Plummer Bash set for this weekend
COEUR d'ALENE - The first stop of the Race 4 Eight III season will kick off in Coeur d'Alene this weekend at the Plummer Family Helluva Handball Bash, scheduled for Friday through Sunday at Peak Health and Wellness.
The Plummer Bash was the site of the inaugural Race 4 Eight I Stop, and World Players of Handball officials say they are "ecstatic" to return to one of the most enthusiastic stops on the tour with the best hospitality in handball.
The winner of the Plummer Bash will receive $5,000, and take the lead in the Race for Salt Lake City and the Player's Championship. The Plummer draw has attracted the top eight American players, as well as the deepest qualifier draw in Race history.
The qualifier draw features nine-time 4-Wall singles national champion David Chapman, two-time defending national collegiate champion Martin Mulkerrins, former national collegiate champion Mando Ortiz, former top-five pro Marcos Chavez, former top 10 and multiple qualifier Jon Iglesias, and Race 4 Eight Elite 8 members Luis Cordova, Vic Perez and Anthony Selestow.
"Just look at the qualifier draw," WPH executive director David Vincent said. "If we would have allowed 64, we would have gotten it. I have heard from multiple Irish players and even some from Australia and Canada that wanted to play. I feel that the cash is a new more professional addition, but I also think each location has really rolled out the red carpet. Seriously, could you find better stops in better locations than we have on the docket? Jake's tournament sold out 45 days ago and if the facility had four more courts we would have over 200."
"I feel very fortunate returning to the Idaho fans and this excellent venue," Elite 8 invite Naty Alvarado Jr. said. "This has always been a highlight on our handball schedule for some time now. Great handball camaraderie, excellent food, and the beautiful city backdrop of the Coeur d'Alene make for a perfect handball weekend."
"It means a lot to me that Jake supports the WPH," said Luis Cordova. "He throws one of the best tournaments of the year in my opinion. When I was there two years ago it was one of the best times I've had in handball."
The World Players of Handball is a 501 c3 Foundation that highlights the greatest players in the world to inspire the next generation of players to enjoy and benefit from this lifetime sport.
The World Players of Handball will host a junior clinic on Saturday at the Plummer Bash, as it does at every race stop.
Matches will be webcast beginning Friday at race4eight.com.