Collegiates help us serve up First Ace

By USHA President Mike Steele

It’s always an exciting event, with enthusiastic teams cheering endlessly for their players, enough sheer energy at and in the courts to light up a small city, and the youthful tirelessness of college students.

The design of the tournament means that matches below the C class could well become deciding factors in a national title or a team’s ranking. No match is meaningless.

The 2009 tournament was no different. But I also witnessed a couple of remarkable events that tell us that the game is in good hands with these fine young people.

In one match, Jared Komo and Billy Craig played each other in a 90-minute thriller, going to a tiebreaker after they had thrown themselves around the court, chasing each other’s shots. Two young and promising players, from hometowns thousands of miles apart, met in competition and played their hearts out. On at least a half-dozen occasions, they gave each other a helping hand up after a diving retrieve attempt.

In the tiebreaker, Billy worked hard to get the score to 10-9 in his favor. Jared then crashed around seemingly with total disregard for his body to snag Billy’s shots. He broke serve and scored the tying point in yet another spirited rally: 10-10.

Then it happened. Two exhausted players had earned each other’s absolute respect. Billy had returned to his defensive position. Jared was in the service box. They looked at each other, and then ...

Both smiled and then walked toward each other — and shook hands warmly. Most handball players know that they are expected to shake hands after a match. But these two players so respected each other that right then was the perfect time for this mutual gesture.

What a moment! I wish every person who loves the game could witness such outstanding sportsmanship and high personal regard for a worthy opponent. People who know nothing of the game should see scenes like this.

In another match, Casey Merscher, playing in his third collegiate tournament and trying to reach the quarterfinals, won handily against Steve Bremer, who had still given his all. They shook hands, too, and then Casey took time as soon as the match was over to show Steve some of the finer points about delivering a Z serve. He knew he had scored many points with that serve, and he wanted to help his new friend — mere seconds after the match was over.

What a marvelous gesture! Thoughtful, respectful, dignified. Any coach would have been proud to see what Casey did.

These fine young players have also enjoyed the mentoring the USHA seeks and promotes across the country. Older players have patiently brought them along, fostering their skills and providing opportunities for them to learn the intricacies of the game.

Those older players have also had the chance to see these young players work toward making that First Ace. And the USHA wants to make sure that we will continue to give this opportunity to thousands of youngsters around the country, to teach handball coaches and to instruct mentors in how to promote programs. We also know that Tom Sove, a wonderful fund-raiser for the USHA, regularly hears the question when he’s visiting a community: "How can we start a collegiate program here?"

The First Ace program that we are introducing with this issue of Handball will help us do all these things on an ongoing basis, building on success after success. Your generosity over the years — via the Development Fund and the Share the Passion campaign — has given us the fiscal base, the expertise and the volunteer base to launch even greater efforts.

What does it take to make sure that First Ace continues the outstanding work of our prior initiatives? Believe me, not much. We hope to raise a certain sum annually for the foreseeable future to sustain the outstanding programs we have been conducting. That sum can be reached if each and every member of the USHA were to donate, for example, $30 each year to First Ace.

That figure means 57 cents weekly. For me, given my addiction to diet pop, that’s less than half of one serving.

This is just an example. Your continued support need not be painful. The USHA does need your help, though, to ensure that fine young people like Jared, Billy, Casey and Steve will be able to meet, compete and share the joy of extraordinary effort and the deep bonds of friendship and respect.

I have seen this happen. It touched my heart in ways that few things do. I am proud of this game, and I am proud of what the USHA has been able to do over the years, of what it promises to bring to countless people who stand to benefit in so many ways from The Perfect Game — to build stronger and healthier bodies, to strengthen character, to add intriguing challenges to life and to enlarge one’s spirit.

This is what First Ace promises to do. This is what your donations to First Ace will foster and spread. Please join me in this great First Ace program — and help us contribute to the players and the 58th annual USHA National Collegiate Championships!