The WPH Interviews Sal Duenas
WPH Interview Series
Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 11/22/22
Known as the Wizard of Orange County, the Wiz has been a fixture in the WPH Outdoor top 10 since the inception of WPH big ball tournaments in 2012. Duenas was the only player in WPH Outdoor history to have played in every official WPH Outdoor event from 2012-2017, no small feat considering events had spanned two countries and four states. Duenas uses his lifetime of handball experience to find ways to win, even when the odds seem to be stacked against him. Duenas’s adaptability is likely his greatest strength, as the proud father of four is one of the best in the sport at making mid-match adjustments to frustrate and overcome his rivals.
“I love that handball can be a part of regular life, and that it is family-oriented with travel and events,” stated The Wizard. “I like that it doesn’t require much gear. I enjoy the competition and the ever changing courts in the Big Ball scene where it keeps the competition fresh and never gets boring with so many courts and rules.”
The Wizard grew up in Santa Ana, CA, learning to pitch with his right and left hand and starting his handball journey at the age of ten by going with his dad to watch and play at Santa Ana College. “I started playing handball with my dad because he would go to exercise almost daily since the college was across the street from our home. It was our regular outlet. Around the time I was 13-years-old I went to L.A. Fitness and saw juniors playing small ball. My dad entered me and I won the 15-and-under. That alone sparked a new interest in small ball, which continued until I was about 23.”
The Wizard has focused primarily on Big Ball since his mid-twenties, now playing small ball sparingly.
“My favorite code of handball has been 3-Wall Big Ball because of all the angles and playing in the box eliminates almost any chance of an ace serve, thus forcing a player to beat you with pure skill,” stated Duenas.
Like most Big Ball pros, Duenas enters singles and doubles at every tournament, even adding a third division, if possible. “I prefer singles because I can decide the entire outcome of the game solely. Doubles is also fun to mix things up, but it requires much more strategy and skill and you can’t get away with so much.”
Now living in Lake Elsinore CA with his wife and four children, Duenas built a 1-Wall handball court during the pandemic, often hosting major tournaments in his backyard from 2020-2022. “During 2020 during the pandemic when Covid hit, we all wanted to get some games in and compete but most of our courts were closed by the city and the colleges and schools were also closed for access, so I decided to invest $500 and physically build my own 1-Wall handball court at my home,” explained Duenas. “The court was 18-feet wide and about 16-feet tall and the lines were about 3-feet shorter than a standard 1-Wall court dimension. I created this court with the intention of having a fast game and fast rallies without many lobs. I had events at my house for competition and ended with a 16-man tournament where I gave nearly $2000 in prizes. The 16-man finale was the best of the best and occasionally I still get viewers and comments on those videos.”
From family man to handball promoter and handball pro, let’s jump into a Q&A with one of handball’s greatest stars.
Who are your greatest rivals in Big Ball
My biggest rivals in Big Ball have always been some of the top five players, including Chava Cordova, Oscar Siordia, Samzon Hernandez, Alfredo Morales, Joshua Tellez, and a couple others. But most importantly the biggest rival has been myself. I’m the only one who stops myself from competing at my fullest but that is going to change. They tend to be my biggest rivals because they are always the ones that I meet in the semifinals most of the time in most of the events. They have some advantages over me, which include speed, strength, agility, or just younger age, but I see it as a challenge to strategically win and outplay them mentally and that’s what I usually try to do. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
Who do you consider to be the all-time greats in Big Ball
Today some of the all-time greats have been Samzon Hernandez, Juan Santos, Chava Cordova, and Oscar Siordia. The reasoning behind this is because of their dominance in the game in multiple courts, multiple states, their overall ability to perform under pressure, and their perseverance in the court at any given time. 20 years ago there were other players who were also great, however I still can personally say that this generation is much more elite.
What is your favorite tournament
One of my top fav events is the Tucson Memorial held by WPH. This event gives us all a time to reflect back on those we have lost friends, family and those in the game that we knew at one time and it allows us to come together indoors and perform and compete and meet up with our friends as well. It’s always a good time. The hospitality is great, the location is fun, the people are nice, and I always go home with plenty of stories to tell. It’s just a really great event.
Another great and memorable event is the Amado Hernandez Memorial, which takes place every year in Southgate California. The Amado is the 3-Wall Big Ball tournament hosted by Samzon Hernandez and family.
Some events in the past that have been very great have been the Simple Green U.S. Open in Fountain Valley, CA, but that no longer is active.
What is your proudest moment on the handball court
To be honest with you every moment that I am on the court competing, winning or losing, usually competing with guys who are half my age, has been a memorable and great moment for me. Just being on the court with these guys is an honor. I think it’s a nice feeling to be able to keep up or just be included in a conversation with today’s top players
You will be 40 soon. Do you consider yourself a mentor now
I think for the past five-eight years I have been considered a mentor for many kids and for other players at lower levels and even at my level. I have always given advice when asked, even by some of the top three players still to date. Believe it or not some of the top players today still ask me what they should do on the court or for a plan to win
What are your best shots
I think one of my best shots is my left underhand kill cross court, my right-hand pass is pretty sustainable in any game, and ceiling shots. However, what really helps me in most games is my ability to be ambidextrous.
Who is your favorite doubles partner
I have had a couple of different strong doubles partners and they all offer something different to the game. Chava Cordova has been a recent doubles partner that I have always played with and traveled with and we have won much more than we have lost. Chava brings a lot of heart to the game, endurance and sudden kills and even today I still am learning from him.
Samzon Hernandez has been a partner for a very long time. We traveled to Europe and to almost every other state you can think of. Samzon has shown me a lot of heart and will to win on and off the court. I look up to him and his style of play and I have emulated some portions of his style into my own play.
Recently, I have played a lot with Oscar Siordia. Oscar also brings a different view to the table. He is of the new generation and has a new raw technique and talent in the game. I also draw some of those skills and try to copy them in my sort of game, so my game is always ever-changing based on these guys and partners that I have teamed up with.
I cannot say I have a favorite but they all have helped me in my own game and I appreciate that and I am thankful for the opportunity to even be on the same court as them
What are your goals in handball going forward
Right now, it’s 2022 and my goals are just to stay active and to make the top four in every event that I enter. Anything else is just a bonus. One of my other goals is to better my health for my kids, my family, and my friends, and I believe that could help me win a couple more games in handball
What makes handball so special for you
What really makes handball so special for me is that it’s instilled into my life. I just get off work and I automatically think, ‘Hey, today is a good day to play handball’ and my life just revolves around it. After my family and my job, handball has happily taken a big chunk of my life and I have a lot of things to thank due to handball. I definitely have a little bit better health than I would have without it and meeting a lot of great people. Handball has brought me so many positive things.
What is the best match you have ever watched
I have watched so many close ones. It’s impossible to say. Some of the best matches have been pickup games or matches me and the guys set up on the daily where we just flat out bet $500 per man and go at it. Where it’s an hour-long grueling match to the point where no one wants to lose it. So many too many to remember them all here.
What is your best tournament victory
One tournament victory that always stood out was in Tucson. It was me and Daniel Cervantes defeating Samzon Hernandez and Ricky Ruiz in a doubles semifinal, then beating Shorty Ruiz and Jonathan Iglesias in the final for the yellow jersey. It was crazy how we won that.
What motivates you to travel to so many tournaments
The people. And to push myself to challenge myself. I also like traveling as a little getaway.
Who have been your handball heroes
I consider myself to be that person. I look up to myself and always try to be a better version of yesterday. I am my own competition
Thank you to Big Ball star Sal Duenas!
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer