WPH Press, 9/6/21
After missing the 2020 edition due to the pandemic, the USHA National Three-Wall Championships returned to Maumee, Ohio, as many of the game’s best 3-Wall stars converged on the Buckeye State to battle in the 70th edition of the championships.
Sean Lenning continued to dominate in Maumee, rewriting the record books with his twelfth 3-Wall pro singles national title. At 36, Lenning is still as dominant as ever, outscoring his three opponents by a combined score of 126-38 (77%). Lenning casually decimated the field in his straw hat, allowing just one of his opponents to score double digits in any game. Lenning overwhelmed good friend and two-time WPH Icebreaker finalist Danos Cordova in the final, holding Danos to just eight points in two games. “Sean controlled the front court and always had Daniel deep and on the move,” stated 3-Wall finals announcer and WPH reporter “RFC” Rodney Fink. “There was just nothing Daniel could do.”
Shorty Ruiz and Sam Esser denied Lenning the slam, defeating Lenning and Abraham Montijo in two games in the pro doubles final.
Danielle Daskalakis’s 3-Wall season did not start auspiciously, as the New York superstar lost in the opening round of her first 3-Wall event at the WPH Icebreaker in the spring. After training in California and in the jungles of Tallulah, Mexico, Danielle returned sharper and more energized. “I knew when I was hiking and running in the Tallulah jungles, I’d be ready for anything on the handball court,” stated one of the game’s top all-around stars and Instagram influencer Daskalakis.
Danielle avenged her loss to WPH Icebreaker #1 Mikaila Mitchell from the first Icebreaker in the semifinals in Maumee, and continued her stellar play in the final, ousting Ashely Moler in two games. “Danielle is playing really well,” stated RFC (Rodney Fink). “Her right (off-hand) from the deep court was really impressive. She is able to hit the ceiling with her right from behind the back line, so she is not giving many opportunities for her opponents to play offense.”
Moler and Mitchell bounced back in the doubles final, thwarting the Daskalakis slam attempt with a thrilling three-game win.
Californians Brian Medina and Sergio Guzman derailed Shorty Ruiz’s doubles slam effort, dropping Ruiz and Allan Sanchez in the final.
Follow the scores from the featured brackets below.
Men’s Open Singles
Quarterfinals
Lenning def Gutierrez 21-3, 21-4
Max Langmack def Abraham Montijo 21-11, 21-19
Daniel Cordova def Dane Szatkowski 21-18, 21-16
Shorty Ruiz def Brian Medina 21-4, 21-13
Semifinals
Lenning def Langmack 21-16, 21-7
Cordova def Ruiz 20-21, 21-13, 11-7
Final
Lenning def Danos 21-5, 21-3
Women’s Open Singles
Women’s Semifinals
Danielle Daskalakis def Mikaila Mitchell 21-12, 21-14
Moler def Dorneker 8-21, 21-7, 11-1
Final
Daskalakis def Moler 21-8, 21-11
Men’s Open Doubles
Ruiz/Esser def Lenning/Montijo 21-17, 21-15
Women’s Open Doubles
Moler/Mitchell def Schmitt/Daskalakis 15-21, 21-15, 11-6
Women’s 35+ Champion: Robin Sterrett (2-0 in round robin play)
Men’s 3-Wall Big Ball Doubles
Medina/Guzman def Ruiz/Sanchez 21-9, 13-21, 11-5
Follow all of the brackets from Toledo HERE
To watch selected matches from this year’s Three Wall National Championships, visit the WPH’s #TeamR48 page on Facebook HERE
To watch the USHA’s filmed Men’s Open Singles final, go HERE
For much more from the 70th USHA National Three-Wall Championships, visit ushandball.org
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer