Mankato, MN, WPH Press, 2/5/24
The Minnesota State Mankato Handball Club proudly hosted the 2024 Maverick Open at Pennington Hall on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato featuring current and former Race 4 Eight pros Ray Ure, Ryan Pesch, David Schiller, Andres Cordova, Michael Gaulton and Clodagh Munroe.
Men’s Open Singles
Ray Ure entered his quarterfinal match against Andres Cordova at the Maverick ten minutes after running a 4:19.63 mile at the Mankato State indoor track meet, shaving nearly eight seconds from his time in the previous meet. Ure overcame Cordova in two games and played David Schiller nearly fifteen minutes after playing Cordova. “David brought his energy like he usually does, which put pressure on me after coming right off my mile race and quarterfinal against Andres,” stated Ure, who was making one of the most famous two-sport in the same day forays since Deion Sanders played for the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons on the same day in 1992. “My body was feeling it after the second match, that’s for sure.”
Ure met Michael Gaulton in the final after Gaulton upset second-seeded and former top twenty Race 4 Eight pro Ryan Pesch in two games. Ure was in control against Canada’s Gaulton, clinching the Maverick in two games. “Michael played well and was taking advantage of my mistakes but I was able to get a good serve down the right that helped out a lot,” stated Ure.
Semifinals
Ure def Schiller 21-15, 21-16
Gaulton def Pesch 21-19, 21-11
Final: Ure def Gaulton 21-13, 21-12
Women’s Open Singles
Women’s Race 4 Eight #3 and 2023 WR48 New Orleans finalist Clodagh Munroe was dominated in winning the Women’s Open singles at the Maverick, downing Amesley Davis in the semifinals and Emma Kinane in the final, outscoring her Davis and Kinane by a combined score of 84-26, including a 19-0 run to end the final against Emma Kinane.
“I went into the first game (of the final) focused on getting my z serve down and took my kill shot chances when I was set up,” stated Munroe. “I ended up taking that one 21-3. Emma came out strong in the second and went up 10-2. She was moving me well and hitting great kill shots. I took a time out to refocus myself and stick to the strategy I had in game one. I then won that game 21-10.”
Semifinals
Munroe def Davis 21-6, 21-7
Kinane def Klicker 21-3, 21-3
Final: Munroe def Kinane 21-3, 21-10
Watch matches from the 2024 Maverick on the Minnesota State Mankato Handball Club Facebook page HERE
Follow all of the brackets from the 2024 Maverick HERE
WPH Destination Series MN State University, Mankato HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer