Tavo and Qu Three-peat at the 2025 USHA WallBall Nationals
Brooklyn, NY, WPH Press, 6/22/25
The United States Handball Association proudly presented the 2025 USHA WallBall Nationals at the Coney Island Handball Courts (Asser Levy Park) in Brooklyn, NY on the third weekend in June, featuring 90 players competing in fourteen divisions. The men’s and women’s pro singles fields featured many of the world’s best 1-Wall big ball stars, to include two-time defending champions Tavo Ruiz and Jenny Qu, Tywan Cook, Timbo Gonzalez, Carlin Rosa, David Velez, Sheikh Hossain, Dan Pitre, and Melanie Garate.
Men’s Pro Singles
Tavo Ruiz dominated the upper bracket in his quest for three consecutive USHA WallBall national titles, outscoring his three opponents in the upper bracket by a combined score of 75-12 to advance to the final.
Tywan Cook was pushed to the limit on his route to the final in the bottom bracket, standing three points from defeat in his round of 16 match against Alexander Rivera and two points from defeat in his quarterfinal match against Daniel Pitre before winning comfortably against former King of the Courts champion David Velez in the semifinals.
The two best 1-Wall players in the world started slowly on a steamy afternoon in Brooklyn that saw temperatures hovering around 90 degrees with an extreme heat warning, as Tavo and Tywan traded errors early in the one-game to 25 final. Both started to find their range with the score tied at five, hitting angles and kills.
Tavo took control of the match after being tied at five, building a lead that Tywan would never catch with a low power serve that earned points and first-strike fly kills. Tywan demonstrated his incredible slides and splits into shots, but his gets invariably allowed Tavo to hit one more great shot.
Serving at 18-12, Tavo continued to push the pace against an exhausted Tywan, who called out of his timeouts and several glove changes. Impervious to the heat or the breaks in the action, Tavo systematically marched to the finish line with angled kills, spike kills, and sensational lateral movement to win his third consecutive USHA WallBall pro singles title in 42 minutes.
“Great game,” exclaimed WallBall tournament director and sponsor Jared Vale. “Athleticism and sportsmanship was on display. Tavo continues to be a step above the rest. Tavo’s serves and anticipation allowed him to control the match from beginning to end.”
Quarterfinals
Tavo def Wu 25-3
Velez def Ziarrusta 25-1
Velez def Perez 25-18
Tywan def Pitre 25-22
Semifinals
Tavo def H. Velez 25-2
Tywan def D. Velez 25-16
Final: Tavo def Tywan 25-14
Women’s Pro Singles
Two-time defending champion Jenny Qu and second-seeded Melanie Garate were ruthless in their semifinal wins, allowing just five combined points against their respective opponents to meet in the final.
Qu was too strong for Garate in the final, keeping Garate in the back court with overhand drives and ending rallies with spike and paddle kills to win his third consecutive WallBall national singles title.
Semifinals
Qu def Liang 25-3
Garate def Colon 25-2
Final: Qu def M. Garate 25-12
2025 USHA WallBall Nationals Champions
Men’s Pro Singles: Tavo Ruiz
Women’s Pro Singles: Jenny Qu
Men’s Pro Doubles: Team Rosa/Sanchez
Women’s Pro Doubles: Team Garate
Women’s 35+ Doubles: Team Brown/Gillard
Watch the pro singles and doubles matches, courtesy of TensFinest HERE
Thank you to tournament directors and sponsors Jared Vale and the USHA for an outstanding event at the Coney Island Handball Courts.
Follow all of the brackets from the 2025 USHA WallBall Nationals HERE
Photo of Tavo and Tywan courtesy of Jared Vale
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer