Brooklyn, NY, WPH Press, 8/6/23
The USHA proudly presented the 62nd National One-Wall Championships at the Seaside Courts on Surf Ave. and West 5th St. at Coney Island, featuring sixty players from New York, Ohio, California, and England. The four-day event featured 90 matches, 220+ games, 10 divisions and $6k in prize money.
Tyree Bastidas was aiming for his ninth National One-Wall Championship, which would tie him with legendary New Yorker Joe Durso. Tyree dominated his three opponents en route to the final, including Gio Vazquez in the semifinals. “Gio played outstanding until he played Tyree,” stated USHA megadonor and WPH correspondent Jared Vale. “Gio was hitting the ball consistently and with tremendous power against Saul (Gonzalez) in the quarterfinals.”
“Oh my, this kid (Tyree) got so much better,” barked Gio during a timeout early in the first game of the semifinals against Tyree.
Tywan Cook defeated 2023 Speaker’s Cup champion Jurell Bastidas in the bottom bracket semifinals. “Tywan is a technician,” stated Vale. “He serves to the left, (forces) you hit it to his left, then he kills it to the right. Jurell served about ten serves into the ground. Tywan beating Jurell was not a huge surprise.”
Admittedly nervous coming into the tournament and before the final with his ninth title on the line, Tyree continued to play nearly perfect handball in the final, dropping Tywan The Technician in two games. “Tyree was a different monster in the tournament,” stated Vale. “The power he was hitting with and the hooks was comical. His reverse hooks were the deciding factor in the Tywan game. He served from the left and he would serve just in front of himself and it was not retrievable. He had a different focus (going for number nine).”
Tyree slammed with his brother Jurell, dominating Team Rosa/Marston in game one of the final before falling behind in game two and being pushed to a tiebreaker. “Tyree and Jurell got up in the tiebreaker and ran away with the tiebreaker, overpowering Carlin and Naz.”
Men’s Open Singles
Quarterfinals
Tyree def Hossain21-4, 21-4
Vazquez def Gonzalez 21-8, 21-9
Cook def Rebaza 21-11, 21-7
Jurell def Troncoso 21-13, 21-14
Semifinals
Tyree def Vazquez 21-5, 21-4
Cook def Jurell 21-12, 21-7
Final: Tyree def Cook 21-14, 21-9
Men’s Open Doubles Final: Team Bastidas def Team Rosa/Marston 21-11, 13-21, 11-3
Women’s Open Singles
Danielle Daskalakis dominated the women’s round robin, holding her three opponents to just seven points in her three matches. Daskalakis slammed the doubles with Tanya Juarez.
Thank you to handball ambassador Jared Vale for updates from Coney Island.
Photo courtesy of Jared Vale
Follow all of the results from the 62nd National One-Wall Championships HERE
For more on the USHA, visit ushandball.org
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer