Los Angeles, CA, WPH Press, 12/7/25
The LAAC Handball Community were proud to host the 2025 Wafe Doubles on the first weekend of December at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, featuring a number of current and former Race 4 Eight pros, to include Jab Bike, Dylan Hernandez, Marcos Chavez, Loren Collado, Stephen Cooney, Jeff Streibig, Coleman McGrath, Shorty Ruiz, Rafa Martinez, Ricardo Palma, and Vic Perez.
“Wafe Risner was one of the longest living handball members at LAAC,” stated LAAC handball ambassador and Race 4 Eight pro Vic Perez. “Wafe was 90 years old and still competing in LAAC Shootouts. Court two at LAAC was named for Wafe after his passing.”
Men’s Open Doubles
The Wafe teams were divided into two pools on Saturday, with the top two teams emerging from each pool to make Sunday’s semifinals.
Team Cordova was aiming to erase their disappointment from the 2024 Wafe and advanced to the final with a two-game sweep against Jab Bike and Shorty Ruiz, while Team Vic Perez/Ivan Perez narrowly escaped defeat in the other semifinal, standing two points from exit in the second game against Team Marcos Chavez/Dylan Hernandez before a rally carried them to the final.
Team Perez/Burgos carried their momentum from their semifinal comeback into the final, stunning Team Cordova to win the Wafe.
“Vic and Ivan blazed through the Cordovas in stellar fashion,” stated Wafe finals referee Ryan Watkins. “Ivan played incredible in the front court, making it virtually impossible for the Cordovas to end rallies. Vic played really well in the back court, keeping the ball up on the ceiling and his hop serves were really effective too on both sides.”
Semifinals
Team Cordova def Team Bike/Ruiz 15-12, 15-8
Team Burgos/Perez def Team Hernandez/Chavez 15-9, 13-15, 11-8
Final: Team Burgos/Perez def Team Cordova 15-8, 15-8
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer