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New Orleans, Elmwood Fitness Center- WPH R48Pro, New Orleans, takes a break from the tournament, as Elite Eight cast members, David Fink & Mando Ortiz, get their eye-ware on and instruct juniors and college students on the main show court. As with all WPH gigs, you will find one if not multiple junior/adult clinics, with the pros, with hopes of further growing the game of Handball. Today, Mando Ortiz expresses bending down, transferring weight and the importance of footwork.
More clinics and instructional chances abundant as the days roll on!
The pro qualifier is all finished here in New Orleans and the top 16 men’s pro draw is now complete and ready for the 3pm kick off. Local standout, Abraham Montijo, qualified …then drew fellow Tucson handballer, David Fink, in the blind draw. The two will scrap-it-out on the show-court this afternoon. Adam Bernhard (TX), Anthony Selestow (WI), Luis Cordiva (MX), Jon Iglesias (NY), Memo Pallares (TX), Ryan Bowler (CA) and Killian Carroll (IRE) also qualified.
For Ryan Bowler, this marks the first time qualifying on tour; meanwhile, Memo Pallares qualified for the second time in as many attempts (Houston ’13). Luis Cordova unluckily drew former rival, Luis Moreno (AZ), in his opening round, while Adam Bernhard received bad news when Paul Brady’s name (#1 Seed) was removed from the blind-draw-hat.
Want to talk about luck?
2015’s World finalist, Killian Carroll, didn’t have enough ranking points to be named in the top eight; was forced to qualify; then pulled Emmett Peixoto’s name. Certainly the marquee match of the tournament finds one unlucky soldier on the sidelines by the time the third match of the day kicks off at 5pm. “All first round matches (Rd 16) are played-out today,” says WPH Director, Dave Vincent. “We are not happy to see a non-filmed match like Peixoto-Carroll taking place in the round of 16, but we certainly knew this could happen. I’m not sure if I am more sympathetic for the players or fans [that are unable to view] on this one, but it is a let down all across the board.”
All results posted, HERE>
You can watch the LIVE action at 9am central time on ESPN3 & WatchESPN App beginning Saturday, January 22nd. More details? Email us: info@wphlive.tv or go to wphlive.tv or race4eight.com. Broadcast Schedule is attached to this email. Please share the broadcast schedule with your groups:
New Orleans, Elmwood Fitness Center- WPH R48Pro, New Orleans, takes a break from the tournament, as Elite Eight cast members, David Fink & Mando Ortiz, get their eye-ware on and instruct juniors and college students on the main show court. As with all WPH gigs, you will find one if not multiple junior/adult clinics, with the pros, with hopes of further growing the game of Handball. Today, Mando Ortiz expresses bending down, transferring weight and the importance of footwork. 