Missoula, MT, WPH Press, 4/13/25
Written by Don Foley
Shelby native Pete Svennungsen won the Montana State Singles Handball Championship in Missoula at the Peak Racquet Club Sunday, April 13. Svennungsen defeated Sand Point’s Chris Tico in the final match 16-21, 21-10, 11-4. It is the second consecutive title for the Spokane resident.
Kirk Johnson defeated Don Schmidt 21-20, 21-13 to win the Super Golden Masters division for players 60 and over in a matchup of Missoula players. It is Johnson’s second Montana singles title.
Mike Meyer of Billings won the Diamond Masters for players 70 and over by defeating Luther’s Dan Scilley 21-14, 21-15. It was Meyer’s fourth straight title in the division and eighth state singles title.
Eric Schmidt defeated Alan Noonan 21-16, 10-21, 11-4 to win the A Division in another matchup of Missoula Players.
Complete Results:
Open Division
First round – Don Foley, Butte d. Eric Schmidt, Missoula 21-14, 21-10; Marcus Madrazo, Butte d. Jake Brooks, Spokane, WA; Henry O’Brien, Florence d. Alan Noonan, Missoula
Quarter Finals – Pete Svennungsen, Spokane, WA d. Foley 21-4, 21-9; Travis Peevey, Cheney, WA d. Madrazo 21-11, 21-17; Chris Tico, Sand Point d. Tom Polzin, Seattle, WA 4-21, 6-8 Injury Default; Brett Badovinac, Butte d. O’Brien 8-21, 21-6, 11-2
Semifinals – Svennungsen d. Peevey 21-4, 21-12; Tico d. Badovinac 21-14, 21-18
Final – Svennungsen d. Tico 16-21, 21-10, 11-4
Open Consolation
Semifinal – Foley d. O’Brien 21-19, 12-21, 11-9
Final – Madrazo d. Foley 21-16, 16-21, 11-9
Super Golden Masters (60+)
Quarterfinals – Sam Baldridge, Whitefish d. Brad Chumrau, Missoula; Don Schmidt, Missoula d. Scott Salo, Butte;
Semifinals – Kirk Johnson, Missoula d. Baldridge; Schimit d. Mike Hitchcock, Butte 21-17, 21-13
Loser Out – Hitchcock d. Chumrau 13-21, 21-11, 11-10; Baldridge d. Salo
Third – Baldridge d. Hitchcock 21-18, 21-18
Final – Johnson d. Schmidt 21-20, 21-13
Diamond Masters (70+)
Quarterfinals – Dan Scilley, Luther d. Steve Birrell, Bozeman; John Larson, East Helena d. Paul Polzin, Missoula; Dan Adams, Helena d. Jay Stender, Sheridan, WY; Mike Meyer, Billings d. Tom Madrazo, Butte
Semifinals – Scilley d. Larson 21-12, 20-21, 11-3
Consolation – Birrell d. Polzin 21-12, 21-7
Third – Adams d. Larson 16-4 Injury Default
Final – Meyer d. Scilley 21-14, 21-15
A Division
Semifinal – Eric Schmidt, Missoula d. Jake Brooks, Spokane, WA 21-5, 21-5
Final – Schmidt d. Alan Noonan, Spokane 21-16, 10-21, 11-4
Don Foley
Montana Handball Correspondent
