Photo Courtesy of Squash999.com Celebrating 100 Years of Wafe Risner
Los Angeles, CA, Press- This weekend [May 20-22, 2016], at the historic downtown Los Angeles Athletic Club, handball players from Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Washington, California and Mexico will converge for the 5th Annual Wafe Risner LAAC Memorial Open to catch a glimpse at current touring pros and compete alongside and against the game’s best age division doubles teams; while, catching top hospitality, junior clinics and culture in Los Angeles, California.
Tournament Entry Info located HERE> (Editor’s Note: Deadline is Wed, May 18th and as of this posting, 35+ & 50+doubles still have availability, Open/A singles has one open spot. Contact Co Tournament Director, Marcos Chavez @ mchandball@yahoo.com ~ (714) 742-8981 for questions)
“This weekend will be a great weekend for Handball at the LA Athletic Club,” barks Marcos Chavez, co-director of this event since its inception in 2012. “WPH touring pros like Sean Lenning, Luis Moreno, Vic Perez, and Armando Ortiz, will be battling for prize money and their names to be etched on the Wafe Risner Cup while playing on the Wafe Show Court.” Risner was a highly popular staple at the LAAC and would attend every handball event in the area until his passing five years back. Risner lived to be 100 years of age and was one of handball’s great ambassadors of the game.
“Please please come and join us as we only have a few spots left for players and tickets-to-see-the-pros,” says Chavez. Non players can view from the Wafe Show Court by contacting Chavez at mchandball@yahoo.com or by calling (714) 742-8981.
Chavez, currently ranked #1 in the Senior 40+ WPH R48Pro tour and #12 on the Elite WPH Pro Tour, along with brother Carlos (Ranked #28) will also be competing in the Open division. Vic Perez, who ended his 2015/16 Race4Eight season w/the WPH ranked 11th, will be conducting a junior player youth clinic on Saturday. Other ranked pros to compete happen to be some of the best in the world, lead by Sean Lenning (#2), Armando Ortiz (#3) and Luis Moreno (#5). “I love the guys in L.A. and they treat me really well, ” claimed Sean Lenning “Tons of good players that make it feel like a WPH Stop.” Lenning ended the Race season ranked #2 and is looking to take his first Wafe Risner Award this weekend.
Wafe Risner Results:
2012 Open Singles Champion: Armando Ortiz def Marcos Chavez ~ Vic Perez takes third
2013 Open Singles Champion: Marcos Chavez def Brant Bidegain
2014 Open Singles Champion: Armando Ortiz def Vic Perez
2015 Open singles Champion: Open Division not held
*Only Marcos Chavez and Armando Ortiz have their names etched on the WRC [Wafe Risner Cup] with other elite players vying to have theirs transcribed this weekend.
The Los Angeles Athletic Club is located at: 431 W. Seventh St, Los Angeles, California 90014
More tournament info posted on the event website, HERE>