstein 17-21, 21-4, 11-6

 

Third Place

·         Dorfner def. Hoffmann 21-20, 21-3

 

Consolation 

·         Jon Nuytten def. Trevor Kleineschay 21-20, 21-8