2020-2024 Icebreaker List of Champions, Finalists, and Contenders

WPH Press

The WPH 3-Wall Icebreaker Series kicked off in 2020 to provide handball players and fans with the chance to compete during the pandemic. WPH camera crews have been on hand to bring all of the action to you from the WPH’s Clark Park in Tucson, as the game’s best have made their way to the desert to compete for the now famous ice plunge.

Check out the full list of Icebreaker Champions and Finalists, all finishes in each of the Icebreaker events, plus the history of Icebreaker Contenders.

*All events are small ball unless otherwise indicated

*Non-ranking event means that only two or three players entered, thus not qualifying as an official Icebreaker title

Icebreaker History (2020-2024)

Icebreaker #1 – March 2020: David Fink (AZ) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 7-15, 15-10, 15-4

Icebreaker #2 – September 2020: David Fink (AZ) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 21-4, 21-6

Icebreaker #3 – November 2020: Dylan Hernandez (CA) def Erik Torres (CA) 21-12, 21-11

*Icebreaker #4 – January 2021: David Fink (AZ) def Stephen Cooney (IRE) 21-2, 21-10 *non-ranking event

*Icebreaker #5 – January 2021: Leo Canales, Jr. (TX) def Sam Esser (AZ) 21-6, 21-19 *non-ranking event

*Icebreaker #6 – February 2021: Ashley Moler (AZ) def Mikaila Mitchell (AZ) 21-0, 21-16 *non-ranking event

Icebreaker #7 – February 2021: David Fink (AZ) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 21-11, 21-14

Icebreaker #8 – March 2021, Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 4-15, 15-10, 15-13

Icebreaker #9 – April 2021 Killian Carroll (MA) def Sean Lenning (AZ) 16-14, 15-10

Icebreaker #10 – May 2021

Ashley Ruiz (AZ) def Tracy Davis 21-14, 21-4 (CA)

Abraham Montijo (AZ) def Adam Bernhard (TX) 21-13, 21-2

Icebreaker #11 – May 2021

Big Ball Singles: Alfredo Morales (CA) def Josue Tellez (CA) 15-4, 15-6

Big Ball Doubles: Alfredo Morales (CA)/Boxer Rosales (ID) def Josue Tellez (CA)/Darryl Garcia (CA) 21-9

Icebreaker #12 – July 2021: Killian Carroll (MA) def Daniel Cordova (TX) 16-14, 15-3

Icebreaker Ice Bowl #13 – August 2021

Killian Carroll (MA) def Daniel Cordova (TX) 21-11, 21-9

Danielle Daskalakis (NY) def Mikaila Esser (AZ) 17-21, 21-15, 11-2

Icebreaker #14 (Big Ball) – September 2021: Brian Medina (CA) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 15-4, 15-9

Race 4 Eight Icebreaker #15 – December 2021: David Fink (AZ) def Luis Cordova (MEX) inj. fft.

Icebreaker #16 (Small Ball Doubles) – March 2022: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX) def S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ) 15-4, 15-1

Icebreaker #17 – July 2022

Lucho Cordova (MEX) def Sam Esser (AZ) 15-4, 15-0

Big Ball Singles: Brian Medina (CA) def Lucho Cordova (MEX) 15-9, 15-9

Icebreaker #18 – August 2022:

Lucho Cordova (MEX) def David Fink (AZ) 15-7, 15-2

Big Ball Singles: Brian Medina (CA) def Samzon Hernandez (CA) 12-15, 15-4, 15-12

Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 15-5, 15-6

Shorty Ruiz (AZ)/Sam Esser (AZ) def Lucho Cordova (MEX)/Danos Cordova (MEX) 15-4, 15-9

Icebreaker (Clarkbreaker) #19 – September 2022

Lucho Cordova (MEX) def Danos Cordova (MEX) 15-6, 15-6

Ashley Ruiz (AZ) def Mikaila Esser (AZ) 15-8, 15-3

Big Ball Singles: Oscar Siordia (CA) def Chava Cordova (CA) 15-9, 6-15, 15-14

Lucho Cordova (MEX)/Danos Cordova (MEX) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ)/Sam Esser (AZ) 15-12, 15-2

Big Ball Pro Doubles: Chava Cordova (CA)/Antonio Chavez (CA) def Alberto Pizano (CA)/Anthony Hernandez (CA) 15-14, 15-7

Big Ball B Doubles: Javier Flores (CA)/Beni Gonzalez (CA) def Fernando Zapata (CA)/Julio Perez (CA) 15-8, 15-12

Icebreaker #20 (R48 Icebreaker #2) – December 2022

Lucho Cordova (MEX) def David Fink (AZ) 21-16, 21-8

Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 21-7, 15-21, 11-4

Icebreaker #21 (USHA National 3-Wall Doubles & WPH Icebreaker Pro Doubles)

(Small Ball Doubles) – March 2023: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX) def S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ) 21-16, 21-12

Icebreaker #22 (Clarkbreaker II) – July 2023

David Fink (AZ) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 21-11, 21-2

Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 14-21, 21-16, 11-9

Lucho Cordova (MEX)/Danos Cordova (MEX) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ)/Sam Esser (AZ) 15-11, 15-4

Icebreaker #23 (Ice Bowl II) – August 2023

Danos Cordova (MEX) def Shorty Ruiz (AZ) 21-3, 21-4

Big Ball Singles: Anthony “Chopper” Hernandez (CA) def Alberto Pizano (AZ) 12-10, 10-12, 12-5

Big Ball Doubles: Anthony “Chopper” Hernandez (CA)/Alberto Pizano (AZ) def Brian Medina (CA)/Gilberto Rosales (ID) 12-8, 11-12, 12-10

Junior Singles: Kelvin Lindsey (AZ) def Johnny Lindsey (AZ) 11-6, 11-5

A Singles: Ayden Brule (AZ) def Jose Maldonado (AZ) 21-17, 20-21, 11-2

Icebreaker #23 (R48 Icebreaker #3) – December 2023

Lucho Cordova (MEX) def David Fink (AZ) 21-6, 21-6

Mikaila Esser (AZ) def Ashley Ruiz (AZ) 16-21, 21-2, 11-1

Icebreaker #24 (Julybreaker) – July 2024

Lucho Cordova (MEX) def Leo Canales (AZ) 16-14, 15-13

Icebreaker #25 (Ice Bowl) – August 2024

Leo Canales (AZ) def Sam Esser (AZ) 15-7, 15-13

Danielle Daskalakis (CA) def Mikaila Esser (AZ) 15-1, 15-13

Big Ball Singles: Oscar Siordia, Jr. (CA) def Chava Cordova (CA) 15-8, 15-10

Big Ball Doubles: Lucho/Danos Cordova def Samzon Hernandez/Bozer Rosales 15-12, 15-12

Big Ball B Doubles: Rafa Avila/Sam Cruz def Andres Cordova/Moses Gardea 15-12, 9-15, 15-12

Icebreaker #26 (Turkeybreaker) – November 2024

David Fink (AZ) def Ivan Burgos (AZ) 21-7, 21-3

Icebreaker Finishes by Event

Men’s Small Ball Icebreakers

2020

Icebreaker #1 (8-man event): March 2020

1^st: Fink (AZ)

2^nd: Ruiz (AZ)

3^rd: Canales (TX), Montijo (AZ)

Icebreaker #2 (4-man event): September 2020

1^st: Fink (AZ)

2^nd: Ruiz (AZ)

3^rd: Montijo (AZ)

4^th: Esser (AZ) (no matches won)

Icebreaker #3 (4-man event): November 2020

1^st: D. Hernandez (CA)

2^nd: E. Torres (CA)

3^rd: R. Palma (CA)

4^th: L. Collado (CA) (no matches won)

*Icebreaker #4 (2-man event): December 2020

1^st: Fink (AZ)

2^nd: Cooney (CA) (no matches won)

*non-ranking event

2021

*Icebreaker #5 (2-man event): February 2021

1^st: L. Canales, Jr. (TX)

2^nd: Esser (AZ) (no matches won)

*non-ranking event

Icebreaker #6 (4-man event): March 2021

1^st: Fink (AZ)

2^nd: Ruiz (AZ)

3^rd: L. Canales, Jr. (TX)

4^th: Esser (AZ) (no matches won)

Icebreaker #7 (8-man event): April 2021

1^st: K. Carroll (MA)

2^nd: S. Lenning (AZ)

3^rd: Fink (AZ)/Ruiz (AZ)

5^th: L. Canales, Jr. (TX)

6^th: Montijo (AZ)

7^th: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Hernandez (CA) – neither won a match

Icebreaker #8 (4-man event): April 2021

1^st: Montijo (AZ)

2^nd: A. Bernhard (TX)

3^rd: M. Langmack (MO)

4^th: N. Mattioni (FL) (no matches won)

Icebreaker #9 (12-man event): June 2021

1^st: Carroll (MA)

2^nd: D. Cordova (TX)

3^rd: Fink (AZ)/Ruiz (AZ)

Icebreaker #10 (16-man event): August 2021

1^st: Carroll (MA)

2^nd: D. Cordova (TX)

3^rd: Fink (AZ)/Ruiz (AZ)

Race 4 Eight Icebreaker #11: December 2021

1^st: Fink (AZ)

2^nd: L. Cordova (MEX)

3^rd: Ruiz (AZ), Canales (AZ)

2022

Icebreaker #1: July 2022

Small Ball Pro Singles

1^st: L. Cordova (MEX)

2^nd: Esser (AZ)

3^rd: Ruiz (AZ)/Torres (CA)

Icebreaker #2 (Ice Bowl): August 2022

Small Ball Pro Singles

1^st: L. Cordova (MEX)

2^nd: D. Fink (AZ)

3^rd: B. Bidegain (CA)/L. Canales (AZ)

Icebreaker #3 (Clarkbreaker): September 2022

1^st: L. Cordova (MEX)

2^nd: D. Cordova (MEX)

3^rd: B. Bidegain (CA)/A. Montijo (AZ)

Icebreaker #4 (R48 Icebreaker): December 2022

1^st: L. Cordova (MEX)

2^nd: D. Fink (AZ)

3^rd: Mulkerrins (IRE)/D. Cordova (MEX)

2023

Icebreaker #1 (Clarkbreaker): July 2023

Small Ball Pro Singles

1^st: D. Fink (AZ)

2^nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)

3^rd: Canales (AZ)/L. Cordova (MEX)

Icebreaker #2 (Ice Bowl): August 2023

1^st: D. Cordova (MEX)

2^nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)

3^rd: Fink (AZ)/L. Cordova (MEX)

Icebreaker #3 (R48 Icebreaker): December 2023

1^st: L. Cordova (MEX)

2^nd: Fink (AZ)

3^rd: Lenning (WA)/D. Cordova (MEX)

2024

Icebreaker #1 (Julybreaker): July 2024

1^st: L. Cordova (MEX)

2^nd: L. Canales (AZ)

3^rd: D. Cordova (MEX)/S. Esser (AZ)

Icebreaker #2 (Ice Bowl): August 2024

1^st: L. Canales (AZ)

2^nd: S. Esser (AZ)

3^rd: D. Cordova (MEX)/L. Cordova (MEX)

Icebreaker #3 (Turkeybreaker): November 2024

1^st: D. Fink (AZ)

2^nd: I. Burgos (AZ)

3^rd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/A. Pizano (AZ)

Women’s Icebreakers

2021

*Women’s Icebreaker #1 (2-woman event): January 2021

1^st: A. Ruiz (AZ)

2^nd: M. Esser (AZ) (no matches won)

*non-ranking event

Women’s Icebreaker #2 (4-woman event): April 2021

1^st: M. Esser (AZ)

2^nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

3^rd: D. Daskalakis (NY)

4^th: T. Davis (CA) (no matches won)

Women’s Icebreaker #3 (4-woman event): April 2021

1^st: A. Ruiz (AZ)

2^nd: T. Davis (CA)

3^rd: M. Esser (AZ)

4^th: Ciana Ni Churraoin (TX) (no matches won)

Women’s Icebreaker #4 (6-woman event): August 2021

1^st: D. Daskalakis (NY)

2^nd: M. Esser (AZ)

3^rd: T. Davis (CA)

4^th: A. Ruiz (AZ)

2022

Women’s Icebreaker #5 (6-woman event): August 2022

1^st: M. Esser (AZ)

2^nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

3^rd: A. Tuohey (WI)

4^th: T. Davis (CA)

*Women’s Icebreaker #6 (Clarkbreaker) (3-woman event): September 2022

1^st: A. Ruiz

2^nd: M. Esser

*Non-ranking event

Women’s Icebreaker #7 (4-woman event): December 2022

1^st: M. Esser (AZ)

2^nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

3^rd: B. Camacho (AZ)

2023

Women’s Icebreaker #8 (3-woman event): July 2023

1^st: M. Esser (AZ)

2^nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

3^rd: B. Camacho (AZ)

Women’s Icebreaker #9 (3-woman event): December 2023

1^st: M. Esser (AZ)

2^nd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

3^rd: Munroe (IRE)

2024

Women’s Icebreaker #10 (6-woman event): August 2024

1^st: D. Daskalakis (CA)

2^nd: M. Esser (AZ)

3^rd: A. Ruiz (AZ)

Men’s Big Ball Icebreakers

2021

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker #1: June 2021

1^st: A. Morales (CA)

2^nd: J. Tellez (CA)

3^rd: Gonzalez (NY)

4^th: Ruiz (AZ)

Doubles

1^st: Morales (CA)/Rosales (ID)

2^nd: Tellez (CA)/D. Garcia (CA)

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker #2: September 2021

1^st: B. Medina (CA)

2^nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)

3^rd: Chavez (TX)

4^th: Gonzalez (NY)

2022

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker #3: July 2022

1^st: B. Medina (CA)

2^nd: L. Cordova (MEX)

3^rd: Pizano (AZ)

4^th: Ruiz (AZ)

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker #4: August 2022

1^st: B. Medina (CA)

2^nd: S. Hernandez (CA)

3^rd: O. Siordia (CA)/C. Cordova (CA)

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Clarkbreaker) #5: September 2022

1^st: O. Siordia (CA)

2^nd: C. Cordova (CA)

3^rd: S. Hernandez (CA)/J. Vicencio (CA)

2023

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Ice Bowl) #6: August 2023

1^st: A. Hernandez (CA)

2^nd: A. Pizano (AZ)

3^rd: G. Rosales (ID)/I. Chapa (CA)

2024

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Ice Bowl) #7: August 2024

1^st: O. Siordia (CA)

2^nd: C. Cordova (CA)

3^rd: A. Pizano (AZ)

Small Ball Doubles Icebreakers

2022

Small Ball Doubles Icebreaker #1: March 2022

1^st: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)

2^nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)

Small Ball Doubles Icebreaker #2: August 2022

1^st: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)

2^nd: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)

Small Ball Doubles Icebreaker (Clarkbreaker) #3: September 2022

1^st: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)

2^nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)

Small Ball Doubles Icebreakers

2023

Icebreaker Pro Doubles w/ USHA Masters Nationals: March 2023

1^st: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)

2^nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)

Clarkbreaker Pro Doubles: July 2023

1^st: L. Cordova (MEX)/D. Cordova (MEX)

2^nd: S. Ruiz (AZ)/S. Esser (AZ)

Big Ball Doubles Icebreakers

2022

Big Ball Icebreaker #1 (Clarkbreaker): September 2022

Pro

1^st: C. Cordova (CA)/A. Chavez (CA)

2^nd: A. Pizano (AZ)/A. Hernandez (CA)

1^st: J. Flores (CA)/B. Gonzalez (CA)

2^nd: F. Zapata (CA)/J. Perez (CA)

2023

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Ice Bowl) #2: August 2023

Pro

1^st: A. Hernandez (CA)/A. Pizano (AZ)

2^nd: G. Rosales (ID)/B. Medina (CA)

2024

Men’s Big Ball Icebreaker (Ice Bowl) #3: August 2024

Pro

1^st: Team Cordova (MEX)

2^nd: G. Rosales (CA)/S. Hernandez (CA)

1^st: R. Avila (CA)/S. Cruz (CA)

2^nd: A. Cordova (MEX)/M. Gardea (NM)

Icebreaker Contenders (Qualifiers)

2021

Small Ball Contenders #1 (April 2021): Contender champion: Max Langmack (KS)

Small Ball Contenders #2 (May 2021): Contenders: Danny Perez (AZ) (champion)/John Chapman (CO) (finalist)

*both Perez and Chapman qualified

Big Ball Icebreaker Contenders #1 (May 2021): Contender champion: David Fink (AZ)

Small Ball Contenders #3 (June 2021): Contenders champion: Dylan Key (AZ)

Small Ball Contenders #4 (August 2021): Contenders: Victor Sanchez (TX), Armando Ibarra (CO), Leo Canales, Sr. (TX)

*All events are small ball unless otherwise indicated

*Non-ranking event means that only two players entered, thus not qualifying as an official Icebreaker title

David Fink

Icebreaker Senior Statistician

WPH Press

Check out the full list of Icebreaker Champions and Finalists, all finishes in each of the Icebreaker events, plus the history of Icebreaker Contenders.

*All events are small ball unless otherwise indicated

*Non-ranking event means that only two or three players entered, thus not qualifying as an official Icebreaker title

Icebreaker History (2020-2023)