Stockton, CA, WPH Press, 1/28/18- WPH Outdoor hosted its second event of the 2018 WPH Outdoor 7 season, with the top 4-Wall Big Ball stars in the world battling for the coveted Iceman trophy, WPH Outdoor ranking points, and WPH yellow jerseys in Stockton, CA. 2017 WPH Outdoor #1 Samzon Hernandez led a talented field of 4-Wall Big Ball superstars, aiming to kickoff his 2018 season with Iceman titles. “The Machine” was joined in Stockton by defending Iceman singles champion Manny Suarez, “El Hombre” Alfredo Morales, WPH Ironman Sal Duenas, Mauro Rojas, and a number of contenders.
“We look forward to hosting the top 4-Wall Big Ballers every year and we’re really excited to have such a great field,” proclaimed Iceman tournament director and Northern California handball ambassador Angel Hernandez.
Singles
Alfredo Morales entered the 2018 WPH Outdoor Iceman as the #2 seed, owning two WPH Outdoor singles titles in his career, one of those being the 2016 Salt Lake City Aces WPH Outdoor 4-Wall Big Ball pro singles. Morales cruised through the bottom half of the draw, routing Eduardo Becerra, Brian Medina, and Antonio Chavez en route to the final. “Fredo was just playing good solid ball,” stated WPH Outdoor ironman Sal Duenas. “Fredo makes the right shots and keeps the pressure on.”
Top-seeded Samzon Hernandez was nearly as dominant in the top half of the draw, ousting “Nacho” Delgado and Manuel Chavez en route to the semifinals and needing a tiebreaker to overcome Stockton’s Mauro Rojas to book his fourth consecutive appearance in the Iceman final.
“Unfortunately, Samzon badly sprained his ankle in his semifinal win,” stated Iceman tournament director Angel Hernandez.
What should have been a blockbuster Iceman singles final was unable to be played, as Hernandez’s ankle prevented the clash of Southern California rivals. Morales picked up his third WPH Outdoor singles title via finals forfeit.
Semifinals
Hernandez def Rojas 15-9, 12-15, 15-8
Morales def A. Chavez 15-9, 15-8
Final: Morales def Hernandez (inj. fft.)
’18 Iceman Singles Finishes
1st: Alfredo Morales
2nd: Samzon Hernandez
3rd: Mauro Rojas
4th: Antonio Chavez
Doubles
Alfredo Morales partnered with Orange County teammate Es
teban Erazo to slam the Iceman, defeating Ochoa/Hinojosa, Rojas/Duenas en route to the final and ousting an injured Samzon Hernandez and Diego Marin in a lopsided two-game final.
Final: Morales/Erazo def Hernandez/Marin 15-1, 15-7
’18 Iceman Doubles Finishes
1st: Morales/Erazo
2nd: Hernandez/Marin
The 2018 WPH Iceman featured several dozen junior handball stars from Northern and Southern California. The youngsters took center stage at the Iceman, displaying exceptional skills and sportsmanship in Stockton’s biggest event. Junior national champion David Sanchez iii added another trophy to his mantle, winning the 19 and under singles, Louis Montes, Jr picked up his first JR WPH singles title in the 15 and under, while Tristen Hernandez captured the 10 and under singles.
“The WPH is extremely proud to provide opportunities for the next generation of handball players to play alongside the elite players in family-friendly events,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “Thank you to all of the junior players for their passion for the game and their sportsmanship, and thank you to WPH Outdoor Iceman tournament director Angel Hernandez for giving the youngsters the opport
unity to shine.”
19 and under
1st: David Sanchez iii
2nd: Marquis Mitchell
3rd: Louis Montes
15 and under
1st: Louis Montes, Jr
2nd: Antonio Rojas
3rd: Mateo Erazo
10 and under
1st: Tristen Hernandez
2nd: Victor Serrato
3rd: Daniel Sanchez
Thank you to IceMan tournament director Angel Hernandez and to the WPH staff for a great event.
To follow all of the draws and results from the 2018 WPH Outdoor Iceman, go here
To enter the upcoming WPH Outdoor 7 Stop #3 Las Vegas Royal Flush Big Ball Doubles February 9-11, 2018, go here
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer