Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 5/8/21
The WPH was thrilled to present the WPH Icebreaker Contender Qualifier Singles & Scrub Dubs at Tucson’s 3-Wall Mecca, Clark Park. The WPH Icebreaker Contender Qualifier Singles was the brain-child of Clark Park namesake and WPH board member Doug Clark. “I love these Icebreakers, but we need to get the young guys and the aspiring pros involved,” barked Clark. Within five minutes, the Icebreaker Contenders was created.
WPH Icebreaker Contender Singles
The WPH Icebreaker Contender Qualifier Singles awarded spots to the finalists in the June 19 8-man Icebreaker alongside six of the game’s top pros. 21 players from Tucson, Phoenix, Colorado, and Texas made the trip to Clark Park, vying for one of the two coveted Qualifier spots.
Juan “El Senor” Canales entered the 21-player Contenders as the top seed, having qualified on the Race 4 Eight tour and holding a current ranking in the top eight on the Senior Race 4 Eight. El Senor was stunned by Tucson’s Will Ferrell doppelganger Brian Williams, who proved he cannot only impersonate one of the funniest movie stars in the business, but also play some serious 3-Wall. “BDub” took it to El Senor from the start, serving deep and finding the left corner with his patented overhand, right-handed spike kill. El Senor was never able to challenge the 6”4 Clark Park star, falling in his first match.
BDub ran into John Chapman, brother of “TGO” David Chapman in the semifinal. Chapman dominated Tucson’s Buddy Key in his opening match and continued his stellar play against Phoenix’s Zach Gault to advance to the semifinal. Chapman dismantled Williams, not allowing his foe one point in either game.
Former WPH pro qualifier Danny Perez entered the event seeded second and cruised to the final with his trademark easy power, surrendering just 19 points in his three bottom bracket rounds against Sebastion Canales, John Henning, and Matt Vollink.
With their qualifier spots in the June 19 8-man Icebreaker secured, Perez and Chapman faced off in the final, with the winner to earn the seventh seed and the loser the eighth seed in the June 19 Icebreaker. Perez and Chapman demonstrated why they earned their Icebreaker pro status in the final, playing high-level handball. Chapman’s overhand ceiling and drive game was reminiscent of his brother, while Perez stands in the top five of hardest hitters in the sport. Perez was able to overcome his younger challenger, taking the title in two games.
Semifinals
Chapman def B. Williams 15-0, 15-0
D, Perez def M. Vollink 15-9, 15-0
Final: Perez def J. Chapman 15-8, 15-9
Third Place: Matt Vollink def B. Williams 17-15
Fifth Place Playoff
Zach Gault bounced back from his quarterfinal defeat against John Chapman to dominate the fifth place playoffs, defeating John Henning, Jesse Aranda, and Angel Estrella.
Final: Gault def A. Estrella 21-7
Scrub Dubs
The “Scrub Dubs” proved to be a misnomer, as three of the four finalists were current pros. Women’s Icebreaker champions Ashley Moler and Mikaila Mitchell entered the “SD’s” as the top seeds and advanced to the final, while last-minute entries Matt Williams and Juan “El Senor” Canales entered the event as the seventh seeds and advanced in the bottom bracket to face the M&M duo.
Matt Williams demonstrated his quickly improving play, while the steady hand of “El Senor” kept the momentum in favor of the seventh seed in the final. Canales and Williams built and maintained leads in both games against the M&M duo, taking the title in two games. “We had never lost at Clark Park together until this final,” lamented Ashley Moler.
Final: M. Williams/Canales, Sr. def Moler/Mitchell 15-8, 15-8
Icebreaker Pro Doubles and Singles Exhibitions
After watching four hours of handball, Tucson’s vibrant handball fans and supporters wanted to see more. “We want more handball!” urged the Tucson faithful. Seven of the game’s top pros were on hand to watch and support the Contenders, and at the urging of handball’s best fans, dawned their gloves for three exhibition matches.
Doubles Exhibition
Icebreaker champion Abraham Montijo teamed with former collegiate national champion Sam Esser to defeat three-time 3WallBall Small Ball champion Shorty Ruiz and Icebreaker champion Leo Canales, Jr. in a three-game thriller, in which the action was a hot as the 110 degree Freddy B show court. Esser and Montijo dominated game one and held match point at 20-17 in game two before a late Ruiz/Canales rally forced a tiebreaker. Montijo’s winning tournament doubles streak that seems to have started a decade ago remained intact in the third, as Montijo and Esser routed Ruiz and Canales.
Final: Montijo/Esser def Ruiz/Canales 21-7, 20-21, 21-5
Singles Exhibitions
Three-time Icebreaker champion David Fink welcomed newly minted Icebreaker pro John Chapman to pro handball with a two-game thrashing, then faced the 6”8 Gentle Giant Max Langmack for a second exhibition singles match.
Langmack led throughout the first game, taking leads of 6-1, 11-6, 16-11, and 20-18 playing sensational handball. Langmack missed his chance to close out game one at 20-18, failing to put away two offensive chances. Fink earned the side out and scored three straight points to take the first game and dominated the second.
Final:
Fink def J. Chapman 21-0, 21-2
Fink def Langmack 21-20, 21-4
Thank you Scott Cleveland and Con Man Jim for manning the BBQ and cooking amazing food for all of the players and fans, thank you to the FLF junior stars for playing in the event, and thank you to the WPH for hosting another great day of handball at Clark Park.
See all scores from the Contenders/Scrub Dubs R2 page HERE
Follow all of the WPH Icebreaker action HERE
The next Contender Icebreaker Qualifier will be Big Ball singles on May 22 at Clark Park. Entry coming, or contact the WPH at info@wphlive.tv to enter.
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer