WPH Press, 1/23/22
A number of the game’s best were in action in the Midwest on the fourth weekend of 2022, as Cincinnati hosted the Queen City Open and the Illinois Handball Association hosted the IHA Men’s and Women’s State Singles Championships.
Queen City
Killian Carroll, Sam Esser, Max Langmack, and Abraham Montijo collided in the Queen City, with four of the top nine finishers from the 2022 R48 January Classic aiming to stake his claim as king of the Queen City.
In the upper bracket semifinal, Killian Carroll faced Max Langmack. “Max played very well in the second game, playing smart hitting great pass shots and kills when needed,” stated world #1 and Queen City WPH reporter Killian Carroll. “Max was also serving great serves down the right. Max fell short in the tie breaker, seemingly due with tiredness.”
Montijo faced Esser in the bottom bracket semifinal. “Sam and Abe also went to a tiebreaker with both players playing point for point in each game,” stated Carroll. “The second game went to 19-17. Sam found great serves and shots, while Abe battled with smart play, using an array of shots and bringing his experience to the game, with Sam taking the first game and Abe winning the second. Sam was able to edge Abe in the tiebreaker.”
The final was a showdown between two of the top young stars in the sport, as the world’s best Killian Carroll faced rising star Sam Esser in a rematch of the 2021 R48 Tucson Memorial quarterfinal won by Carroll in two games.
“Sam found extreme form, killing every setup and not giving an inch on the serve, both to the right and left,” stated Carroll. “In rallies, he played offense, not giving up center court playing great offense with both hands and killing every setup off the back wall (in taking the first game). Sam kept up the same level the second game but faded at 5-5, seemingly due to tiredness.”
“All pro players were put up by Bob Bardeau and lovely wife, the real MVP of the weekend,” stated Carroll. “They were great hosts with great food and provided anything we needed.”
Semifinals
Carroll def Langmack 15-6, 13-15, 15-1
Esser def Montijo
Final: Carroll def Esser 13-15, 15-4, 15-5
Thank you to WPH reporter Killian Carroll.
The IHA Men’s State Singles Championships
The IHA Men’s and Women’s State Singles Championships featured many of the Midwest’s top stars, to include Bill Mehilos, Ray Ure, Dave Munson, Mike Munson, Dane Szatkowski and many more.
Ray Ure entered the IHA Championships as the top seed and advanced to the final with wins against Cameron Lowe, Devin Peters, and Mike Munson, while second-seeded Dave Munson advanced to the final in the bottom bracket with wins against Dylan Schmitt, Anthony Collado, and Anthony Sullivan.
Both Ure and Munson played three matches on Saturday, with both of their semifinal wins razor close. Sunday’s final would be no different as the Midwest sharpshooters split the first two games, as Ure outscored Munson by just one combined point in the two-game split. The tiebreaker was nearly as close, with Munson narrowly overcoming his younger rival, 11-7 to take the state title.
Semifinals
Ure def M. Munson 17-21, 21-15, 11-8
Munson def A. Sullivan 21-20, 21-7
Final: D. Munson def R. Ure 16-21, 21-17, 11-7
Follow the brackets from the IHA Men’s and Women’s State Singles Championships HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer