Saturday in Calgary featured the 1-Wall small ball and big ball finals, with the best in the sport vying to etch their names as world champions.
1-Wall Small Ball Men’s
Sean Lenning shocked many that were unaware of his cross over prowess in making the 1-Wall small ball final, defeating former national and world champions Cesar Sala and Joe Kaplan en route to the final. Victor LoPierre entered the 1-Wall small ball singles playing in his first singles event in more than three years and wasted no time in announcing the next force in the game, defeating current national champion Tyree Bastidas and former national Willie Polanco in 11-8 tiebreakers to make the final.
Lenning continued his 1-Wall momentum in the final, keeping Lopierre off-balance with a bullet serves and kills from virtually everywhere on the court. Lenning won the first game 21-16 and cruised in game two, 21-7. “Sean’s serves were just phenomenal,” revealed LoPierre. “His control of the ball is really amazing.”
Lenning added the 1-Wall Small Ball World title his outstanding 2015 resume that includes the WPH Race 4 Eight Player’s Championship and the WPH Outdoor 3-Wall Xrossover Championship.
Lenning defeats LoPierre 21-16, 21-7
Top seeds Tywan Cook and Timbo Gonzalez appeared to be on a collision course the moment both stepped foot in Calgary. Cook defeated Gonzalez earlier this summer in the finals of the USHA Big Ball 1-Wall Nationals, but Gonzalez bounced back in winning the King of the Courts two weeks later.
Gonzalez dominated game one, keeping the offensive-minded Cook off-balance and out of the front court, seizing the advantage, 21-9. Cook regrouped in game two, pouncing on Gonzalez by scoring the first 14 points of the frame and appearing just minutes from forcing a tiebreaker. Gonzalez showed his heart and fierce determination, surging back to tie the score at 15. Gonzalez continued his stellar play after a Cook timeout, closing out the match by scoring the final six points to claim his first World Singles title.
Gonzalez defeats Cook 21-9, 21-15
1-Wall Big Ball Women’s Singles
Danielle Daskalakis entered the 1-Wall Big Ball Women’s Singles as the top seed but having lost in the 2015 USHA Big Ball 1-Wall Nationals to second-seeded Sandy Ng just four weeks ago. Both Daskalakis and Ng dominated top Irish stars en route to the final, proving that there are no women in the world outside of one another capable of challenging these two stars.
Ng appeared to be in complete control of the final, taking the first game, 21-9, and building a seemingly insurmountable 18-12 lead in game two. Daskalakis continued to apply pressure despite facing a huge deficit, ultimately catching Ng and 19 and forcing a tiebreaker, 21-19. Undaunted by the second game collapse, Ng built a 9-3 tiebreaker lead, standing just two points from the title for the second time in as many games. As she had done late in game two, Daskalakis summoned her best handball when it mattered most, scoring the final eight points of the match to become the world champion.
Daskalakis defeats Ng 9-21, 21-19, 11-9
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David Fink
WPH Senior Writer