2025 Justin Wilson Memorial USHA 3-Wall National Masters Doubles
3-Wall Masters Doubles Wraps Up in Palm City, Fla.
PALM CITY, Fla. — The 2025 Justin Wilson Memorial and USHA Masters Doubles delivered a thrilling weekend of handball in Palm City, featuring both familiar faces and rising talents in the Championship Circle.
Alaska’s Alfredo Herrera, a standout junior and Pacific University alum, captured his first national title alongside Florida’s Nick Mattioni in the Seniors (35+) division. The duo outlasted Chicago’s Dane and Adam Szatkowski in a dramatic tiebreaker, flipping the script on Team Szatkowski—who are known for coming out on top in high-pressure moments. A spectacular get by Herrera late in the match shifted momentum, sealing their 10-21, 21-13, 11-8 victory.
The Szatkowski brothers didn’t stay down for long. They rebounded in the Veteran Masters (45+) final, defeating Nick Mattioni and Adam Zimet in two hard-fought games, 21-19, 21-14, to add another title to their collection.
In the Golden Masters (50+), New York’s Jai Ragoo and Joe Kaplan continued their dominant run across all handball disciplines. The duo powered past South Florida’s James O’Rourke and Juan Pichardo to claim the championship.
Dan Zimet found himself in need of a new partner for the Veteran Golden Masters (55+) after longtime teammate Alan Frank had to withdraw. Enter Delaware’s Ray Estevez—eligible for the 70+ but showing no signs of slowing down. With Estevez’s relentless defense complementing Zimet’s signature offensive firepower, they steamrolled Florida’s top 55+ team, Greg Burns and Harry Cohen, 21-9, 21-4.
Former Bay Area standout David Wyrsch made a triumphant return to the winner’s podium in the Super Masters (60+). Now a Florida resident, Wyrsch teamed up with fellow transplant Steve Johnson to edge out Ray Estevez and James O’Rourke in a grueling battle, 16-21, 21-19, 11-3. Wyrsch’s lethal serves and Johnson’s steady play proved to be the difference-makers in the decider.
The Veteran Super Masters (65+) final saw Dave Dohman and Jimmy DeVito halt Mike Angley and Dan Vera’s upset run with a commanding 21-12, 21-7 win. “It’s all about power on these courts, and Jimmy has power,” Dohman said of his hard-hitting partner. Vera, meanwhile, reflected on a disappointing final after he and Angley had stunned Ohio’s top pair, Phil Kirk and Bob Bardeau, in the semis.
The Diamond Masters (70+) division has belonged to Bob Dyke and Gary Eisenbooth in recent years, and this year was no exception. While they continue to challenge younger competition in the 65+ bracket, they remain the class of their division. St. Louis’ Steve Campbell and Bob Roman pushed them in the first game, but Dyke and Eisenbooth pulled away in dominant fashion, 21-15, 21-2.
Canadian legend Merv Deckert added another trophy to his storied career, winning the Veteran Diamond Masters (75+) alongside new partner Bob Miller of Florida. Dan Ho and Chris Dominico finished as runners-up in round-robin play.
Karl Lady and Dale Ziegler continued to prove why they are handball royalty, defeating Dennis Uffer and Denny Fehr in the Platinum Masters (80+). With countless titles between them, it was a privilege to watch these four legends battle it out once again.
For the first time ever, the USHA hosted a 3-Wall Big Ball Masters Division—and Florida’s Flamingo Park duo Eddie Perez and Mervyn Bruno set the bar high. They dominated the competition, culminating in a 21-4, 21-6 victory over Daytona Beach’s Brett Arsenault and Kyle Greenhalgh in the final. Expect this division to grow in the future!
Off the court, the tournament celebration at Duffy’s Sports Bar on Saturday night brought players and families together in a lively gathering. Organizers expressed gratitude to all participants, especially Florida’s strong turnout, which helped make this the largest 3-Wall Masters Doubles in the event’s four-year history. Plans are already in place for an encore next year, so mark your calendars: March 20-22, 2026!
One of the most touching moments of the weekend came earlier on Saturday when handball player Noah Yannie honored LCpl Justin Wilson with a stirring trumpet performance of the Star-Spangled Banner. As the notes rang out, play stopped—not just on the handball courts, but on the nearby pickleball courts as well—paying tribute to Wilson’s ultimate sacrifice.
A special thank-you goes to Bob Dyke, Cabell McVeigh, Bob Miller, Greg Burns, Gary Eisenbooth, and the incredible volunteers who made this event possible.
Additional gratitude to our tournament sponsors: Tim Murray, Karl Lady, Bob Snyder, and Team Zamba!
See final results HERE.
Florida Welcomes Its First 3-Wall Nationals with Fierce Competition
PALM CITY, Fla. — A picture-perfect Florida spring day set the stage for the opening matches of the Justin Wilson Memorial USHA 3-Wall National Masters Doubles, marking the first-ever national 3-wall event held in the Sunshine State. Players from across the country and Canada turned out in record numbers, making this the largest edition in the event’s four-year history.
Match of the Day: Humphreys & Rothstein vs. O’Rourke & Pichardo
The most exciting showdown of the day unfolded in the Golden Masters (50+) division, where Orlando’s Rob Humphreys and Mike Rothstein squared off against Miami’s James O’Rourke and Juan Pichardo in a battle that stretched nearly two hours. After splitting the first two games 21-16 apiece, both teams found themselves locked in a tense tiebreaker.
Humphreys and Rothstein came out strong, controlling early rallies with steady, disciplined play. But O’Rourke and Pichardo refused to back down, gaining momentum in the second game and forcing a dramatic final showdown. In the deciding game, the South Florida duo found their rhythm, capitalizing on key openings to dominate the tiebreaker 11-3 and claim victory.
The day’s other tiebreaker thriller unfolded in the Veteran Diamond (75+) division, where Larry Dohman (Chicago) and Artie Diamant (New York) took on Bob Miller (Florida) and Merv Deckert (Winnipeg).
Dohman and Diamant pulled off an early surprise, edging out a 21-20 win in the first game. But Miller and Deckert quickly adapted, finding their chemistry and executing a flawless game plan to take control. They stormed back with convincing 21-10 and 11-5 victories, sealing their comeback and advancing to the next round.
Elsewhere. in the Diamond (70+) division, Steve Campbell (Bradenton) and Bob Roman (Saint Louis) stopped a late rally from Terry McGuire (San Diego) and Bill Moritz (Chicago), 21-12, 21-18.
Looking Ahead
All top seeds advanced without major upsets, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of competition.
Play resumes Saturday at 10 a.m. as the Masters Doubles action continues. Check out Friday’s full results at the R2Sports link HERE.
At the conclusion of play, tournament organizers are hosting a Masters Doubles Three-Wall celebration, Saturday at 7 p.m. at Duffy’s Sports Grill (Stuart South), 6431 SE Federal HWY, Stuart, FL.
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Lance Corporal Justin Wilson of Palm City was a Marine killed by a roadside bomb in the Helmand province, in March 2010. He was only 24 when he died. When his body was brought home hundreds of people in the community stood on the Palm City Bridge with flags. The park was renamed in his honor in September of that same year and there is a memorial to his sacrifice in the park. He was laid to rest with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. Read MORE…
