2011 State 3 Wall Results

MHA State Singles 3-Wall Handball Tournament Held at Belle Isle, Detroit, on August 13, 2011

• Open – Pete Brown over Pete Dembeck
• 50’s – Joe Ivy over Chris Monsour
• 60’s – Ed Green over Jim Lowe
• 70’s – Norm Young over Dave Dodds
• B - Jeff Knake over Ted Gramattico

Report by Bob Plater

THANKS to Bill Cantwell, Dale Chimenti and John Schandevel for their great planning, preparing and making possible an amazing day of competition at Belle Isle. Food, drinks, picnic tables, port-a-johns and court reservations don't just happen magically. Bill, Dale and John have been doing this for many years, for which we, the MHA members, say "Thank You".

THE OPEN
What a great event! What a line-up! How about these pairings: Karner/Dembeck, Dembeck/Oliver, Williams/Leonard, Williams/Brown, Brown/Dembeck. Any one of these matches, all of which were played, would have been a good final.

Dembeck was outstanding getting by Pat Oliver and Jim Karner. Likewise, Pete Brown was amazing getting by Bret Williams.

Dembeck and Brown, both, wanted to play the finals on Saturday, even though they were both exhausted after the semi’s. Dembeck, hopefully, said he would rather play Brown when he is tired, rather than give him a day to refresh. Pete Brown, trailing 14-20 in the first game against Pete Dembeck, got the serve, went in, and served out the game, several aces bending around the back corners of the walls. This seemed to lift his confidence for the second game, which was a great contest with Brown overpowering Dembeck for the title.

This was Pete Brown's 18th, 3-wall State Open Singles Championship. No one else is close to this achievement, nor is it likely that anyone will ever be able to duplicate it.

GOLDEN MASTERS (50+)
Joe Ivy won the 50's title over Chris Mansour in three games. Dan Costello and Barry Doan were semi-finalists, both fighting hard before bowing out.

SUPER MASTERS (60+)
Ed Green defeated three highly regarded players, all in one day, on his way to winning the championship in this division: Tom Michael, Rick Graham and Jim Lowe. Green and Lowe, having played matches seemingly all day, 10AM to 6PM, were exhausted in their 11-6 tie-breaker.

DIAMOND MASTERS (70+)
Norm Young wins again. Dave Dodds took second.

B
B - Jeff Knake over Ted Gramattico.

MHA at Metro Detroit Youth Day

On Wednesday July 13, 2011, the Michigan Handball Association participated in the 29^th annual Metro Detroit Youth Day on Detroit’s Belle Isle. The goal of Youth Day is to bring together Metro Detroit area youngsters from diverse backgrounds for a constructive day of fun, food, and education. The event brings together more than 35,000 children ages 8 – 15, and volunteers for a free day of sports, games, contests, motivational speakers, entertainment, scholarship opportunities, information booths, and other various activities.

This year’s Youth Day included beginner lessons in handball provided by Michigan Handball Association volunteers at the Belle Isle handball courts. Volunteers successfully taught the fundamentals and rules of handball to approximately 65 – 75 children. Volunteering on behalf of the MHA were Pat and Bill Cantwell, Dale Chimenti, Kyle Casey, Dennis Berger, Joe Ivy, Keith Thode, Tom Pfingst, Vic Battani, and Warren McAlpine. The MHA would like to officially thank this year’s volunteers for their participation and for a job well done.

The MHA plans to participate in this Youth Day in the future to help grow the sport of handball and offer today’s youth a constructive form of fun and exercise. Please contact the MHA office if you would like to be a part of the 2012 Metro Detroit Youth Day.

2011 State 3 Wall Doubles Results

Open – Williams / Osburn over Oliver / Sidebottom

50+ = Ivy / Early round robin winner

60+ = Graham / Love over Michael / Luchkovitz

Click here for Tournament Charts

SCS Handball-Racketball Treaty + Belle Isle Schedule

Attached hereto is the 2011 schedule for the outdoor courts in St. Clair Shores. This schedule of court use was agreed to by the Handball Committee, the Raquetball Committee, and the St. Clair Shores Recreation Department. Any questions should be directed to Chris Monsour.

- MHA via Patrick Cantwell

Belle Isle Summer 3-Wall Guide

Play is very informal and friendly, yet still competitive, on Belle Isle with the goal of encouraging all, especially new players, but some protocols have evolved.

• Players gather on Monday - Wednesday - Friday's starting at 4 PM*.
• No reservations required. Show up and you play in order of arrival.
• Doubles has precedence over Singles when players are waiting. But there are usually plenty of courts in back if singles is a must.
• Player strengths vary from newbie to top notch, so there is an effort made to balance doubles teams and include all.
  
• Winners of matches hold court, next pair in line play them.
• Drinking fountain is inconsistent so you are advised to bring your own fluids.
• After match 'fluids' are common so pencil in some time for a drink and some natter.
• Racquetball player gather on Tuesday & Thursdays afternoons. We have good relations with them and our unspoken treaty is that if we play on those days we cede the front courts to them and they to us on our days.
  

*Play often occurs on Saturdays and Sunday mornings but those are usual word-of-mouth gatherings.

Come and join us. All are welcome.

Lowell

Metro Detroit Youth Day - Belle Isle July 13

Thanks for volunteering for the Metro Detroit Youth Day. Attached hereto is a flyer for the event and a parking pass that you can print to get on the Island that day.

Not sure what to expect in the way of kids visiting the handball courts, but basically my plan is to present some instruction and demonstration. Dennis Berger and I are USHA certified instructors and will lead the way.

We could still use some younger blood so feel free to solicit more volunteers.

Bill Cantwell

Click here for printable vehicle pass to get onto Belle Isle.

Michigan State 3-Wall Tournament Schedule Announced

Please follow the links below to obtain printable entry forms for this summer's Michigan Sate 3-Wall State Handball Tournaments.

Doubles July 9-10 St. Clair Shores

Singles August 13-14 Belle Isle

"Freezing" your LA Fitness Membership for the Summer

As I recently froze my LA Fitness membership for the summer I thought I would share the policy I learned about as so many of us are now members.

• You may freeze your membership, thus avoiding paying another initiation fee, by agreeing to pay a $10 per month holding fee during the freeze.
  
  
• Requests to freeze your account must be made 10 or more days prior to next payment. Otherwise you must make full payment for the next month and the freeze will begin after that paid period.
  
  
• Your membership will remain active until the end of the period for which you are currently fully paid.
  
  
• You may un-freeze your account at anytime.
  
  
• Payment will then be pro-rated for the time from which you un-freeze your account until the start of your next monthly full-payment date.

So save some money, maybe buy some new balls, [hint, hint] and I will see you on the island.