Pacific Index

Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Reese Moriyama Professor and Coach Mike Steele hands out pointers to Isaac Caroll (left) and Josh Bateman (right) at the national championships in Houston, TX.

Media Credit: Reese Moriyama Aaron Garner, Senior

Pacific handball has had good seasons during its 30-year history, but their second place finish at the 58th National Collegiate Handball Tournament in Houston, TX, crowned what coach Mike Steele called his most successful team ever.

"We had a better chance of holding our own from last year," said Steele. "I wouldn't say I was optimistic about finishing better than in '09, but you always hope for a better result."

Finishing third in the 2009 event, Pacific outpointed Texas A&M 1499-1488 to take the runner-up spot this year. Lake Forest College finished first with a combined team score of 2248.

Junior Elizabeth Sherman became the 20th national champion in school history, defeating teammate sophomore Jackie Philpott in the women's C-class finals.

To make the victory even sweeter, Sherman won the title on her 21st birthday.

Pacific's women were so successful in the C-class, they filled the entire semifinal bracket as Sherman and Philpott were joined by Korina Kaio-Maddox and Jenny Novak.

"That was the first time it ever happened," said Steele. "We had two finalists in the past, but to have four meant they had to beat the rest of the schools to get there. It was fascinating watching the women come forward as they did."

When asked about coaching strategies when teammates are playing themselves, Steele said he and his assistants step back and let his players just play.

"We tend to be competitive as coaches when we're going through the classes. In situations like that, though, we just sit back and watch who's going to come out on top," he said.

The men's team, led by All-American senior Aaron Garner, former national champion senior Jared Komo and juniors Josh Bateman and Isaac Carroll, had their most successful tournament ever, finishing second.

Komo's play, Steele pointed out, was the more impressive given the injury he sustained during the first day of competition. Hyperextending the index finger on his right hand so badly it split the skin, Komo spent a few hours in the hospital for stitches, then came back to talk to his coach that night in the hotel.

"Never seen a finger split like that, ever. The doctors didn't stop him from playing, but they advised him to not injure it further," said Steele. "We sat down and talked about how he'd approach the rest of the tournament. Jared compensated magnificently, to tell you the truth."

Handball players are taught to utilize both hands to volley, Steele explained. Despite that, however, players naturally favor a strong hand, usually their dominant one. Komo's injured finger forced him to adapt to playing with his left hand for the majority of shots, to prevent the injury from getting worse.

His game was also compounded by how opponents would strategically his shots that would either force him to hit the ball with his injured hand, or hit it backhanded with his left, which drastically changes how shots can travel.

"The only way I can explain how hard that is would be for golfer to hit the ball the same way, using the back of the club," said Steele. "Jared did it, though, because He's remarkably agile and he can reach spots the average player can't get too."

With the National Collegiate Tournament behind them, the focus now shifts to the regionals in Vancouver at the end of spring. individual players are considering tournaments throughout the year.

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