College Station, TX, WPH Press, 10/13/24
Written by Martin Mulkerrins
Texas A&M Handball club hosted yet another very successful WPH R48 Pre-Qualifier this weekend alongside their Don Johnson/Jim Mathis Aggieland tournament. The tournament honored both Don and Jim (RIP) as it is seventy years since they won TAMU’s first National Collegiate Championship. To mark the occasion, it was great to have 108 players entered in the tournament, with representation from all over Texas, as well as Missouri, Utah and Ireland.
Learn much more about the Texas A&M Race 4 Eight Pre Qualifiers/Fall 2024 Aggieland Classic HERE
Men’s Pre-Qualifier
Martin and Diarmuid Mulkerrins progressed through the bracket to face each other in their first WPH R48 Pre-Qualifier final. Although older brother Martin would eventually win in a tiebreaker, Diarmuid pushed him all the way in a grueling one hour and forty minute marathon match.
Martin started strongly and won game one 15-7. However, game two had it all. Diarmuid took a 10-1 and 13-6 lead, only for this to be erased and to find himself 14-13 behind. It looked as though the opportunity had passed to force a tiebreaker, but Diarmuid regained the serve and scored the fourteenth point to force overtime. After trading points and side outs, Diarmuid took the second game 18-16.
With all of the excitement and the gallery packed with spectators crowded along the back wall, glass side wall, and upstairs viewing area, both players showed signs of fatigue in the tiebreaker after a long day of coaching, playing and organizing. Despite the fatigue, there were fantastic serves and rallies in the decider, and it was Martin who did just enough to take a 15-12 tiebreaker win.
Women’s Pre-Qualifier
Aoife Holden (Angelo State University) and Amesley Davis (Texas A&M) reached their second consecutive WPH R48 Pre-Qualifier Final at Texas A&M. Although Aoife would take the title again on this occasion, Amesley showed a huge improvement in her game since the last encounter.
Game one featured very good rallies, but Aoife was very much in control and took the first 15-4. Unlike game one where she struggled to make points on her serve, Amesley played much more aggressively in game two and with some excellent serves and kills she found herself 8-2 and 13-9 ahead. Aoife showed great composure to weather the storm and she went on to score the final six points to take the title.
Highlighted Pre Qualifier Match
There were other great matches in both pre-qualifier divisions but one in particular had everybody’s attention, as it required overtime in the tiebreaker. The quarterfinal match between JP Sammis (University of Texas) and Taigan Rivers (Angelo State University) was a huge battle with a fantastic finish as JP won 16-14 with an incredible diving re-kill.
WPH R48 Clinic
Martin Mulkerrins coached a sensation clinic in conjunction with the Texas A&M Race 4 Eight Pre Qualifiers/Fall 2024 Aggieland Classic, with collegiate players from Texas A&M, the University of Texas, Angelo State University, Missouri State University and a future star, 10-year-old Tyler from Corpus Christi. More to come on this exciting JR WPH clinic.
Thank you
We would like to thank all the participants for supporting our tournament and we would also like to thank the WPH for their continued support of our program. Thank you to R48 #1 and 2023/24 Race 4 Eight Sportsmanship Award Winner Martin Mulkerrins for hosting another exceptional tournament and clinic at Texas A&M.
All results from the 2024 Texas A&M Race 4 Eight Pre Qualifiers/Fall 2024 Aggieland Classic HERE
The WPH Pre-Qualifier Finals can be viewed on the Texas A&M Handball Club Facebook Page HERE
Pictures courtesy of Eilish Owens
Martin Mulkerrins
WPH tournament director and correspondent