Marc Penick WPH Rapid Fire Challenge

WPH Press

Marc Penick is one of handball’s greatest promoters, donors, and volunteers. Always willing to support all things handball, including running the tournament desks and hosting events, Marc is one of handball’s greatest ambassadors. Marc is also an excellent player, routinely ranking inside the top ten of his age group. Now for The San Diego Ambassador’s greatest test, the WPH Rapid Fire Challenge.

Marc Penick WPH Rapid Fire Challenge

1. Best city to play: I love San Diego!  Los Angeles however has so many great players and a tradition of great tournaments over the years.
2. Who is your toughest opponent:  So many to choose from!  Recently it has been Dave Dohman and Phil Kirk in Toledo.  20 years ago David Steinberg beat me 3 years in a row in the 40+ singles finals at USHA Indoor Nationals.
3. Fastest person in handball:  Killian Carroll and Tyree Bastidas would be my choices.
4. Who is the hardest hitter in handball:  Sean Lenning at Toledo.  Awesome power and wrist action!
5. Best server in handball:  Sean Lenning
6. Best off-hand in handball:  Vern Roberts in his prime
7. Handball hero:  So many to mention here, I think I’ll say Naty Alvarado El Gato XI and his whole family, and Vern Roberts and his whole family.   
8. Favorite court:  Rolling Hills Park 3 wall courts…we built them!
9. Player with the best offense:  Armando Ortiz has a machine gun for an offense
10. Player with the best defense: Vern Roberts in his prime
11. Most satisfying tournament victory:  1995 35+ Doubles with Jaime Paredes at USHA 4 Wall Nationals in Houston
12. Most disappointing loss:  2000 40+ Singles final v David Steinberg in Minneapolis.  That made it 3 years in a row…
13. Most important title to win:  First USHA 4 Wall win in the 35+ singles at Denver AC in 1995
14. Favorite doubles partner:  So many great partners I can’t list one, Bob Nicholas, Luis Gaytan, Ken Eng, Tom Martinez, Don Chamberlin, Jaime Paredes, Glenn Carden, Dave Dohman
15. Longest match you ever played:  A long late night 11-10 doubles loss in the 55+ Doubles to Jim DeVito and Scott Szatkowski in Toledo.  Then I had to ref the midnight match…
16. Favorite sport besides handball:  Off road riding
17. Favorite tournament (ever):  So many great events.  I love going to Toledo.  But I have to pick the Simple Green US Open of Handball.  What a great show that was every year!
18. Best match you’ve ever played:  Still searching for that brother
19. Best match you’ve ever watched:  Most recently, Bob Nicholas comeback win in the 55+ Singles over a very tough Sonny Roberts in 2018 at USHA Wall Nationals at Los Cab…11-9.  The 50+ Singes John Libby v. Dean Crispen at the same event was also a great match. 
20. Title you’d most like to win:  My 20^thUSHA age group title…I have a ways to go!
21. Favorite sport to play besides handball:  Wakeboarding, Snowboarding, Jogging, Dirt Bikes
22. Favorite athlete (any sport):  Phillip Rivers was a family hero for two decades.  They even lived down the street.
23. What is your favorite book:  The Joy in Loving, Mother Teresa
24. What is your favorite movie:  I don’t watch many movies…short attention span
25. What your favorite tv show:  Ed O’Neill, Modern Family is fun.  He is a very talented guy.  Padres baseball is fun to watch as well.
26. Most important shot in handball:  The serve.
27. Your best shot:  Maybe the serve?
28. Legend you’d most like to play in his prime:  I did!  One game with Naty Alvarado El Gato XI in 1995.  Also played over the years with Paul Haber, Mort Leve, Fred Lewis, Vern Roberts, Sean Lenning, Marcos Chavez, Jaime Paredes, Glenn Carden, Chris Roberts, Dan Armijo and Dave Dohman. John Bike, and Naty Alvarado, Jr.  Great players, great experiences being in the court with them.
29. Best Fans in Handball:  One of them was Chatten Hayes.  She loved the game and the players…

David Fink

WPH Senior Writer