State Singles Results – Montana Handball

Butte, MT – March 22-24, 2024

Shelby native Pete Svennungsen captured the Montana State Singles Handball Championship Sunday at the Elks in Butte. Svennungsen, now of Spokane , defeated ten-time champion Justin Balkenbush of Billings 21-4, 21-11 in the final, avenging his loss in last year’s final. It is Svennungsen’s first Montana singles championship.

Rick Edwards of Belgrade won the Super Golden Masters division for players 60 and older. He defeated Butte’s Mike Hitchcock in the final to win his second Montana singles title.

Billing’s Mike Meyer captured his third straight title in the Diamond Masters division for players 70 and older by going undefeated in the round robin format. It is his seventh Montana singles title.

Austin Meyers of Bozeman won the A division by defeating Butte’s Marcus Madrazo in the final.

Nick Piazzola defeated Cody Shumacher in the deciding match of the round robin B division in a matchup of Butte Players.

Complete Results:

Open

First Round – Brian Hamilton, Sheridan, WY d. Marcus Madrazo, Butte, MT;

Evin Groves, Bozeman d. Eric Schmidt, Missoula; Sam Sottosanti, Butte d. Nick Piazzola, Butte 21-6, 21-8; Brett Badovinac, Butte d. Cody Schumacher, Butte 21-10, 21-6; Chris Tico, Sand Point, ID d. Sean Sandau, Missoula 21-13, 21-16; Don Foley, Butte d. Austin Meyers, Bozeman 21-12, 21-18

Quarterfinals – Justin Balkenbush, Billings d. Hamilton; Groves d. Sottosanti 21-6, 12-21, 11-9; Badovinac d. Tico 18-21, 21-10, 11-5; Pete Svennungsen, Spokane d. Foley 21-6, 21-9

Consolation – Hamilton d. Foley 21-11, 21-16

Semifinals – Balkenbush d. Groves 21-9, 21-8; Svennungsen d. Badovinac 21-12, 21-12

Third – Badovinac d. Groves 21-18, 21-16

Final – Svennungsen d. Balkenbush 21-4, 21-11

Super Golden Masters (60+)

Quarterfinals – Jeff Armstrong, Billings d. Scott Salo, Butte; Mike Hitchcock, Butte d. Don Schmidt, Missoula; Rick Edwards, Belgrade d. Dan Bersanti, Butte 21-3, 21-17; Kirk Johnson, Missoula d. Eric Howe, Melrose

Semifinals – Hitchcock d. Armstrong; Edward d. Johnson

Third – Johnson d. Armstrong 21-16, 21-2

Final – Edwards d. Hitchcock 21-8, 21-7

Super Golden Consolation

Semifinals – Schmidt d. Salo 21-18, 21-19; Bersanti d. Howe

Third – Salo d. Howe 10-21, 21-7, 11-2

Final – Schmidt d. Bersanti 21-18, injury default

Diamond Masters (70+)

Round Robin

1^st – Mike Meyer, Billings d. Tom Morris, Billings 21-4, 21-4; d. Dan Scilley, Luther 21-4, 21-6; d. John Larson, East Helena 21-11, 21-5

2^nd – Dan Scilley, Luther d. Larson 21-9, 21-13;

3^rd – John Larson, East Helena d. Morris 21-7, 21-4

A Division

Quarterfinals – Eric Schmidt, Missoula d. Nick Piazzola, Butte; Sean Sandau, Missoula d. Cody Schumacher, Butte

Semifinals – Marcus Madrazo, Butte d. Schmidt; Austin Meyers, Bozeman d. Sandau 21-10, 21-18

Third – Sandau d. Schmidt 21-11, 21-5

Final – Meyers d. Madrazo 13-21, 21-6, 11-1

B Division

Round Robin

1^st– Nick Piazzola, Butte d. Nate Thompson, Butte; d. Cody Schumacher, Butte 19-21, 21-19, 11-4

2^nd – Cody Schumacher, Butte d. Thompson 21-9, 11-21, 11-9

Missoula, MT – April 14-16, 2023

Defending champion Justin Balkenbush won his tenth Montana State Singles Handball Championship Sunday at the Peak in Missoula. Balkenbush, a Conrad native and Billings resident, defeated Shelby native Pete Svennungsen of Spokane. The final was a thriller from start to finish, with Balkenbush pulling out a 11-9 victory in the tiebreaker after splitting the first two games with identical 21-18 scores. Only Montana handball legends Jim Ritter and Bill Peoples have won more Montana Open Singles titles than Balkenbush, with 19 and 15.

Billings’ Mike Meyer defeated East Helena’s John Larson 21-18, 21-7 to defend his crown in the Diamond Masters division for players 70 and over. It is Meyer’s sixth Montana age group state title.

Jeff Armstrong kept the strong Billings showing going by defeating Missoula’s Kirk Johnson 21-15, 19-21, 11-1 to defend his title in the Super Golden Masters for players 60 and over.

Butte’s Don Foley won the combined Masters/Golden Masters division for players over 40 by going 3-0 in the round robin format.

Austin Meyers of Bozeman defeated Les Seago of Emigrant 21-15, 21-4 to win the A division.

Missoula’s Chris Riley won the B division by going 2-0 in the round robin bracket.

Complete results:

Open

First Round – Moe Johnson, Missoula d. Marcus Madrazo, Butte; Sean Sandau, Missoula d. Eric Schmidt, Missoula

Quarterfinals – Justin Balkenbush, Billings d. Moe Johnson, Missoula; Sam Sottosanti, Butte d. Austin Meyers, Bozeman; Brett Badovinac, Butte d. Les Seago, Emigrant; Pete Svennungsen, Spokane, WA d. Sean Sandau, Missoula

Semifinals – Balkenbush d. Sottosanti 21-13, 21-10; Svennungsen d. Badovinac 21-12, 21-3

Final – Balkenbush d. Svennungsen 18-21, 21-18, 11-9

Diamond Masters (70+)

Quarterfinals – Mike Meyer, Billings d. Chris Polinis, Missoula; Frank Cikan, Bozeman d. Steve Birrell, Bozeman; John Larson, East Helena d. Paul Polzin, Missoula; Rick Harrington, Missoula d. Wally Page, Florence

Semifinals – Meyer d. Cikan; Larson d. Harrington

Final – Meyer d. Larson 21-18, 21-7

Super Golden Masters (60+)

Quarterfinals – Don Schmidt, Missoula d. Steve Birrell, Bozeman; Mike Hitchcock, Butte d. Frank Cikan, Bozeman

Semifinals – Jeff Armstrong, Billings d. Don Schmidt, Missoula; Kirk Johnson, Missoula d. Mike Hitchcock, Butte 21-8, 21-12

Third – Hitchcock d. Schmidt

Final – Armstrong d. Johnson 21-15, 19-21, 11-1

Masters/Golden Masters (40+/50+)

1^st – Don Foley, Butte (3-0) d. Les Seago, Emigrant 21-18, 19-21, 11-9; d. Chris Riley, Missoula 21-5, 21-7; d. Sean Sandau, Missoula 21-17, 17-21, 11-9

2^nd – Les Seago, Emigrant (2-1) d. Sandau ; d. Riley

3^rd – Sean Sandau, Missoula (1-2) d. Riley 21-5, 21-6

A Division

Quarterfinals – Marcus Madrazo, Butte d. Sean Sandau, Missoula

Semifinals – Austin Meyers, Bozeman d. Marcus Madrazo, Butte; Les Seago, Emigrant d. Eric Schmidt, Missoula

Final – Meyers d. Seago 21-15, 21-4

B Division (round robin)

1^st – Chris Riley, Missoula (2-0) d. Gage Guldseth, Butte; d. Drew Badovinac, Butte by injury default

2^nd – Drew Badovinac, Butte (1-1) d. Gage Guldseth

Diamond Masters Consolation

Semifinals – Steve Birrell, Bozeman d. Chris Polinis, Missoula; Paul Polzin, Missoula d. Wally Page, Florence

Final – Birrell d. Polzin

April 10, 2022 – Billings

Billings’ Justin Balkenbush defeated Chris Tico 21-18, 21-17 in the Open Division final of the Montana State Singles Championships Sunday at the YMCA in Billings. Tico is the reigning 50+ National Handball champion who resided in Sandpoint, Idaho. Tico knocked out defending champion Brett Badovinac of Butte in the semifinals. It is Balkenbush’s ninth state singles title, breaking a tie with Ray Gallant and Steve Stanisich for the third most in Montana Handball history. Only Jim Ritter with 19 and Bill People with 15 have won more state open singles titles.

Sean Sandau, of Missoula, won the Golden Masters division. He defeated Butte’s Don Foley 21-14, 11-21, 11-2 in the deciding match. It is Sandau’s first state singles title.

Jeff Armstrong, of Billings, defeated Jay Stender of Sheridan, Wyoming 21-16, 21-15 in the final of the Super Golden Masters division to claim his first state singles title.

Billings’ Mike Meyer went undefeated in the Diamond Masters round robin format. He defeated East Helena’s John Larson in a tiebreaker Saturday in the match that ended up deciding the winner. It is Meyer’s fifth state singles title.

Clyde Barton of Billings captured the B division title, defeating Brad Kallevig of Williston, North Dakota 21-11, 11-21, 11-10 in the deciding match.

Billings’ Spencer Larsen defeated Bozeman’s Austin Meyer 21-14, 21-20 in the A division final, which is the consolation of the Open division.

Billing’s Craig Canfield defeated Butte’s Tom Madrazo to win the Super Golden consolation.

Complete Results:

Open

Quarterfinals – Brett Badovinac, Butte d. Henry O’Brien, Missoula 21-9, 21-10; Chris Tico, Sandpoint, ID d. Spencer Larsen, Billings 21-19, 13-21, 11-1; Justin Balkenbush, Billings d. Austin Meyers, Bozeman 21-4, 21-2; Sam Sottosanti, Butte d. Marcus Madrazo, Butte 21-3, 21-3

Semifinal – Tico d. Badovinac 21-13, 21-10; Balkenbush d. Sottosanti 21-4, 21-7

Final – Balkenbush d. Tico 21-18, 21-17

Golden Masters (50+) – Round Robin

1^st – Sean Sandau, Missoula 3-0; d. Mark Mirrell, Bozeman 21-9, 21-9; d. Chris Graham, Billings 21-6, 21-7; Don Foley, Butte 21-14, 11-21, 11-2

2^nd – Don Foley, Butte 2-1; d. Graham 21-8, 21-5; d. Mirrell 21-12, 21-18

3^rd – Mark Mirrell, Bozeman 1-2; d. Graham 21-14, 11-21, 11-7

Super Golden Masters (60+)

Quarterfinals – Mike Hitchcock, Butte d. Eric Howe, Melrose 21-17, 21-8; Jay Stender, Sheridan, WY d. Tom Madrazo, Butte 21-16, 21-7; Jeff Armstrong, Billings d. Steve Birrell, Bozeman 21-2, 21-13; Wayne Moller, Billings d. Craig Canfield, Billings 21-6, 21-8

Semifinals – Stender d. Hitchcock 11-20, 21-20, 11-0; Armstrong d. Moller 21-16, 21-8

Final – Armstrong d. Stender 21-16, 21-15

Diamond Masters (70+) – Round Robin

1^st – Mike Meyer, Billings 4-0; d. Dick Fox, Billings 21-9, 21-15; d. John Larson, East Helena; d. Dan Scilley, Luther; D. Garth Kallevig, Sidney 21-9, 21-6

2^nd – John Larson, East Helena 3-1; d. Fox 21-2, 21-9; d. Kallevig 21-6, 21-12; d. Scilley

T3^rd – Dan Scilley 1-2-1; tied Kallevig 20-21; 21-8; d. Fox 21-2, 21-10

T3^rd – Kallevig 1-2-1; tied Scilley 21-20, 2-21; d. Fox

B Division – Round Robin

1^st – Clyde Barton, Billings 3-0; d. Brad Kallevig, Williston, ND 21-11, 11-21, 11-10; d. Darren Gellehon, Billings; d. Gunner Larsen, Billings

2^nd – Brad Kallevig, Williston, ND 2-1; d. Larsen 21-11, 21-9; d. Gellhon

3^rd – Gunner Larsen, Billings 1-2; d. Gellahon 21-11, 12-21, 11-6

A Division (Open Consolations)

Semifinals – Spencer Larsen, Billings d. Henry O’Brien, Missoula 21-16, 21-17; Austin Meyers, Bozeman d. Marcus Madrazo, Butte 21-3, 21-3

Third – O’Brien d. Madrazo 21-11, 21-19

Final – Larsen d. Meyers 21-14, 21-20

Super Golden Consolation

Semifinals – Tom Madrazo, Butte d. Eric Howe, Melrose; Craig Canfield, Billings d. Steve Birrell, Bozeman

Final – Canfield d. Madrazo

Butte, MT – December 5, 2021

Butte’s Brett Badovinac defended his Montana State Handball Championship at the Elks in Butte. Badovinac defeated Butte’s Sam Sottosanti 21-18, 21-15 in the final. It is Badovinac’s third Montana Open Singles Title. Badovinac also won the Masters division for players over 40, which was combined with the Open. It is his seventh consecutive Masters title.

Butte’s Mike Hitchcock defeated Billings’ Mike Meyer 21-12, 11-21, 11-8 in the Super Golden Masters Final. It is Hitchcock’s thirds state singles title.

Butte native Rick Harrington of Missoula won the Diamond Masters division. It is his thirds state singles title.

Butte’s Marcus Madrazo d. Chris Graham of Billings to win the A division, which is the consolation of the Open Division.

Complete Results:

Open

Quarterfinals – Don Foley (M), Butte d. Chris Graham (M), Billings 21-6, 21-12; Spencer Larsen, Billings d. Marcus Madrazo, Butte 21-15, 21-16; Sam Sottosanti, Butte d. Skyler Criscuolo, Butte 21-8, 21-3

Semifinals – Brett Badovinac(M), Butte d. Don Foley(M) 21-6, 21-11; Sam Sottosanti d. Spencer Larsen 21-10, 21-14

Third – Larsen d. Foley 21-16, 21-12

Final – Badovinac d. Sottosanti 21-18, 21-15

Super Golden Masters (60+)

Pool 1 – John Larson, East Helena d. Scott Salo, Butte 21-9, 21-9; Mike Meyer, Billings d. Scott Salo 21-10, 21-6; Mike Meyer d. John Larson 21-6, 21-4

Pool 2 – Tom Madrazo, Butte d. Steve Birrell, Bozeman 21-4, 21-14; Mike Hitchcock, Butte d. Steve Birrell 21-14, 21-14; Mike Hitchcock d. Tom Madrazo 21-10, 21-10

Third – Larson d. Madrazo 21-15, 16-21, 11-9

Final – Hitchcock d. Meyer 21-12, 11-21, 11-9

Diamond Masters (70+)

Round Robin – Rick Harrington, Missoula d. Rich Jones, Bozeman 21-8, 21-12; Sandy Gagnon, Bozeman d. Rich Jones, Bozeman 21-5, 21-15; Rick Harrington d. Sandy Gagnon 21-8, 21-12

1st – Rick Harrington, Missoula 2-0

2nd – Sandy Gagnon, Bozeman 1-1

3rd – Rich Jones, Bozeman 0-2

A Division (Open Consolation)

Round Robin – Marcus Madrazo, Butte d. Skyler Criscuolo 21-16, 19-21, 11-4; Marcus Madrazo d. Chris Graham 21-13, 21-8; Chris Graham d. Skyler Criscuolo by forfeit

1^st – Marcus Madrazo (2-0)

2^nd – Chris Graham (1-1)

3^rd – Skyler Criscuolo (0-2)

Butte, MT – April 7, 2019

Butte’s Brett Badovinac won the Montana Singles Handball Championships at the Elks in Butte. Badovinac defeated four-time champion Chance Wachholz in 21-10, 21-12 in the final. It is Badovinac’s second Montana State Open Singles title.

Kirk Johnson defeated Don Schmidt 21-16, 21-10 in a matchup of Missoula players to win the Golden Masters division.

Billing’s Mike Meyer defeated Butte’s Mike Hitchcock 21-18, 21-13 to win the Super Golden Masters title.

Tom Morris of Billings defeated Highwood’s Monk Semansky 21-9, 15-21, 11-9 to claim the Diamond Masters division.

Eric Aschim defeating fellow Missoulian Nate Guza 21-13, 15-21, 11-5 to win the A division and Missoula’s Luke Alford won the B division in a round robin format. Complete results:

Open

1^st round – Skyler Criscuolo, Butte d. Nate Guza, Missoula 21-14, 7-21, 11-6; Cole Salo, Butte d. Eric Schmidt, Missoula21-8, 21-10; Manny Mendoza, Chubuck, ID d. Eric Aschim, Missoula 21-5, 21-13; John Chapman, Frenchtown d. Markus Madrazo, Butte 21-6, 21-11

Quarterfinals – Brett Badovinac, Butte d. Criscuolo 21-6, 21-9; Salo d. Steve Maier, Missoula 21-7, 21-8; Mendoza d. Don Foley, Butte 21-10, 21-16; Chance Wachholz, Kalispell d. Chapman 21-11, 21-8

Semifinals – Badovinac d. Salo 21-12, 21-18; Wachholz d. Mendoza 21-12, 21-10

3^rd Place – Medoza d. Salo 12-21, 21-18, 11-9

Championship – Badovinac d. Wachholz 21-10, 21-10

Golden Masters (50+)

Pool 1 – Don Schmidt, Missoula d. Todd Timboe, Great Falls 21-13, 21-12, Schmidt d. Dave Montelius, Missoula 21-18, 16-21, 11-6; Montelius d. Timboe 21-19, 21-7

Pool 2 – Kirk Johnson, Missoula d. Nick White, Bozeman 21-5, 21-7; Johnson d. Steve Maier, Missoula 21-0, 21-4; White d. Maier 21-19, 13-21, 11-0

5^th Place – Timboe d. Maier 21-0, 21-7

3^rd Place – Montelius d. White 21-5, 21-5

Championship – Johnson d. Schmidt 21-16, 21-10

Super Golden Masters (60+)

1^st Round – Tom Madrazo, Butte d. Rich Jones, Bozeman 21-6, 21-12

Quarterfinals – Mike Hitchcock, Butte d. Sam Anderson, Emigrant; Dan Bersanti, Butte d. Dan Adams, Helena; Mike Meyer, Billings d. Scott Salo, Butte; Madrazo d. John Larson, East Helena by injury default

Semifinals – Hitchcock d. Bersanti; Meyer d. Madrazo 21-12, 21-2

3^rd Place – Madrazo d. Bersanti by forfeit

Championship – Meyer d. Hitchcock 21-18, 21-13

Diamond Masters (70+) – Round Robin

1^st Place – Tom Morris, Billings (3-0) d. Wally Page, Florence 21-5, 21-6; d. Sandy Gagnon, Bozeman 21-6, 21-7; d. Monk Semansky, Highwood 21-9, 15-21, 11-2

2^nd Place –Semansky (2-1) d. Gagnon 21-3, 21-13 d. Page 21-14, 21-5

3^rd Place – Page (1-2) d. Gagnon 11-21, 21-6, 11-8

B Division – Round Robin

1^st Place – Luke Alford, Missoula (4-0) d. Eric Schmidt, Missoula 16-21, 21-2, 11-7; d. Dawson Huff, Butte 21-7, 21-8; d. Chris Lombardi, Missoula21-8, 21-4; d. Matt Piazzola, Butte 21-20, 21-15

2^nd Place – Schmidt (3-1) d. Lombardi 21-10, 21-5; d. Piazzola 12-21, 21-8, 11-10; d. Huff 21-7, 21-11

3^rd Place – Piazzola (2-2) d. Huff 18-21, 21-10, 11-10; d. Lombardi

4^th Place – Huff (1-3) d. Lombardi 21-7, 21-3

A Division

Semifinals – Nate Guza, Missoula d. Eric Schmidt, Missoula 21-11, 21-4; Eric Aschim, Missoula d. Marcus Madrazo, Butte 21-17, 21-9

3^rd Place – Madrazo d. Schmidt

Championship – Aschim d. Guza 21-13, 15-21, 11-5

Open Consolation

Semifinals – Skyler Criscuolo, Butte d. Steve Maier; John Chapman d. Don Foley 21-11, 21-14

Championship – Chapman d. Criscuolo 21-6, 21-3

Super Golden Consolation

Championship – Scott Salo, Butte d. Dan Adams, Helena 21-4, 9-21, 11-9