Pacific Northwest Handball

Fur Rondy Pro-Stop Results

The Simple Green/USHA Pro Stop #3 came to Alaska in conjunction with our Fur Rondy Winter Festival. Alaskan handballers were treated to one of the best tournaments in recent memory, according to the visiting pros. Using a "best of 5 games to 11" format, many matches went to 4 and 5 games. All of the first round and winners bracket matches were played on the glass exhibition court at the Alaska Club Midtodwn facility before SRO crowds. ***The highlight match-up of the first round was a five-game war between Danny Armijo and Dane Szatkowski, with Danny willing a comeback to win the tiebreaker. In another great match Naty Alvarado, JR needed two hours to eliminate Jake Komsthoeft. ***The quarterfinals featured two classic 5-game duels. David Silveyra outlasted John Bike and Vince Munoz finally finished Tyler Hamel, to move on to the semis. ***As a special treat, an exhibition match of top-ranked women professionals was played between the pro quarterfinals and semis. Rachel Kos put up a game effort, but few can match the strength and tenacity of current National and World Champ Priscilla Shumate. Priscilla and Rachel were also the perfect ambassadors, playing many hours with our women players and representing handball in the Fur Rondy parade. ***The semi-finals on Saturday afternoon offered probably the best handball Alaska has witnessed yet. Naty Alvarado, Jr started strong, taking the first game from Vince Munoz, but Vince was able to zero-in crack serves and incredeible kill shots to take the next three games. The other semi-final offered a classic match-up of David Chapman's strategic arsenal against the amazing range and shot-making of David Silveyra. Chapman squeezed by the first two games with 11-10 scores. Silveyra stormed back to take the next two. Living up to his reputation and hype, David Chapman was able to control the showdown in game five and move on to the finals. ***After two full days of truly great handball, the Alaska crowd was pumped for the finale on Sunday. So was David Chapman, after failing to win the first two pro stops, the last one to Vince Munoz. Chapman proved to be the Master this time, taking home not only the prize money, but also a framed Chuck Gause print of Mt McKinley. The "Great One" turned out to be an appropriate symbol for a fantastic weekend of handball. ***Many thanks to the many Alaskans who made this event possible: Richard Rayner, Matt Thorpe and Anchorage Chrysler; Chuck Gause and Stephan Fine arts; George Petering and Rich Tesche, Office Products Services; Randy Stevens; Scott Dattan; Hal Davis. Please thank these guys when you see them at the club and support our sponsors.

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Posted on 16 Feb 2006 by Glenn