Celebration of Tony Bertoni's Birthday of 93 Years

On October 17 there will be a gathering at Total Sports to celebrate Tony's Birthday. It will start at 1:00PM. Would appreciate getting this out to the MHA. This would allow for those who would like to attend, adjust their work schedule. If you have any questions please contact me.

Larry Reuben lreuben@sbcglobal.net

A Message From John Schandevel

I am writing this letter to all Michigan handballers.

First of all, after suffering a debilitating stroke on April 4, 2012, and spending time in two hospitals and a rehabilitation center (4 months total) I was able to come home on August 10, 2012.

I have a long way to go to regain my strength and mobility but I have begun the hard work (physical and occupational therapy) and have made reasonable progress so far.  I am getting around now in a wheelchair and with the help of a walker. I would like to think the wheelchair and the walker will not be permanent.

I have been overwhelmed by your expressions of concern and encouragement.  It has made a big difference in my outlook and  I will be forever grateful.

My wife and I look forward to seeing you in the near future, perhaps at one of the upcoming tournaments or one of the local courts.  Until then, thank you and God Bless.

Please note that it has been a privilege to serve the organization.  My plan is to continue.

John Schandevel

Michigan 2012 State 3-Wall Tournament Results

State Open Singles:

With 14 very talented players in the Open Singles, it had to be, and was, a
great event on Belle Isle, August 11 & 12, 2012!

Pete Dembeck, twice a runner-up in this tournament, played brilliantly
throughout, including in the championship match, where the very highly regarded
Matt Osburn, of Maumee, Ohio, although fighting valiantly, could not match the
ferocious, two-handed, relentless attack of Dembeck.



Dembeck wins his first Open Singles 3-Wall Championship, utilizing great corner kills , power drives
along the side walls, amazing "gets" and exceptional stamina!

Other exceptional matches in the Open were Matt Osburn over Jim Karner, in which
Matt trailed Karner in a tie-breaker,   4-10, and pulled it out.  Also, Rick
Leonard was badly beaten in  a fantastic performance by Pat Oliver in their
first game, but managed to reverse the roles, and win the match.  Also, Dembeck
over Thomas, Osburn over Williams, and Karner over Paul were good matches.

"A" Singles:

Players defeated in the first round of the Open Singles were placed into another
event called the "A" Singles.

Bill Sidebottom was the winner of this event, defeating Rob Louis-Ferdinand in
the final. John Friedrich from Columbus beat Marty Clemens in the A and was
playing Bill Sidebottom Jr., had lost the first game, was beating Billy in the
2nd game before he took an injury default.

B Singles:

Jason Block from Lansing area defeated a tough Nic Boileau.

Super Singles (60+):

This was a tough division:  Green, Thode, Graham, Price, Valentino, Sims,
Murray, Lowe - all legitimate contenders.

But, Glenn Paraskevin proved to be the best by a good margin.  Valentino, Lowe
and, in the final,  last year's winner, Green, all were overpowered by Glenn's
relentless power serves and power drives.  No contest!

Diamond Singles (70+):

Norman Young, once again, wins this event.  Bill Sidebottom Sr., second!

A huge thank you to Dale Chimenti for taking over all of the cooking and
hospitality responsibilities together with Robert Louis Ferdinand.

Our gratitude and thank you to Rick Leonard for his financial support with this
tournament.

Thanks again to  Bill Cantwell for his time in creating the draw, organizing the
tournament, and running the show....

And  thanks to PK Sims, Ed Green Joe Ivy for their assistance on-site.

Thanks to Bob Plater for this report.

Video of Michigan Handball Three Wall Doubles Championships July 2012

Conceived and produced by Bob Balch

2012 Michigan State 3-Wall Doubles Tournament Results

The Michigan Handball Association's annual 3-Wall State Doubles Handball Tournament was held Saturday, July 7, 2012 at the Saint Clair Shores great 3-wall facility!  It was a great, sunny, hot day with no rain. 

Thirty four (34) players, spread among five divisions, took part.  As always, there were many outstanding performances and exciting games, all of which were enjoyed by a good crowd of  young and older fans of handball!  The results follow:

 Open:   
Matt Osborne and Jim Karner  -  Champions 
Pat Oliver and Bill Sidebottom Jr.  -  2nd.

Golden Doubles:
Marty Clemens and Tom Clemens  -  Champions
Bob Straetmans and Chris Monsour  -  2nd.

Super Doubles:
Rick Graham and Jim Lowe  -  Champions 
Paraskevin and Carl Valentino  -  2nd.

Diamond Doubles:
Norm Young and John Linconhol  -  Champions 
Jim Reitmeyer and Harvey Braun  -  2nd.

B  Doubles:
Nic Boileau and Logan Siegel  -  Champions
Mike McDonald and Bob Mitchell  -  2nd.

Reported by Bob Plater

LA Fitness Doubles League Champions

Dear Handballers;

Last night doubles league finals was classic handball at it's finest. Each player was wished good luck - each team figured out their keys to win the game - and then the match. The play in both matches was fiece and competitive with each match going the three game distance. Congratulations go out to the team winners.

A Division: 2012 Spring Championship Match

John Early\Rick Howe won vs. Dan Costello\Glen Paraskevin

B Division: 2012 Spring Championship Match

Harvey Braun\Mike Youngerman won vs Nic Boileau\Logan Siegel

Thank you to everyone of you who attended our year end party at Marinelli's. It was fun, full of good humor and true camaraderie, and as an added bonus, because Bob Kozak was not able to attend there was no fast talk of adjusting handicaps. I want to thank Tim Newhouse for setting us up at Marinelli's. Little thing add up to a very fun event. For those of you unable to attend you are in our thoughts and we hope to see you at the next one.

Thank you to all the players who together made this a great handball season. Our 2012 fall season will begin at the end of September.

Have a great indoor\outdoor spring and summer.

See you on the courts!

Dan Costello

John Schandevel

MHA President John Schandevel suffered a stroke Wednesday evening. John was warming up at LA Fitness in Troy and having some difficulty with his eyesight and was feeling dizzy. Thanks to the quick intervention by Bob Hilsinger, Tony Stachurski and Kevin McGivern, John was immediately driven over to the hospital.

While in the ER John suffered the stroke and hospital staff were able to attend to him right away. The prognosis for John’s recovery is good, but he will have several months of therapy ahead of him.

We all wish John a complete and speedy recovery.
MHA

UPDATE: Tuesday May 8
MHA President John Schandevel is now continuing his rehabilitation from his recent stroke at Woodward Hills located at 39312 Woodward Avenue Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 (248) 205-3573.

John’s wife Marcia says that John is feeling much better and progressing well and he seems quite encouraged. He would very much welcome his handball buddies to visit when possible. If he is not in his room, chances are they would find him in the gym where they are welcomed to observe his hard work and its results.

We wish John continued progress and are keeping him in our thoughts.

MHA

UPDATE: Monday, April 9

John is no longer in intensive care, but he remains in the hospital. John has lost the use of his left side, but his speech and eye sight are normal.

He will have to be transferred to a rehabilitation facility for therapy to re-learn how to use his left side.

Please keep John in your thoughts and prayers. We will keep you informed of his progress and will let you know when John feels up to having visitors.

MHA

2012 MHA State 4-Wall Doubles Results

The DAC (Detroit Athletic Club) and Rick Leonard hosted the MHA State 4-Wall Doubles Tournament on Saturday, March 31, 2012. What a fantastic setting!

Thanks to the DAC members and staff, and especially our hard-working sponsor Rick Leonard, for making everyone feel welcome!

Jim Karner was the star of the tournament, making awesome shot after awesome shot, thrilling the crowd! Karner and partner, Robert Louis-Ferdinand, won the top prize, the Open Doubles. The final match against the renowned Ohio pair, Jim Corrigan and Phil Kirk, was as exciting as it gets.

Results:

	WINNERS	2ND PLACE
Open	Jim Karner/RobertLouis-Ferdinand	Jim Corrigan/Phil Kirk
50's	Marty Clemens/Tom Clemens	Tom Fabbri/Chris Mebus
60's	Rick Graham/Jim Lowe	Rick Howe/Larry Jacobs
70's	Norm Young/David Dressel	Bob Plater/John Schandevel
B	PK Sims II/Presley Sims III	Ted Grammatico/Arnold Lackey

Submitted by Robert Plater

Mike "Big Mike" Lentini

The Michigan Handball community mourns the passing of Mike "Big Mike" Lentini. It was common knowledge that Mike suffered from a variety of illnesses for many many years. It is no surprise, but nonetheless sad that the gentle giant finally succumbed. A fixture at St. Clair Shores, we will miss his quiet demeanor and innate kindness.

There is no information available at this time as to the date of his passing or whether any arrangements will be forthcoming.

2012 State 4-Wall Doubles Pairings and Start times

Please CLICK HERE to View Pairings and Brackets.

Please CLICK HERE for Start Times.

See Post below for Directions and Tournament Details.

2012 State 4-Wall Doubles Details and Entry Form

Please CLICK HERE to obtain a printable entry form.

Michigan Handball Association
2012 STATE 4 WALL DOUBLES TOURNAMENT
March 30 – April 1, 2012
SITE:
Detroit Athletic Club
240 Madison Ave.
Detroit, MI

ENTRY FEE: $60.00 per team. Additional $10 fee for each non MHA member.
Free for all students and players age 24 or under.

DEADLINE: Entries must be received by Wednesday, March 28, 2012.

ELIGIBILITY:Open to all players. Losers must referee. Eye guards mandatory!

FORMAT: Current U.S.H.A rules apply. Losers must referee. Eyeguards mandatory!

AWARDS: 1st place each event.

MAIL ENTRIES:
MHA, 3155 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 116, Troy, MI 48084, (248)649-6644

START TIMES:
Start times will be posted on the MHA web page at mhandball.org on Thursday, March 29th, 2012.

THE GLUE

A few words to thank Bill Cantwell for his long-time contributions to the Michigan Handball Association....

It recently occurred to me that both John Schandevel and myself receive many thanks and the gratitude of so many of our members for whatever we do as officers in the MHA and that it is really Bill who works very quietly and truly without a thought to the receipt of any accolades.

I give lip service to the idea that ours is strictly philanthropic and while I outwardly shun the many thanks I receive, I quietly enjoy the affection and respect I am so fortunate to enjoy. Yet, it is Bill who has been here the longest, who is so busy with his CPA practice, who just gets the work done without any solicitation.

Bill has been on the Board of Directors for over 24 years. Through every administration, he has remained steadfast in his commitment to the Michigan Handball Association and while one may question just how much work there is, trust that there's plenty. Administrating 4 tournaments a year is work.

And there is so much more. (It should be known that Bill is also our business manager) While Bill is compensated for the public accounting needs of our Association, trust that his work outside of those duties is sometimes overwhelming and far exceeds the scope of his duties as business manager.

It is Bill who really is unwavering in his work ethic and is always there. We are always on the phone or sending him an email inquiring as to the status of a myriad of issues...and it always gets done. Often, I operate in the shadow of his contributions and through his efforts, made to look so good. In those moments when I consider stepping down, I remember just how long he has been there. I am grateful for his always being there as a peer and friend.

If you agree, take a moment next time you see or speak to him and offer your thanks.

Dale Chimenti
Vice President
Michigan Handball Association

2012 State 4-Wall Handball Singles Tournament Results

State 4-Wall Handball Singles Tournament 2012

The Genesys Athletic Club was a great venue for Michigan's number one, four-wall, handball tournament, the State Singles.

There were five divisions, each having very competitive, exciting matches.

Pat Meyers of Davison, Michigan, withstood the onslaught of Pat Oliver, Detroit, and Matt Paul of Ann Arbor, Michigan, to win his first State Open Singles Championship. All three combatants displayed amazing two-handed power. But, Meyers's backwall shots and shot placements seemed to be slightly sharper than the others, paving his way to victory. Great entertainment!

Flint's Duane Constanza, displaying driving shots, over and over, with either hand, wore down his opponents, winning the final match over Saginaw's Jim LaFleur. Constanza won the 50+ division.

Rick Graham (Ann Arbor) and Jim Lowe (Temperance), long time opponents, as well as long time doubles teammates, battled for the 60+ crown (as they did last year). Rick, showing off his lack-of-unforced-errors game, along with his super “off-hand”, repeated as 60+ champion!

Randy Eschenroder, Ann Arbor, repeated as 70+ champion, putting his flawless ceiling game into action!

Ted Grammatico, Ann Arbor, won the B-Singles tournament over a tough field, including Presley Sims III (second) and P.K. Sims II (third).

Nice to see long-time handball enthusiasts from Flint and Saginaw, Art Pruitt, Charlie Doyle and Tom Mudd on the scene.

Thanks to Pat Meyers and his son for manning the tournament desk all day!

RP

4 Wall Singles Start times

9:45 - Matt Paul, Pat Oliver, Bieri, Pat Myers, R. Hubert, Mayer, Sims III, Grammatico, LaFleur, Costanzo, Doan, Costello

11:00 Paraskevin, SimS II, Lowe, Luchovich, Armbruster, McIntyre, Plater, Murphy, Eshenroder

1:00 Graham

Shootout at the MAC - Sat. Feb. 18

From Carl Valentino:

There will be a doubles shootout at the Michigan Athletic Club this Saturday, February 18th, at 10am.

The cost is $20 per person and the teams will be decided by committee.

The MSU Handball team will be there and some of the funds will help support their program. Interested players should be at the MAC Saturday morning; no early entry is required. Questions should be directed to Carl Valentino, chandball1@yahoo.com

MHA