Springtime brings out the best in Detroit. Warm spring weather, flowers popping up, Detroit Tiger and Red Wing fever; a feeling of goodwill and hope permeates all of us. We have survived the long winter and are now ready to enjoy the fruits of living in beautiful Michigan.
What better way to kick off spring than attending our semi-annual LA Fitness handball doubles league championship and end of season banquet at Marinelli's in Troy, Wednesday April 20th at the LA Fitness Troy location. Championship play starts 4pm with dinner immediately after. It will be a lot of fun - plan on coming.
A Division:
Who finishes 1st, 2nd or 3rd is still to be decided with the top three teams all within 3pts of each other. Currently the team of Piccolo/Paraskevin and Blake/Lukevich are tied for first with 22ts. Close behind and always dangerous with 19pts is the Early/Howard duo. Rounding out the A division bracket will be Seguin/Vanacek currently with 16pts. With games to be played and reported the final playoff pairings are still to be determined.
B Division:
When it comes down to crunch time - playoff time - big time players show up. And this season is no different. Hilsinger, Palazzo, Braun, Kozak - all stars in their own right -are all leading their respective squads back to the playoffs. Hilsinger/Ferro (26 pts), season long league leaders currently leads the surging squad of Harvey Braun and Mike Youngerman(25pts) by one point. In third place with 19pts lurk last seasons runner-up Palazzo/Shevin. Rounding out the final spot for the B bracket is the cinderella story of the year. Bob Kozak and Carl Harlow with 9pts are looking to become this years handball version of the "
Butler" story.
Semifinal matches will be posted on Friday - Semi-final matches to be played on Monday the 18th @ 4pm - Finals Wednesday the 20th @ 4pm at LA Fitness Troy.
Teams - Please report final scores by Thursday April 14th.
All are welcome to come celebrate with us at Marinellis in Troy (5:30-6:00pm) after the finals - it is a lot of fun; handball players love to tell stories, come and share yours.
Sincerely,
Dan Costello
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
2011 State Singles at the DAC - Report by Keith Thode
This was the finest MHA tournament in many ways in many years - maybe ever. It was certainly the best organized. To that, we owe Rick Leonard. This was our first chance to observe Rick Leonard's organizational skills applied to one of our handball tournaments.
I have organized and run state tournaments, assisted with many others, and attended many national tournaments, working closely and rooming with the Executive Director of the USHA. I have somewhat of an understanding of what it takes to run a tournament from start to finish. While the national and world tournaments require more work due to the larger scale, a state tournament director, dedicated to the task, still has an obligation to the tournament overall as well as to each individual player. Anyone who has ever run a tournament just had a chuckle at the last sentence, for it is impossible to please everyone. The best one can hope is to please the majority and to not anger anyone more than necessary.
After the entries were collected, Rick and I began our phone conversations regarding the draw and the seeding. My initial concern, before we started, as it would be with anyone who hasn't run one of our tournaments before, was whether he was up to the task. While we all know what a fine player and person Rick is, I had no idea the lengths he, or anyone else for that matter, could go to achieve the goal of a great tournament.
Rick took my ideas, combined them with his ideas, added some of his own, and then proceeded to treat the task as if it were his life's work. I know more than anyone else what he endured, because of our many phone conservations throughout the entire process. Rick went above and beyond what I consider prudent to maintain sanity. I suspect at some point, he may have actually have been bleeding from the eyes.
In most tournaments, there is one or more players with requests for special considerations, such as time constraints, travel distance, desire to not play certain opponents in the first round, etc. Most times, a request or two can be accommodated. In this case, there were many requests - much more than usual. Rick took every one of those requests into consideration and accommodated all of them. I'm not sure that any other tournament director, including myself, would, or could, figure all those requests into the final product.
I'm glad that I was there to assist Rick, and to witness, close-up, what he achieved and how he achieved it. This tournament would not have been the absolute pleasure that it was without him.
Then there was Rob Barr, who not only entered the tournament and played well, but had other concurrent pressing duties as the DAC Athletic Director. Even when he wasn't present at the courts, he was immediately available in the building for whatever we might need. Indeed, when I arrived at 8:30am Sunday morning, one half hour before the matches were scheduled, there was Rob dust mopping the floors of the courts. I'm sure that this is not in his job description.
The beautiful boards used for the draw sheets mounted on the wall, were the work of Rob Barr. Quite frankly, I find this sort of treatment rather embarrassing. We're not used to this kind of treatment. After all, we're just handball players.
Then there was the food and drink. Again, embarrassing. I think that Rick and Rob were just trying to make us, and all of our previous tournaments look bad. It may not be universally known, but it was also no secret that Rick also helped to fund this tournament financially - in a big, and again embarrassing, way.
I'm probably missing some other issues and people deserving of accolades. This was a tournament that will be remembered as though it was something more than just a state tournament.
Thank you Rick, Robb and the DAC for spoiling us rotten.
Keith Thode
I have organized and run state tournaments, assisted with many others, and attended many national tournaments, working closely and rooming with the Executive Director of the USHA. I have somewhat of an understanding of what it takes to run a tournament from start to finish. While the national and world tournaments require more work due to the larger scale, a state tournament director, dedicated to the task, still has an obligation to the tournament overall as well as to each individual player. Anyone who has ever run a tournament just had a chuckle at the last sentence, for it is impossible to please everyone. The best one can hope is to please the majority and to not anger anyone more than necessary.
After the entries were collected, Rick and I began our phone conversations regarding the draw and the seeding. My initial concern, before we started, as it would be with anyone who hasn't run one of our tournaments before, was whether he was up to the task. While we all know what a fine player and person Rick is, I had no idea the lengths he, or anyone else for that matter, could go to achieve the goal of a great tournament.
Rick took my ideas, combined them with his ideas, added some of his own, and then proceeded to treat the task as if it were his life's work. I know more than anyone else what he endured, because of our many phone conservations throughout the entire process. Rick went above and beyond what I consider prudent to maintain sanity. I suspect at some point, he may have actually have been bleeding from the eyes.
In most tournaments, there is one or more players with requests for special considerations, such as time constraints, travel distance, desire to not play certain opponents in the first round, etc. Most times, a request or two can be accommodated. In this case, there were many requests - much more than usual. Rick took every one of those requests into consideration and accommodated all of them. I'm not sure that any other tournament director, including myself, would, or could, figure all those requests into the final product.
I'm glad that I was there to assist Rick, and to witness, close-up, what he achieved and how he achieved it. This tournament would not have been the absolute pleasure that it was without him.
Then there was Rob Barr, who not only entered the tournament and played well, but had other concurrent pressing duties as the DAC Athletic Director. Even when he wasn't present at the courts, he was immediately available in the building for whatever we might need. Indeed, when I arrived at 8:30am Sunday morning, one half hour before the matches were scheduled, there was Rob dust mopping the floors of the courts. I'm sure that this is not in his job description.
The beautiful boards used for the draw sheets mounted on the wall, were the work of Rob Barr. Quite frankly, I find this sort of treatment rather embarrassing. We're not used to this kind of treatment. After all, we're just handball players.
Then there was the food and drink. Again, embarrassing. I think that Rick and Rob were just trying to make us, and all of our previous tournaments look bad. It may not be universally known, but it was also no secret that Rick also helped to fund this tournament financially - in a big, and again embarrassing, way.
I'm probably missing some other issues and people deserving of accolades. This was a tournament that will be remembered as though it was something more than just a state tournament.
Thank you Rick, Robb and the DAC for spoiling us rotten.
Keith Thode
Monday, April 4, 2011
2011 State 4-wall Champions
Held this past weekend, April 1st thru 3rd, the venerable DAC hosted the 2011 State of Michigan 4 Wall State Singles.
The Directors of the Michigan Handball Association on behalf of the membership, would like to thank Rick Leonard [R], his company Long-Term Care Resources, Robb Barr [L], Athletic Director of the Detroit Athletic Club, and Keith Thode for their dedication and hard-work in staging and running the best Tournament in Michigan in recent history.
We are grateful for the organizational skills and financial support of both Rick and Rob on behalf of the DAC, without whose commitment, we would not have had a tournament so spectacularly successful, and we are so grateful to Keith Thode for his ability to "seed the draft" and spend his entire weekend running the tournament alongside Rick and Robb.
63 players entered and competed in divisions ranging from Open through Diamond Masters, with ages ranging from 18 through the 70's. A fantastic turn-out.
As a final note, we congratulate the Michigan State University players, both Women and Men for your great performances and look forward to seeing you again.
Thank you to all! Next up......the Summer 3 Wall tournaments.....Stay tuned!
MHA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Directors of the Michigan Handball Association on behalf of the membership, would like to thank Rick Leonard [R], his company Long-Term Care Resources, Robb Barr [L], Athletic Director of the Detroit Athletic Club, and Keith Thode for their dedication and hard-work in staging and running the best Tournament in Michigan in recent history.We are grateful for the organizational skills and financial support of both Rick and Rob on behalf of the DAC, without whose commitment, we would not have had a tournament so spectacularly successful, and we are so grateful to Keith Thode for his ability to "seed the draft" and spend his entire weekend running the tournament alongside Rick and Robb.
63 players entered and competed in divisions ranging from Open through Diamond Masters, with ages ranging from 18 through the 70's. A fantastic turn-out.
As a final note, we congratulate the Michigan State University players, both Women and Men for your great performances and look forward to seeing you again.
Thank you to all! Next up......the Summer 3 Wall tournaments.....Stay tuned!
MHA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Open
Pete Hanover [R] wins vs Pete Dembeck [L] (19), 9, 8
B
Paul Straetmans [R] wins vs Dan Costello [L] 11,17
C
George Xue wins vs Brian Kim 17,3
Golden Masters
Bobby Straetmans [R] wins vs Joe Ivy [L] 9,14
Super Masters
Rick Graham [R] wins over Jim Lowe [L]15, 16
Diamond Masters
Randy Eschenroder [R] wins round-robin over
Plater [2nd] [R] [ and Thorton [3rd] [L]
Photos Courtesy of Keith Thode
Thursday, March 31, 2011
2011 State 4-Wall Tournament Pairings
Click Here for the Brackets
Pops up a PDF with all Brackets - Open - Golden Masters - Super Masters - Diamond Masters
Click Here for the Tournament Overview
Pops up a PDF with everything you need to know about the DAC venue and events.
Pops up a PDF with all Brackets - Open - Golden Masters - Super Masters - Diamond Masters
Click Here for the Tournament Overview
Pops up a PDF with everything you need to know about the DAC venue and events.
Friday, March 11, 2011
MHA State Doubles 4-Wall Handball Tournament - Report by Bob Plater
Report courtesy of Bob Plater
What a great facility Michigan Athletic Club, February 19, 2011] in which to hold a handball tournament - The Michigan Athletic Club (The MAC) in East Lansing. Thanks to the MAC members and staff for their hospitality, and to Norm Young and Mike Fagan, who ran the tournament efficiently! The MAC was very active, hosting a tennis tournament at the same time as the handball tournament, while MAC members did their regular work-outs, the atmosphere being at high level of excitement. All of this plus a shirt and food for the handball participants!
The Open
Six teams competed in the State's number one 4-wall tournament. There were no easy games, all players being highly talented. The "gets" and "kills" were exciting and amazing throughout the draw. Ed Kulka and Matt Paul took the first game from defending champions Pete Hanover and Mike Fagan, before bowing out.
What a great facility Michigan Athletic Club, February 19, 2011] in which to hold a handball tournament - The Michigan Athletic Club (The MAC) in East Lansing. Thanks to the MAC members and staff for their hospitality, and to Norm Young and Mike Fagan, who ran the tournament efficiently! The MAC was very active, hosting a tennis tournament at the same time as the handball tournament, while MAC members did their regular work-outs, the atmosphere being at high level of excitement. All of this plus a shirt and food for the handball participants!
The Open
Six teams competed in the State's number one 4-wall tournament. There were no easy games, all players being highly talented. The "gets" and "kills" were exciting and amazing throughout the draw. Ed Kulka and Matt Paul took the first game from defending champions Pete Hanover and Mike Fagan, before bowing out.
A great match, Joe Ivy and Mike Bontumasi against Pat Myers and Pat Oliver, ended in a tie-breaker.
And, the final match, pitting the defending champions against the defending runners-up, was as good as it gets, all four players demonstrating fantastic effort, determination, scrambling, and shot-making.
C Doubles
Three teams competed in a round-robin format: Brian Kim & George Xue played in their second event, winning this one. Contenders were Sean Metcalf and Max Prout, and, Rob Graham & Dakota Gates.
Kim/Xue d. Graham/Dakota 7,9. Kim/Xue d. Metcalf/Prout 14,2. Graham/Gates d. Metcalf/Prout 7,2.
Champions: Kim/Xue. Second: Graham/Gates.
Both teams deserved to win - same as last year - but only one can. Pete and Mike eked it out. Pat and Pat are runners-up for the third year in a row ( a great achievement). Congratulations to Hanover and Fagan, State Champions for the third time in the last five years!
Preliminary: Ed Kulka/Matt Paul (Ann Arbor) d. Eric Joneson/Dale Cole (Lansing) 14,5. Joe Ivy/Mike Bontumasi (Detroit) d. Sam Eyde/Charles Drayton (Lansing) 11,11.
Semi Finals: Pete Hanover/Mike Fagan (Lansing) d. Kulka/Paul (19),8,3. Pat Oliver (Detroit)/Pat Myers (Flint) d/ Ivy/Bontumasi (19),15,6.
Finals: Hanover/Fagan d. Oliver/Myers 19,19.
Preliminary: Ed Kulka/Matt Paul (Ann Arbor) d. Eric Joneson/Dale Cole (Lansing) 14,5. Joe Ivy/Mike Bontumasi (Detroit) d. Sam Eyde/Charles Drayton (Lansing) 11,11.
Semi Finals: Pete Hanover/Mike Fagan (Lansing) d. Kulka/Paul (19),8,3. Pat Oliver (Detroit)/Pat Myers (Flint) d/ Ivy/Bontumasi (19),15,6.
Finals: Hanover/Fagan d. Oliver/Myers 19,19.
========================================
MASTERS (40+)
Three teams competed in a round-robin format: Jim LaFleur/Kim Koehler (Saginaw) d. Duane Costanzo/Ken Mayer (Flint) 20,16. Lanny Green/Ted Gramatico (Ann Arbor) d. LaFleur/Koehler 10,(14),8. Green/Gramatico d. Costanzo/Mayer 13,6.
Champions: Green/Gramatico. Second: LaFleur/Koehler.
MASTERS (40+)
Three teams competed in a round-robin format: Jim LaFleur/Kim Koehler (Saginaw) d. Duane Costanzo/Ken Mayer (Flint) 20,16. Lanny Green/Ted Gramatico (Ann Arbor) d. LaFleur/Koehler 10,(14),8. Green/Gramatico d. Costanzo/Mayer 13,6.
Champions: Green/Gramatico. Second: LaFleur/Koehler.
========================================
SUPER MASTERS (60+)
Four teams competed. Rick Graham and Jim Lowe won the championship match in an 11-10 tie-breaker over Ed Green and Glen Paraskevin. Paraskevin lamented he had the winning shot on his hand at close range, but put it into the floor.
Semi Finals: Rick Graham (Ann Arbor)/Jim Lowe (Temperance) d. Mike Murray/Angus McIntyre (Detroit) 15,8; Ed Green/Glen Paraskevin (Detroit) d. Carl Valentino (Lansing)/Keith Thode (Detroit)10,12.
Finals: Graham/Lowe d. Green/Paraskevin Tie-breaker!
SUPER MASTERS (60+)
Four teams competed. Rick Graham and Jim Lowe won the championship match in an 11-10 tie-breaker over Ed Green and Glen Paraskevin. Paraskevin lamented he had the winning shot on his hand at close range, but put it into the floor.
Semi Finals: Rick Graham (Ann Arbor)/Jim Lowe (Temperance) d. Mike Murray/Angus McIntyre (Detroit) 15,8; Ed Green/Glen Paraskevin (Detroit) d. Carl Valentino (Lansing)/Keith Thode (Detroit)10,12.
Finals: Graham/Lowe d. Green/Paraskevin Tie-breaker!
==========================================
DIAMOND MASTERS (70+)
Only three teams participated. Norm Young and John Lincolnhol conquered the field.
Norm Young/John Linclonhol (Lansing) d. John Schandevel/Bob Plater(Detroit); Young/Lincolnhol d. George Miller (Toledo)/Carl Porter (Lansing). Miller/Porter d. Schandevel/Plater.
Champions: Young/Lincolnhol. Second: Miller/Porter.
DIAMOND MASTERS (70+)
Only three teams participated. Norm Young and John Lincolnhol conquered the field.
Norm Young/John Linclonhol (Lansing) d. John Schandevel/Bob Plater(Detroit); Young/Lincolnhol d. George Miller (Toledo)/Carl Porter (Lansing). Miller/Porter d. Schandevel/Plater.
Champions: Young/Lincolnhol. Second: Miller/Porter.
==========================================
B Doubles
Four teams, featuring some young, talented players, as well as veteran handballers, competed for the B Doubles title this year. Last year's runners-up, Andrew Rockwell and Simon Hanover, won the final in a tough struggle with the Sims family.
Semi Finals: Simon Hanover/Andrew Rockwell (Lansing) d. Brian Kim/George Xue 2,3; PK Sims II/PK Sims III (Detroit) d. Jason Block/Joe Green (MSU) 11,17.
Final: Hanover/Rockwell d. Sims/Sims 17,12.
========================================
B Doubles
Four teams, featuring some young, talented players, as well as veteran handballers, competed for the B Doubles title this year. Last year's runners-up, Andrew Rockwell and Simon Hanover, won the final in a tough struggle with the Sims family.
Semi Finals: Simon Hanover/Andrew Rockwell (Lansing) d. Brian Kim/George Xue 2,3; PK Sims II/PK Sims III (Detroit) d. Jason Block/Joe Green (MSU) 11,17.
Final: Hanover/Rockwell d. Sims/Sims 17,12.
========================================
C Doubles
Three teams competed in a round-robin format: Brian Kim & George Xue played in their second event, winning this one. Contenders were Sean Metcalf and Max Prout, and, Rob Graham & Dakota Gates.
Kim/Xue d. Graham/Dakota 7,9. Kim/Xue d. Metcalf/Prout 14,2. Graham/Gates d. Metcalf/Prout 7,2.
Champions: Kim/Xue. Second: Graham/Gates.
MHA has plan to purchase an Automatic External Defibrillator
UPDATE
AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR HAS ARRIVED and the MHA has scheduled the showing of a 20 minute TRAINING VIDEO on a big screen at:
REGAL LANES on Monday April 25th, 2011 at 6:30PM SHARP. Please arrive no later than 6:15 as we will begin the video promptly at 6:30.
A representative from the company that sold us the AED will be on hand for a Q and A immediately following the conclusion of the video.
For those who have previously expressed their interest in attending, we thank you and look forward to seeing you. For those who did not respond to our initial notice, please join us.
REGAL LANES is located at 27663 Mound Road, Warren, MI 48092. It is on the West side of Mound Road, just North of the I-696 Expressway.
If you have any questions, please contact Dale. dale.chimenti@yahoo.com
THANKYOU.
TO ALL MHA members and Michigan handball players:
The Board of Directors of the MHA has plans to purchase an Automatic External Defibrillator for use at all our Tournaments (particularly the outdoor venues) and whenever/wherever it is appropriate to transport and have on-site. For the indoor tournaments, most facilities do have them, but we feel it is important to have one available court-side. For the outdoor venues, we feel having a Defibrillator is a must.
We are very concerned, however, that we have enough players who have been trained in the use of the AED so that its use, while not anticipated nor desired, is guaranteed. The AED's are designed for ease of use. However, as a practical matter, we want as many people familiar with the unit as possible so there is NO HESITATION should there be an emergency.
Our final plans to purchase this unit is contingent upon getting enough players who are willing to meet and watch a 30 minute video and discuss its operational features. This AED will reside with one of the officers most likely to attend a tournament but we will depend on others who are willing to shepherd this unit, when called-upon, to the handball sites.
Please send an email IF you are willing to donate the aforementioned time AND willing to volunteer responsibility for its safe-keeping from time to time.
Send your email to:
dale.chimenti@yahoo.com or
dalechimenti@aol.com
THANK YOU
Board of Directors
Michigan Handball Association
AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR HAS ARRIVED and the MHA has scheduled the showing of a 20 minute TRAINING VIDEO on a big screen at:
REGAL LANES on Monday April 25th, 2011 at 6:30PM SHARP. Please arrive no later than 6:15 as we will begin the video promptly at 6:30.
A representative from the company that sold us the AED will be on hand for a Q and A immediately following the conclusion of the video.
For those who have previously expressed their interest in attending, we thank you and look forward to seeing you. For those who did not respond to our initial notice, please join us.
REGAL LANES is located at 27663 Mound Road, Warren, MI 48092. It is on the West side of Mound Road, just North of the I-696 Expressway.
If you have any questions, please contact Dale. dale.chimenti@yahoo.com
THANKYOU.
TO ALL MHA members and Michigan handball players:
The Board of Directors of the MHA has plans to purchase an Automatic External Defibrillator for use at all our Tournaments (particularly the outdoor venues) and whenever/wherever it is appropriate to transport and have on-site. For the indoor tournaments, most facilities do have them, but we feel it is important to have one available court-side. For the outdoor venues, we feel having a Defibrillator is a must.
We are very concerned, however, that we have enough players who have been trained in the use of the AED so that its use, while not anticipated nor desired, is guaranteed. The AED's are designed for ease of use. However, as a practical matter, we want as many people familiar with the unit as possible so there is NO HESITATION should there be an emergency.
Our final plans to purchase this unit is contingent upon getting enough players who are willing to meet and watch a 30 minute video and discuss its operational features. This AED will reside with one of the officers most likely to attend a tournament but we will depend on others who are willing to shepherd this unit, when called-upon, to the handball sites.
Please send an email IF you are willing to donate the aforementioned time AND willing to volunteer responsibility for its safe-keeping from time to time.
Send your email to:
dale.chimenti@yahoo.com or
dalechimenti@aol.com
THANK YOU
Board of Directors
Michigan Handball Association
Sunday, March 6, 2011
2011 State 4 Wall Tournament Announced
Michigan Handball Association
Presents the
2011 STATE SINGLES TOURNAMENT
April 1 - 3, 2011
Detroit Athletic Club
241 Madison Ave
Detroit, MI. 48226
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