WPH Press, 2/27/22
Springfield, MO and the Missouri State University Bears hosted the 69th USHA National Collegiate Championships, featuring the best and largest collegiate handball tournament in the U.S. Players traveled from across the U.S., Canada, and Ireland to compete on the famed Dr. Tommy H. Burnett Handball Courts.
Ireland’s David Walsh (MTU) advanced to the final in the Men’s Open singles with impressive wins against Jon Gutierrez (FRCC), Michael Gaulton (MNSU), and top-seeded Shane Dunne (MTU). Diarmuid Mulkerrins (UCD) was impressive in the bottom bracket, overcoming Jorge Pimentel (PCC), Anthony Sullivan (LFC), and third-seeded Ray Ure (MNSU).
Walsh and Mulkerrins split lopsided first games before playing a thrilling tiebreaker. Both stars served for the match, but it was Walsh who was able to emerge, defeating his countryman 11-10 in the tiebreaker.
Semifinals
Walsh def Dunne 21-15, 21-12
Mulkerrins def Ure 21-8, 19-21, 11-5
Final: Walsh def Mulkerrins 21-4, 5-21, 11-10
Walsh slammed by winning the doubles with his brother, winning his second tiebreaker of the day in defeating Mankato State’s Ray Ure and Michael Gaulton.
Fiona Tully (NUIG) entered the Women’s Open as the top-seed and had just advanced to her first WR48 final in Houston last weekend. Tully cruised to the final with victories against Claire Hagstrom (MNSU), Avery Shepherd (UT), and Aoife Holden (DCU). Mairead Fox (UU) cruised to the final in the bottom bracket with wins against Bri Still (MOST), Sophie Della Croce (UA), and Holly Hynes (ITC).
Tully continued to demonstrate why she is one of the game’s top players, ousting Fox in two games to take the title.
Semifinals
Tully def Holden 21-3, 21-5
Fox def Hynes 21-11, 21-18
Final: Tully def Fox 21-7, 21-5
Like Walsh, Tully slammed, teaming with Ashling Mullin to defeat Team Holden/Barrett
To view all of the brackets from the 69th USHA National Collegiate Championships, go HERE
To watch the matches on the USHA YouTube channel, go HERE
For much more on the 69th USHA National Collegiate Championships, visit ushandball.org
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer