WPH Handball Destination Series: Austin

WPH Handball Destination Series Showcases Austin, TX

WPH Showcase, Austin, TX

The WPH is excited to continue the WPH Handball Destination Series to showcase the world’s greatest handball cities and venues. On this edition of the WPH Handball Destination Series, we will feature one of North America’s handball hotspots, Austin, TX, home to the University of Texas Handball Team, Gregory Gym, and one of the most vibrant handball communities in the world.

*All information courtesy of University of Texas Handball Team Head Coach Nate Frank

Handball Courts in Austin

4-Wall

The University of Texas (in the center of Austin)

• eight 4-wall courts at Gregory Gym
• seven 4-wall courts a short walk away at the Rec Center
• two courts inside the football stadium (no longer in use)

Handball Courts Outside of the University

• Clay Madsen Recreation Center (north, in Round Rock)
• Georgetown Recreation Center (north)
• LA Fitness (north)
• LA Fitness (south)
• Lifetime Fitness (south)

1-Wall

• Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park (south): Two courts

• Daniel Navarro led the charge in getting the one-wall courts built at Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park. It was a persistent, multi-year effort that just recently paid off. He now has his sights set on lobbying the city to build some 3-wall courts

3-Wall

• There are currently no 3-Wall courts in Austin – in order to play 3-wall, a group of 5-10 players drive 75 minutes from Austin to San Antonio most Saturday mornings throughout the spring/summer to play on their courts down there

Number of Players in Austin

• 40 to 50 players play regularly at the university, including 25-30 students on the UT Handball team.
• Another ~30 players are scattered across the other five 4-wall clubs. 
• There are about 15 regular players at the one-wall courts. They often play with the one-wall communities from San Antonio and Dallas.

Top Players in Austin

• Adam Bernhard and Memo Pallares Jr are the top 4-wall players
• Kristen Hughes is the top women’s player
• Gary Scogin also lives here and is world-champion caliber for his age – he would still beat all but the best few Open players in town
• Holden Smith and Taylor “Taylor Park” Schmitt have established themselves as the top up-and-coming 4-wall talent in the area
• Steven Bernard and Cody Tong (both originally from New York) are the city’s top one-wall players

Tournaments in Austin

4-Wall

The University of Texas Handball Team holds four 4-wall tournaments per year

• Longhorn Classic in July (40-50 players)
• Austin City Tournament in September (60-80 players)
• State Championships in November (70-100 players)
• Southwest Regionals in March/April (90-120 players) – The 2023 Southwest Regionals will be held from March 24-26 at Gregory Gym. Info/enter HERE

The Clay Madsen Recreation Center has also hosted one tournament recently, for charity

Most of the regularly-scheduled tournaments in Austin are hosted by students in the UT Handball program. (Tournaments are open to all, not just students.)

1-Wall

• The one-wall courts have hosted one tournament since they were built two years ago

What does University of Texas Handball Team President Nate Frank like about playing in Austin? 

• Very young handball scene, especially at the university 

o There’s a lot of energy and drive to get better – as well as a large contingent whenever we travel to competitions

• It’s one of the best pockets for women’s handball in the country
• There’s a lot of depth at the high-A to mid-Open level – it makes for great weekly practices and competitive Open brackets (in all rounds) at all our tournaments
• UT has some of the nicest 4-wall facilities in the country – including the infamous “fish bowl” court at Gregory Gym, which may be the best court in the world for watching handball
• When players graduate from the UT handball program, they tend to stick around. We have an incredible network of alumni who have stayed in the area and continue to play – including all four current coaches of the team (myself included)
• Our tournaments – especially the State and Regional Championships – bring in some of the top talent from across the country. In addition to our impressive local talent, recent years have brought in Martin Mulkerrins, Sam Esser, Max Langmack, Shorty Ruiz, Mikaila Esser, Ashley Ruiz, Suz Entzeroth, Tracy Davis, etc.

The University of Texas Handball Team

Nate Frank: Head Coach

Jeremy Aguilar: Assistant Coach

Kristen Hughes: Assistant Coach

Ian Schlesinger: Assistant Coach

All four coaches work incredibly hard, as volunteers, to keep the storied tradition of University of Texas Handball Team thriving

Thank you to University of Texas Head Coach and one of handball’s greatest ambassadors and volunteers Nate Frank for all of the info on the Austin handball community.

Would you like to see your handball facility featured on an upcoming edition of WPH Handball Destination Series? Please contact David Fink at David.fink@wphlive.tv to showcase your city

David Fink

WPH Senior Writer