Whilst most of us were relaxing and getting into the festive spirit over Christmas, Carrickmore teenager Lorcan McBride made the long trip across the Atlantic to Tucson, Arizona to compete in the 61st US Handball Junior Nationals.
McBride has quickly established himself as a real star on the Irish scene, and travelled with high expectations after a trophy-laden year at home. But despite his high expectations, he cannot have predicted being the first Irish player to have come home with 3 titles from the same US Junior Nationals. A sensational feat given the calibre of players this tournament has hosted in years gone by.
McBrides tournament began with the 15&U Big Ball Singles on Boxing Day, a event he had no previous competitive experience in, and was using it as an opportunity to get acclimatized to the warmer, faster courts. But McBride has the potential to be a big star in Handball, and his skill set allowed him to adapt quickly as he stormed to the title, beating Quebec’s Guillaume to the top spot in a dominant display.
Four games down, and feeling well loosened out; McBride had another four games ahead of his if he were to win the 15&U Small Ball title, his top event and the one he craved. Seeded #3, McBride cruised through his opening encounters before dispatching hometown favourite Jorge Pimental in the SF to set up a final against Illinois’ Ray Ure in the final. Ure had been impressive en route to the final, but in McBride he came up against a young player on top of his game and simply couldn’t live with the attacking, two handed power play, with McBride winning out 21-5, 21-3.
This win surpassed McBrides goals for the tournament, but he could not settle now he had tasted glory, and despite his arms and elbows aching after eight matches in four days, he teamed up with Waterford’s Michael Kiely in the 15&U Small Ball Doubles. There they eventually faced Ure again in the final, alongside Californian partner David Sanchez, winning 21-7, 21-4 to take title #3.
Kiely was one of a nine strong Waterford contingent that made it's way out to the tournament with three competitors in the Boys 15 & six competing in the Boys 17&Under competitions. In the Boys 17&Under, Dungarvan's Kavan O'Keefe was runner up to Canada's Michael Gaulton while he and playing partner Adam Clarke were runners up in the Boys 17&Under Doubles to hometown pairing Jesus Avila and Esteban Camacho from Tuscon. Nevertheless it was a fine showing from the Waterford lads overall and one that shows the great work being put in at underage level.
Meanwhile, it was an extremely satisfying maiden US Junior Nationals for McBride and his final trophy came when he was awarded the Best Newcomer Award by the US Handball Association at the winners banquet to close proceedings.
