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2014 Winter Carnival Doubles

2014 Winter Carnival Doubles

2014 Winter Carnival Handball Doubles
February 7-8, 2014
Skyway YMCA, St. Paul, MN

The 2014 Winter Carnival Handball Doubles tournament had another successful run. TheFriday night (and Saturday morning) chili was the best to-date! The Gopher Bar servedup continuous Coney’s after Friday night play, and Alary’s provided superior hospitalitySaturday night. Oh and there was some pretty good handball played as well.

Minnesota and Wisconsin players continue to search for the recipe to dethrone John and Andy (dreamboat) Nett in the Open division, but this was not the year. John and Andy survived a legitimate scare in their opening round from the Miller brothers; Michael and David. The Miller brothers won the first game handily at 12, and were within one point at10-9 in the second game before the Netts closed out the match. This was the second match of the night for the Millers after their prelim match with Marc Tobin and Chris Iverson, and David’s third match after playing the first round of the Father/Son division in between.  The other half of the bracket had a much easier time as Tony (MN Viking fan) Krocak and Ryan Maloney dispensed of Ray Miller and Ian Johnson in quick fashion. The other two first round matches were competitive with Mat Langhorst and Jim Grota defeating Ryan Pesch and Joe Van Thomme 17 and 19, and Mike Gustafson and Tim Kappes defeating Dane Swanson and Nick Olson 15 and 17.  The semifinal outcomes were never really in doubt as the #1 and #2 seeds headed for a showdown in the finals. John and Andy maintained their Winter Carnival crown for another year. Andy and John were both hitting crack serves, and Tony and Ryan couldn’t get enough of their shots to score. This was John and Andy’s 5th title in the last 6 years.  The 3rd place match between Mike (floor mop) Gustafson and Tim Kappes, and Mat Langhorst and Jim Grota was probably the most entertaining and closely contested match of the division. Gustafson and Kappes prevailed with an 11-8 tiebreaker win.  Michael and David Miller beat Uncle Ray and Ian Johnson to take home the consolationfinal honors.

There was a full draw in this years’ Father-Son/Daughter division. Ed and David Miller returned to defend their title from last year. This is the first year with a Father/Daughter entry; Ray and Alekzandra Miller. All first round matches went as expected with none of the final four teams being in jeopardy.The Bruce and Ryan Pesch won their semifinal match handily, but the other semifinal match was another story. It was a Miller-fest as brothers and cousins battled to reach the finals. The good-looking team (Alekzandra and Ray) beat the smart team (Ed and David) in a tense 11-8 tiebreaker. Ray and Alekzandra didn’t have enough to match the Pesch’s as they rolled to victory. Ed and David Miller hung on for a thrilling 11-10 tiebreaker win over George and Mat Langhorst for third place. Steve and John Laliberte avenged last year’s loss to Adalberto and Jesus Cordero for the consolation title.

Two all-girl teams entered the Youngster Division (<105/A) division this year looking to give the guys a run for their money. Scores in all first round matches were single digits except for the #4 and #5 seeds. Sergio Gonzalez and Steve LeTourneau just couldn’t get it going against the young guys from Mankato; Ricky Ness and Tikhon Esaulenko.  The semis weren’t nearly as easy for the #1 and #2 seeds, but they survived in two games each.  Steve (Colonel Sanders) Taminga and Joe Lacey-Gotz won a tough final with an 11-6 tiebreaker over the hard-hitting Jesus Cordero and Dave Hermes. This was Steve’s third win in 5 years, each with a different partner.  The third place match was another thriller, with Ness and Esaulenko narrowly defeating Bailey Chandler and Kara Smith. After the first two games of 21-20 the boys beat the girls 11-6 in the tiebreaker. Steve and Sergio found their groove and cruised to the coni title over Tom Pearson and Jay Marshall.

This was the largest 120+ division this year with a total of 16 teams. The teams were divided into two brackets; one 12-team bracket (Lars and Gertrude division) and one 4- team round robin (Sven and Dorothy division). 

In the Lars and Gertrude division 6 teams had play-in matches. Late entrants Mark Brissett and George (mountain man) Langhorst won a hard-fought match against the current dream team, Mike McQuillan and Larry Griesgraber, in an 11-5 tiebreaker. Mark and George then pushed the #3 seeds, Bill Hickey and Jim May to the limit, but came up short in an 11-9 tiebreaker. Tim (my new knee feels great) Fichtel and Mike Burke won their play-in match and then upset the defending champs and #2 seeds from Milwaukee; Charlie Keller and John Dahl. The #4 and #5 seeds also provided a thrilling match with Gary Rohrer and Jim Kaster defeating Don (I love this ball) Reiter and Tom (the mouth) Bordenave in an 11-8 tiebreaker.  Defending champs John (freak of nature) Miller and Brett Broxey cruised to the finals. After a tough first game John and Brett closed out the second game and claimed their 7th consecutive title! It was actually John’s 7th and Brett’s 6th; Mike Kloos filled in for Brett in 2010 to keep ‘The Streak’ alive. Rohrer and Kaster ‘hopped’ their way to the third place title over Fichtel and Burke. Marathon men Bob Milliken and Mark Kahnle claimed the consolation title with two tiebreaker wins over Reiter and Bordenave, 11-6, and Brissett and Langhorst, 11-9. It was rumored Bob was looking for Ibuprofen after his last match.

In the Sven and Dorothy division Larry (no hop) Larson and Hank Ulrich had little trouble with their opponents, which included an injury forfeit by Bill Ingram and Dennis Flanagan. Pete Kaehler and Andy (weasel wax) Staab conquered (Special) Ed Simonet and Jim Boyd for the 2nd place trophy. Shout outs go to the iron men of the tournament: George Langhorst (8 matches), David Miller (7 matches), and Ray Miller (7 matches)  

Also, we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the generosity of our sponsors:

  • Paul Frerichs, Frerichs Construction
  • Tom Bordenave, Corporate Business Solutions
  • Ed Simonet, Attorney at Law
  • Steve Laliberte/Jodi Laliberte – Sort Toss Pack
  • John Warner, Flat Earth Brewing
  • Mike ‘Shaq’ Erdmanczyk
  • Jerry Jordahl, Jordahl Advisory Group, LLC
  • Ron Lachenmayer, BCL Appraisals
  • Bill Hickey
  • Tom Pearson, Pearson Quinlivan, PLC
  • Larry Larson, CPA
  • Andy Staab
  • Pete Rosene
  • Anonymous (2)

 

Open Doubles
Preliminary Round

  • David Miller / Michael Miller def. Marc Tobin / Chris Iverson 21-10, 21-12

Quarterfinals

  • John Nett / Andy Nett def. David Miller / Michael Miller 12-21, 21-9, 11-2
  • Mat Langhorst / Jim Grota def. Ryan Pesch / Joe Van Thomme 21-17, 21-19
  • Mike Gustafson / Tim Kappes def. Dane Swanson / Nick Olson 21-15, 21-17
  • Tony Krocak / Ryan Maloney def. Ray Miller / Ian Johnson 21-1, 21-12

Semifinals

  • Nett / Nett def. Langhorst / Grota 21-11, 21-17
  • Krocak / Maloney def. Gustafson / Kappes 21-12, 21-11

Finals

  • Nett / Nett def. Krocak / Maloney 21-10, 21-14

Third Place

  • Mike Gustafson / Tim Kappes def. Mat Langhorst / Jim Grota 18-21, 21-15, 11-8

Coni

  • David Miller / Michael Miller def. Ray Miller / Ian Johnson 21-7, 21-20

Father & Son/Daughter Doubles
Quarterfinals

  • Ed Miller / David Miller def. Micky Dobbins / Matt Dobbins 21-13, 21-13
  • Ray Miller / Alekzandra Miller def. Adalberto Cordero / Jesus Cordero 21-10, 21-8
  • George Langhorst / Mat Langhorst def. Jack Leveille/Alan Baumgartner-Leveille 21-7, 21-9
  • Brian Pesch / Ryan Pesch def. Steve Laliberte / John Laliberte 21-5, 21-15

Semifinals

  • Ray Miller / Alekzandra Miller def. Ed Miller / David Miller 14-21, 21-9, 11-8
  • Brian Pesch / Ryan Pesch def. def. George Langhorst / Mat Langhorst 21-4, 21-9

Finals

  • Brian Pesch / Ryan Pesch def. Ray Miller / Alekzandra Miller 21-10, 21-6

Third Place

  • Ed Miller / David Miller def. George Langhorst / Mat Langhorst 21-20, 9-21, 11-10

Coni

  • Steve Laliberte / John Laliberte def. Adalberto Cordero / Jesus Cordero 16-21, 21-10, 11-6

Youngster Doubles (<105)
Quarterfinals

  • Joe Lacey-Gotz / Steve Tamminga def. Jessica Herion / Missy Kohout 21-0, 21-3
  • Ricky Ness / Tikhon Esaulenko def. Sergio Gonzalez / Steve LeTourneau 21-13, 21-10
  • Bailey Chandler / Kara Smith def. Tom Pearson / Jay Marshall 21-4, 21-4
  • Dave Hermes / Jesus Cordero def. Josh Hoflock / Trent Edwards 21-4, 21-6

Semifinals

  • Lacey-Gotz / Tamminga def. Ness / Esaulenko 21-19, 21-9
  • Hermes / Cordero def. Chandler / Smith 21-18, 21-12

Finals

  • Lacey-Gotz / Tamminga def. Hermes / Cordero 20-21, 21-9, 11-6

Third Place

  • Ness / Esaulenko def. Chandler / Smith 21-20, 20-21, 11-6

Coni

  • Sergio Gonzalez / Steve LeTourneau def. Tom Pearson / Jay Marshall 21-9, 21-9

Lars & Gertrude Doubles (120+)
Preliminary Round

  • Bob Milliken / Mark Kahnle def. Adalberto Cordero / Greg Taylor 21-12, 21-7
  • Mark Brissett / George Langhorst def. Mike McQuillan / Larry Griesgraber 21-9, 19-21, 11-5
  • Tim Fichtel / Mike Burke def. Dean Held / Ken Toering 21-12, 21-13

Quarterfinals

  • John Miller / Brett Broxey def. Milliken / Kahnle 21-5, 21-10
  • Gary Rohrer / Jim Kaster def. Don Reiter / Tom Bordenave 21-13, 20-21, 11-8
  • Bill Hickey / Jim May def. Brissett / Langhorst 21-0, 14-21, 11-9
  • Fichtel / Burke def. Charlie Keller / John Dahl 21-2, 21-11

Semifinals

  • Miller / Broxey def. Rohrer / Kaster 21-6, 21-3
  • Hickey / May def. Fichtel / Burke 21-3, 21-5

Finals

  • Miller / Broxey def. Hickey / May 21-14, 21-6

Third Place

  • Gary Rohrer / Jim Kaster def. Tim Fichtel / Mike Burke 21-9, 21-12

Coni

  • Bob Milliken / Mark Kahnle def. Mark Brissett / George Langhorst 21-1, 17-21, 11-9

Sven & Dorothy Doubles (120+)
Round Robin

  1. Larry Larson / Hank Ulrich
  2. Pete Kaehler / Andy Staab
  3. Ed Simonet / Jim Boyd
  4. Bill Ingram / Dennis Flanagan