The 2016 WPH Outdoor V has hosted four ranking events thus far in 2016, with the WPH outdoor pros being tested in all three Big Ball handball codes in Southern California, Northern California and Utah. Through the first four months of 2016, the WPH Outdoor V has hosted two 4-Wall Big Ball stops, one 3-Wall Big Ball stop, and one 1-Wall Big Ball stop.
The four events on the WPH Outdoor V have produced several familiar names amongst the WPH Outdoor Elite, as well as several newcomers to the elite of the WPH Outdoor tour. With the fifth WPH Outdoor event of the season looming May 21st-22nd at the Vegas Lte, let’s examine the bios and season stats of the current Elite 8 on the WPH Outdoor V tour.
Juan Santos
Ranking: 1
Age: 21
Hometown: Orange, CA
Height: 5’9
WPH Outdoor V Finishes
IceMan Challenge:
Singles: quarterfinals loss (Morales), t5
Doubles: win (w/ Morales), finished 1st
Los Nietes
Singles: win (Gonzalez), finished 1st
Doubles: quarterfinal loss (w/Morales), finished t5
Downey
Singles: finals loss (Gonzalez), finished 2nd
Doubles: did not play
Salt Lake City Aces (singles only): win (Chavez), finished 1st
Average Finish (6 events): 2.5
Timbo Gonzalez
Ranking: 2
Age: 24
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Height: 5’8
WPH Outdoor V Finishes
IceMan Challenge: did not play
Los Nietes: did not play
Downey:
Singles: win (Santos), 1st
Doubles: win (w/ S. Ruiz), finished 1st
Salt Lake City Aces (singles only): semifinal loss (M. Chavez), finished t3
Average Finish (3 events): 1.7
Kevin Gonzalez
Ranking: 3
Age: 22
Hometown: Santa Ana, CA
Height: 5’8
WPH Outdoor V Finishes
IceMan Challenge:
Singles: semifinal loss (Morales), finished t3
Doubles: semifinal loss (w/ Hernandez), finished 3rd
Los Nietes
Singles: finals (Santos), 2nd
Doubles: quarterfinal loss (w/Jimenez), finished t5
Downey:
Singles: semifinal loss (Santos), finished t3
Doubles: did not play
Salt Lake City Aces: did not play
Average Finish (5 events): 3.2
Manny Suarez
Ranking: t4
Age: 21
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Height: 6’2
WPH Outdoor V Finishes
IceMan Challenge: did not play
Los Nietes:
Singles: did not play
Doubles: win (w/Areola), finished 1st
Downey:
Singles: did not play
Doubles: semifinal loss (w/ Areola), finished t3
Salt Lake City Aces: did not play
Average Finish (2 events): 2
Manuel Areola
Ranking: t4
Age: 28
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Height: 5’11
WPH Outdoor V Finishes
IceMan Challenge: did not play
Los Nietes:
Singles: did not play
Doubles: win (w/ Suarez), finished 1st
Downey:
Singles: did not play
Doubles: semifinal loss (w/ Suarez, finished t3)
Salt Lake City Aces: did not play
Average Finish (2 events): 2
Chava Cordova
Ranking: t4
Age: 21
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Height: 5’8
WPH Outdoor V Finishes
IceMan Challenge:
Singles: round of 16 loss (Bonilla), finished t9
Doubles: finals loss (w/ Garcia), finished 2nd
Los Nietes:
Singles: round of 16 loss (Duenas), finished t9
Doubles: quarterfinal loss (w/ Garcia), finished t5
Downey:
Singles: round of 16 loss (Neville), finished t9
Doubles: quarterfinal loss (w/ Contreras), finished t5
Salt Lake City Aces (singles only): quarterfinal loss (Santos), finished t5
Average Finish (7 events): 6.3
Alfredo Morales
Ranking: t7
Age: 24
Hometown: Tustin, CA
Height: 5’11
WPH Outdoor V Finishes
IceMan Challenge:
Singles: finals loss (Hernandez), finished 2nd
Doubles: win (w/ Santos), finished 1st
Los Nietes:
Singles: quarterfinal loss (Santos), finished t5
Doubles: quarterfinal loss (w/ Santos), finished t5
Downey:
Singles: did not play
Doubles: did not play
Salt Lake City Aces (singles only): semifinal loss (Santos), finished t3
Average Finish (5 events): 3.2
Pedro Carmona
Ranking: t7
Age: 27
Hometown: Orange, CA
Height: 5’8
WPH Outdoor V Finishes
IceMan Challenge: did not play
Los Nietes
Singles: semifinal loss (Gonzalez), finished 3rd (Velazquez)
Doubles: round of 16 loss (w/Osorio), finished t9
Downey
Singles: quarterfinal loss (Santos), finished t5
Doubles: quarterfinal loss (w/ Irizarry), finished t5
Salt Lake City Aces (singles only): did not play
Average Finish (4 events): 4.4
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer