Forester Men Finish Second at USHA Collegiate National Championships

Forester Men Finish Second at USHA Collegiate National Championships

The five-day US Handball Association Collegiate National Championships came to an end on Sunday and Lake Forest College was the runner-up in the men's team standings. Minnesota State Mankato claimed the title.

Leading the way for the Foresters were seniors Anthony Sullivan and Devin Peters. Both players split their preliminary matches to earn spots in the Open Singles Division and Sullivan added a narrow 21-15, 16-21, 11-10 triumph in the round of 16. He was defeated in the quarterfinals by the eventual runner-up. After falling in the round of 16, Peters prevailed 12-21, 21-7, 11-10 in the quarterfinals of the Open 9-16 Division before being eliminated in the semifinals.

Sullivan and Peters also teamed up in doubles and reached the semifinals of the Open Division before being stopped by the eventual champions. 

Lake Forest had three players qualify for A1 Singles, where junior Collin Peters won three consecutive matches, including a 21-18, 13-21, 11-7 victory in the semifinals. He was edged out 21-17, 21-19 in the final. Freshman Dylan Schmitt also reached the semifinal round before falling to Peters while classmate Cameron Lowe advanced to the quarterfinals, where he was defeated by the eventual bracket winner.

Like each of his higher-seeded teammates, freshman Zach Dybal split his two preliminary matches. He was the only Foresters in the A2 Division and collected a pair of wins but fell in the semifinals.

Josh Levin won twice in the preliminary rounds to join fellow sophomore Connor Hudziak in the A3 Division. Hudziak made it to the quarterfinals but Levin was knocked off in the round of 16.

Freshman Parker McElroy went 6-0 on the week with the last victory a 21-14, 21-8 triumph over Lake Forest sophomore Mitchell Dirnberger in the B1 Division final. Seniors Brendan Coggins and Majest Umoye also competed in the B1 bracket but fell in the semifinals and round of 16, respectively.

The only Forester on the women's side was junior Sarah Moskow, who won her second preliminary match 21-2, 21-5 before falling in the A1 Singles Division's round of 16.

Team scores from the tournament are not yet available.

Lake Forest players will compete in the Illinois Handball Association Men's and Women's Doubles Tournaments March 4-6.