Icebreaker #9 Full Recap: Montijo and Moler Defend Their Home Courts and Take Yellows
The World Players of Handball was proud to present the ninth WPH Icebreaker at Clark Park, featuring four of the top men’s pros and four of the top women’s pros. While the City of Tucson recently permitted up to 250 people inside of Clark Park, the WPH continues to respect the CDC guidelines to ensure that the players and fans remain socially distant and safe while “breaking the ice” in the ninth Icebreaker since September of 2020.
The ninth WPH Icebreaker at Clark Park featured women’s pros Mikaila Mitchell (AZ), Ashley Moler (AZ), Ciana Ni Churraoin (TX), and Tracy Davis (CA), and men’s pros Abraham Montijo (AZ), Adam Bernhard (TX), Nick Mattioni (FL), and Max Langmack (MO).
Women’s Icebreaker #9
Ashley Moler entered the WPH Icebreaker #9 with perhaps more motivation than any player in the field. Moler served at 13-11 in the third game in the Icebreaker #7 final against Mikaila Mitchell, only to surrender the last four points and a heartbreaking defeat. Rather than dwell on what could have been, Moler was back on her home court at Clark Park training for her next opportunity. The next opportunity came just several weeks later, as redemption stood just two wins away.
Moler drew the Women’s Race 4 Eight #2 and outdoor juggernaut Ciana Ni Churraoin in the bottom bracket semifinal. Moler had lost to CNC in a non-Icebreaker match at Clark Park just 14 months prior. Moler quickly erased the memory of that loss and her recent Icebreaker loss in game one against CNC, blitzing the WR48 #2 21-1 in the first game. In fact, Moler’s first game scores in Icebreaker action have been 21-0, 15-4, 15-4, and 21-1, showing that AMol comes to play from the first ball. CNC worked her way into the match in game two, leading most of the way. CNC led 19-18 and was handed the game with four consecutive Moler errors. Undeterred, Moler dominated the tiebreaker without surrendering a point to advance to her third Icebreaker final.
Mikaila Mitchell entered Icebreaker #9 on a hot streak, having defeated Danielle Daskalakis and Ashley Moler to win her first WPH yellow jersey in Icebreaker #7. Tracy Davis was seeking redemption in Icebreaker #9 after losing both of her matches in Icebreaker #7. This upper bracket semifinal was a classic, as the up-and-coming former MO State star and the living legend played virtually even throughout this nearly two-hour clash at Clark Park.
Mitchell built a 9-3 lead in game one and was able to barely cross the line, taking a one-game lead, 21-19. Davis built a commanding lead in game two and was able to withstand a Mitchell rally to force a tiebreaker, 21-16.
Davis charged forward in the tiebreaker, taking a 10-1 lead. Mitchell fought back, climbing to within five at 5-10, but an overhand error took her out of the service box and Davis was able to secure her first Icebreaker win in her third Icebreaker match.
“I just got too far behind in the second and third games,” lamented Mitchell. “It was really fun to play her (Davis), and I’m excited about the next one.”
Ashley Moler and Tracy Davis have seemingly met in every event in which both have entered in the last 12 years, either in the quarterfinals, semifinals, finals, third place final, fifth place final, or doubles, with virtually every meeting decided in a tiebreaker or overtime. The ninth Icebreaker would be no exception, as these rivals would meet in the final with a WPH yellow jersey on the line. The final was anticlimactic, as Moler cruised in two games. Davis suffered from heat stroke on the 100+ degree Clark Park “Freddy B” Court and was unable to offer much resistance in game two. “I used to be able to handle the heat but now living in Northern California I’m just not used to it,” stated Davis.
Women’s Icebreaker #9
Semifinals
Davis def Mitchell 19-21, 21-16, 11-5
Moler def Ni Churraoin 21-1,18-21, 11-0
Final: Moler def Davis 21-14, 21-4
Third place: Mitchell def Ni Churraoin
Men’s Icebreaker #9
Top-seeded Abraham Montijo was aiming for his first Icebreaker yellow jersey in his third Icebreaker start, while Mo State’s Max Langmack was seeking his first Icebreaker title in his first Icebreaker start. Montijo entered his third Icebreaker (tied for the most Icebreaker starts of any player) still stinging from not being invited to the non-WPH organized Icebreaker #6, further fueling his desire to capture the title. Montijo overwhelmed the 6”8 Langmack in the upper bracket semifinal, never allowing the tallest pro handball player in Race 4 Eight history to set his feet or employ his power game. Montijo dominated Langmack in game one, allowing just two points in the nine-minute romp. Langmack fell way behind in game two and never challenged, falling in two lopsided games to Montijo.
Lone Star legend Adam Bernhard faced former Triple A middle reliever Nick Mattioni for “King of the South” for a spot opposite Montijo in the final. Mattioni recently relocated to Boca Raton, FL, leaving behind Nashville and instantly becoming the top outdoor player in the Sunshine State, while the Harvard-educated Bernhard stayed in shape and sharp in Texas.
“Bernie” brought his patient and smooth-swinging approach to Clark Park, while Nick aimed to hop serve Bernie back to Austin.
Mattioni took game one on the strength of a deep power hop serve, stretching an 11-8 advantage to a 21-13 one-game lead.
Game two featured a number of grueling and extended rallies, as both players demonstrated sensational deep court skills. Bernie was able to win the majority of the longer exchanges, forcing deep court errors and taking advantage of front-court opportunities to force a third game, 21-13.
With the tiebreaker tied at six, Mattioni struck what appeared to be a rally-ending deep court “out the door” drive, only to watch helplessly as Bernie hit an even better “out the door” crosscourt drive out of the former Mets pitcher’s reach. That shot appeared to be the turning point of the match, as Bernie scored the final five points to advance to the final.
The first half of game one of the Montijo/Bernhard final featured a number of long and punishing deep court rallies, with both players seemingly exhausted halfway through the game. “Abe is definitely tired right now,” declared Montijo assistant coach and Icebreaker collegiate promoter Luis Estrella after a 23-shot exchange.
Montijo found his second wind midway through the first game, outscoring the Harvard man 33-6 in the final 39 points of the match, including a 24-0 run from midway through the first game to late in the second game. Montijo showcased his overhand power game, following his deep drives with fly kills to trounce the Lone Star legend and collect his first Icebreaker yellow.
“I actually got dizzy in there and just could not move well enough to keep up with Abe,” stated Bernhard. “He played really well. I had a great time and can’t wait to come back.”
Men’s Icebreaker #9
Semifinals
Montijo def Langmack 21-2, 21-9
Bernhard def Mattioni 21-13, 13-21, 11-6
Final: Montijo def Bernhard 21-13, 21-2
Third place: Langmack def Mattioni 15-13, 15-10
Men’s Icebreaker Doubles Exhibition
Abraham Montijo and Max Langmack teamed to face Adam Bernhard and Nick Mattioni in the second Icebreaker doubles match. The margins were extremely thin in this doubles clash, as the four players battled for nearly two hours in their third matches of the day in the 100+ degree Clark Park heat. After splitting overtime games in the first two, Icebreaker #9 singles champion Montijo, and Langmack, bloodied from a dozen dives on the gritty Clark Park cement, prevailed in the tiebreaker.
Montijo/Langmack def Bernhard/Mattioni 17-15, 14-16, 11-6
Thank you to the players for competing and for the WPH for continuing to safely promote and showcase pro handball in its ninth Icebreaker event during the pandemic.
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer
The World Players of Handball was proud to present the ninth WPH Icebreaker at Clark Park, featuring four of the top men’s pros and four of the top women’s pros. While the City of Tucson recently permitted up to 250 people inside of Clark Park, the WPH continues to respect the CDC guidelines to ensure that the players and fans remain socially distant and safe while “breaking the ice” in the ninth Icebreaker since September of 2020.
Men’s Icebreaker #9 Semifinal #1: Abraham Montijo vs. Max Langmack
Abraham Montijo was aiming for his first Icebreaker yellow jersey in his third Icebreaker start, while Mo State’s Max Langmack was seeking his first Icebreaker title in his first Icebreaker start. Would Montijo be able to overcome Langmack’s power and court coverage?
Find out here:
Men’s Icebreaker #9 Semifinal #2: Adam Bernhard vs. Nick Mattioni
Lone Star legend Adam Bernhard faced former Triple A middle reliever Nick Mattioni in a battle of the South, with the Texan facing the Floridian. “Bernie” brought his patient and smooth-swinging approach to Clark Park, while Nick aimed to hop serve Bernie back to Austin. Would the smooth swing or the big breaking ball prevail in this clash?
Find out here:
Men’s Icebreaker #9 Final: Abraham Montijo vs. Adam Bernhard
Abraham Montijo entered the ninth Icebreaker as the #1 seed, making the two-mile drive from his home to Clark Park to face the Lone Star legend Adam Bernhard. Montijo dismantled Max Langmack in the upper bracket semifinals, while “Bernie” overcame former professional baseball pitcher Nick Mattioni in the bottom bracket semifinals in one of the longest matches in Icebreaker history. Who would take his first Icebreaker yellow jersey?
Find out here:
Men’s Icebreaker Doubles Final
Abraham Montijo and Max Langmack teamed to face Adam Bernhard and Nick Mattioni in the second Icebreaker doubles match. The margins were extremely thin in this doubles clash, as the four players battled for nearly two hours in their third matches of the day in the 100+ degree. Which team could survive the heat and the grueling rallies?
Find out here:
Women’s Icebreaker #9 Semifinal #1: Mikaila Mitchell vs. Tracy Davis
Mikaila Mitchell entered Icebreaker #9 on a hot streak, having defeated Danielle Daskalakis and Ashley Moler to win her first WPH yellow jersey in Icebreaker #7. Tracy Davis was seeking redemption in Icebreaker #9 after losing both of her matches in Icebreaker #7. Could Mitchell continue her momentum, or would one of the sport’s all-time greatest outdoor players derail the Mitchell Express?
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Women’s Icebreaker #9 Semifinal #2: Ashley Moler vs. Ciana Ni Churraoin
Ashley Moler came within two points of winning her second Icebreaker at the Icebreaker #7, squandering a 13-11 third game lead to see her undefeated Icebreaker streak come to an end in the Icebreaker #7 final. Ciana Ni Churraoin has been an outdoor juggernaut, winning the Vegas LTE singles and contending in every outdoor event in which she has entered. Could Moler overcome one of the hardest hitters in the women’s game?
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Women’s Icebreaker #9 Final: Ashley Moler vs. Tracy Davis
Ashley Moler and Tracy Davis have seemingly met in every event in which both have entered in the last 12 years, either in the quarterfinals, semifinals, finals, third place final, fifth place final, or doubles, with virtually every meeting decided in a tiebreaker or overtime. The ninth Icebreaker would be no exception, as these rivals would meet in the final with a WPH yellow jersey on the line. Moler had defeated Davis in the semifinals of the Icebreaker #7. Could Moler defeat Davis for her second Icebreaker title in this one?
Find out here: