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Chapman Wins USHA/Simple Green Pro Stop #6 

Bike, Jr. patiently waits for a Chapman lob serve 

Modesto, CA -

Different courts, different scoring, same result.

In a repeat of the last Pro Stop finals, David Chapman faced Vince Munoz for the 6th and final USHA/Simple Green Pro Stop Title of the 2001-02 season. Chapman came away a winner 13, 3. Munoz played well throughout the tournament, cruising to the finals, but Chapman was playing virtually mistake-free handball, and that wins championships. The first game was tight, as the score indicated; both players, having played each other so often, were almost guessing exactly what the other was thinking. Chapman would cut to the exact spot for a Munoz return, only to find the ball rolling out to his feet. Consistency and surgeon-like precision helped Chapman eventually pull away and close out the match. This season's final Pro Stop was a possible preview of next month's National 4-Wall Tournament in Las Vegas. See complete official results below.

Memorial Day Weekend marks the official beginning of the summer season and an end to the Pro Handball season before the National Four-Wall tournament. As people usher in the Summer of 2002 by firing up the barbeques in their back yards, these athletes will be firing fly kills on the courts. 

The USHA/Simple Green Pro Stop #6 draw took place on Friday at the Sportsmen of Stanislaus Club in Modesto, CA. The SOS Memorial Day Tournament held in conjunction with the Pro Stop had already begun as the players completed the tournament draw. This Pro Stop draw produced some intriguing match-ups that should give the fans some electrifying handball over the holiday weekend. 

Handball fans were treated to some excellent matches as the Pro Tour went back to the old school—two games to twenty-one, with an eleven point tiebreaker if necessary. First round action began with (3) Vince Munoz defeating (10) Tyler Hamel; 3,7. (9) Danny Bell thrilled the gallery nearly forcing a decisive tiebreaker with (5) Paul Brady before falling 13, 20. The day wrapped up with two consecutive matches played: (1) David Chapman against (16) James Komsthoeft, and (8) Dan Armijo faced off with (17) Sean Lenning. Chapman and Komsthoeft both delighted the crowd with some amazing gets and long rallies before Chapman overcame Komsthoeft 12, 6. The much talked about match-up between Armijo and Lenning did not disappoint. Lenning dropped the first game 21-17 but then stormed back in the second 21-5 to force a decisive tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker, the veteran Armijo outlasted the younger Lenning 11-3. To wrap up a perfect day, fans and players were treated to delicious BBQ at the SOS Club Saturday evening. 

Quarterfinal action started Sunday with a first-time match up between Vince Munoz and Paul Brady, with Munoz prevailing 9, 2. Naty Alvarado, Jr. defeated Norm Dunne, 13, 3. John Bike, Jr. deposed of Anton Wilson, 16, 12, and David Chapman trounced Dan Armijo, 5, 10. These results set-up rematches of the South Bend semifinals in early May: 
Munoz v. Alvarado, Jr. and Chapman v. Bike, Jr. 

Alvarado, Jr. and Munoz squared off to determine the first finalist. The court conditions were hot, and this caused a protest that Munoz should wear a headband due to the sweat dripping on the floor. The distraction didn’t seem to bother Munoz, as he mopped up Alvarado, Jr., 21-7, 21-8.

The second semifinal match between Bike, Jr. and Chapman had the makings of an upset. Bike stormed out of the gate, winning the first match 21-17. It appeared that Bike was saving himself for the inevitable tiebreaker as Chapman regained his form to take the second 21-2. Bike strategically used all three time-outs after game point, with the score 20-3. In protest of a denied glove change request, Bike intentionally wiped his gloves on his leg, getting them even wetter. This act resulted in a technical and point deduction by referee James Komsthoeft before he allowed Bike to change his gloves. Chapman ignored all distractions, finished out the game and the match with an 11-3 tiebreaker win. This sets up a final rematch between Vince Munoz and David Chapman on Memorial Day at 11:30. 

Tony Healy and Danny Bell faced off in the consolation final with Healy overcoming Bell in the tiebreaker, 7, (1), 5. 

Munoz d. Hamel; 3, 7.
Brady d. Bell; 13, 20.
Alvarado, Jr. d. Bardwell; 6, 10.
Dunne d. Crouser; 16, 8.
Bike, Jr. d. Healy; 13, 12.
Wilson d. Chavez; 12, 8.
Armijo d. Lenning; 17, (5), 3.
Chapman d. Komsthoeft; 12, 6.

Quarterfinals:

Munoz d. Brady; 9, 2.
Alvarado, Jr. d. Dunne; 13, 3.
Bike, Jr. d. Wilson; 16, 12.
Chapman d. Armijo; 5, 10.

Semifinals:

Munoz d. Alvarado, Jr.; 7, 8.
Chapman d. Bike, Jr.; (17), 2, 3.

Finals:

David Chapman d. Vince Munoz; 13, 3.

Consolation:

Bell (bye)
Healy d. Bardwell; 11, 5.
Komsthoeft d. Crouser; 9, (2), 0.
Lenning d. Chavez; (13), 7, 0.

Bell d. Komsthoeft; 9, 8.
Healy d. Lenning; 11, (14), 6.

Healy d. Bell; 7, (1), 5.