Sandpoint teams claim pair of Idaho state handball championships
—Courtesy photo Pictured from left to right are Jake Plummer, Eric Plummer, Sam Sletager and Ryan Luttmann after the Open doubles final of the state handball tournament last weekend. The Sandpoint West Athletic Club hosted the annual event, which rotates between Boise, Pocatello and Sandpoint.
Luttman and Sletager win Open doubles title;
Barlow and Presnell also state champs
SANDPOINT — Sandpoint West Athletic Club hosted the Idaho State Handball tournament recently, with players from Idaho, Montana, Washington, Nevada and Colorado participating in the two-day event.
Ryan Luttmann and Sam Sletager, both of Sandpoint, teamed up to win the Open Doubles state title. After Eric Plummer and Jake Plummer beat Luttmann and Sletager in the tie-breaker of the final doubles match, the three teams each finished 1-1, with a close round robin tie-breaker deciding the winner.
Dan Murphy (Spokane) defeated Pete Svennungsen (Spokane) in a 21-19, 17-21, 11-5 marathon match for the Open Singles title, and the two teamed up to finish third in Open Doubles.
Chuck Gause (Sandpoint) won a close battle over Russ Akerheilm (Spokane) 21-20, 21-20 in the Age Singles bracket. Mark Humphries (Colorado Springs) overcame Mary Presnell (Sandpoint) for third place.
Presnell and Tye Barlow, both of Sandpoint, defeated Gause and Akerheilm 21-18, 21-10 in the Age Doubles event. Greg Pearce (Pullman) and Bob DeVleming (Clarkston) defeated Dave Cousino (Sandpoint) and Dave Malkin (Nevada) for third place.
Cousino and Malkin were co-state champions of the Diamond division, after each giving Declan Plummer a tour of the court in round-robin action.