2013 State Open Doubles
University of Minnesota Rec. Center, Minneapolis, MN
April 5-6, 2013
More than a third of the matches went to a tie-breaker to determine the winner. The competition was extraordinary as 80 players competed in five divisions to determine the best doubles teams in the state. The 2013 version of this annual event was moved a week before the tournament due to elevator problems at the planned venue – the Skyway YMCA. Everyone was excited to be back at the University of Minnesota Rec. Center after a couple of years of construction of a large expansion made the courts unavailable for tournaments. The construction is not yet done (expected to be complete this fall) but the emergency exits were back in service so we could hold a major event and be safe. In a year where spring never seems to come, the cold, wet rainy weather outside made for a good weekend of handball.
In the Open, Andy Nett and John Nett continued their domination with their fourth straight championship. This year they defeated Mike Gustafson and Ray Miller who had a very tough 9-12, 21-14, 11-8 semifinal match with Tim Labvey and Steve Johnson. Blood was shed and Mike looked like he needed stitches after sliding into the wall and hitting his head. No one scored mare than 8 points on the Netts until the final game. Labey and Johnson had nothing left and forfeited to Mat Langhorst and David Miller for third place.
Mike Gustafson, Ray Miller, John Nett, Andy Nett
The first round losers in the Open played for the A championship. Tim Kappes and Steve Tamminga took the honors when Kris and Keith Schaumman could not make it to the finals. Nick Olson and Dane Swanson took third place over Marc Tobin and Chris Iverson.
Jack Hickman (standing in for Keith Schaumann) Kris Schaumann,
Tim Kappes, Steve Tamminga
Bailey Chandler and Kara Smith took the top spot in the B Doubles barely surviving a semifinal match against John and father Steve Laliberte in a 11-10 tie-breaker. The Lalibertes went on the claim third place While Chandler and Smith handily defeated Tikhon Esaulenko and Joe Nordahl who could not seem to get theire grove after a very tough tie-breaker simfinal win over Dean Held and Ken Toering. Sergio Garci and Steve Letourneau took consolation honors over Ten Spencer and Matt Johnson.
Kara Smith, Bailey Chandler, Tikhon Esaulenko, Joe Nordahl
More than half the matches in the C Doubles took tie-breakers including the finals where Kristina Rude and Jessica Bohlken defeated Darrell Saari and Will Bjornnes in a victory of youth over experience. Josh Hoflock and Shannon Strand took third in an all Mankato match against Sara Schoborg and Zack Schwartz. Trent and Tyler Edwards took consolation honors defeating new players Katie Heinemann and Liz Winberg.
Darrell Saari, Kristina Rude, Jessica Bohlken, Will Bjornnes
North Dakotans Jay Spooner and Dan Passolt took a couple of tie-breakers to take the Golden Masters A championship defeating last year’s champ Brett Broxey with an old partner Emil Weiler filling in for Brett’s regular partner Hank Ulrich who is out with an Achilles injury. Brett and Emil had a pretty strong performance but came up 4 points short in the tie-breaker. Passolt and Spooner had a great semifinal matrch against Bill Hickey and Don Reiter. Hickey and Reiter went on to barely defeat Brian Coonce and Mike Kloos in an 11-5 tie-breaker for third place. Phil Kleineschay and Ed Miller defeated Pete Kaehler and Andy Staab for the consolation trophy.
Jay Spooner, Dan Passolt, Emil Weiler, Brett Broxey
The most popular division, the Super Masters 60+, is a testament to the lifelong nature of our game. John Miller and Clancy Mylan extended their streak of wins in this division to three since first breaking into the division on 2011. No one scored more than 10 points in any game against the champs. George Langhorst and Mike McQuillan took third place over Brain Mahaffy and Greg Taylor who had lost a very tough tie-breaker semifinal match against Mike Burke and Mike Black. Gary Rohrer and Sheldon Silberman (yeah, two very un-matched lefties) struggled through three tie-breakers to claim consolation honors over Verne Comstock and Jack Leveille.
John Miller, Clancy Mylan, Mike Black, Mike Burke
Open (A drop-down) dbls
Preliminary Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
Third Place
A Doubles (drop down)
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
Third Place
B Doubles
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
Third Place
Consolation
C Doubles
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
Third Place
Golden Masters A (50+) Doubles
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
Third Place
Consolation
Super Masters Doubles
Preliminary Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
Third Place
Consolation