Dave Oliver Passes

It is with tremendous sadness that we share news of the passing of Dave Oliver this morning. We have no details of the nature of his death at this time and only bring you this news in an effort to inform our community of friends of this shocking reality. We will advise you of any further news of Dave's funeral arrangements when they are available. On behalf of the entire handball community, we mourn his passing.

Awards banquet and holiday party- DECEMBER 4, 2009 - BE THERE

As previously announced, this year's awards banquet and holiday party will be held at Total Sports. The festivites begin at 6:30 PM on Friday, December 4, 2009.
We will be serving food (buffet style), beer and soft drinks. Mixed drinks will be available at a cash bar.

Total Sports Bar and Grill is located at 40501 Production Dr., Harrison, MI, 48045. (586) 463-2000

Thanks to the following sponsors for their financial support to make this event possible:

Barry Doan
Frank Erbecker
Victor Battani
Glenn Paraskevin
John O'Neill
Bill Cantwell
Dave Vanecek
Jack Digiovani
Matt Paul
Bruce Kennedy
Bob Howard
Dick Cousino
Harvey Braun
Larry Brown
Ken Luchkovitz


Please post this message at your club. Thank you.

Belle Isle "Albatross" A-B Doubles Tournament
Results



















Ted Grammatico [left] and partner Ed Taylor [right]
in finals match with winners Pete Dembeck and Mike Froehlich.
[click Pictures for larger views]

















Winners of Consolations Warren McAlpine [center] Jim O'Donnell [right] vs
Dan Costello [left] and Don Colone [front court].

Special thanks Bob Kozak, Carl Harlow, Ken Luchkowitz, Tom O,Brien & Glenn Paraskevin for their help in making this a success.

Thanks to this year's Sponsor:
Lutheran Social Services of Michigan
"Motorvation Drive" Car Donation Program

Organized and Directed by the
"Belle Isle Handball Commissioner" Bob Kozak

Pairings: Click Chart for Larger View.

Sat. Sept. 19, 2009.

$20 Entry fee.

Food and Drink provided.

Open to players of all strengths -- Teams are matched up to equalize strengths.

2009 Michigan State Three Wall Doubles Handball Championhip Results

Congratulations to the winners of the three wall doubles tournament this past weekend:

Open Division - Pete Hanover and Phil Kirk over Pete Brown and Bill Sidebottom Jr.

B Divison - Arnold Lackey and Glen Paraskevin over Hank and Bob Kozak

Golden Masters - Rick Howe and Joe Ivy over Larry Price and Glen Paraskevin

Super Masters - Tom Michael and Ken Luchkovitz over Bob Hilsinger and Bill Sidebottom Sr.

Special thanks to Carl Harlow, Bob Kozak and Ken Luchkovitz for handling the cooking and hospitality duties.

Picture: Pete Brown lines up shot. L-R Robert Louis-Ferdinand referees. Pete Hanover, Phil Kirk, Pete Brown, Bill Sidebottom, Jr. [Click Picture to pop up larger view]

State 4-wall Singles & Doubles Results - 2009

MHA State 4-Wall Singles Tournament
Michigan Athletic Club (The MAC), East Lansing, April 4,2009

EVENT CHAMPIONS
Open Pete Hanover -- Lansing
Golden Masters Steve Fase -- Rockford
Super Masters Larry Price -- Ann Arbor
Diamond Masters Bob Plater -- Detroit
"B" Matthew Paul-- Lansing
"C" Sketter Kittle-- Lansing
Youth Dylan Graham -- Ann Arbor

READ DETAILS

MHA State Doubles 4-Wall Handball Tournament
Held at the Genesys Athletic Club, February 21, 2009

EVENT CHAMPIONS

OPEN DOUBLES Pete Dembeck/ Dave Oliver
GOLDEN MASTERS Joe Ivy / John Early
SUPER MASTERS Jim Lowe / Rick Graham
DIAMOND MASTERS Norm Young / Carl Porter
B DOUBLES Rick Leonard / Clark Forward
READ DETAILS

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Details: MHA State 4-Wall Singles Tournament

The Open: Pete Hanover made it to the finals of Michigan's most prestigious singles tournament for the seventh consecutive year -- an amazing accomplishment. And, he won for the third time, defeating Pete Brown in the final. Hanover had his game in high gear against Brown, holding him to 16 and 5 points. Brown, Michigan's all-time most proflic winner with 12 state-open titles, although hitting the ball very hard most of the time, just could not score against Hanover's defense. The small crowd of fans witnessed a great match!
Quarter Finals: Pat Oliver (Detroit) d, Craig Sickmiller (Detroit) in a tie-breaker.
Semi Finals: Pete Hanover (Lansing) d. Pat Oliver 3,5; Pete Brown (Detroit) d. Mike Fagan (Lansing) injury default.
Finals: Hanover d. Brown 16,5.
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Golden Masters (50+): Steve Fase, playing fantastic handball, dominated this division with wins over Ed Kulka, Joe Ivy and defending champion Garyt Dahl. Steve has amazing shot-making skills and defensive savvy, accompanied by a gentlemanly demeanor.

Quarter Finals: Jim LaFleur (Saginaw) d. Tom Fabbri (Detroit) 11,12; Joe Ivy (Detroit) d. Ed Green (Detroit) 11,5; Steve Fase (Rockford) d. Ed Kulka (Ann Arbor) 12,16.
Semi Finals: Garyt Dahl (Lansing) d. LaFleur 6,3; Fase d. Ivy 13,8.
Finals: Fase d. Dahl 13,6.
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Super Masters (60+): This was a strong group of eight competitors. Defending champion Norm Young had his hands full with the likes of Rick Graham and newly-qualified Larry Price in the field. Price, long a top state contender, demonstrated his expertise, convincingly, in winning the title.

Quarter Finals: Norm Young (Lansing) d. Tom Mudd (Saginaw) 9,5; Larry Price (Ann Arbor) d. P.K. Sims II (Detroit) 12,12; Rick Graham (Ann Arbor) d. James Moore (Wyoming) 2,5; Carl Valentino (Lansing) d. Charlie Doyle (Flint) 4,2.
Semi Finals: Price d. Young 5,5; Graham d. Valentino 5,5.
Finals: Price d. Graham 14,12..
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Deamond Masters (70+): Only three competed for this title, each bringing much experience into the event. Bob Plater came out on top in a round-robin format, winning both of his matches. David Dodds split his two matches, taking second. Carl Porter took third.

Round Robin: Bob Plater (Detroit) d. David Dodds (Flint) (9),8,2;
Dodds d. Carl Porter (Lansing) 12,7;
Plater d. Porter 8,12

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"B": Matthew Paul rose above a tough pack in this field of nine, playing outstanding handball.

Preliminary: Karl Hanover (Lansing) d. Christofer Kerby 7,9.
Quarter Finals: P.K. Sims II (Detroit) d. Hanover 11,(16),5; Jeff Kanake (Lansing) d. Damon Valentino (Lansing) 2,5; Dale Chimenti (Detroit) d. Simon Hanover (Lansing) (12),20,6; Matthew Paul (Lansing) d. Eric Joneson (Lansing) 3,3.
Semi Finals: Kanake d. Sims 12,17; Paul d. Chimenti 6,3.
Finals: Paul d. Kanake 12,7.

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"C": Sketter Kittle excelled in this group of ten, determined runners.

Preliminary: Andrew Rockwell d. Marwan Nashel 16,5; Sketter Kittle (Lansing) d. Anthony Guarnaccia 3,14.
Quarter Finals: Charlie Doyle (Flint) d. Rockwell 13,10; Tom Pritchard (Lansing) d. Joe Green (Detroit) 7,13; Roger Drummond (Detroit) d. Rob Graham (Ann Arbor) 6,1; Kittle d. DavidDodds (Flint) (19),9,7.
Semi Finals: Pritchard d. Doyle (20),4,4; Kittle d. Drummond 14,19.
Finals: Kittle d. Pritchard (15),14,5.

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Youth Singles: Five young, excited athletes had much fun in this hotly contested draw, with Dylan Graham outlasting them all.

Preliminary: Tyler Sickmiller (Detroit) d. Clayton Schulenberg 10,2.
Semi Finals: Dylan Graham (Ann Arbor) d. Sickmiller 8,14; Max Fgan (Lansing) d. Emmet Kulka (Ann Arbor) 13,8.
Finals: Graham d. Fagan 13,13.


Thanks to:
Norm Young, Carl Valentino, Mike Stock, Keith Thode, Carl Porter, Dick Sheldon and the Michigan Athletic Club (MAC) members and staff! Great hosts, great facility, great time!
Submitted by: Robert Plater

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Details: MHA State Doubles 4-Wall Handball Tournament

OPEN DOUBLES

Six teams competed for the most desired doubles title in Michigan. The competition was intense; but one man, Pete Dembeck, was not to be denied. Dembeck did everything just a little bit better than everyone else and led his team to the Open championship. Dembeck's partner, Dave Oliver, helped out with steady front/right court play. Dave's nephew, Pat Oliver, who recently had arthroscopic surgery to repair a knee problem, was slightly off his game in the finals, partially because Dembeck was forcing tough returns. Pat Myers was excellent on defense, getting to "ungetable" shots. But, Dembeck stood out, playing amazing handball. Incidentally, this was Dave Oliver's 14th MHA Open 4-Wall Doubles title, tying him with Joe Ivy for the most wins.

First Round: Marty Clemens (Nashville,IN)/Tom Clemens (Saginaw) d. Ted Grammatico/George Goodman (Ann Arbor) 4,9; Mike Fagan/Pete Hanover (Lansing) d. Matt Paul/Ed Kulka (Ann Arbor) 5,12.
Semi Finals: Pat Oliver/Pat Myers (Detroit/Flint) d. Clemens/Clemens 15,10; Pete Dembeck/Dave Oliver (Detroit) d. Fagan/Hanover 18,12.
Finals: Dembeck/D.Oliver d. Myers/P.Oliver 10,11 _______________________________________________

GOLDEN MASTERS

The 50+ division had four, evenly-matched teams, the outcome of each match not known until the final point was made. Tom Fabbri's back-wall shot mastery led the way in the first game of the championship match, aided by Rick Howe's consistent sharp shooting. In the second game, Joe Ivy, who struggled in the first game, rebounded to a higher level, whcih gave his partner, John Early, a chance to play "his game" (hard-hitting corner "kills" and ceiling shots). The tie-breaker went to Ivy and Early, both playing their best against tired opponents.

Semi Finals: Joe Ivy/John Early (Detroit) d. Mark Casey/Ed Green (Detroit) 19,15; Rick Howe/Tom Fabbri (Detroit) d. Garyt Dahl/Jim LaFleur (Lansing/Saginaw) 10,(15),2.

Final: Ivy/Early d. Howe/Fabbri (5),13,4.
_______________________________________________

SUPER MASTERS

A "Super" team won the super masters (60+) as Jim Lowe and Rick Graham added to their huge collection of doubles championship trophies. No team got more than 11 points in any game against this awesome duo.

Semi Finals: Jim Lowe/Rick Graham (Temperance/Ann Arbor) d. Dave Dodds/Pat Murphy (Flint) 8,3; Larry Price/Tom Michael (Ann Arbor/Detroit) d. P.K.Sims/Jim McGurk (Detroit) 11,8.

Finals: Lowe/Graham d. Price/Michael 9,11.
_______________________________________________

DIAMOND MASTERS

Only two teams participated. Norm Young had too many good shots, making the difference in the 70+ field..
Finals: Norm Young/Carl Porter (Lansing) d. Harvey Braun/Bob Plater (Detroit) 9,11.
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B Doubles

Only four teams competed in the B Doubles this year. Rick Leonard and Clark Forward prevailed, winning a tough, 3-gme final over Bill Sidebottom, Jr. and Glen Williams..

Semi Finals: Bill Sidebottom, Jr./Glen Wiliams (Detroit) d. P.K.Sims/Jim McGurk (Detroit) 17,1; Rick Leonard/Clark Forward (Ann Arbor) d. Eric Joneson/Karl Hanover (Lansing) 14,7.
Final: Leonard/Forward d. Sidebottom/Williams 14,(5),6

Consolation

Braun/Plater outlasted the field in this one (some teams left without playing) defeating Dodds/Murphy (19),15,5.

Thanks to Dale Chimenti for negotiating with Genesys to gain the use of their fantastic sports and fitness venue for our tournament. Also, thanks to John Schandevel and Bill Cantwell, along with Dale, for all the work they put into our MHA. The players were very appreciative of the generous food voucher given each of them to spend at the facilitiy's restaurant. Thanks to Pat Myers, Art Pruitt, Hugh Armbruster, Gary Nehring and Bob Colles (the best to your son) for helping make the tournament run smoothly, and to the Genesys Athletic Club and their members for bearing with us on a very busy day in which every parking space in their huge lot was occupied.

Article by Bob Plater

Request from Ireland

Hi, I'm a final year Athletic Therapy and Training student in DCU in Ireland and I'm doing my final year thesis on the Epidemiology of Handball Injuries. I'm handing out a questionnaire on this to as many clubs as possible and I was hoping your club could help out also.

I've attached the questionnaire and was wondering if it would be possible for you to hand it out to your handball players in your club or alternatively I could post them to you. The return address for questionnaires is dcuhandballquestionnaire@gmail.com. Or my postal address is: Siobhán O Connor, c/o School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin 9.

Thanks a million for your help if you have any questions be sure to ring me or email me back, Siobhán O Connor. (0861639016)

Click Here to Download the Questionaire.

DAC Postponed until Fall 2009

The DAC will need to postpone our Master’s Handball Tournament scheduled for March 2-6. We thank those of you who did sign up for your interest, but we find the lack of sign-ups will not be beneficial for a successful and enjoyable tournament.

The DAC is committed to the Masters tournament, thus, we will be offering a chance again in the fall to be a part of this long standing tradition. I trust you understand and I am sorry for any inconvenience this cancellation may cause.

We will be sending out refunds in the next week and will look forward to providing a top notch tournament in the fall of 2009!!

Sincerely,
Rob Barr
Athletic Director
Detroit Athletic Club

Killshot Winter 2009 Newsletter

...has been released.

Click Here to view FULL COLOR high resolution [.pdf] version