Chicago, IL, WPH Press, 7/13/25
Men’s Icebreaker Singles
Final: Lucho vs. Ure
Lucho entered the Sunday’s La Grange Icebreaker final seeking his seventh Icebreaker title and with the momentum of a 29-point scoring streak from his semifinal win. Ray Ure was appearing in his first Icebreaker final after defeating Danos Cordova in a tiebreaker in the quarterfinals and David Fink in the semifinals.
Ure was too strong from the outset in the 39-minute final, overpowering Lucho with deep drives and executing fly kills with his left and right. “My coach Mike Wells is always trying to get me to cut the ball off more and it was working well,” Ure would say. After settling into his rhythm after a low start in the first, Ure was dominant, ending the match on a 37-9 run. Ure’s first step backwards and forwards allowed him to all be in position to drive and kill the ball, while his power had Lucho off-balance on virtually all of his shots.
Final: Ure def Lucho 21-10, 21-5
Men’s Pro Doubles
Ure slammed, winning the doubles with partner Jab Bike, defeating Team Streibig/Mehilos in a tiebreaker in the semifinals and surviving a close first game and dominating the second in the final against Team Lucho/Danos.
Open Doubles Final: Team Ure/Bike def Team Lucho/Danos 21-18, 21-3
La Grange Icebreaker Playoffs
Erik Torres erased the sting of his quarterfinal loss to Lucho by decimating his two opponents in the 5th place playoffs, outscoring Shorty Ruiz and Dave Munson by a combined score of 50-14
Final: Torres def Munson 25-5
Icebreaker Finishes
1st: Ure
2nd: Lucho
3rd: Fink/Bike
5th: Torres
6th: Munson
7th: Ruiz/Danos
JR WPH La Grange Clinic
JR WPH was proud to work with Tony Clarke’s junior handball group at La Grange, hosting sixteen kids during the Sunday morning clinic. WPH Master Instructor David Fink discussed the fundamentals of the sidearm stroke, most importantly turning sideways and letting the ball drop. The juniors were also taught the sidearm serve and the overhand drive. After each stroke was discussed, the juniors had a chance to practice what they were being taught.
“This was an outstanding clinic and definitely the highlight of an outstanding event,” stated the WPH’s Fink. “Huge thanks to Coach Clarke for all he is doing in La Grange to grow the game. We hope to be back next year for another clinic and to see the growth of the La Grange juniors.”
Thank you!
Thank you to tournament director Dave Munson for an outstanding Icebreaker at La Grange. Thank you to the Illinois Handball Association for hosting the first Icebreaker outside of Tucson and for the warm hospitality for all of the players and fans. Thank you to the WPH for adding to the La Grange Icebreaker prize money and for covering and sanctioning the event.
Several pictures courtesy of Jab Bike
Watch matches on the Illinois Handball Association YouTube page HERE
Follow all of the results from the 2025 Lagrange Icebreaker HERE
WPH Friday recap from La Grange HERE
WPH Saturday recap from La Grange HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer