2021/22 Matches of the Season Series: Langmack vs. Cooney in Space Town
WPH Showcase, Houston, TX
As the 2022 Icebreaker Series and the 2022/23 Race 4 Eight Tour are set to kick off, the WPH is thrilled to introduce WPH 2021/22 Matches of the Season Series, featuring the best match from each of the major stops during the 2021/22 pro handball season.
2022 Houston R48: Max vs. Stephen, February 18, 2022
Houston’s sixth-seed Stephen Cooney was quietly putting together the best season of his Race career and was aiming for his fourth quarterfinal of the season against Max Langmack in this Houston round of 16 showdown. A snowstorm in Kansas City delayed Langmack’s arrival in Houston from Thursday to Friday morning, meaning “The Gentle Giant ” arrived to the courts just minutes before his first match.
At the site of his breakout Race performance in 2018, Langmack started hot against Cooney, taking game one. “I remember feeling really confident and aggressive in the first game,” recalled TGG. “Felt like my kill shot and serve were working really well and allowed me to get to an early lead. Stephen fought back, using his touch and strategy to grind back but I held on and traded points to win game one, 15-8.”
Cooney charged back in game two, taking an early lead by using his guile and experience. “Stephen came back with a fire in game two – reversing the storyline in game one and getting out to a good-sized lead quickly,” stated the 6”9 top 10’er. “I found my aggressive style but he continued to push ahead and took the second in overtime.”
Cooney led 13-10 in the third, but a diving, backhanded re kill from the outstretched Langmack enabled Langmack to stay alive. “The breaker going back and forth,” stated Langmack. “At 13-13 I remember a crazy rally with both of us diving on the floor before I killed the ball with a backhanded right-handed cross body backhand flick.”
Following the furious exchange at 13-all, Langmack and Cooney traded serves once more before Langmack sealed the tiebreaker comeback. “I closed out the match with a perfectly struck left-handed kill,” recalled Langmack with his trademark smile.
“I just wasn’t sharp but credit to Max, he should have won in two and he deserved to win,” stated Cooney.
Final: Langmack def Cooney 15-8, 15-17, 15-13
Langmack rode his Match of the Season victory to a season-ending #10 Race ranking.
Stay tuned for upcoming WPH 2021/22 Matches of the Season Series features.
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer