Minnesota State Handball Association

Ice Box Invitational Handball Doubles
January 20-21, 2012
St. Anthony AC, Minneapolis

 

Winter returned to Minnesota just in time for the 18th annual Ice Box Doubles Invitational. Everyone enjoyed the closed circuit TV action, the usual non-stop great hospitality enhanced by the unique atmosphere of the St. Anthony AC.  Usually a tournament full of closely contested matches and many tie-breakers, this version featured seven tie-breakers.  Also known to suffer some wet walls or other entertaining slips and bounces - this time the ventilation crew did a great job and kept the courts squeaky dry.  And, to everyone’s surprise the brand new fourth batch of “21” handballs performed well with not a single broken ball.

 

The Open division was defended by last year’s champs Andy Nett and John Nett as they defeated a very determined Mike Gustafson and Brandon Glaze in two tough games.  Andy showed his resolve to control the court and the play.  Andy and his father John defended their 2011 title making it three out of the last four years.    Tim Kappes and Brian Burke made a quick $20 winning the consolation prize by forfeit when Marc Tobin’s partner Donavan Foley woke up sick on Saturday morning.

 

In the A division, Brett Broxey with substitute Bob Milliken blew threw the division before having to work pretty hard to defeat Emil Weiler and Tim Fichtel in two games. Bailey Chandler and Sheldon Silberman went to an 11-9 tie breaker to defeat John Nakasone and Andy Staab for the consolation honors.  Our condolences to Hank Ulrich (Brett’s original partner) on the death of his father.

 

Joe Taylor and Tim Zigmund defeated some tough competition winning the B division over Ed Simonet and Tom Bordenave.  Ed and Tom looked a little dazed in scoring only 6 and 4 in the finals.  It must have been too much hospitality or the strange semi-final mid-match forfeit.  Lee Johnson (son of John) hooked up at the last minute with Ma Vang and went on to capture consolation honors in a very contested match over Mike Auran and Mike Leiter.  Everyone in the division was talking about Lee’s lob serve.

 

Thanks to the St. Anthony AC and the tournament committee of Sheldon Silberman, Emil Weiler, Brian Mahaffy,  Steve Tamminga and Larry Larson for making this one of the best tournaments in the Twin Cities.  Thanks to the Rush River Brewing Co. for providing the beer everyone enjoyed.

 

Open Doubles

Quarterfinals

· Andy Nett (Winona)/John Nett (Winona) BYE

· Steve Tamminga (Minneapolis)/Bill Hickey (St. Paul) def. Marc Tobin(Inver Grove Heights)/Donovan Foley (Dellwood) 21-10, 20-21, 11-9

· Mike Gustafson (Eagan)/Brandon Glaze (Eagan) def. Tim Kappes (Maplewood)/Brian Burke (St. Paul) 21-16, 21-9

Semifinals

· Nett/Nett def. Tamminga/Hickey 21-4, 21-5

Finals

· Nett/Nett def.  Gustafson/Glaze 21-16, 21-14

Consolation

· Kappes/Burke def. Tobin/Foley forfeit

 

A Doubles

Quarterfinals

· Brett Broxey (Brooklyn Park)/Bob Milliken (Minneapolis) def. Chris Drucker (Minneapolis)/Dane Swanson (St. Paul) 21-4, 21-6

· Brian G. Mahaffy (Minneapolis)/Clancy Mylan (Minnetonka) def. /Sheldon Silberman (Golden Valley)/Bailey Chandler (Minneapolis) 21-18, 7-21, 11-3

· Tim Fichtel (Mendota Heights)/Emil Weiler III (St. Paul) def. Curt Schlenner (St. Paul)/Rich Ryan (Woodbury) 21-8, 21-6

· Erik Seiberlich (Roseville)/Brian Coonce (St. Paul) def. Andy Staab(St. Paul)/John  Nakasone (St. Paul) 21-7, 21-6

 

Semifinals

· Broxey/Milliken def. Mahaffy/Clancy Mylan 21-6, 21-5

· Fichtel/Weiler def.  Seiberlich/Coonce

Finals

· Broxey/Milliken def. Fichtel/Weiler 21-19, 21-8

Consolation

· Silberman/Chandler def. Staab/Nakasone 21-18, 17-21, 11-9

 

B Doubles

Quarterfinals

· Joe Taylor (Cottage Grove)/Tim Zigmund(St. Paul)/ def. Boon Ma Vang(Hanover)/Lee Johnson(Des Moine) 21-12, 21-13

· Mike Kloos (Woodbury)/Greg Sothern(Maple Grove) def. Steve Laliberte/John Laliberte (Shoreview) 21-11, 21-18

· Bill DeVahl (Woodbury)/Mark Mylan (Mound) def. Mike Auran(Mendota Heights)/Mike Leiter (Eden Prairie) forfeit

· Ed Simonet, Jr. (Stillwater)/Tom Bordenave (Hudson, WI) def. Dean Held (Chanhassen)/Brent Rickenbach (Eden Prairie) 10-21, 21-18, 11-6

Semifinals

· Taylor/Zigmund def. Kloos/Sothern 21-17, 21-10

· Simonet/Bordenave def. Mylan/DeVahl forfeit

Finals

· Taylor/Zigmund def. Simonet/Bordenave 21-6, 21-4

Consolation

Vang/Johnson def. Auran/Leiter 21-12, 15-21, 11-5