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The 2016 NYAC Burt Kossoff R48 and WR48 Program March 10th-‐13th 2016

• NYAC R48 and WR48 Preview • R48 Elite 8 Stats and WR48 Fab 5 Stats and Trends: Pre-‐NYAC • Race 4 Eight Fun Facts and Trends • Interview with Catriona Casey • Marvelous Mando Crowned Champion • R48 and WR48 Power Rankings • Race 4 Eight History of Champions • NYAC Bert Kossoff Press Release

THE NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB HOSTS THE WORLD’S BEST HANDBALL PLAYERS By David Fink The World Players of Handball and the New York Athletic Club are thrilled to host the WPH Race 4 Eight V Stop #5 & the Burt Kossoff NYAC Invitational, featuring the top R48Pro and WR48Pro players in the world competing on handball’s most prestigious professional handball tour live on the Watch ESPN App. The Women’s Race 4 Eight III Stop #2 features seven-‐time WR48 champion and NYAC sponsored athlete Catriona Casey looking to return to her winning ways after dropping her first match in her WR48 career in the finals of her last WR48 match at the 2015 Simple Green U.S. Open. Casey enters the 2016 WR48 NYAC with a 24-‐1 career WR48 record and having won 48 of 51 games played on the WR48 tour. The NYAC’s Casey will have to contend with her NYAC teammates Tracy Davis and Danielle Daskalakis, two of the greatest all-‐around handball stars in the world and both in search of their first WR48 titles. Ireland’s 2015 WPH Breakout Star of the Year Martina McMahon will also be in search of her first R48 title. The sweet-‐swinging Irish lefty proved she can compete against any of the top women stars in the world at last April’s WR48 Player’s Championship, pushing two-‐time defending world champion Aisling Reilly to the limit in the semifinals. Canada’s Leslie Amminson, New York’s Sandy Ng, and Ireland’s Hilary Rushe round out a strong 2016 WR48 NYAC field. The Race 4 Eight #1 pro, 5-‐time defending World Champion, defending NYAC Race 4 Eight Champion and NYAC sponsored athlete Paul Brady will be making the transatlantic trip from his home in Ireland to New York City in search of his 12th Race 4 Eight title in his 15th Race 4 Eight start. Brady will aim to bounce back from a sensational semifinal loss at last month’s Houston R48 V Stop #4 to Mando Ortiz. Ortiz enters the R48 V Stop #5 NYAC on the heels of his first R48 title, having defeated four former or current WPH #1 pros en route to the Houston title. Ortiz dispatched Brady for the second time in less than two years in “H Town” in what has become regarded as the greatest match in Race 4 Eight history. Ortiz followed up his dramatic victory against the NYAC’s Brady by defeating R48 #2 Sean Lenning in the final. Brady and Ortiz will contend with not only one another, but also their fellow “Elite 8” rivals in New York City. Current WPH R48 Player’s Champion and WPH #2 Sean Lenning will be hungry for his third R48 title in less than a year, 9-‐time R48 Champion Luis Moreno will seek to end his 13-‐tournament R48 drought, San Francisco Olympic Club’s Olympian of the Year Emmett Peixoto will look to regain the form that saw him advance to a R48 final last season, Irish sensation Killian Carroll will be seeking his second R48 final in three events, R48 V New Orleans semifinalist David Fink will look to rebound from a first-‐round loss in Houston, and

2015 WPH R48 Rookie of the Year Daniel Cordova will be seeking a deep run in the “Big Apple.” The NYAC has also attracted arguably one of the most talented R48 qualifiers in the five-‐year history of the Race 4 Eight tour, with 9th ranked R48 pro and former R48 “Elite 8” member Luis Cordova, former WPH #1 and R48 Champion Allan Garner, former “Elite 8” member Stephen Cooney, SR48 #1 Marcos Chavez, Ireland’s Michael Gregan, Gabhain McCrystall, Colin Crehan, Canada’s Ryan Bowler, and top U.S. qualifier hopefuls Nik Nahorniak, Mike Schneider, Billy O’Donnell, Jonathan Iglesias, Anthony Selestow, Tyler Stevens, Dave Munson, and Erik Torres in the loaded NYAC field. “The NYAC qualifier is so strong that we’ll likely see top 15 pros fail to qualify and those that do qualify likely to reek havoc in the main draw,” revealed WPH ESPN play-‐by-‐play broadcaster David Vincent. The WPH Race 4 Eight V NYAC Stop #5 & Bert Kossoff Invitational Powered by ESPN features not only the best pro handball players in the game, but also exciting junior clinics featuring Race 4 Eight pros coaching junior and collegiate players. The WPH sponsored Westside YMCA Harry Mellis Program will be on hand to receive coaching from the game’s best players in a special Saturday clinic. What a treat!

DF’s Race 4 Eight Fun Facts and Trends

Through five years and 31 events on the Race 4 Eight tour, the Race 4 Eight has produced sensational tournaments, memorable matches, dominant champions and inspiring stories, all broadcast live on race4eight.com and the WatchESPN App. Read below for fun facts and trends from the first five years on the most exciting indoor pro handball tour in the sport.

1. The last seven Men’s Pro Race 4 Eight events have been won by R48 #1 Paul Brady, R48 #2 Sean Lenning, and R48 #3 Mando Ortiz

• Brady: R48 IV Stop #3 San Francisco, R48 IV Stop #4 New York, R48 V Stop #1 Simple Green U.S. Open, New Orleans

• Lenning: R48 IV Stop #6 WPH Player’s Championship, R48 V Stop #2 Tucson Memorial

• Ortiz: R48 V Stop #4 Houston

2. In the past seven R48 events, R48 #2 Lenning has accumulated 50 R48 ranking points, R48 #1 Brady has accumulated 46.5 R48 ranking points: The R48 Power Rankings are based on a player’s best five of seven results

3. Catriona Casey became the last player to start a Race 4 Eight event and not

lose. Casey’s seven-‐tournament WR48 undefeated streak was ended by two-‐time defending world champion Aisling Reilly in an 11-‐9 tiebreaker at the 2015 Simple Green U.S. Open

4. Mando Ortiz is 3-‐0 the semifinals between the R48 Season IV and Season V

(4-‐1 overall) • R48 IV WPH Player’s Championship (lost to Lenning) • R48 V Tucson Memorial (lost to Lenning) • R48 V Houston (defeated Lenning)

5. After winning nine of the first 18 R48 events, Moreno has not won a Race

title since Houston in January of 2014 (0 for 13)

6. Of the 35 players currently ranked on the Men’s Pro R48 V tour, five countries are represented

• United States: 20 • Ireland: 8 • Mexico: 2 • Canada: 1 • Costa Rica: 1 • Northern Ireland: 1

7. Of the 25 United States based R48 pros currently ranked, nine states are represented • California (8): Peixoto, Ortiz, M. Chavez, Alvarado, Perez, Torres, Ruiz, C.

Chavez • Arizona (4): Lenning, Moreno, Fink, Montijo • New York (4): Cooney Iglesias, Schneider, O’Donnell • Minnesota (1): Nett • Texas (2): Bernhard, Pallares, Al Garner, Hamel • Colorado (1): Hingey • Wisconsin (1): Selestow • Ohio (1): Stevens • IL (1): Munson *Although several U.S. based R48 Pros were born in other countries, the R48Pros listed above represent these U.S. states

8. 22 years separates the youngest player on the R48 tour and the oldest • Youngest ranked R48 pro: Colin Crehan (20) • Oldest ranked R48 pro: Naty Alvarado, Jr. (42)

9. Colin Crehan was the youngest qualifier in R48 history at the 2015 R48 NYAC

(19)

10. The largest age gap in a Race 4 Eight final: Luis Moreno vs. Naty Alvarado (14 years) and Paul Brady vs. Killian Carroll (14 years) *The Moreno/Alvarado final kicked off the 1st R48 final at the 2011 Plummer Bash and the Brady/Carroll final was the 30th and final at the R48 V New Orleans

11. The smallest age gap in a Race 4 Eight final: Sean Lenning vs. Allan Garner (4

days)

12. The last 11 Race 4 Eight events have appeared on ESPN3, starting with the 2014 Simple Green U.S. Open

13. The Race 4 Eight averages 14 hours of coverage per weekend on ESPN3, not

including ESPN3 replays

14. The first R48 final to enter overtime was the second game of the R48 II Houston final between Charly Shanks and Naty Alvarado (Shanks won 20-‐18)

15. The largest age gap between any R48 players in a main draw match was Tom

Sheridan vs. Luis Moreno (20 years)

16. Counting only Round of 16 and Playoff matches, Shorty Ruiz owns the worst record in R48 history (0-‐10). Tommy Little retired from the R48 with no

wins (0-‐9). Abraham Montijo currently owns an eight-‐match losing streak (January 2015-‐present)

17. John Bike, Jr. was the oldest qualifier in R48 history at the 2013 R48 II Houston (47 years, 11 months)

18. In 31 Men’s R48Pro events from 2011-‐present, seven different players have

won a Race title • Brady: 11 • Moreno: 9 • Lenning: 5 • McCarthy: 2 • Shanks: 2 • Al. Garner: 1 • Ortiz: 1

19. Top five R48 ranking points earned through the first four R48 V events:

Simple Green U.S. Open and Tucson Memorial: • Lenning: 28 • Ortiz: 27 • Brady: 26 • Carroll: 21 • Moreno: 19.5

20. The current top two ranked Senior Race 4 Eight pros are the only SR48 pros

to have won a SR48 Player’s Championship: • M. Chavez: (2014, 2015) • Schad: (2013)

21. Top five winning percentages on the Men’s Pro Race 4 Eight Tour:

• Paul Brady has won 11 of 14 R48 events he has entered: • Robbie McCarthy has won 2 of 5 R48 events he has entered: 40% • Luis Moreno has won 9 of 30 R48 events he has entered: • Sean Lenning has won 5 of 31 R48 events he has entered: • Charly Shanks has won 2 of 16 R48 events he has entered:

22. In 31 official Men’s Pro R48 events, 809 players have entered, included the

invited pros, qualifiers, and U.S. Open (open draw)

23. Of the 809 combined players that have entered the 31 Men’s Pro R48 events since 2011, 416 earned prize money In comparison, 9,882 players entered the 2015 Men’s U.S. Open (golf) qualifying with 49 exempt into the actual U.S. Open for a total of 9,932 players, 75 of whom were paid (0.7%) Information retrieved from here

24. In the 22 events that have featured qualifier brackets, 447 qualifiers entered: *The five R48 Simple Green U.S. Opens are open tournaments and the first three WPH Player’s Championships included only the top eight

25. In the 22 official R48 events that featured a qualifier bracket, five qualifiers out of 447 advanced to a final (1.1%), with none of the five winning the title:

1. Ortiz: R48 III Plummer 2013 2. Nash: R48 III Houston 2014 3. McCarthy: R48 IIINYAC 2014 4. Nett: NYAC R48 IV 2015 5. Carroll: New Orleans R48 V 2016

26. R48 Men’s R48 Pro Finals Records:

• Brady: 11-‐0 • Moreno: 9-‐6 • Lenning: 5-‐5 • Shanks: 2-‐4 • McCarthy: 2-‐1 • Al. Garner: 1-‐2 • Ortiz: 1-‐3 • Alvarado: 0-‐5 • Peixoto: 0-‐2 • Carroll: 0-‐1

27. R48 Men’s Pro Champions have ranged in age from (22) Luis Moreno at the

Plummer R48 I Stop #1 to (36) Paul Brady at the R48 V Stop #3 New Orleans

28. The only players to have been ranked inside the Men’s Pro R48 Elite 8 since the inception of the R48 tour in 2011 (31 events) are Luis Moreno and David Fink

29. The youngest Race 4 Eight Champion in history was Catriona Casey at the

WR48 I Stop #1 Simple Green U.S. Open (20)

30. In 14 R48 Men’s Pro starts, Paul Brady has a match record of 47-‐3 (96%)

31. In eight Women’s R48 starts, Catriona Casey owns a 24-‐1 match record (96%)

32. Allan “The Blonde Bombshell” Garner and Mando Ortiz are the only R48

Champions to have only one R48 title. The other five R48 champions have won between 2-‐11 titles

33. Allan Garner/Aaron Garner and Luis Cordova/Daniel Cordova are the only

brothers to have held R48 rankings

34. Luis and Daniel Cordova are the only brothers to have played one another in

R48 play: Tucson Memorial R48 V Stop #2 5th Place Playoff, R48 V Stop #3 New Orleans, Houston R48 V Stop #4 (Luis leads 2-‐1)

35. Robbie McCarthy is the only player in R48 history to have started an event and never finished outside the top 5

36. Killian Carroll, Diarmaid Nash, and Robbie McCarthy are the only players to have ever started a R48 event and not lost in the round of 16

37. Of the 62 R48 finalists in 30 R48 events, five have been qualifiers, zero qualifiers have won a title

38. David Fink has appeared in the most R48 semifinals (7) without advancing to a R48 final

39. Killian Carroll is the one of only two players (Brady) to have an undefeated R48 record against Luis Moreno (1-‐0)

40. The R48 V Stop #5 NYAC will be the 23rd official R48 qualifier (the five Simple Green U.S. Opens and the first three R48 Player’s Championship events did not have qualifiers). Including the R48 V NYAC, the only R48 pros to have never entered a qualifier are Brady, Moreno, Lenning, Fink

41. Luis Cordova Jr. has qualified the most times of any player on the R48 tour (14), Anthony Selestow is second (13) (per Luis Cordova, Sr.)

42. The only players to face a match point and win a main draw Men’s Pro R48 match are:

• Alvarado vs. Shanks Plummer 2011 (Alvarado 12-‐21, 21-‐17, 11-‐10

• Alvarado vs. Al. Garner Plummer 2011 (Alvarado 16-‐21, 21-‐20, 11-‐7)

• Fink vs. Iglesias Tucson 2013 (Fink 27-‐25)

• Fink vs. Cooney Simple Green U.S. Open (2013) 17-‐21, 21-‐19, 11-‐10

• Shanks vs. Peixoto Denver 2013 (Shanks 28-‐26)

• Crehan vs. Fink NYAC 2015 (Crehan, 1-‐15, 17-‐15, 15-‐13)

43. Anthony Selestow has attempted to qualify more than any player on the R48 tour (18) (per Luis Cordova, Sr.)

44. 103 players attempted to qualify during the R48 I season (21 qualified), 86 players attempted to qualify during the R48 II season (30 qualified), 91 players attempted to qualify during the R48 III season (25 qualified), 152 players attempted to qualify during the R48 IV season (26 qualified), 105 players attempted to qualify during the R48 V season thus far (30 qualified, thus far) (per Luis Cordova, Sr.)

45. 34.88% of the players entering the qualifier qualified during the R48 I season, 17.1% of the players entering the qualifier qualified during the R48 IV season (per Luis Cordova, Sr.)

46. In the 7 WR48 events Catriona Casey has won, Casey won 43 out of 45 games played (96%) and outscored her opponents by a combined 790-‐220 (3.6:1)

47. Catriona Casey has won 24 of 25 matches she has played in the WR48 (96%)

48. Two-‐time defending world champion Aisling Reilly (2012, 2015) is 1-‐4 in WR48 finals, with her lone victory coming in her last start (2015 Simple Green U.S. Open)

49. Catriona Casey leads Aisling Reilly 4-‐1 head-‐to-‐head in WR48 play with seven WR48 titles to one for Reilly

50. Tyler Hamel is the only player to have played in a R48 qualifier and never lost one point

51. After reaching #2 in March of 2014, Emmett Peixoto dropped out of the R48 “Fab 4” for the first time in 22 months (currently #5)

52. Mando Ortiz reached a career-‐high R48 ranking of #3 following the R48 V Houston (2016)

53. David Fink has lost the most tiebreakers in R48 history (7)

54. Mando Ortiz became the first R48 pro to defeat four former or current WPH #1 pros in his maiden R48 title in Houston 2016: Emmett Peixoto (2008), Allan Garner (2009), Paul Brady (2016), Sean Lenning (2012)

55. Mando Ortiz and Marcos Chavez became the first duo from the same club (LAAC) to win Race 4 Eight singles titles at the same event

56. Of the current R48 Men’s Elite 8, seven players wear unpadded gloves, one player wears padded gloves, four players wear liners, seven players wear open-‐lensed eye protection, one player wears lensed eye protection

57. Paul Brady (3), Charly Shanks, Andy Nett, and Jonathan Iglesias are the only players to defeat Luis Moreno and Sean Lenning in the same R48 event

58. Luis Moreno is the only player to have lost in every round in the main draw during the R48 V season: Simple Green U.S. Open (final: Brady), Tucson Memorial (quarterfinal: Carroll), New Orleans (round of 16: L. Cordova), Houston (semifinal: Lenning)

59. Four members of the original Elite 8 from the first Race event at the 2011

Plummer Bash are in the current Elite 8 (Lenning, Moreno, Ortiz, Fink)

60. One member of the original Elite 8 (2011) has a wife and family (Alvarado), one member of the current Elite 8 (2016) has a wife and family (Fink)

61. Paul Brady held the longest winning streak on the R48 Men’s tour: 20 matches (2014-‐2015)

62. Catriona Casey held the longest winning streak on the WR48 tour: 24 matches (2013-‐2015)

63. Marcos Chavez holds the longest winning streak on the SR48 tour: 9 matches (2015-‐present)

64. Marcos Chavez became the first player in Race 4 Eight history to defeat doctors in consecutive matches at the 2016 SR48 Houston (Dr. Dan Zimet and Dr. Tyler Hamel)

65. Mando Ortiz became the first player since 2004 to defeat Paul Brady in international singles play and win the tournament at the 2016 Houston R48 V Stop #4

66. Mando Ortiz became the first 1st time R48 Men’s Pro Champion in 15 R48 events (Al. Garner, Plummer R48 III Stop #1) in winning the Houston R48 V Stop #4

67. Sean Lenning has finished in the top 3 in six consecutive R48 events since the R48 IV Stop #4 San Francisco (2 wins, currently the longest streak of 3rd or better)

68. Killian Carroll has finished between second and seventh in all five of his R48 starts

69. Daniel Cordova has advanced to the fewest number of semifinals of any player in the Elite 8 (one: 2015 R48 Player’s Championship)

70. Paul Brady has lost just once in the semifinals in a R48 event (11-‐1)

71. Mando Ortiz became the first R48 champion to win back-‐to-‐back tiebreakers by the minimum margin in the semifinals and finals of a R48 event (15-‐13, *must win by 2)

72. Mando Ortiz became the first player to win a R48 Men’s Pro event (Houston) in his 20s in 10 R48 events (McCarthy: 2014 R48 Player’s Championship)

73. Sean Lenning is the current 1-‐Wall Small Ball World Singles Champion, USHA 3-‐Wall National Champion, 3-‐Wall WPH Xrossover Champion, and WPH R48 Player’s Champion

74. Of the seven R48 champions, four have been ranked #1 on the Race 4 Eight: Moreno, Lenning, Shanks, Brady

75. Of the seven R48 Men’s Pro Champions, only Charly Shanks does not have a current WPH R48 ranking

76. Five players have been ranked #1 on the R48 Men’s Pro Power Rankings: Chapman, Lenning, Moreno, Shanks, Brady

77. Only Catriona Casey has been ranked #1 on the WR48 Power Rankings

The R48 Elite 8 Stats, Trends and Career Highlights Pre NYAC

As the Race 4 Eight rolls into New York City for the fifth stop of the Race 4 Eight V season and the second stop of the Women’s Race 4 Eight III season, let’s break down the Men’s Elite 8 and Women’s Fab 4 finishes in their last five starts and examine their trends and R48 career highlights Men’s R48Pro Elite 8 Paul Brady last five R48 starts:

• NYAC ‘15: win (Nett), finished 1st • Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ‘15: round of 16 forfeit (Schneider),

finished 13th (forfeit) • Simple Green U.S. Open ‘15: win (Moreno), finished 1st • New Orleans ‘16: win (Carroll), finished 1st • Houston ’16: semifinals (Ortiz), finished 3rd

Average finish (not including dns in Tucson Memorial ‘15): 3.8 Current R48 ranking: 1 Brady R48 Highlights: Brady has won 11 of 14 R48 events in which he has started (lost to Ortiz at the 2014 WPH Player’s Championship, forfeit in the round of 16 at the 2015 WPH Player’s Championship), lost to Ortiz at the 2016 Houston R48 V Brady holds the Race 4 Eight record with 11 R48 titles Sean Lenning last five R48 starts:

• Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ‘15: win (Ortiz), finished 1st • Simple Green U.S. Open ‘15: semis (Brady), finished 3rd (McCarthy) • Tucson Memorial ‘15: win (Ortiz), finished 1st • New Orleans ‘16: semis (Carroll), finished 3rd • Houston ’16: finals (Ortiz): finished 2nd

Average finish = 2 Current R48 ranking: 2

Lenning R48 Highlights:

5 R48 titles (3rd most behind Brady and Moreno), Career high R48 #1 ranking (January 2012), has not finished outside of the top three in a R48 event since February of 2015 (7 events)

Mando Ortiz last 5 R48 starts:

• Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ’15: finals loss (Lenning), finished 2nd

• U.S. Open ’15: quarterfinal loss (Brady), finished 7th (Carroll)

• Tucson Memorial ’15: finals loss (Lenning), finished 2nd

• New Orleans ’16: quarterfinal loss (Carroll), finished 5th (L. Cordova)

• Houston ’16: win (Lenning), finished 1st

Average finish: 3.4

Current R48 ranking: 3

Ortiz R48 Highlights:

4 R48 finals appearances, one R48 title (Houston ’16), first qualifier to advance to a R48 final (2013 R48 III Plummer), career high #3 R48 ranking (current), only player to defeat Paul Brady in R48 play (Salt Lake City ’14, Houston ’16) Luis Moreno last 5 R48 starts:

• Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ’15: semifinal loss (Ortiz), finished 3rd (D. Cordova)

• Simple Green U.S. Open ’15: finals loss (Brady), finished 2nd • Tucson Memorial ‘15: round of 8 loss (Carroll), finished 5th (D. Cordova) • New Orleans ‘16: round of 16 loss (L Cordova), finished 10th (Peixoto) • Houston: semifinal loss (Lenning), finished 3rd

Average finish= 4.6 Current R48 ranking: 4 Since losing in the final of the 2014 WPH Player’s Championship (McCarthy), Moreno has advanced to the final of just two R48 events (Simple Green U.S. Open ’14, ’15) in his last 10 starts Moreno has lost in the round of 16 in two of the last six R48 events (NYAC ’15, New Orleans ’16) Moreno R48 Highlights: 9 R48 titles, R48 I Player’s Champion, Season-‐ending R48 #1 in the R48 I in 2012 and the R48 III in 2014, Career high R48 #1 ranking (February 2012)

Emmett Peixoto last 5 R48 starts:

• Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ‘15: quarterfinal loss (Ortiz), finished 6th (Fink)

• Simple Green U.S. Open ‘15: quarterfinal loss (McCarthy), finished 6th (Carroll)

• Tucson Memorial ‘15: semifinal loss (Lenning), finished 3rd

• New Orleans ‘16: round of 16 loss (Carroll), finished 9th

• Houston ’16: quarterfinal loss (Ortiz), finished 5th (Iglesias)

Average finish: 5.8


Peixoto R48 Highlights:

2 R48 finals appearances (2014 Denver, 2015 San Francisco), career high #2 R48 ranking (March 2014)

Killian Carroll last 4 R48 starts:

• Simple Green U.S. Open ‘15: quarterfinal loss (Lenning), finished 5th (Peixoto)

• Tucson Memorial ‘15: semifinal loss (Ortiz), finished 3rd

• New Orleans ‘16: final loss (Brady), finished 2nd

• Houston ’16: quarterfinal loss (Brady), finished 7th

Average finish (did not play in any events during the R48 IV season): 4.25


Trending: Carroll lost in the quarters, semis and finals in his last three starts

Carroll R48 Highlights:

Carroll is one of two R48 pros (McCarthy) to finish fifth or better in every R48 event in which he has played. Carroll became the fifth qualifier in R48 history to advance to the finals (New Orleans). Carroll is the one of only two players (Brady) to have an undefeated R48 record against Luis Moreno (1-‐0)

David Fink last 5 R48 starts:

• San Francisco ’15: semifinals loss (Brady), finished 3rd

• NYAC ’15: round of 16 loss (Crehan), finished 13th

• Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ’15: quarterfinal loss (Lenning), finished 5th (Peixoto)

• New Orleans ’16: semifinal loss (Brady), finished 3rd

• Houston ’16: round of 16 loss (Selestow), finished 11th •

Average finish (dns Simple Green U.S. Open ’15, Tucson Memorial ’15): 7


Fink R48 Highlights:

7 semifinal appearances in 28 R48 starts, reached career-‐high #2 R48 ranking in January of 2014

Daniel Cordova last 5 R48 starts:

• Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ’15: semifinal loss (Lenning), finished 4th (Moreno)

• U.S. Open ’15: round of 16 loss (Ortiz), finished 9th

• Tucson Memorial ’15: quarterfinal loss (Peixoto), finished 6th (Moreno)

• New Orleans ’16: quarterfinal loss (Brady), finished 7th (L. Cordova)

• Houston ’16: round of 16 loss (Iglesias), finished 13th

Average finish: 7.8


D. Cordova R48 Highlights:

2015 R48 Rookie of the Year, second youngest R48 star to finish the season in the Elite 8 (L. Cordova), one semifinal appearance (2015 R48 Player’s Championship)

Women’s WR48Pro Fab 5 Catriona Casey last 5 WR48 events:

1. Simple Green U.S. Open ’14: win (Reilly), finished 1st

2. San Francisco ’15: win (Gawley), finished 1st

3. NYAC ’15: win (Ni Churraoin), finished 1st

4. Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ’15: win (Relly), finished 1st

5. Simple Green U.S. Open ’15: finals loss (Reilly), finished 2nd

Average finish: 1.2 Catriona Casey WR48 Stats: 2013-‐2015 (8 Events) Every point WR48 #1 Catriona Casey has played in WR48 events is tracked below, to include Casey points scored compared to her opponents, scoring ratio, and win/loss records Simple Green U.S. Open ’13: 168-‐48 (4-‐0) NYAC ’14: 134-‐30 (4-‐0)

Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ’14: 84-‐31 (2-‐0) Simple Green U.S. Open ’14: 126-‐38 (3-‐0) San Francisco ’15: 90-‐2 (3-‐0) NYAC ’15: 102-‐31 (3-‐0) Salt Lake City Player’s Championship’15: 92-‐40 (3-‐0) Seven wins: Combined score: Casey 796-‐220. Scoring ratio 3.6:1 Match record: 22-‐0 Simple Green U.S. Open ’15: 125-‐47 (2-‐1) Combined score in eight events: 921-‐267 Combined match record: 24-‐1 Combined scoring ratio: 3.4:1

Danielle Daskalakis last 5 WR48 events:

1. Simple Green U.S. Open ’14: quarterfinal loss (Davis), finished tie 5th

2. San Francisco ’15: semifinal loss (Casey), finished 3rd (Davis)

3. NYAC ’15: quarterfinal loss (McMahon), finished 5th (August)

4. Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ’15: semifinal loss (Casey), finished 4th (McMahon)

5. Simple Green U.S. Open ’15: did not start

Average finish: 4.25

Martina McMahon last 5 WR48 events:

1. Simple Green U.S. Open ’14: round of 16 loss (Moler), finished tie 9th

2. San Francisco ’15: did not start

3. NYAC ’15: semifinal loss (Ni Churraoin), finished 3rd (McCarthy)

4. Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ’15: semifinal loss (Reilly), finished 3rd (Daskalakis)

5. Simple Green U.S. Open ’15: semifinal loss (Casey), finished 3rd (Gawley)

Average finish: 4.5

Sandy Ng last 5 WR48 events:


2. San Francisco ’15: quarterfinal loss (Casey), finished tie 7th (Peixoto de Melo)

3. NYAC ’15: did not start

4. Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ’15: did not start


Average finish: 7

Tracy Davis last 5 WR48 events:

1. Simple Green U.S. Open ’14: semifinal loss (Reilly), finished 4th (Gawley)

2. San Francisco ’15: semifinal loss (Gawley), finished 4th (Daskalakis)

3. NYAC ’15: did not start

4. Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ’15: quarterfinal loss (Daskalakis), finished tie 7th (Moler)


Average finish: 5

The WPH Sits Down with the NYAC’s Catriona Casey The WPH’s David Fink had a chance to sit down with NYAC member Catriona Casey in advance of the 2016 NYAC Race 4 Eight Men’s and Women’s Pro to discuss her training, her rivalry with Aisling Reilly, her goals, and much more. Casey is the most successful player in the history of the Race 4 Eight tour, having won seven of eight WR48 events held, including a torrid seven-‐tournament winning streak from 2013-‐2015. Casey dropped her first match in her WR48 career in the 2015 WR48 III Simple Green U.S. Open final and will look to bounce back in the middle of March at the 2016 WR48 III NYAC. The always interesting Casey delivered a can’t-‐miss conversation!

DF: Catriona Casey vs. Aisling Reilly is unquestionably the best rivalry in handball, as the two of you have met in every major women’s 4-‐Wall final in North America and Ireland over the past three years. How does playing Aisling and upcoming matchups with her inspire you? Catriona: I reckon a few others are also in with a shout for best rivalry, but it’s fair to say we’ve come up against each other a lot and no game can ever be taken for granted. Knowing I have to be at, or at least very close to, my best to come away with a win means I keep pushing myself to improve all areas of my game. DF: You ran the table in the first seven WR48 events from 2013-‐2015, winning all seven events and dropping just two games along the way. You lost a “Match of the Year” candidate to Aisling Reilly in the finals of the 2015 Simple Green U.S. Open, ending your undefeated WR48 streak. How much pride and satisfaction do you take in your winning streak and your #1 WR48 ranking? Catriona: I take great pride in my #1 ranking and am obviously very disappointed my winning streak has come to an end. Hopefully I can regain my winning form, starting at the NYAC tournament. I know ranking points are valuable and I’ll need to win to cement my position at #1. DF: You are unquestionably one of the fittest players in the sport, as you are able to play singles and doubles in major events and play as well or better in your last match as you do your first. What is a typical week for you in preparation for a big event? Catriona: Thank you! I would never have thought fitness was one of my strong points really, but it’s definitely something I work on. A typical week would involve a lot of court time, practicing skills and sparring with other players. I also do some strength and conditioning work in the gym, but I’m no expert in the area by any means! Finding the right balance is still something I’m trying to figure out. DF: You have supported the WR48 tour more than any other player on the tour, traveling between 3100 miles to 5000 miles to compete in the eight WR48 events between 2013-‐2015. What does the WR48 tour mean to you and what does being a WR48 pioneer mean to you? Catriona: The tour means so much to me, and has done so since its inception in 2013. I was delighted when the WPH made the decision to run a women’s tour. I’m a huge fan of handball in general, and love being amongst the other pros. I really look forward to each upcoming trip; it’s an amazing opportunity for me to travel. I really hope that next year brings as many, if not more, tournaments. DF: Although you are only 22, you are already a mentor and a veteran on the women’s tour. Top players like Martina McMahon and Cianna Ni Churraoin look up to you and aspire to reach your level of play. Former USHA national champion Yvonne August flew from California to New York City in hopes of playing you at the 2015 WR48 NYAC. Junior players in Ireland are molding their games and techniques after you. All of this is a credit to your outstanding level of play, sportsmanship, and disposition. Does being

a role model put more or less pressure on you when you arrive at an event and step on the court? Catriona: I don’t know about that. I guess the more you win, the more the pressure is on you to keep winning. It’s always a challenge to maintain a high level of performance throughout the year. If I can help contribute to the growth of the ladies game, then great! I think the future is very bright. DF: Everyone has experienced difficult losses, but very few have ever experienced those losses in a world championship final or in the Simple Green U.S. Open final, as you did in the summer and fall of 2015. How do you bounce back mentally and emotionally from those heartbreaking losses in which one or two shots could have made the difference between winning and losing? Catriona: There’s no doubt the latter part of 2015 didn’t go as planned for me. The year that was in it, of course a lot of my focus was on the World Championships. I was heartbroken to lose out in the tie-‐breaker and felt I let myself down on the day. Of course, certain turning points and missed shots haunted me, and still do, but that’s sport. I’d be lying if I said it’s easy, but what’s the alternative… Roll over and give up? I bounced back to some extent by jumping straight into the big alley when I returned home. It wasn’t long before we were in the middle of the All-‐Ireland 60x30 championships and thankfully, I successfully defended my singles and doubles titles, which was also a goal of mine from the beginning of the year. That’s one thing I love about handball; there’s always another tournament around the corner. You are one of the top players in 1-‐Wall big ball, 3-‐Wall big ball and small ball, 4-‐Wall, and 60x30. How do you keep yourself sharp for each code and how are you able to make transitioning from one code to the next so seamless? Catriona: I love the challenge that each code brings. While different, they also complement each other, and help to add to my skill set. It’s good to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Playing in the Venice Beach Crossover tournament last summer was a real highlight. I think the biggest challenge is probably the lack of off-‐season, but it’s not a big deal when you’re doing something you enjoy so much. You very nearly became a R48 Men’s ranked pro at the 2015 Tucson Memorial, losing a very close match in the 17th place final to top 25 R48 pro Ryan Bowler. Will we see you playing in more R48 qualifiers in the future? Catriona: I loved playing in Tucson, it was a really special tournament. As it wasn’t doubling as a WR48 stop, I didn’t have to worry about jeopardizing my involvement in that, and just enjoyed playing in a number of other grades, without putting too much pressure on myself. It’s definitely something I won’t rule out. Everyone was really supportive and it was definitely a positive experience. By the time you tee it up at the 2016 WR48 NYAC, five months will have elapsed between your last WR48 start. What are you doing to stay competitively sharp between WR48 events? Catriona: I’ve played lots of handball in the meantime. Like I said, there’s little off-‐season if you choose to play all codes. I like to think I’ve improved certain aspects of

my game and hopefully broken some bad habits, but only time will tell in the heat of tournament play! Word Association with Catriona Casey: Paul Brady: The Greatest Aisling Reilly: Strong Mando Ortiz: Explosive Cianna Ni Churraoin: Fierce WPH: Innovative Simple Green U.S. Open: Extravaganza Junior handball: Promising Best serve in handball: Deep crack Best form in handball: Brady Your favorite handballer growing up: Tony Healy Your favorite handball code: 4wall small ball Catriona Casey WR48 Stats: 2013-‐2015 (8 Events) Every point WR48 #1 Catriona Casey has played in WR48 events is tracked below, to include Casey points scored compared to her opponents, scoring ratio, and win/loss records Simple Green U.S. Open ’13: 168-‐48 (4-‐0) NYAC ’14: 134-‐30 (4-‐0) Salt Lake City Player’s Championship ’14: 84-‐31 (2-‐0) Simple Green U.S. Open ’14: 126-‐38 (3-‐0) San Francisco ’15: 90-‐2 (3-‐0) NYAC ’15: 102-‐31 (3-‐0)

Salt Lake City Player’s Championship’15: 92-‐40 (3-‐0) Seven wins: Combined score: Casey 796-‐220. Scoring ratio 3.6:1 Match record: 22-‐0 Simple Green U.S. Open ’15: 125-‐47 (2-‐1) Combined score in eight events: 921-‐267 Combined match record: 24-‐1 Combined scoring ratio: 3.4:1

Marvelous Mando Ortiz Crowned Champion

by David Fink

The Los Angeles Athletic Club’s Mando Ortiz was simply marvelous in winning his first World Players of Handball Race 4 Eight pro singles title in February’s Houston R48 V Stop #4, as Ortiz defeated four former or current #1 pros en route to the title. Ortiz dispatched the 2009 WPH #1 Allan Garner in round one, the 2008 WPH #1 and current WPH #5 Emmett Peixoto in the quarterfinals, the 2016 WPH #1 and 5-‐time defending world champion Paul Brady in the semifinals, and the 2012 WPH #1 and current WPH #2 in the final. Appearing in his fourth Race 4 Eight final in his career and his third final in the last five R48 events, Ortiz seized the opportunity to add his name to the illustrious Race 4 Eight list of champions in Houston.

Long regarded as a prodigal talent and one of the most exciting players to ever play the sport, Mando Ortiz was one of the top junior players in a sensational junior class that included WPH R48 Player’s Champions Luis Moreno and Robbie McCarthy. Ortiz quickly made the transition to pro handball in his late teens, earning victories against several of the top players in the sport by the age of 21. As Ortiz was ascending to the top of the sport, doctors discovered a serious problem with his heart that required immediate open-‐heart surgery in 2010. Ortiz not only survived, but in a stunning display of courage and resilience, defeated then WPH #1 Allan Garner six months after his surgery in a WPH pro stop.

Ortiz advanced to three Race 4 Eight finals between 2013-‐2015, his first as a qualifier at the 2013 R48 III Plummer Bash. Ortiz continued to rise up the rankings, climbing all the way to #5 at the end of the 2014-‐2015 Race 4 Eight season on the heels of an impressive run to the finals in the R48 IV Players Championship. Ortiz continued the momentum he built from the R48 IV season early in the R48 V season, advancing to the final in Tucson and losing to the WPH R48 #2 Sean Lenning in his second consecutive final.

Ortiz entered the 2016 R48 Houston having better prepared himself for any event in his career, playing one vs. two against top 20 R48 pros at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. “No one is playing Mando in just singles anymore,” stated Ortiz mentor and R48 #14 Marcos Chavez. “We play him two on one and really push him to the limit.”

Ortiz would need all of his conditioning and skills in Houston, as he encountered the most difficult draw in the history of the tour. After overcoming former WPH #1’s Allan Garner and Emmett Peixoto to advance to the semifinals, Ortiz was set to face 11-‐time R48 champion and 10-‐time national champion Paul Brady. Brady entered the match having lost just two matches in 12 years, with one of those losses coming against Ortiz at the 2014 R48 Player’s Championship. Ortiz and Brady played the most exciting and best match in the history of the Race 4 Eight Tour in a thrilling Houston semifinal, electrifying fans and broadcast viewers from the first point until the last with the most sensational and dramatic handball ever captured on video. Lead changes, outrageous power, breathtaking athleticism, and stunning nerve under pressure were just some of what made the Ortiz vs. Brady the best theatre in

the history of the R48 tour. “I’ve been around pro handball for 30 years and I’ve never seen handball played like that,” stated 25-‐year pro Dan “The Hand” Armijo. “The speed, power, kills, and drama was just outrageous.”

Determined not to experience a letdown in the final, Ortiz dominated game one of the final against his frequent adversary Sean Lenning. “Even though I beat Paul, my goal is to win the tournament,” stated Norwalk’s Ortiz following his 15-‐13 tiebreaker victory against Brady the night before. Just as Lenning had done in their finals encounter at the 2015 R48 Player’s Championship, he evened the match at one-‐game apiece after losing game one. Lenning raced to an early 6-‐1 lead in the tiebreaker and appeared to be just minutes from keeping Ortiz from his first R48 title in his fourth trip to the final. Ortiz regrouped, scoring 12 of the next 15 points to stand just two points from his maiden R48 title at 13-‐9. Several furious rallies and remarkable shots saw the score tied at 13. “I just thought to myself, here we go again,” stated Ortiz referring to his semifinal win against Brady that saw Brady cut a 9-‐14 tiebreaker deficit to 13-‐14. “I just told myself to focus on the return of serve and be aggressive.”

Ortiz did just that, seizing offense on a strong Lenning serve and earning a side out. Ortiz stayed aggressive, scoring the final two points in succession to win the title. “This is for all of the people who always believed in me,” stated an emotional Ortiz. “This is for my grandparents who both died in the last year. This (winning) is everything I ever dreamed of and to be a part of the group of my idols and great players to have won titles in the past feels so great.” Mando Ortiz won back-‐to-‐back

15-‐13 tiebreakers in the semifinals and finals against the R48 #1 and #2 ranked pros, providing the greatest spectacle in R48 history

Mando Ortiz and LAAC teammate Marcos Chavez became the first duo from the same club to win Race 4 Eight singles titles at the same event. Ortiz and Chavez are not only LAAC teammates, but also travel partners and great friends. Chavez was the first to rush the court after Ortiz’s win, picking up his “Little Bro” in a bear hug.

Ortiz rose to a R48 career-‐high #3 following his win in Houston with an eye on #1. With twice as many wins as any other player since 2004 against 5-‐time world champion Paul Brady and the confidence that he can win the biggest matches against the best players, there appears to be nothing that can stop “Marvelous Mando.”

Men’s R48 Pro Power Rankings 1. Paul Brady (IRE)

46

2. Sean Lenning (AZ) 40

3. Armando Ortiz(CA) 33

4. Luis Moreno (AZ) 30 5. Emmett Peixoto (CA) 25.5

6. Killian Carroll (IRE) 21 7. David Fink (AZ) 17.5 8. Daniel Cordova (MEX) 17

9. Luis Cordova (MEX)

12.5

10. Stephen Cooney (IRE) 9

11. Naty Alvarado (CA) 9

12. Jon Iglesias (NY) 8.5

13. Andy Nett (MN) 8 14. Marcos Chavez (CA) 7

15. Anthony Selestow (WI) 6

16. Robbie McCarthy (IRE) 5.5 17. Vic Perez (CA) 5 18. Mike Schneider (NY) 3.5

19. Diarmaid Nash (IRE) 3

20. Colin Crehan (IRE) 3

21. Adam Bernhard (TX) 2.5

22. Abraham Montijo (AZ) 1.5

22. Memo Pallares (TX) 1.5

22. Allan Garner 1.5

(TX) 25. Ryan Bowler (CAN) 1.1

26. Erik Torres (CA) 1

26. Martin Mulkerrins (IRE) 1

28. Braulio Ruiz (CA) 0.5

28. JT Hingey (CO) 0.5 28. Tom Sheridan (IRE) 0.5

28. Carlos Chavez (CA) 0.5

28. Dave Munson (IL) 0.5

28. Tyler Hamel (TX) 0.5

34. Billy O'Donnell (NY) 0.1

34. Tyler Stevens (OH) 0.1

WR48 Power Rankings 1. Catriona Casey (IRE)

66

2. Danielle Daskalakis (NY) 40

3. Aisling Reilly (IRE) 36 4. Ciana Ni Churraoin IRE) 28

5. Jessica Gawley (CAN) 25 6. Martina McMahon (IRE) 24

7. Sandy Ng (NY) 14 8. Tracy Davis (CA) 12 9. Aoife McCarthy (IRE) 11 10. Megan Dorneker (IL) 10

11. Yvonne August (CA) 9 12. Hilary Rushe (IRE) 8 13. Maria Daly (IRE) 4 13. Peixoto de Melo (CA) 4

15. Ashley Moler (CA) 3 15. Jean Kastner (OR) 3

Race 4 Eight, Senior Race 4 Eight and Women’s Race 4 Eight Stops and Champions and Finalists: 2011-‐Present

R48 I: 2011-‐2012

1. Plummer (ID) R48 Champion: Luis Moreno (AZ)/Finalist: Naty Alvarado, Jr. (CA)

2. U.S. Open (CA) R48 Champion: Robbie McCarthy (IRE)/Finalist: Charly Shanks (IRE)

3. Tucson (AZ) R48 Champion: Luis Moreno (AZ)/Finalist: Sean Lenning (WA)

4. Fresno (CA) R48 Champion: Sean Lenning (WA)/Finalist: Naty Alvarado, Jr. (CA)

5. Atlanta (GA) R48 Champion: Luis Moreno (AZ)/Finalist: Naty Alvarado, Jr. (CA)

6. Salt Lake City (UT) R48 Champion: Luis Moreno (AZ)/Finalist: Sean Lenning (WA)

7. LAAC (CA) R48 Champion: Sean Lenning (WA)/Finalist: Al. Garner (TX)

8. Seattle (WA) R48 Champion: Luis Moreno (AZ)/Finalist: Sean Lenning (WA)

R48 II + SR48 I: 2012-‐2013

9. U.S. Open (CA) R48 Champion: Paul Brady (IRE)/Finalist: Charly Shanks (IRE)

10. Tucson (AZ) R48 Champion: Sean Lenning (WA)/Finalist: Al. Garner (TX)

11. Houston (TX) R48 Champion: Charly Shanks (IRE)/Finalist: Naty Alvarado, Jr. (CA) SR48 Champion: Naty Alvarado, Jr. (CA)/Finalist: Tyler Hamel (TX)

12. Anchorage (AK) R48 Champion: Luis Moreno (AZ)/Finalist: Charly Shanks (IRE)

13. Denver (CO) R48 Champion: Luis Moreno (AZ)/Finalist: Sean Lenning (WA) SR48 Champion: Naty Alvarado, Jr. (CA)/Finalist: Matt Mclaughlin (MO)

14. Salt Lake City (UT) R48 Champion: Charly Shanks (IRE)/Finalist: Luis Moreno (AZ)

15. Seattle (WA) R48 Champion: Paul Brady (IRE)/Finalist: Shanks (IRE) SR48 Champion: Andy Schad (D.C.)/Finalist: John Bike (CA)

R48 III + WR48 I: + SR48 II 2013-‐2014

16. Plummer (ID) R48 Champion: Al. Garner (TX)/Finalist: Mando Ortiz (CA)

17. U.S. Open (CA) R48 Champion: Luis Moreno (AZ)/Finalist: Naty Alvarado, Jr. (CA) WR48 Champion: Catriona Casey (IRE)/Finalist: Aisling Reilly (IRE)

18. Houston (TX) R48 Champion: Luis Moreno (AZ)/Finalist: Diarmaid Nash (IRE) SR48 Champion: Marcos Chavez (CA)/Finalist: Tyler Hamel (TX)

19. NYAC (NY) R48 Champion: Paul Brady (IRE)/Finalist: Robbie McCarthy (IRE) WR48 Champion: Catriona Casey (IRE)/Finalist: Tracy Davis (NY)

20. Denver (CO) R48 Champion: Paul Brady (IRE)/Finalist: Emmett Peixoto (CA) SR48 Champion: Bear Meiring (CO)/Finalist: Dave Vincent (AZ)

21. Salt Lake City (UT) R48 Champion: Robbie McCarthy (IRE)/Finalist: Luis Moreno (AZ) WR48 Champion Catriona Casey (IRE)/Finalist: Aisling Reilly (IRE) SR48 Champion: Marcos Chavez (CA)/Finalist: Meiring (CO)

R48 IV + SR48 III + WR48 II: 2014-‐2015

22. U.S. Open (CA) R48 Champion: Paul Brady (IRE)/Finalist: Luis Moreno (AZ) WR48 Champion: Catriona Casey (IRE)/Finalist: Aisling Reilly (IRE)

23. Tucson (AZ) R48 Champion: Paul Brady (IRE)/Finalist: Luis Moreno (AZ) SR48 Champion: Marcos Chavez (CA)/Finalist: Naty Alvarado, Jr. (CA)

24. Houston (TX)

R48 Champion: Paul Brady (IRE)/Finalist: Sean Lenning (AZ) SR48 Champion: Naty Alvarado, Jr. (CA)/Tyler Hamel (TX)

25. San Francisco (CA) R48 Champion: Paul Brady (IRE)/Finalist: Emmett Peixoto (CA) WR48 Champion: Catriona Casey (IRE)/Finalist: Jessica Gawley (CAN)

26. NYAC (NY) R48 Champion: Paul Brady (IRE)/Finalist: Andy Nett (MN) WR48 Champion: Catriona Casey (IRE)/Finalist: Ciana Ni Churraion (IRE) SR48 Champion: Andy Schad (D.C)/Finalist: Dan Armijo (AZ)

27. Salt Lake City (UT) R48 Champion: Sean Lenning (AZ)/Finalist: Mando Ortiz (CA) WR48 Champion: Catriona Casey (IRE)/Finalist: Aisling Reilly (IRE) SR48 Champion: Marcos Chavez (CA)/Finalist: Tom Sheridan (IRE)

R48 V + SR48 IV + WR48 III: 2015-‐2016

28. U.S. Open (CA) R48 Champion: Paul Brady (IRE)/Luis Moreno (AZ) WR48 Champion: Aisling Reilly (IRE)/Finalist: Catriona Casey (IRE) SR48 Champion: Marcos Chavez (CA)/Finalist: Naty Alvarado, Jr. (CA)

29. Tucson (AZ) R48 Champion: Sean Lenning (AZ)/Finalist: Mando Ortiz (CA)

30. New Orleans (LA) R48 Champion: Paul Brady (IRE)/Finalist: Killian Carroll (IRE)

31. Houston (TX) R48 Champion: Mando Ortiz (CA)/Finalist: Sean Lenning (AZ) SR48 Champion: Marcos Chavez (CA)/Finalist: Tyler Hamel (TX)

THE NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB HOSTS THE WORLD’S BEST HANDBALL PLAYERS-‐ For Immediate Release NEW YORK, NY, WPH Press, 3/2/16-‐ The World Players of Handball and the New York Athletic Club are thrilled to host the WPH Women’s Race 4 Eight III Stop #2/WPH Race 4 Eight V Stop #5 Burt Kossoff New York Athletic Club Invitational, featuring the top men’s and women’s professional handball players in the world competing on handball’s most prestigious professional handball tour live on the Watch ESPN App starting on Saturday, March 12th, 2016. The WPH Race 4 Eight V Stop #5 Burt Kossoff New York Athletic Club Invitational will be held at the New York Athletic Club, March 10th-‐13th, 2016, located at 180 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019. The WPH Women’s Race 4 Eight NYAC features the top Women’s Race 4 Eight stars competing in the second WR48 stop of the WR48 III season. The NYAC’s WR48 #1 Catriona Casey will aim for her eighth WR48 title in nine starts, having won the first seven WR48 events held between 2013-‐2015. Casey will have to contend with NYAC teammates Danielle Daskalakis and Tracy Davis, as well as Ireland’s Martina McMahon and Hilary Rushe, Canada’s Leslie Amminson, New York City’s Sandy Ng, and other top women’s stars. The Men’s Race 4 Eight #1 pro, 5-‐time defending World Champion and defending NYAC Race 4 Eight Champion Paul Brady will be making the transatlantic trip from his home in Ireland to New York City in search of his 12th Race 4 Eight title in his 15th Race 4 Eight start. Brady will aim to exact revenge on his greatest rival Mando Ortiz following a thrilling tiebreaker loss to Ortiz in February’s Houston Race stop. Brady and Ortiz will not only have to contend with one another, but also fellow “Elite 8” rivals Luis Moreno, Sean Lenning, David Fink, Emmett Peixoto, Daniel Cordova, and Killian Carroll. The “Elite 8” will also have to battle with top qualifiers hopefuls from California, Wisconsin, New York, Illinois, Texas, Ohio, Canada and Ireland. When not competing, Race 4 Eight pros will coach clinics for junior players from the WPH sponsored Westside YMCA Harry Mellis Program. WPH Race 4 Eight V Stop #5 Bert Kossoff New York Athletic Club Invitational will also feature amateur divisions for local and regional handball talent. WPH RACE 4 EIGHT: The World Players of Handball’s Race 4 Eight V powered by ESPN features seven regular season stops, culminating in The Player’s Championship in Portland, OR to identify the top eight point earners on the tour. Similar to Nascar’s Nextel Cup and the FedEx PGA Playoffs, players earn points in the Race 4 Eight’s first six stops to qualify for the season-‐ending Player’s Championship and $20k first place prize. It all happens live on Watch ESPN! The Race 4 Eight V held its first event in October of 2015 at the Simple Green U.S. Open in Fountain Valley, CA and its second event at the R48 V Tucson Memorial in November. Following a holiday break in December, Race 4 Eight hosted its third event in New Orleans in January of 2016, the fourth event in Houston in February, the fifth event in New York City, the sixth event in Salt Lake City, UT in April and The Player’s Championship in Portland, OR in May. For more information on the Race 4 Eight V Tour please contact World Players of Handball Executive Director David Vincent at [email protected] or World Players of Handball Development Director David Fink at [email protected]. For more information on the World Players of Handball, please visit wphlive.tv

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