State Doubles Results – Montana Handball

January 14, 2024 – Bozeman

The duo of Sam Sottosanti of Butte and Chris Tico of Sandpoint, Idaho teamed to win the Montana State Doubles Handball Championship Sunday at the Ridge Athletic Club in Bozeman. They defeated the Billings team of Justin Balkenbush and Spencer Larsen 16-21, 21-12, 11-5 in a match that took nearly two hours. Balkenbush and Larsen were the defending champions. It is Sottosanti and Tico’s first Montana State championship.

Mike Meyer of Billings teamed with Rick Harrington of Missoula to claim both the Diamond Masters (70+) and Super Golden Masters (60+) titles. They defeated Tom Morris and Dan Scilley in the Diamond Masters and Jeff Armstrong and Dan Adams in the Super Golden Masters.

Butte’s Brett Badovinac and Don Foley defeated the Bozeman team of Mark Morrill and Frank Cikan to win the Golden Masters (50+).

The Bozeman team of Evin Groves and Todd Williamson defeated Daniel Dice of Bozeman and Marcus Madrazo of Butte to win the A Division.

Complete Results:

Open

First Round – Chris Graham and Clyde Barton, Billings d. Mark Morrill and Frank Cikan, Bozeman 21-19, 18-21, 11-8

Quarterfinals – Justin Balkenbush and Spencer Larsen, Billings d. Daniel Dice, Bozeman and Marcus Madrazo, Butte 21-6, 21-6; Austin Meyers, Bozeman and Les Seago, Emigrant d. Jay Stender and TJ Stender, Sheridan, WY by injury default; Brett Badovinac and Don Foley, Butte d. Evin Groves and Todd Williamson, Bozeman 12-21, 21-13, 11-9; Sam Sottosanti, Butte and Chris Tico, Sandpoint, ID d. Graham and Barton 21-2, 21-2

Semifinals – Balkenbush and Larsen d. Meyers and Seago 21-12, 21-2; Sottosanti and Tico d. Badovinac and Foley 21-8, 21-9

Finals – Sottosanti and Tico d. Balkenbush and Larsen 16-21, 21-12, 11-5

Diamond Masters (70+)

Round Robin

1^st – Rick Harrington, Missoula and Mike Meyer, Billings d. Dan Scilley, Luther and Tom Morris, Billings 21-8, 21-10; d. Sandy Gagnon and Jon Ford, Bozeman 21-12, 21-2

2^nd – Scilley and Morris d. Gagnon and Ford 21-10, 21-12

Super Golden Master (60+)

Round Robin

1^st – Mike Meyer, Billings and Rick Harrington, Missoula d. Jeff Armstrong, Billings and Dan Adams, Helena 21-14, 13-21, 11-6; d. Dan Bersanti and Tom Madrazo, Butte 21-8, 21-14

2^nd – Armstrong and Adams d. Bersanti and Madrazo 21-9, 21-3

Golden Masters (50+)

Final – Brett Badovinac and Don Foley, Butte d. Mark Morrill and Frank Cikan 21-12, 21-17

A Division

Semifinal – Marcus Madrazo, Butte and Danial Dice, Bozeman d. Mark Morrill and Frank Cikan, Bozeman 21-16, 21-12; Evin Groves and Todd Williamson, Bozeman d. Chris Graham and Clyde Barton, Billings 21-3, 21-6

Final – Groves and Williamson d. Madrazo and Dice 21-20, 21-3

Bozeman, MT – March 19, 2023

Justin Balkenbush and Spencer Larsen of Billings captured the Montana State Open Doubles Handball Championship at the Ridge in Bozeman Sunday. They defeated three-time champions Chance Wachholz of Kalispell and Shelby native Pete Svennungsen of Spokane 21-11, 21-12 in the final. It is Balkenbush’s seventh State Open Doubles championship and first playing with Larsen. Only Great Fall’s Marv Smith and Ted Greely who teamed to win eight Montana Open Doubles titles in the 1950s and 1960s have won more Open titles than Balkenbush.

The Missoula team of Jared Wierson and Moe Johnson teamed to win the Golden Masters Division for players 50 and over. They defeated Sean Sandau of Missoula and Ken Scott of Lander Wyoming 21-8, 21-18 in the deciding match of the round robin format.

Kirk Johnson of Missoula and Lance Wachholz of Atlanta Georgia won the Super Golden Masters Division for players 60 and over. They defeated Carl Warren of Bozeman and Rick Edwards of Belgrade by injury default in the deciding match of the round robin format.

Rick Harrington of Missoula and Mike Meyer of Billings teamed to win the Diamond Masters Division for players 70 and over. The defeated the Bozeman team of Steve Birrell and Carl Warren 21-5, 21-5 in the deciding match of the round robin format.

Brett Badovinac and Don Foley defeated Sam Sottosanti and Marcus Madrazo 21-17,21-20 in an all Butte final to capture the A Division.

Forty players competed in the tournament. It was the first Montana State Tournament in Bozeman since 2013.

Complete Results:

Open Division

1^st Round – Jared Wierson and Moe Johnson, Missoula d. Sam Sottosanti and Marcus Madrazo, Butte 10-21, 21-13, 11-8; Dane Swanson, Jackson, WY and Ken Scott, Lander, WY d. Don Schmidt, Missoula and Eric Schmidt, Lolo 21-6, 21-14

Quarterfinals – Chance Wachholz, Kalispell and Pete Svennungsen, Spokane d. Wierson and Johnson 21-13, 21-3; Austin Meyer and Todd Williamson, Bozeman d. Sean Sandau and Chris Riley, Missoula 21-13, 21-14; Justin Balkenbush and Spencer Larsen, Billings d. Brett Badovinac and Don Foley, Butte 21-5, 21-8; Rick Edwards, Belgrade and Les Seago, Emigrant d. Swanson and Scott 21-10, 21-5
Semifinals – Wachholz and Svennungsen d. Meyer and Williamson 21-6, 21-13; Balkenbush and Larsen d. Edwards and Seago 21-2, 21-8

Third – Meyer and Williamson d. Edwards and Seago by injury default

Final – Balkenbush and Larsen d. Wachholz and Svennungsen 21-11, 21-12

A Division

Quarterfinals – Sam Sottosanti and Marcus Madrazo, Butte d. Sean Sandau and Chris Riley, Missoula 21-4, 21-7; Brett Badovinac and Don Foley, Butte d. Don Schmidt, Missoula and Erick Schmidt, Lolo 21-6, 21-18

Semifinals – Sottosanti and Madrazo d. Dane Swanson, Jackson, WY and Ken Scott, Lander, WY 21-18, 21-6; Badovinac and Foley d. Jared Wierson and Moe Johnson, Missoula 21-15, 21-17

Final – Badovinac and Foley d. Sottosanti and Madrazo 21-17, 21-20

Golden Masters (50+)

1^st – Jared Wierson and Moe Johnson, Missoula (4-0) d. Mike Meyer, Billings and Will Brooke, Bozeman 21-11, 21-4; d. Alex Fox, Bozeman and Dick Fox, Billings; d. Mark Morrill and Steve Birrell, Bozeman 21-5, 21-6; d. Sean Sandau, Missoula and Ken Scott, Lander, WY 21-8, 21-18

2^nd – Sean Sandau, Missoula and Ken Scott, Lander, WY (3-1) d. Meyer and Brooke 21-7, 21-9; d. Fox and Fox 21-4, 21-5; d. Morrill and Birrell 21-16, 21-7

3^rd – Alex Fox, Bozeman and Dick Fox, Billings (2-2) d. Morrill and Birrell 17-21, 21-14, 11-1; d. Meyer and Brooke 21-8, 21-7

4^th – Mark Morrill and Steve Birrell, Bozeman (1-3) d. Meyer and Brook, 21-8, 21-19

Super Golden Masters (60+)

1^st – Kirk Johnson, Missoula and Lance Wachholz, Atlanta, GA (4-0) d. John Larson, East Helena and Mike Hitchcock, Butte 21-15, 21-6; d. Jeff Armstrong, Billings and Dan Adams, Helena 21-17, 21-20; d. Will Brooke and Sandy Gagnon, Bozeman 21-2, 21-2; d. Carl Warren, Bozeman and Rick Edwards, Belgrade by injury default

2^nd – Carl Warren, Bozeman and Rick Edwards, Belgrade (3-1) d. Brooke and Gagnon 21-0, 21-3; d. Larson and Hitchcock 21-17, 21-10; d. Armstrong and Adams

3^rd – Jeff Armstrong, Billings and Dan Adams, Helena (2-2) d. Larson and Hitchcock 21-13, 9-21, 11-0; d. Brooke and Gagnon 21-8, 21-0

4^th – John Larson, East Helena and Mike Hitchcock, Butte d. Brooke and Gagnon 21-10, 21-6

Diamond Masters (70+)

1^st – Rick Harrington, Missoula and Mike Meyer, Billings (4-0) d. Joe Urbani and John Ford, Bozeman 21-6, 21-2; d. Wendell Morrill and Emil Erhardt, Bozeman 21-4, 21-2; d. Sandy Gagnon and Rich Jones, Bozeman 21-9, 21-10; d. Steve Birrell and Carl Warren, Bozeman 21-5, 21-11

2^nd – Steve Birrell and Carl Warren, Bozeman (3-1) d. Gagnon and Jones 21-14, 21-12; d. Urbani and Ford 21-8, 21-11; d. Morrill and Erhardt 21-8, 21-11

3^rd – Sandy Gagnon and Rich Jones, Bozeman (2-2) d. Urbani and Ford 21-20, 17-21, 11-5; d. Morrill and Erhardt 21-8, 21-20

4^th – Joe Urbani and John Ford d. Morrill and Erhardt 21-12, 21-14

Missoula, March 13, 2022

Kalispell’s Chance Wachholz and Shelby native Pete Svennungsen won the Open Division of the Montana State Doubles Championship Sunday at the Peak in Missoula. It is the third time they teamed to win the title and it is Wachholz’s fifth state doubles title. They defeated Eric Plummer and Chris Tico of Idaho in a thrilling final 10-21, 21-15, 11-10.

Missoula’s Kirk Johnson and Doug Davis defeated Billings’ Jeff Armstrong and Helena’s Dan Adams to win the Super Golden Masters Division for players 60 and older. It is the second time they teamed to win a state title and Johnson’s 7^th state doubles title.

East Helena’s John Larson teamed with Missoula’s Robin Peters to win the Diamond Masters Division for players 70 and older. They defeated Bozeman’s Sandy Gagnon and Rich Jones two matches to zero in a best of three match format. This is the fifteenth state doubles title for Robin Peters, which is the second most for any player, trailing only Dan Scilley who won 20.

Brett Badovinac and Don Foley of Butte claimed the A Division, which is the consolation of the open division, by defeating Sean Sandau and Brandt Montelius of Missoula.

Seeley Lake’s Todd Timboe and Whitefish’s Sam Baldridge won the combined B/Super Golden Consolation Division, defeating Dan and Dave O’Brien of Washington in the final.

The tournament honored Randy “Red Death” Jolliffe who was severely injured in an accident last month and is facing a long recovery. Players wore REDSTRONG shirts and sent Randy group photo of all the players wearing the shirt in support. There is a GoFundMe page set up for his benefit. Fundraiser for Traci Jolliffe by Breezy Reimers : RedStrong (gofundme.com)

Complete Results:

Open

First Round – Don Schmidt and Dave Montelius, Missoula d. Jared Wierson, Missoula and Chris Graham, Billings; Sam Sottosanti and Marcus Madrazo, Butte d. Henry O’Brien, Missoula and Nathan O’Brien, Washington

Quarterfinals – Pete Svennungsen, Spokane and Chance Wachholz, Kalispell d. Schmidt and Montelius; Les Seago, Emigrant and Rick Edwards, Belgrade d. Sean Sandau and Brant Montelius, Missoula; Austin Meyers and Evin Groves, Bozeman d. Brett Badovinac and Don Foley, Butte; Eric Plummer and Chris Tico, Idaho d. Sottosanti and Madrazo

Semifinals – Svennungsen and Wachholz d. Seago and Edwards 21-7, 21-15; Plummer and Tico d. Meyers and Groves 12-21, 21-14, 11-1

Final – Svennugsen and Wachholz d. Plummer and Tico 10-21, 21-15, 11-10

Super Golden (60+)

Quarterfinals – Doug Davis and Kirk Johnson, Missoula d. Todd Timboe, Seely Lake and Sam Baldridge, Whitefish; Jeff Armstrong, Billings and Dan Adams, Helena d. John Larson, East Helena and Eric Howe, Divide; Tom Madrazo and Dan Bersanti, Butte d. Dan O’Brien and Dave O’Brien, Washington

Semifinals – Davis and Johnson d. Mike Myer and Wayne Moller, Billings; Armstrong and Adams d. Madrazo and Bersanti

Final – Davis and Johnson d. Armstrong and Adams 21-14, 21-12

Diamond Master (70+)

John Larson, East Helena and Robin Peters, Missoula d. Sandy Gagnon and Rich Jones, Bozeman

21-11, 21-8 and 21-14, 21-6

A Division (Open Consolation)

Semifinals – Sean Sandau and Brandt Montelius, Missoula d. Jared Wierson, Missoula and Chris Graham, Billings; Brett Badovinac and Don Foley, Butte d. Henry O’Brien, Missoula and Nathan O’Brien, Washington

Final – Badovinac and Foley d. Sandau and Montelius 20-21, 21-17, 11-5

B Division/Super Golden Consolation

Semifinals – Todd Timboe, Seely Lake and Sam Baldridge, Whitefish d. D. Plummer, Idaho and Vinny Chinikoylo, Missoula; Dan O’Brien and Dave O’Brien, Washington d. John Larson, East Helena and Eric Howe, Divide

Final – Timboe and Baldridge d. O’Brien and O’Brien 21-19, 17-21, 11-5