Day 1
Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 4/4/25
The 2025 R48LTE USHA Hall of Fame marks the ninety-fifth event in the history of the Race 4 Eight tour, with the tour spanning 17 states and two countries in the R48’s first thirteen+ seasons.
The 2025 R48LTE USHA Hall of Fame features seven of the top eight R48 Men’s Pros, headlined by R48 #1 and 2024 Race 4 Eight Player of the Year Martin Mulkerrins, R48 #2 and two-time 2024/25 Race 4 Eight champion (Red, LAAC) Lucho Cordova, and R48 #3 and 2024 Race 4 Eight Breakthrough Player of the Year Ray Ure.
Mulkerrins started hot against SR48 pro Bill Mehilos in their round of 16 clash, building an 8-0 lead in the first. Mehilos stunned Mulkerrins, stringing together kills to serve for the game at 14-12. Mehilos missed his chance to take a one-game lead on his only serve as fourteen, as the R48 #1 took control from there to win in two games.
Two-time 2024/25 Race champion Lucho Cordova dismissed one of the sport’s future stars in two games, as Eli Guttierez was unable to pressure the Juarez legend.
R48 #3 Ray Ure overwhelmed SR48 #3 Rafa Martinez in two games to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals, while R48 #4 Leo Canales was nearly flawless in his two-game sweep against John Chapman.
2024 R48 Icebreaker champion David Fink overcame a 29-year age disadvantage to defeat Tucson’s next superstar Ayden Brule in two games, while R48 #7 Ivan Burgos defeated the National Handball Center’s captain Jeff Streibig in two games.
Sam Esser and Shorty Ruiz played the only tiebreaker in the round of 16, as Ruiz rallied from a one-game and 5-10 second game deficit to force a tiebreaker against Esser. Ruiz cooled off in the tiebreaker, allowing Esser to play more relaxed and covert his opportunities to advance.
R48 #9 Mark Doyle was steady against Max Langmack, surviving a close first game and scoring the final nine points of the match after trailing 6-9 in the second. “I just missed two left-hand setups and that cost me,” Langmack would later say.
R48LTE Hall of Fame Round of 16
Mulkerrins def Mehilos 16-14, 15-4
Lucho def E. Guttierez 15-5, 15-5
Ure def R. Martinez 15-5, 15-1
Canales def Chapman 15-3, 15-8
Fink def Brule 15-7, 15-3
Burgos def Streibig 15-8, 15-11
Esser def Ruiz 15-12, 13-15, 15-3
Doyle def Langmack 15-13, 15-9
Round of 8 (Saturday, all times MST)
(Editor’s Note:
The WPH is filming this event for upload at a later time (single camera shoot with limited audio); however, there may be a live Facebook feed provided on Saturday beginning at 9am Arizona time. This potential LIVE feed depends on Internet speeds at the facility. If a “Feed” is provided, we will post the link here.
Thank you)
Mulkerrins vs. Doyle (9 am)
Canales vs. Fink (10 am)
Ure vs. Esser (11 am)
Lucho vs. Burgos (noon)
For more info on the 2025 R48LTE USHA Hall of Fame, including starting times and to follow the brackets go HERE
2025 R48LTE USHA Hall of Fame press release HERE
WPH on YouTube HERE
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Race 4 Eight Fun Facts HERE
Current Race 4 Eight Rankings HERE
Race 4 Eight pro player bios HERE
WPH Coaching Centers HERE
WPH Workout Central HERE
2024/25 Race 4 Eight schedule HERE
WPH RACE 4 EIGHT: The World Players of Handball’s 2024/25 Race 4 Eight XIV Powered by ESPN features nine Race 4 Eight stops from California to Mexico, all culminating with The Player’s Championship. Similar to NASCAR’s Nextel Cup and the FedEx PGA Playoffs, players earn points in the Race 4 Eight’s regular season stops to qualify for the season-ending Player’s Championship and bonus prizes.
For more information on the WPH Race 4 Eight title sponsor opportunity, please contact World Players of Handball Executive Director David Vincent at dave.vincent@wphlive.tv or World Players of Handball Development Director
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer