Hood River, OR, May 1st, 2018, Press- The Hood River Handball Association will be partnering with the World Players of Handball for a second year in a row to host the 4th annual Hood River Invitational on June 1st – 3rd at the Hood River Elks Lodge located at 304 Cascade Avenue, Hood River, Oregon 97031.
The Hood River Invitational will include a Friday afternoon one-wall big ball doubles play day and barbeque in the park, but the main event is a one-day, two-division, three-match minimum, four-wall small ball doubles tournament on Saturday. A “player’s breakfast” on Sunday morning caps off the three-day celebration of handball.
While the main event is limited to only 40 entrants, all handball players and fans are encouraged to attend the Hood River Invitational, which serves as the unofficial end of the Oregon Handball Association’s four-wall season.
The HRHA will again be partnering with an individual in the Hood River community who is in need. Last year the HRHA was able to donate $4,000 to Evan Sowa and his family. Over 42 businesses from the Hood River and Portland areas donated cash, food, and raffle prizes to help support Evan Sowa. The HRHA would like potential sponsors to consider contributing to the 2018 Hood River Invitational as they are hoping to replicate the support for another child this year. The beneficiary is to be determined. Contact the Hood River Handball Association at hoodriverha@gmail.com for more information about sponsorship.
History of the Hood River Handball Association: In 2015 it was announced that the Hood River Pro Am tournament was no longer going to be continued at the Hood River Elks Club, a tournament that was widely known across the national handball community. Even though it was sad to see the popular tournament come to an end, it was an opportunity for Michael and Stephen Stenberg to put on a tournament of their own. The 1st annual Hood River Invitational (HRI) was held the first weekend of June in 2015, and was a complete success as over 40 participants from the Pacific Northwest traveled to Hood River for action packed handball, great food & drink, and amazing entertainment. After reflecting on the first tournament, Michael and Stephen decided to bring on their brothers Andrew and Philip to help with tournament planning and to establish the association as an official non-profit.
HRHA Mission Statement: The Hood River Handball Association was established to encourage healthy lifestyles through the sport of handball and to give back to the community through fundraising and scholarships.
For more information on the Hood River Handball Association, please visit the HRHA Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Hoodriverhandball/. For more information on the Hood River Invitational, please contact the Hood River Handball Association at hoodriverha@gmail.com.