Svennungsen wins State handball

Shelby native Pete Svennungsen captured the Montana State Singles Handball Championship Sunday at the Elks in Butte.

Svennungsen, now of Spokane, defeated 10-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

1st – 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

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

3rd – 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