Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 11/17/24
The University of Arizona Collegiate Handball Team proudly presented the 2024 University of Arizona Los Gatos Showdown Fundraiser at the University of Arizona Rec Center on the University of Arizona campus.
“The U of A Los Gatos Showdown is Wildcat Handball’s very first tournament back at the U of A,” stated U of A collegiate handball coach and tournament director Belisa Camacho. “This tournament is meant to be an introduction between the Tucson handball community and the U of A’s handball team, as well as to help us raise funds. We are extremely excited to be hosting this event at the handball courts on the U of A campus!”
Men’s Open Singles
The inaugural University of Arizona Los Gatos Showdown Fundraiser featured a stellar field that featured four pros ranked inside the Race 4 Eight top twelve and six ranked pros. Race 4 Eight #4 and 2024 R48 Juarez finalist Leo Canales headlined the field, joined by Tucson pros David Fink, Sam Esser, Shorty Ruiz, and Max Langmack.
Top-seeded Leo Canales bounced back from a slow start against Ivan Burgos in the semifinal, dropping the first game and rallying to win the match in a close tiebreaker. Canales switched to a lob serve in the third that gave Burgos fits, as Burgos missed three lob serve returns and gave Canales setups on another four.
Sam Esser won three straight tiebreakers dating back to his finals win at the Dr. Burnett Bear Bash last week, rallying from a 7-10 deficit in the Gatos quarterfinals to defeat Max Langmack and taking control of his semifinal tiebreaker against David Fink to advance to the final.
Esser continued to improve throughout the Gatos in this third tournament in three weekends, dominating R48 #4 Leo Canales in two games in the inaugural Gatos after losing to Canales in their last two matchups to win his second title in eight days.
“(The final) Not Good for me,” Canales would later say. “Sam was serving very well and shooting very well with both hands. He didn’t even let me get into the match today.”
“Sam is killing the ball shoulder height with his left with his body open towards the right side of the court,” stated Jab Bike watching online from Mankato.
Semifinals
Canales def Burgos 11-21, 21-14, 11-7
Esser def Fink 21-11, 16-21, 11-3
Final: Esser def Canales 21-9, 21-10
From Tournament Director Belisa Camacho:
Finals today ran smoothly for us at the University of Arizona Los Gatos Showdown Fundraiser Tournament. Ryan Valenzuela (Arizona) defeated teammate Mireya Ibanez (Arizona) and claimed his first win in a handball competition. Ryan clinched first in the novice division and second in the Men’s C singles taking champion Kevin Leon (Carl Hayden) to a tiebreaker on Saturday afternoon.
Our first streamed final was the Men’s B singles, which was one of the longest matches of the day. Rene Sosa (Arizona) defeated fellow teammate Ivan Healy (PCC) in a grueling tiebreaker. It was awesome to showcase two of our up-and-coming players in a streamed final.
Our next long final was the Men’s A, which featured WPH WR48 Pro Mikaila Esser defeating Tucsonan Brian Williams in another exhilarating tiebreaker.
In the Men’s 140+ Doubles Brad Marker and Mike Bonnell blew Vince San Angelo and Scott English out of the water winning the round robin final in 2 games.
KC/Tucson duo Jake Esser and Matt “Snakeman” Goode defeated Esteban Camacho/Julian Rivera and Antonio Rivera/Andres Maldonado to claim the Men’s A Doubles crown.
I’m extremely happy with the outcome of our first tournament. I feel supported by the Tucson Handball community and I’m incredibly grateful to those who came out to compete, watch and donate. The only thing I heard from people was “there should’ve been more people signed up!”. We all agree! I look forward to running this tournament again next year, hopefully with some more out of towners next time!
My deepest thanks to the Tucson Handball community, Sam Esser (and family), and Michael Morgan for showing your support to me and the newly established University of Arizona Handball Team. We look forward to competing in the USHA Collegiate Nationals at the Multnomah Athletic Club in February!
Thank you to tournament director Belisa Camacho for an outstanding event at the University of Arizona.
Follow all of the brackets from the 2024 University of Arizona Los Gatos Showdown Fundraiser HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer