Portland, OR, WPH Press, 8/13/24
The handball-crazed Portland handball community and Roseway Heights Middle School’s 1-Wall handball courts played host to Bob’s Big Ball Open and the Portland 1-Wall Big Ball Doubles on consecutive weekends in August. Bob Herrera served as the tournament director for Bob’s Big Ball Open, while 2016 USHA Volunteer of the Year Kimberley Kimberly Duval served as the tournament director for Portland 1-Wall Big Ball Doubles.
Bob’s Big Ball Singles Open
Bob’s Big Ball Singles Open featured six players playing a round robin, with all matches one game to 21.
Final: Kyle English (Beaverton, OR) def Hugo Terrazas (Portland, OR) 21-17
“Kyle was down 3-10 and they started getting chippy with each other, so Kyle flipped the switch and stormed back to 10-10 before pulling away later,” stated referee and WPH correspondent and ambassador Nick Flores.
Portland One-Wall Big Ball Doubles
The Portland One-Wall Big Ball Doubles featured thirteen teams comprised of random pairings from a twenty-six player hat draw
Semifinals
Kyle English (Beaverton, OR) & Ben Jimenez (Cupertino, CA) def Peter Tran (Seattle, WA) & Joel Hooper (Gresham, OR)
Bob Herrera (Vancouver, WA) & Arturo Aispuro (Salem, OR) def Andy Romanchock (Hockinson, WA) & Kimberley Duval (Salmon Creek, WA)
Final: English/Jimenez def Herrera/Aispuro 21-19, 21-10
“After falling behind 12-4 in the first game, English and Jiminez rallied to take the game and seize the momentum,” stated Flores.
“It felt good to get out of the house and hit a ball against a wall after sitting on my couch injured for eight months,” stated English. “I had no expectations and just showed up relaxed. Played well despite being out of shape and got lucky to take the wins!”
Steve Grow and the Alten Handball Foundation sponsored $1000 in prize money for the doubles and $500 in prize money for the singles
All info from the Portland 1-Wall singles and doubles courtesy of Nick Flores. Thank you to Nick Flores for his tireless and selfless efforts in promoting handball
Enter the October 4-6 Race 4 Eight Portland Classic HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer