The WPH CA Next Gen Icebreaker

WPH Press

The WPH is thrilled to present the CA Next Gen Icebreaker, featuring four of the top 20-something stars in the sport. Northern Californians Loren Collado and Erik Torres and Southern Californians Dylan Hernandez and Ricardo Palma traveled from the Golden State to the Grand Canyon State and Tucson’s Clark Park to battle for the second WPH Icebreaker crown.

The WPH CA Next Gen Icebreaker was played with all of the CDC protocols in place, as the players were socially distanced from one another and the WPH staff, the park was closed to the public, and all non-playing participants and staff wore masks throughout the event.

“We want to show people that we could safely hold an event with all of the COVID protocols in place,” stated WPH Executive Director David Vincent. “We closed the park, had the referee wearing a mask, and had the limited number of fans social distance in masks, while ensuring the players were distanced as much as possible.”

Meet the four CA Icebreaker Next Gen Stars

Dylan Hernandez HERE

Erik Torres HERE

Ricardo Palma HERE

Loren Collado HERE

NOTE:  TO WATCH ALL MATCHES FROM THIS EVENT IN THEIR ENTIRETY, PLEASE GO TO PATREON.COM/WPHLIVE AND BECOME A PLEDGE SUPPORTER (This video will be available to WPH members within two weeks)

CA NorCal vs. SoCal Icebreaker Semifinal #1 Full Recap + Crunched Stats: Erik Torres vs. Ricardo Palma

2019 USHA 3-Wall semifinalist Erik Torres faced the 2019 USHA “A” finalist Ricardo Palma to kickoff the second WPH Icebreaker. Erik’s silky smooth strokes against Ricardo’s swashbuckling tenaciousness made for an entertaining clash.

Torres took control in game one, utilizing his sensational overhand drive game to keep Palma off-balance. Four aces, five first-strike kills, and 13 rally-ending shots against just five errors in game one allowed Torres to dominate the opening game, 21-4, in just 14 minutes. Torres also controlled the long rallies, winning eight of the 12 six+ shot rallies.

Palma asserted his aggressive style in game two, starting with his serve. After not striking an ace in game one, Palma hit five aces in game two, as well as doubling his rally-ending total from game one (5) to game two (11). Erik’s 13 errors in game two against just five in game one also allowed Palma to play competitively against the Olympian.

With the score close midway through game two, Torres played more offense, striking 14 of his 21 rally-ending shots in the second half of game two, in addition to five of his seven game two aces late in game two.

Final: Torres def Palma 21-4, 21-14

Crunched Stats (games one and two combined)

Aces

Torres: 10

Palma: 5

Return of Serve kills:

Torres: 5

Palma: 1

First-strike Kills

Torres: 8

Palma: 2

Right-hand Rally Enders

Torres: 28

Palma: 16

Left-hand Rally-Enders

Torres: 6

Palma: 2

6+ Shot Rallies Won:

Torres: 16

Palma: 15

Errors

Torres: 18

Palma: 20

Fly Kills

Torres: 4

Palma: 1

Hinders: 4

Tine: 55 minutes

Torres led in every important statistical category, most notably aces (10/5) and rally-enders (34/18), while making nearly the same number of errors (18/20).

David Fink

WPH Senior Writer