Host of Sandpoint players win state handball titles

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint players claimed five state titles at the Idaho State Handball Championships this weekend at the Sandpoint West Athletic Club.

The Sandpoint team of Ryan Luttmann and Jake Plummer teamed up to win the open doubles title, beating a team with numerous Washington and Alaska state titles in an 11-6 tie-breaker. Tom Barlow and John Sletager beat fellow Sandpoint players Chuck Fishburne and Steve Hesselink in the final of the B/C doubles.

Hesselink also won the C singles, beating Sandpoint football and baseball player Eric Nikssarian in the finals. Marty Presnell avenged a loss to David Fishburne in their previous tournament meeting, winning the B championship in two games. Eric Plummer rallied to beat Kalispell’s Chance Wacholz in an 11-6 tie-breaker in the open singles final, giving Sandpoint three singles titles.

More than 60 players from five states took part in the three-day tournament, which rotates to different cities each year.

n Open singles — Final: Eric Plummer, Sandpoint d. Chance Wachholz, Kalispell,  14-21, 21-6, 11-6. Consolation: Don Foley, Butte, d. Jonas Dethman, Eagle,  21-14, 17-21, 11-1.

n A singles — Final: David Gates, Pocatello, d. Mike Anderson, Boise,  21-5, 21-7. Consolation: Tye Barlow, Sandpoint d. Fred Lange, Sandpoint,  21-13, 21-10.

n B singles — Final: Marty Presnell, Sagle d. David Fishburne, Sandpoint,  21-13, 21-13. Consolation: Lara Schoener, Spokane, d. John Sletager, Sandpoint, 15-21, 21-18, 11-8.

n C singles — Steve Hesselink, Sandpoint, d. Eric Nikssarian, Sandpoint, 21-8, 21-15. Consolation: Luther Morgan, Sandpoint, d. Dave Heffner, Boise,  21-13, 21-8.

n 40 singles — Final: Michael Barragan, Kalispell, d. Brett Plummer, Boise,  21-19, 14-21, 11-4.

n 50 singles — Final: Ed Garcia, Boise, d. John Larson, Helena,  21-8, 21-14.

n 60 singles — Final: Paul Polzin, Missoula, d. Mark Uptmore, Lewiston,  21-11, 10-21, 11-10.

n Open doubles — Final: Ryan Luttmann, Sandpoint/Jake Plummer, Sandpoint, d. Rick Edwards, Coeur d’Alene/Fred Schoener, Spokane,  9-21, 21-13, 11-6. Consolation: Russ Akerhielm, Spokane/Chad Bemis, Houston, d. Mike Anderson, Boise/Jonas Dethman, Eagle,  21-14, 21-10.

n B/C doubles — Final: Tom Barlow, Sandpoint/John Sletager, Sandpoint, d. Chuck Fishburne, Sandpoint/Steve Hesselink, Sandpoint, 21-10, 21-6. Consolation: Marty Presnell, Sagle/Bob Witte, Sandpoint, d. Lynn Sorenson, Spokane/Shirley Soth, Spokane,  21-8, 21-6.

n 50 doubles — Final: Walt Kastner, Tillamook/Brad Marker, Boise, d. Ed Garcia, Boise/Greg Pearce, Palouse, 21-7, 21-11.

n 60 doubles — Final: Gary Bellinger, Spokane/Bill Morse, Boise, d. John King, Boise/Paul Polzin, Missoula, 21-8, 21-4.